A quad or buggy off-road safari is one of the most exhilarating half-days you can add to a Side or Alanya holiday — and it sits closer than most people think. The tracks run through the pine-forested foothills of the Taurus Mountains, the range that rises just behind the coastal strip. Most hotels in Side, Belek and Alanya are only a short drive from the trailheads, so it's an easy afternoon rather than a full expedition.
The practical question is usually the same: how do you get there and back with dusty kit and tired legs? The simplest answer is to book the safari itself and arrange a private transfer to carry your group door-to-door, so nobody has to drive after an afternoon of throttle and mud.
What a quad or buggy safari day out actually involves
The setting is the wooded slopes and dirt tracks in the mountains behind the resorts — not the beach, and not tarmac. You'll typically be kitted out with a helmet and a quick safety briefing, then follow a guide in convoy along forest trails, through shallow water splashes and up dusty inclines. Quads (four-wheel ATVs) are the classic choice; buggies seat two and suit couples or a parent riding with an older child. Expect to get properly dirty — that's the point.
It's an adrenaline day rather than a sightseeing one, though the mountain scenery is genuinely lovely. To book the ride itself, our sister site buggyquadsafari.com runs quad and buggy off-road safaris in exactly this terrain. If you fancy a second active day, white-water rafting in the Köprülü Canyon through bookraftingantalya.com is the natural companion trip — same mountains, water instead of mud.
Where the trailheads are relative to your hotel
The off-road bases sit in the hills inland from the coastal towns, so the drive time depends entirely on which resort you're staying in. As a rough guide, from the Side and Belek area you're looking at a short hop up into the foothills; from Alanya the pickup is a little longer because the town sits further east along the coast. Real road time shifts with summer traffic and the season, so treat any estimate as approximate rather than fixed.
- Side, Manavgat and Belek: closest to most safari bases in this region — a quick run inland.
- Alanya and its eastern suburbs: a longer but still comfortable coastal drive before turning up into the mountains.
Why a private transfer beats driving yourself
You could self-drive a hire car, but there are good reasons most people don't. The trailheads are down unsigned mountain lanes that are easy to miss; after the safari you'll be hot, filthy and not in the mood to navigate; and a hire car left baking in a dusty car park is nobody's idea of a treat. A private door-to-door transfer sidesteps all of it — your driver drops the whole group at the base and is there for the ride home.
Booking transport for an excursion works the same way as any of our airport runs. It's your own vehicle and driver, no sharing with strangers, a fixed price agreed up front with no meter and no end-of-day surprises, and free child or infant seats on request if you're bringing younger ones along. You pay on the day in cash or by card, or online when you book. Any questions about timing or the pickup point can be sorted over WhatsApp before the day.
Making it part of a bigger trip
If the safari is one highlight of a longer holiday, it's worth thinking about your transport as a whole. Many guests we carry from the airport also book us for their excursions during the week — the same driver, the same fixed pricing. If you've only just landed, our guides to the Antalya Airport to Alanya transfer and the Antalya Airport to Side transfer cover getting to your base in the first place, and the complete guide ties the whole picture together. For what any of this costs, our breakdown of transfer prices explains how distance, vehicle size and season shape the figure.
Practical tips for safari day
- Wear clothes and closed shoes you don't mind ruining — you will be covered in dust and possibly mud.
- Bring sunglasses or goggles; the trail throws up grit.
- Sunscreen, water and a small towel for the drive back are worth having.
- Confirm your safari's start time first, then set the transfer pickup with a sensible buffer for traffic.
- Travelling with kids? Mention it when you book so we bring the right seats.
Ready to sort the logistics? Book your private transfer or get an instant quote at bookridenow.com/en — tell us your hotel and the safari time, and we'll have a driver waiting to take your group up to the mountains and safely back afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the quad and buggy safari from Side or Alanya hotels?
The trailheads are in the Taurus foothills just inland from the coast. From Side, Manavgat and Belek it's a short drive up into the hills; from Alanya it's a little longer because the town sits further east. Real times vary with traffic and season, so treat any estimate as approximate.
Do I need to book the safari and the transfer separately?
Yes — the two are different services. You book the ride itself through our sister site buggyquadsafari.com, and you arrange your door-to-door transport separately through us at bookridenow.com/en. Give us your hotel and the safari start time and we'll match the pickup to it.
Can children join a quad or buggy safari?
Younger children usually ride as passengers in a buggy with a parent or in the guide's vehicle rather than driving a quad themselves; the safari operator sets the age rules. For the transfer, we provide free child or infant seats on request — just tell us ages when you book so we bring the right ones.
What does the transfer to the safari cost?
There's no single figure because it depends on your resort, how many people are travelling and the season. We agree a fixed price when you book, so there's no meter and no surprise at the end of the day. The quickest way to see your number is the instant quote at bookridenow.com/en.
What should I wear and bring for the safari?
Wear old clothes and closed shoes you don't mind getting filthy, because dust and mud are part of the fun. Sunglasses or goggles help against flying grit, and sunscreen, water and a towel for the ride home are worth packing. There's no need to bring your own helmet — the safari provides safety kit.
Is there another active day trip I can pair with the safari?
White-water rafting in the Köprülü Canyon is the obvious pairing — it's in the same mountain range, swapping mud for river water, and you can book it through bookraftingantalya.com. Plenty of guests do a safari one day and rafting another, using the same private transfer for both.
Can I use the same driver for my airport transfer and my excursions?
Yes. Many guests book us for their airport run and then again for day trips like the safari during their stay, keeping the same fixed, door-to-door service throughout. Just message us over WhatsApp to line up the dates once your plans are set.
Do I have to drive to the trailhead myself?
You don't, and most people prefer not to. The bases are down unsigned mountain lanes that are easy to miss, and after an afternoon on the trails you'll be too dusty and tired to want to navigate a hire car. A private transfer drops your whole group at the base and is ready for the ride home.