Green Canyon Tours

Not a gorge you hike – a lake you sail

In the mountains north of Manavgat, the Green Canyon (Yeşil Kanyon) fills the spot where the Oymapınar Dam flooded a deep valley of the Manavgat River. Its water shifts from bottle green to turquoise as the sun moves across the sky, and cliffs and pine forest come straight down to the shore. You see it best from the deck, which is why four of our five canyon trips include time on the water.

Five ways to see it

• Lake cruise – a whole, slow day on the water, with swimming, fishing and lunch ashore.
• Jeep safari – Land Rover tracks, a Roman aqueduct and an hour on the lake.
• Cabrio safari – an open-top bus, a Yörük village, a boat ride and the Manavgat Waterfall.
• Lion Park and jeep – lions in the morning, the lake in the afternoon.
• Altınbeşik Cave – a viewpoint high above the canyon on the way to an underground lake.

Tips for the day

The lake is noticeably colder than the sea – bliss in July. Pack swimwear, a towel, sun cream and a hat. Depending on your hotel, the drive takes 45 minutes to an hour from Side and about an hour and a half from Alanya, and pickup is included on every trip.