Our Green Canyon tour from Belek takes you on a yacht cruise in the Taurus Mountains, about an hour’s drive from the resort. Swimming in the emerald water, fishing, soft drinks on board and lunch overlooking the canyon are all included in the price.
We pick up guests from hotels in Kadriye, Belek and Boğazkent.
Book your seat online with no prepayment — you pay on the bus on the day of the tour.
Green Canyon tour from Belek at a glance
- Hotel pickup: 07:00–08:00
- Itinerary: a two-deck yacht cruise through Green Canyon and the Little Canyon, stops for swimming and fishing, lunch at a café, a textile centre on the way back
- Drinks on the yacht: soft drinks free of charge
- Back at your hotel: 17:00–18:00
- Payment: cash on the bus ($, €, ₺)
Tour programme
- 07:00–08:00 | Hotel pickup
We pick you up at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed.
- Arrival at Green Canyon
The Oymapınar Reservoir in the Taurus Mountains: time for your first photos, then on to the jetty.
- Two-deck yacht cruise
The yacht cruises slowly through Green Canyon. Soft drinks from the bar on board are free; alcoholic drinks are extra.
- Swim and fishing stops
The yacht moors at a platform fixed on the water by the rocks, and you swim and fish from there. Rods and tackle are handed out on the spot.
- Little Canyon
The yacht sails through a narrow canyon right at the foot of limestone cliffs with grottoes and caves.
- Lunch at a café with panoramic views of the canyon
Lunch is included in the price; drinks with lunch are extra.
- Textile centre
A short stop on the way back. Buying anything is optional.
- 17:00–18:00 | Back at your hotel
The bus takes you back to your hotel. Arrival times are approximate and depend on traffic.
The order of stops may change, but all programme items are kept.
How does the Green Canyon tour from Belek work?
A scenic drive into the Taurus Mountains
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier, between about 07:00 and 08:00. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed.
The canyon lies in the mountains above Manavgat, about 65 km from Belek. The drive takes just over an hour, depending on traffic. The last stretch follows a mountain road with fine views.
Emerald water and pine-covered slopes
Green Canyon lies on the Oymapınar Reservoir. After a few days on the beach, it’s a completely different scene: a mountain lake instead of the sea, slopes covered in pine trees and water of a deep emerald green.
When you arrive, there’s time to take in the views and get your first photos before you walk down to the jetty.
Two decks: shade below, view from above
At the jetty a spacious two-deck yacht is waiting. The lower deck has shade and a bar serving free cola, Fanta, water, tea and coffee; alcoholic drinks are sold separately. The upper deck has chairs. You get a good view of the canyon from both decks: you can sit in the shade below or go up top. On board there’s a toilet, a place to change and life jackets.
You spend most of the day on the yacht, and there are no long walks or climbs on the programme. With light music playing, the yacht cruises slowly through the canyon. You may spot small whirlpools on the surface: they come from the underground springs that feed the lake.
Swimming and fishing by the rocks
The yacht makes several swim stops during the cruise. At each one it moors at a platform fixed on the water near the rocks, so you swim from there rather than from the yacht’s deck. Ladders make it easy to get down into the cool emerald water, and if you don’t feel like swimming, you can simply sit on the edge with your feet in the water. Rods and tackle are handed out here too, so you can also try some fishing.
The water in the canyon is noticeably cooler than the sea. In summer only the top layer warms up; deeper down the water stays cold, as the lake is fed by underground springs.
Grottoes and caves of the Little Canyon
In the Little Canyon the cliffs come right up close to the yacht. The narrow passage runs at the foot of sheer limestone walls with grottoes and caves, a corridor that water took thousands of years to cut through the rock. At the far end of the route you can see a small waterfall.
Lunch: chicken, trout or köfte
After the cruise the yacht returns to the jetty, and lunch is waiting at a café overlooking the canyon. You can choose chicken, trout or köfte (Turkish meatballs), with bulgur or pasta on the side. Vegetable salads and starters are served as a buffet. Lunch is included in the price; drinks with lunch are extra.
A textile centre stop and the drive back
After lunch the bus heads back to Belek. On the way it makes a short stop at a textile centre, where you can browse and pick out gifts for yourself or your family, though there’s no obligation to buy.
The bus then drives you back to your hotel, where you’ll arrive between about 17:00 and 18:00. The exact time depends on where your hotel is and on traffic.
Book your seat online with no prepayment. You pay for the tour on the bus on the day.
Video of our Green Canyon tour
See what the day looks like
Press Play twice to start the video.
What is included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Two-deck yacht cruise
- Soft drinks on the yacht
- Fishing rods and tackle
- Lunch at a café
- Guide
- Insurance
What is not included
- Soft and alcoholic drinks with lunch — optional, at extra cost
- Alcoholic drinks on the yacht — optional, at extra cost
- Purchases at the textile centre — optional
- Personal expenses: photos, souvenirs and other purchases
What to bring
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Sunscreen
- Sun hat and sunglasses
- Drinking water
- Camera or phone
- Cash for drinks with lunch and personal expenses
Distance to Green Canyon
- Kadriye to Green Canyon: 70 km, about 1 hour 20 minutes
- Belek to Green Canyon: 65 km, about 1 hour 10 minutes
- Boğazkent to Green Canyon: 60 km, about 1 hour 5 minutes
Distances and travel times are based on Google Maps and are intended as a guide. The actual journey time depends on traffic and on how long it takes to pick up guests from other hotels.
Discounts
- Book at least 7 days in advance — 4% off
- Book at least 30 days in advance — 5% off
- $1 off for each person in your booking who follows our Instagram (@goldwaytravel)
- Discounts can’t be combined: choose either the early booking discount or the follower discount, whichever saves you more
FAQ about the Green Canyon tour from Belek
How much does the Green Canyon tour cost?
Adults and children 8+ $40, children 4–7 $25, children 0–3 free. The price includes the yacht, soft drinks on board, lunch, a guide and transfer.
How do I book the Green Canyon tour from Belek?
Choose the date and the number of adults and children in the “Online Booking” form; the total is worked out automatically. In the form that opens, enter your full name, hotel, WhatsApp number and email, then send it. No prepayment: you pay on the bus on the day of the tour. Once your booking is confirmed, we send you an e-ticket with the exact pickup time via WhatsApp or Telegram. For step-by-step instructions with pictures, see
“How to book and pay on the bus”.
What time does the tour start?
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier, between about 07:00 and 08:00. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed.
Is lunch included in the price?
Yes, lunch at a café overlooking the canyon is included in the price. You can choose chicken, trout or köfte (Turkish meatballs), with bulgur or pasta on the side. Vegetable salads and starters are served as a buffet. Drinks with lunch are extra.
Do drinks on the yacht cost extra?
No, soft drinks on the yacht are free: the bar on the lower deck serves cola, Fanta, water, tea and coffee. Drinks with lunch at the café and alcoholic drinks on the yacht are optional and paid for separately.
Can we swim in the canyon, and what is the water like?
Yes, the yacht makes several swim stops during the cruise. The water in the canyon is noticeably cooler than the sea: in summer the top layer warms up, but deeper down it stays cold because the lake is fed by underground springs. On a hot day, a swim here is very refreshing.
What if I can’t swim?
There are life jackets on the yacht: please put one on before you go in and let the crew know you can’t swim. There are ladders down into the water. You don’t have to swim at all: you can sit on the edge of the platform with your feet in the water, enjoy the views or do some fishing.
How was Green Canyon formed?
The Manavgat River carved the rocky valley of Green Canyon over thousands of years. The lake itself, however, is man-made: it is a reservoir that formed in the Taurus Mountains after the Oymapınar Dam was built. The dam was designed in the USSR and built by a German company, and work was completed in 1984. Hidden inside the mountain beneath the dam is one of the largest underground hydroelectric power stations in the region: its four powerful turbines generate electricity for tens of thousands of homes.
In ancient times there were lakes here, along with the bed of the Manavgat River, which supplied fresh water to ancient Side. The dam joined them into a single reservoir covering about 500 hectares and up to 130 metres deep.
Why is the water in Green Canyon emerald green?
The canyon takes its name from the emerald colour of its water. As water runs down from the limestone Taurus Mountains, it carries tiny mineral particles that reflect blue-green light in the sun. The great depth of the reservoir makes the colour look even richer. In summer, microalgae add their own tint, and the pine-covered green slopes are reflected in the still water.
What is the Little Canyon?
It’s the narrowest part of the route. The yacht passes right at the foot of limestone cliffs, and in their walls you can see grottoes and caves that water has carved out over thousands of years. At the far end of the route you can see a small waterfall.
Can I go fishing, and do I need to bring a rod?
Yes, during the stops you can cast a line straight from the platform. Rods and tackle are handed out on the spot to anyone who wants them, so there’s no need to bring your own. The lake is home to trout and mirror carp, but as with any fishing, a catch isn’t guaranteed.
Is there a toilet on the yacht, and somewhere to change?
Yes, the yacht has a toilet and a place to change after swimming.
Where is the best place to sit on the yacht?
The yacht has two decks. Downstairs there’s shade, which is handy if you don’t like the heat. Upstairs there are chairs. You get a good view of the canyon from both decks.
Do I have to buy anything at the textile centre?
No, buying anything is optional. It’s a short stop: you can browse and pick out gifts for yourself or your family if you like.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes, it’s a relaxed tour that works well for families with children: you spend most of the day on the yacht, and the drive to the canyon is short. Children usually love the swimming and fishing. There are life jackets on board for anyone who isn’t a strong swimmer.
Will my child have their own seat on the bus?
Children from 0 to 3 travel free, on an adult’s lap, without their own seat on the bus. If your child needs a seat of their own, book it at the child rate. Children from 4 with a paid ticket have their own seat.
What time will we be back at the hotel?
After lunch and the textile centre stop, the bus drives you back to your hotel. You’ll arrive at your hotel between about 17:00 and 18:00. The exact time depends on which area your hotel is in and on traffic.
