Antalya rafting means a day on the Köprüçay River in Köprülü Canyon National Park, the most popular adventure trip on the Turkish Riviera. The rapids are gentle enough for first-timers and older children, the water is clear and cold, and most trips add a zipline, jeep or buggy ride and a riverside lunch.
Quick answer: rafting from Antalya takes place in Köprülü Canyon, about 80–90 km east of the city. You raft about 14 km of mostly Grade II rapids in around two hours, with swim stops and lunch by the river. Tours with hotel pickup and lunch start from about £15–19 per person online; combos with zipline, jeep or buggy cost a little more. No experience is needed, the minimum age is usually 6–8, and the season runs mainly from April to October.
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Antalya rafting: quick facts
| Where | Köprülü Canyon National Park, on the Köprüçay River, about 80–90 km east of Antalya |
| Distance on the river | About 14 km on most tours |
| Time on the water | Around 2 hours, with swim stops; a full day with transfers and lunch |
| Difficulty | Mostly Grade II, with some Grade III rapids when the river is high in spring |
| Water temperature | Cold all year, roughly 12–15°C |
| Minimum age | Usually 6–8 years, depending on the operator and the water level |
| Season | Mainly April to October |
| Price online | From about £15–19 per person with pickup and lunch; combos cost more |
| Not suitable for | Pregnant women and people with high blood pressure |
What Antalya rafting is really like
Your day starts with hotel pickup and a drive into the Taurus Mountains. At the rafting base you get a helmet, life jacket and paddle and a safety briefing, then board a raft of up to about eight people with a guide who steers and calls the strokes. Many tours stop first at the old stone bridge near the start of the route.
The river runs through a green, steep-sided canyon. The rapids come in short bursts with calm stretches between them, where you can jump in and float in the cold, clear water. Expect water fights between boats: you will get soaked. Lunch is usually a buffet or barbecue at a riverside restaurant, and many tours sell photos and videos of your raft at the end.
Is rafting in Antalya safe for beginners and children?
- Beginners: yes. Most of the route is Grade II, which means splashy waves rather than dangerous drops, and a guide sits in every raft.
- Children: most operators accept children from about 6–8 years, depending on the water level on the day. In spring, when the river is higher and faster, some set a higher minimum age.
- Swimming: you wear a life jacket throughout, so you do not need to be a strong swimmer for the rafting itself. Canyoning add-ons are different and need basic swimming ability.
- Health: tours are not suitable for pregnant women or people with high blood pressure. The zipline has a weight limit of about 115–120 kg.
Choosing an Antalya rafting tour
These are the well-reviewed options we would look at on GetYourGuide, depending on where you are staying:
| Tour | Why consider it |
|---|---|
| Antalya: rafting, zipline, jeep & quad safari with lunch | Rated 4.7 from over 3,700 reviews; 14 km of rafting with swim stops, lunch, photos and video; choose rafting only or add zipline, jeep, quad or buggy; pickup from Antalya-area hotels; from about £15–19 |
| Side/Antalya: jeep, buggy, rafting & zipline with lunch | Rated 4.7 from over 1,650 reviews; run by a rafting company with 25 years in the canyon; buffet lunch by the river; very low headline price from about £8, so check what your chosen option includes |
| Alanya: rafting, zipline, quad, buggy & jeep with lunch | Rated 4.6 from about 2,000 reviews; pickup from Alanya hotels; lunch, equipment and guide included; from about £16–19 |
Whichever you choose, check whether hotel transfers are included in your option, which extras (zipline, jeep, quad or buggy) you are paying for, and the pickup time from your resort.
Rafting only or a combo?
Most tours sell rafting on its own or combined with a zipline, a jeep safari through the villages, or a quad or buggy ride. The total time is often the same whichever option you pick, because everyone leaves the canyon together at the end of the day. A combo makes sense for teenagers and active groups; for younger children or a more relaxed day, rafting only is plenty.
Rafting tour traps to avoid
- The headline price. The cheapest price you see often excludes hotel transfers or the combo you actually want. Compare the total for your option.
- Photos and videos. Some tours include them, others sell a photo pack at the end for cash. Ask before you go so you are not pressured on the day.
- Tours sold on the street. Book a reviewed operator rather than a stranger on the promenade. Our Antalya scams guide explains the common tricks with excursions.
Getting there from your resort
- From Belek and Side: the closest resorts, usually around an hour each way.
- From Antalya and Lara: around 1.5 hours each way.
- From Alanya and Kemer: longer transfers, so expect an early pickup.
Pickup times vary by hotel, so check yours in the booking confirmation. If you are combining several trips, our things to do in Antalya guide helps you plan the week, and the Green Canyon boat trip is a calmer day out in the same mountains.
What to bring
- Swimwear under your clothes, a towel and a full change of clothes.
- Strapped water shoes or trainers; flip-flops are not allowed.
- Strong sun cream and a hat for the jeep or buggy part.
- A waterproof pouch for your phone, or leave it in the vehicle.
- Some cash for drinks, photos and tips; read euros or lira in Turkey.
Best time to go rafting in Antalya
The rafting season runs mainly from April to October. In April and May snowmelt makes the river higher and the rapids livelier; from June to September the water is lower and calmer, and the cold river is a welcome escape from the heat. See our Antalya weather by month guides to pick your dates.
Before you book a rafting trip
Rafting in Köprülü Canyon is one of the best-value days out on the Antalya coast and a great choice for families with older children and groups of friends. Book a well-reviewed tour with pickup from your hotel, check what your option includes, wear proper shoes and expect to get very wet.
FAQ: Antalya rafting
Where is rafting in Antalya?
Rafting from Antalya takes place on the Köprüçay River in Köprülü Canyon National Park, about 80–90 km east of Antalya city, inland from Belek and Side.
How long is the rafting in Köprülü Canyon?
Most tours raft about 14 km of the river, which takes around two hours including swim stops. With hotel transfers, lunch and any extras, it is a full day.
How much does rafting in Antalya cost?
Tours with hotel pickup, lunch and equipment start from about £15–19 per person on GetYourGuide. Combos with a zipline, jeep, quad or buggy cost more.
What is the minimum age for rafting in Antalya?
Most operators accept children from about 6–8 years old, depending on the water level. In spring, when the river is higher, the minimum age can be higher.
Is Köprülü Canyon rafting dangerous?
No, not for most people. The rapids are mostly Grade II, everyone wears a helmet and life jacket, and a trained guide steers each raft. It is not suitable for pregnant women or people with high blood pressure.
More AYT Survival Guides
- Things to Do in Antalya: Best Trips, Free Sights & Prices
- Antalya with Kids: Best Areas, Months & Family Days Out
- Olympos Cable Car (Tahtalı): Tickets, Prices & Times
- Green Canyon Boat Trip: Prices, Tours & Tips
- Duden Waterfalls Antalya: Boat Trips, Tours & Prices
- Aspendos Tour from Antalya: Perge, Aspendos & Side
- Pamukkale Day Trip from Antalya: Is It Worth It?
- Turkish Bath in Antalya: What to Expect & Prices
Sources: tour details, ratings, inclusions, age and weight limits from GetYourGuide listings; river distance, rapid grades, water temperature and season from Köprülü Canyon rafting operators and visitor guides; background on the national park from Wikipedia’s Köprülü Canyon article. Checked on 10 October 2026. Conditions and prices change, so always confirm with your operator before you book.
Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
