Option one: both of you at the wheel
If you both like the idea of steering through forest tracks and over uneven ground, book two drivers. Each of you goes through registration, the briefings and the compulsory practice drive, and each pays the driver fare of €30. You then follow the guide along the route one behind the other, which many couples enjoy because you can watch each other take the bumps and the water-splash stops.
Both drivers need to be 16 or over and carry an ID that shows their age. Neither of you needs a driving licence, because the route is a private off-road course and not a public road. The buggy is automatic, so it does not matter which of you drives a car more often at home.
Option two: one drives, one rides along
Plenty of couples split the roles. One partner drives and pays €30; the other sits in the passenger seat beside them and pays €15, exactly half. The passenger is not a spectator at the base — they ride the full route, wear a helmet, hear the briefings and get just as dusty.
This option suits a partner who would rather enjoy the scenery, who has a back or neck issue to think about (ask us first, since the vehicle shakes on rough ground), or who simply does not fancy driving on holiday. It is also the natural fallback if the guide decides after the practice drive that one of you should not drive the main safari: that person rides with the other as a passenger at the passenger fare.
At the base you hear the information briefing and the safety briefing together, side by side. Only the driver has to complete the practice drive; whether the partner joins that warm-up lap is up to the guide at the base, so one of you may spend a few minutes watching from the sidelines.
Planning a buggy safari Side for couples around your holiday
Budget roughly 4–4.5 hours from leaving your hotel to walking back in, a span that already covers the shuttle, the paperwork, both briefings and the trial run. With three departures — 08:00, 11:00 and 13:00 — you can fit it around the rest of your plans. Treat them as the moment the activity sets off rather than the moment the shuttle pulls up: you are collected earlier, and that hotel-specific time arrives with your booking confirmation.
Couples staying in Side, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı, Titreyengöl, Sorgun, Kızılağaç, Gündoğdu or Kızılot ride the shuttle there and back at no extra cost. Staying somewhere else? Drop us a WhatsApp line first, and we will see what can be arranged before you commit.
What to wear as a pair
Leave the matching white outfits at the hotel. Dust is very likely to find you on dirt roads and forest tracks, and on the days when conditions allow there is mud too. Old, comfortable outdoor clothes in dark colours are the sensible choice for both of you, together with closed shoes or trainers — flip-flops are not suitable for driving.
Helmets are provided. Goggles and bandanas are not part of the fare; the base sells them, and since you will share the same dust cloud, agree beforehand whether you want a pair each. After the ride you can rinse off in the showers and use the changing cabins, so throw a fresh outfit in the bag if dinner plans follow.
- Worn-in clothes you are happy to sacrifice to the dust, preferably dark
- Closed shoes or trainers
- Spare clothes for after the shower, if you like
- A little cash for goggles, bandanas, drinks or photos at the base
Photos and keepsakes
Couples often want pictures of the two of them covered in dust. The base team takes photos and video, which are paid for separately; we have no price for them to publish, so ask at the base. Food and drinks are not included in the fare either.
Keep phones and cameras somewhere safe while you drive. The guide's instructions come first on the route, and stopping where the group is told to stop is part of the safety briefing — so save the selfies for the stops.
Things to check before you book together
A few honest points apply to couples in particular. The safari is not suitable during pregnancy, in either seat. If either of you has had recent surgery or has a heart condition, ask us first and check with a medical professional. Nobody under the influence of alcohol or drugs takes part at all, so keep the celebration drinks for the evening.
Booking is simple. Pick a date from tomorrow onwards online, or message us on WhatsApp if you hope to go today. There is no card to enter and no online charge; you both pay in person on the day. Should your plans move, cancelling stays free of charge while more than 48 hours remain before the start.
Questions are welcome on WhatsApp at +90 536 603 75 84. Behind the booking stands Murat Atalay Travel Agency, registered with TÜRSAB under No. 11294.