Never driven off-road? You are the usual guest
Most people who book this safari have never sat in a buggy before, and the day is built around that. The vehicle is automatic: you steer with a wheel, press one pedal to go and one to slow down, and sit inside the seat rather than perched on top. There are no gears, no clutch and nothing to start by hand.
You also do not need any paperwork beyond an ID showing your age. Drivers must be 16 or over, yet even a total newcomer needs no driving licence, because the buggies stay on a private off-road course that never meets a public road.
What you do need is a willingness to listen during the briefings and to follow the guide once you are moving. Experience is not the entry ticket; attention is.
How a first time buggy safari in Side unfolds
Nothing is left to guesswork for beginners. The steps below happen in this order on every departure, whether you choose the 08:00, 11:00 or 13:00 start. Those clock times belong to the safari itself; the shuttle reaches your hotel before then, at a time that varies with your hotel and that day's pickup round and is confirmed once you book.
- Arrival at the base after the transfer from your hotel
- Registration, where the drivers show their ID
- An information briefing: the buggy and its controls, the route, how the group moves, the ground rules and the stopping drill
- A safety briefing: staying behind the guide, spacing, when overtaking and stopping are allowed, sensible speed, protective kit and what to do in an emergency
- A vehicle explanation at the buggy itself
- A practice drive for every driver
- The guide's assessment
- The main off-road safari on the 18 km route
The practice drive is where beginners find their feet
Nobody skips the practice drive — not even guests who have handled a buggy before. It is a short first go at steering and braking on the course while the guide watches. For a newcomer it is the moment the controls stop feeling strange.
It is also a real check. Every driver gets assessed, and the guide alone decides who keeps the wheel for the main loop. Nobody is promised a pass, but a 'not today' is not the end of the outing: you still cover the whole loop, seated beside a driver, and pay the €15 passenger fare.
If you already feel unsure before you arrive, you can simply book the passenger seat next to someone who wants to drive. Many beginners enjoy the forest tracks more when they are not concentrating on the pedals.
Five habits that help first-time drivers
These are not tricks; they simply echo what the safety briefing covers. Keep them in mind and the route feels much calmer.
- Watch the guide, not the buggy in front, and do what the guide signals.
- Leave a safe gap so the dust ahead has time to settle and you can see the ground.
- Choose an appropriate speed for the surface; bumps and loose dirt reward a steady foot.
- Do not overtake unless the guide tells you it is fine.
- When the group stops, stop where you are told and keep your helmet on.
What a beginner should wear and bring
Dress for dirt. The route crosses forest tracks and dirt roads, throws up dust, and has small stream crossings and water-splash stops; mud is part of it when the ground allows, though it is never guaranteed. Old, comfortable outdoor clothes in darker colours work far better than anything white.
Closed shoes or trainers are recommended for driving, and flip-flops are not suitable. You are handed a helmet at the base and keep it on from start to finish. Want goggles or a bandana? The base sells both as extras — handy if you would rather not taste the trail or squint through it. Because the base has showers and cabins to change in, a clean outfit for the ride home is well worth packing.
Booking a first safari without stress
Choose a date from tomorrow onwards and pick a departure; for the same day, send us a WhatsApp message. Reserve through the form or on WhatsApp; there is no card step anywhere, because you hand over the fare in person on safari day. Change your mind more than 48 hours before the start and the cancellation costs nothing.
If your hotel is in Side, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı, Titreyengöl, Sorgun, Kızılağaç, Gündoğdu or Kızılot, the return shuttle is already covered. Hotel somewhere outside those nine? A quick WhatsApp to us before you book settles whether a pickup is possible. Plan on roughly 4–4.5 hours from hotel to hotel.
A quick health note for first-timers: the safari is not suitable during pregnancy, and anyone with back or neck problems, recent surgery or a heart condition should ask us first and, if in doubt, a medical professional. Nobody under the influence of alcohol or drugs takes part.