Is buggy safari Side worth it for you?
Whether a half day is worth spending on something depends on what you want from it, so here is the plain version. This safari is about driving: you take the wheel of an automatic buggy and follow a guide over 18 km of forest tracks, dirt roads, uneven ground and small stream crossings, on off-road land in private hands behind the Side coast. There are water-splash stops along the way, and on days when the ground is wet there is mud too.
It is not sightseeing. No waterfall, village or viewpoint is part of the programme, and we do not promise any. If what you want is to get behind a wheel on rough ground, get dusty and laugh about it in the shower afterwards, it is likely to feel worth the time. If you were hoping for a scenic excursion with stops, this is probably not your day out.
What you actually get for the money
Plan on roughly 4–4.5 hours from leaving your hotel to being dropped back. That is the whole programme, including the transfer, registration, briefings and practice drive, and not a riding-time figure. What you pay for separately is short: goggles and a bandana if you want them (the base sells both), anything to eat or drink, and any pictures or clips the base team shoots for you.
Value is easier to judge when you know exactly what the price covers. For €30 as a driver, or €15 as a passenger, you get the following, and nothing on the list costs extra:
- Round-trip hotel transfer from Side, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı, Titreyengöl, Sorgun, Kızılağaç, Gündoğdu or Kızılot
- The buggy and a helmet
- An information briefing and a safety briefing
- A vehicle explanation and a practice drive for every driver
- Professional guidance on the 18 km route
- Insurance, where applicable under the operating policy
- Changing cabins and showers at the base
Who tends to get the most out of it
Newcomers to off-road driving are well served by the format. Being automatic, the buggy has just a wheel and two pedals and no gears, and nobody goes onto the main route without the briefings and the practice drive first. A driving licence never comes up, since this is a private off-road course, not a public road, so the only conditions for driving are being 16 or older and passing the guide's assessment.
Mixed groups also do well. One person can drive while another rides as a passenger at half the price, which suits couples where only one of you wants the wheel, or families with children aged 6 and over who are too young to drive. And if you simply like the idea of coming home properly dirty, this is a half day built around exactly that.
When it is probably not worth it
Being honest about this saves everyone a disappointing morning. Think twice, or check with us beforehand, if one of these describes you:
- You are pregnant — the safari is not suitable during pregnancy
- You have back or neck problems — the buggy shakes over rough ground; ask us before booking, as the passenger seat may suit you better
- You are recovering from an operation or living with a heart condition — talk to us first and, if in doubt, a medical professional
- Your group includes children under 6 — they cannot be booked
- You strongly dislike dust, dirt or getting splashed — they are part of the experience, not a side effect
- You were counting on mud — it depends on the ground on the day and cannot be promised
Driver or passenger: where the value lies
Driving is the point of the safari for most people who book it, and the driver fare of €30 reflects that: you get the wheel for the whole route plus the practice drive before it. The passenger fare of €15 is exactly half, for the same transfer, helmet, briefings and route, just without steering.
The passenger seat is not a lesser day out so much as a different one, and it removes any pressure for someone who would rather watch than drive. Keep in mind that the guide has the final say after the practice drive; whoever ends up not steering still does the whole loop, seated beside a driver and paying the passenger fare.
Why trying it carries little risk
You do not pay anything up front. Booking needs no card, there is no online payment, and the fare is paid on the tour day. If the weather, your plans or your mood change, cancelling is free until 48 hours before the start.
Bookings can be made for tomorrow onwards, online or on WhatsApp at +90 536 603 75 84; for the same day, send a message. The agency taking your booking is Murat Atalay Travel Agency, number 11294 in the TÜRSAB register.
How to make it worth every minute
Wear old, comfortable outdoor clothes in dark colours, plus closed shoes or trainers, since flip-flops are not suitable for driving. Pack spare clothes for after the shower, and consider buying goggles and a bandana at the base if you would like eyes and mouth shielded from the dust.
Pick the departure that fits your day: 08:00 in the morning, 11:00 in the late morning or 13:00 in the afternoon. Remember that these are activity departure times; the transfer reaches your hotel earlier, and that pickup time is confirmed with your booking. Then listen closely at the briefings and treat the practice drive as practice, because the guide is watching.