Why the Taurus foothills behind Side are prime quad country
Side sits right where the flat coastal strip meets the first ridges of the Taurus mountains, and that geography is a gift for quad riders. Minutes inland from the beach hotels, the tarmac gives way to red-dirt forest tracks that wind through Mediterranean pine, drop into dry river beds and climb rutted slopes. In dry weather it's all dust and throttle; after rain the same tracks turn to proper mud and shallow water crossings that soak you to the grin. This isn't a flat field with a rope around it — it's genuine off-road terrain, and it's why Side–Manavgat is the corridor serious quad operators build their tours around.
What a top Side quad tour includes
A great day here is about more than just handing you keys. The best Side safaris come with the full package, so you can turn up with nothing but closed shoes and clothes you don't mind trashing.
- Your own quad. Every adult rider gets their own ATV to drive — you steer, you throttle, you brake. Children ride as passengers with a parent rather than driving alone.
- Full safety kit. Helmet, goggles, a proper safety briefing, a practice lap to find your feet, insurance and a lead guide setting the pace out front.
- No licence needed. No experience required either — beginners are the norm, and the guide keeps the convoy together and the pace sensible.
- Free hotel transfer. Included pick-up and drop-off across the Side, Evrenseki, Kumköy, Manavgat, Sorgun and Titreyengöl area — no hidden add-on.
- Pay on the day. Reserve free online now and settle up when you arrive, so booking costs you nothing upfront.
Combine it with rafting in Köprülü Canyon
Here's Side's trump card: you're a short transfer from Köprülü Canyon, home to Turkey's best-known white-water rafting. That makes the quad-plus-rafting combo one of the most popular days out in the whole region. You spend part of the day carving through forest tracks on your ATV and the other part bouncing down the Köprülü rapids in a raft — dust one moment, cold canyon water the next. It's the ideal day if you want maximum adrenaline variety and only have one free slot in your holiday, and free transfer stitches the whole thing together.
Our recommended Side quad tours
Rather than chase the cheapest listing you find, here are the Side tours we actually run and stand behind, so you can pick the day that fits you.
- City of Side Quad Safari — our classic Side ride, straight into the pine-and-mud foothills. The natural choice if you want a pure quad day close to your hotel.
- Rafting and Quad Safari — an adrenaline-filled day in Side — the full combo, pairing the ATV trails with white-water rafting in Köprülü Canyon for land-and-water thrills in one go.
Each tour card shows the live "from" price and exactly what's included, so you always know what you're reserving before you commit.
How pricing works in Side
You reserve online for free and pay on the day — there's no charge to hold your spot, and the free hotel transfer is already baked in rather than an extra. What actually moves the price is simple: how long you ride, whether you take the pure quad day or the rafting combo, private versus shared, and the season. If a price looks too good to be true, it usually is — that's the sign of tarmac-only laps, missing gear or no transfer. Check the live price on the tour card and you'll see precisely what your day includes.
What to expect on the day
Come ready to get dirty. Wear closed shoes and clothes you don't mind splattering, and pack a change for afterwards. You'll be collected from your hotel in the morning or afternoon, kitted out with helmet and goggles, briefed and given a practice lap before the guide leads the convoy onto the trail. Expect dust when it's dry and mud when it's wet — both are part of the fun. Bring sunscreen, water and, if you want to keep the memories, a strap-mounted camera or GoPro. Then it's throttle, dust and open forest track through the best off-road country the Side coast has to offer.