Wear closed shoes and clothes you are happy to ruin — an Antalya quad or buggy safari coats you in fine limestone dust in summer and sticky carbonate mud after winter rain, and no outfit survives clean.
Verified July 2026
The single most common regret we hear at the track is "I wore my nice trainers." Dressing for a safari is simple once you accept one truth: whatever you wear is going to get filthy. Plan around that, not against it.
Footwear: closed shoes, no exceptions
Flip-flops and sandals are a genuine hazard near a hot engine and moving wheels, and the guide may turn you away. Wear old trainers or trail shoes you do not mind caking in dust or mud. On summer tracks the limestone dust works into every seam; after winter rain the carbonate mud is heavy and clings. Either way, these shoes will not look the same afterwards, so do not bring your best pair.
Clothes: layers you can sacrifice
Think practical, disposable and covered. Long or three-quarter trousers protect your legs from spray and the occasional branch far better than shorts. A t-shirt is fine, but pack a light long-sleeve if you burn easily — you will be on an open track under a sky that hits ~34°C average highs in July and August. Dark colours hide dust better than white. Leave anything you actually like at the hotel.
Eye protection is not optional
Reputable operators hand out goggles, and since 4 November 2025 protective goggles are legally mandatory for ATV drivers under the amendment in Resmî Gazete No. 33067. Even so, bring your own sunglasses as a backup — riding behind a convoy means eating the dust kicked up by the vehicles in front, and squinting into a dust cloud ruins the fun fast. Contact-lens wearers especially should seal their eyes behind goggles.
Head, hair and face
You will wear a provided helmet the whole ride, so skip the hat. Tie long hair back before the helmet goes on. A cheap buff or bandana over your nose and mouth in high dust season is the most underrated bit of kit we know — locals use them, tourists wish they had.
Season-by-season packing
In the dry summer months (roughly June–September) the enemy is dust and heat: sunglasses, breathable long trousers, sunscreen under your sleeves, and water. After the winter rains (December–February brings 225–250 mm a month in the wettest months), the enemy is mud and cold spray: bring a full change of clothes for afterwards and expect to be soaked from the knees down. Spring and autumn split the difference. There is more on picking your dates in dust season vs mud season.
What to leave behind
Loose scarves, dangling jewellery and anything that can fly off or catch have no place on a moving quad. Phones ride safest in a zipped, sealed pocket — or better, let the operator's photo team shoot for you, since a phone in your hand on a bumpy track tends to end up in the dust. If you are still deciding between machines, our quad vs buggy guide covers how exposed you will be, and you can browse options on our buggy safari and quad safari pages.
The one-line version
Old closed shoes, clothes you would throw away, eye protection, hair tied back, and a change of clothes waiting at the hotel. Do that and the only thing you will bring home is the grin.
FAQ
Can I wear shorts on a quad safari?
You can, and plenty of people do in summer, but long trousers protect your legs far better from dust spray, hot surfaces and the occasional branch. If you wear shorts, accept dustier, more scratched legs and apply sunscreen generously before you set off.
Do I need my own goggles?
Operators provide them, and goggles are legally required for ATV drivers since November 2025, so you should always be issued a pair. Bringing your own sunglasses as a backup is still wise, especially if you ride toward the back of the convoy where dust is thickest.
What shoes are best for a buggy or quad tour?
Any closed shoe you do not mind destroying — old trainers or trail shoes are ideal. Sandals and flip-flops are unsafe near the engine and wheels and are often refused by guides, so leave them at the pool.
Will my clothes really get that dirty?
Yes. Summer means a coat of fine white limestone dust; after winter rain it is heavy carbonate mud, often up to your knees. Bring a full change of clothes and never wear anything you want to keep pristine.