Swap the beach for a five-hour catamaran glide across the Oymapınar reservoir, where two swim stops, on-board fishing gear and a lakeside buffet fit neatly into half a day.
Quick answer
Swap the beach for a five-hour catamaran glide across the Oymapınar reservoir, where two swim stops, on-board fishing gear and a lakeside buffet fit neatly into half a day.
Behind the coast near Manavgat, the Oymapınar Dam holds back a long, deep lake the colour of polished jade — the place everyone on the Antalya coast calls Green Canyon. It is freshwater, ringed by limestone walls and pine forest, and the best seat for all of it is the deck of a boat.
This version of the trip is built for guests staying in Evrenseki, at the western end of the Side resort strip, who want the canyon without giving up a whole day: an air-conditioned vehicle collects you at your hotel, and roughly four and a half to five hours later it drops you back. In between come the catamaran cruise, two swims in the cool green water and an open-buffet meal.
Because the lake sits up in the Taurus mountains, the water stays refreshingly cool even in high summer — pack a towel and something dry to change into. Fishing tackle waits on board for anyone who would rather cast a line than swim, and a guide stays with the group from pickup to drop-off. Travel insurance is part of the package too.
Unlike the full-day canyon cruises, this catamaran docks for its meal: lunch is an open buffet at the Green Canyon Restaurant, eaten to a panoramic view of the reservoir. Drinks there, as on board, are ordered and paid for separately.
We collect from hotels in Side, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı, Titreyengöl, Sorgun, Gündoğdu, Kızılağaç, Kızılot. Staying somewhere else along the coast? Message us and we will tell you honestly whether we can reach you.
Questions
Most booked Not a sea trip at all — from your Side hotel you head inland to the emerald Oymapınar reservoir, where a music-free catamaran cruises the canyons with lunch and two cool-water swim stops.
Most booked Leave the Belek shoreline behind for a full day afloat on Green Canyon, where the boat threads between pine-covered cliffs, anchors in cool turquoise coves and serves lunch straight off the grill.
Most booked A mountain lake within easy reach of your Side-area sunbed: cruise the emerald Oymapınar reservoir for seven hours with swim stops, a grilled lunch on deck and pickup right from Kumköy.