How about adding excitement to your Antalya holiday and having an adrenaline-filled river cruise this year? Rafting promises you a journey where fun and adrenaline reaches its peak. Thanks to its rich geographical diversity, the Mediterranean Region is very suitable for water sports such as canoeing, rafting and river skiing. Especially Antalya has many options where you can do these sports whether as an amateur or professional. If you want to spend a holiday full of action and fun filled moments in Antalya, you can enjoy rafting to spice up your trip.
What is Rafting?
Rafting is a river sport that is done with boats called raft, on rivers with high flow. Rafting is done in teams of 4-6 people. These teams must act as a whole and cross the obstacles in the river. If you wish, you can form a great team with your friends and start the adventure. The flow rate of the rivers or the condition of the obstacles determine the difficulty of the tracks. If this is your first time for rafting, don’t forget to get a detailed brief from your instructor, choose a track suitable for your level, and get your safety equipment before the activity starts!
Rafting in Antalya
There are many rivers all over Turkey that are suitable for rafting at different difficulty levels. These rivers have different difficulty levels according to their obstacles and flow rates. Koprucay, one of the most preferred rivers for rafting in Turkey, is among the frequent destinations of extreme sports lovers in Antalya.
Antalya is a very convenient place for both amateur and professional rafting enthusiasts. You can enjoy rafting experience on more than one track in Antalya, where there are tracks for various difficulty levels. Koprucay, Koprulu Canyon, Manavgat River and Alara Creek are the most preferred rafting tracks in Antalya. By making a reservation for Antalya hotels, you can experience the excitement of extreme sports in the raging waves in this city.
Koprucay and Rafting Track
Originating from the Taurus Mountains, Koprucay passes through the canyons which are deemed wonders of nature and flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The historical Selge Ancient City located to the west of Koprucay, also known as Zerk City, adds even more value to the Koprulu Canyon with its riverside castles, aqueducts, bridges from the Roman period and historical roads. Koprulu Canyon National Park covers a part of Koprucay and the historical city of Selge. This region is very important in terms of the wildlife. In addition to various bird species, fallow deer, wild boar, wild goat, bear, wolf, fox and rabbit live in the forests here.
The Koprucay Rafting Track starts from the area where the water is still, approximately 100 meters below the Oluk Bridge. The waterfalls, which are frequently seen on the track with a difficulty level of 2-3, increase the adrenaline level and fun of the experience. The end of the track, which lasts approximately 10 kilometers, is at different points for amateurs and professionals. Amateurs need to finish before Concrete Bridge. Professional athletes can enter the first canyon after the Concrete Bridge, but in the second canyon, it’s not recommended since the stream disappears under the rocks in some parts and comes out again onwards.
Koprulu Canyon and Rafting Track
The world-famous rafting river Koprucay flows through Koprulu Canyon, located in Antalya’s Manavgat district. A frequent destination for nature and rafting enthusiasts, Koprulu Canyon, together with its national park, is like a piece of heaven on earth. Koprulu Canyon rafting track has a 14-kilometer route at difficulty levels of 1-2. The track, which starts right next to the historical Roman Bridge, ends two kilometers after passing Beskonak. For those who want a calm and fun route, Koprulu Canyon with its natural beauties promises more than rafting. You can easily reach both Koprulu Canyon and Koprucay Rafting Track by going from Antalya to Manavgat.
Manavgat River and Rafting Track
Originating from the Western Taurus Mountains, Manavgat River is 90 kilometers long. The water of the Manavgat River is fed by the underground waters coming from the canyons it passes through in the spring, and flows very clear and fast. The speed of the river decreases thanks to the Oymapinar Dam. The flow rate of the water is important for the starting point of the Manavgat River rafting track. Don’t forget to take a professional rafting athlete and a local guide with you for rafting on the Manavgat River track, difficulty level of which is quite high for amateurs. In the months when the water flow rate is suitable, the rafting track starts near Sahap Bridge around Ibradi. You can follow the 19-kilometer route between Sahap Bridge and Sevinc Village along the track. Throughout the route, there are three steep and challenging canyons on both sides. To ensure the safety on the track where there are cascades and even waterfalls at difficulty levels of 3-4-5, do not forget to come to the shore and do the necessary checks when you hear the sounds of the waterfall.
To reach Manavgat River, you need to access Ibradi first and then Sahap Bridge by using the Konya-Akseki road. This is the most suitable location to start rafting on the Manavgat River.
