Antalya Jeep Safari and ATV Quad Safari: Routes, Ages and Licence

An Antalya quad safari is a half-day outing of about 3 to 4 hours including hotel transfers, with roughly an hour and a half of riding on forest tracks and countryside trails near Antalya, while our jeep safari is part of a full-day trip into the Taurus Mountains. Our Antalya ATV quad safari with hotel transfer starts from $50 per person, and the jeep safari is part of our rafting, zipline and jeep combo from $67 per person. This page explains the routes, the dust, the age and licence rules, and how a jeep, a quad and a buggy differ, so you can choose the right one.

Jeep, quad or buggy: the short answer

Antalya operators often sell the three side by side, but they are different days out.

If you want the thrill of driving, choose the quad. If you have small children or older relatives, the jeep is the easier choice, because nobody has to steer. A buggy sits between the two: you drive, but with a steering wheel and a seat rather than handlebars.

Where the routes go: Taurus foothills, forest and dirt tracks

Antalya sits on a coastal plain with the Taurus Mountains rising behind it, and the off-road routes we checked head inland to the countryside and foothills. Exactly where depends on the operator's base.

• Our ATV safari follows a professional instructor along off-road trails, forest tracks and countryside near Antalya. The ride itself takes about 1.5 hours.
• Other quad operators describe similar ground. One runs woodland tracks in the Taurus foothills near the Kurşunlu Waterfall area, about 22 km from central Antalya. TUI describes rocky foothills, dry riverbeds, pine forest and rural hills.
• Our jeep safari climbs into the Taurus Mountains on the way to Köprülü Canyon National Park, where the day continues with rafting on the Köprüçay River, lunch by the water and a zipline.

Off-road routes are working tracks, not scenic roads, so do not expect a fixed list of viewpoints. The appeal is the terrain itself: loose gravel, pine woods, a few climbs and, after rain, mud. If you want a specific sight on the day, such as a canyon or a waterfall, ask before booking whether the route includes it.

How a half-day ATV safari runs, hour by hour

Our ATV tour page sets out the timing step by step. This is the plan for a standard ride.

The booking form lists start times from 08:00 to 14:00. In July and August, when the long-term average high in Antalya is about 34°C according to the Turkish State Meteorological Service (MGM), a morning ride is more comfortable. Our tour page also suggests late afternoon in summer. We confirm the real pickup time in writing before you pay.

Age limits and driving licence: who can drive

This is a common question, and the honest answer is that it depends on the operator. There is no single published rule that every Antalya quad company follows, and the listings we checked do not agree:

• TUI sets a minimum age of 16 for quad drivers and quad passengers, and 65 as the maximum. On its buggy option, drivers must be 16 and passengers can be 7, for insurance reasons.
• Vigo Tours says drivers must be at least 17, sells a passenger ticket from age 7 for riding behind the driver, and says you need neither a driving licence nor previous ATV experience.
• Civitatis gives an age requirement of 16 and says a valid driving licence is needed to drive the quads.

Our ATV tour page says no previous experience is needed and that age and driving rules decide who may drive and who rides as a passenger. It does not publish a minimum age or a licence rule. So, before booking, send us everyone's age and tell us who has a car driving licence. We will confirm in writing who can drive, who can ride as a passenger, and whether a child can join at all.

TUI also states that quad and buggy safaris are not suitable for expectant mothers or guests with back problems, and Vigo Tours adds serious heart or mobility problems. On a jeep the bumps are milder, but take the same care with pregnancy and back problems; TUI's Köprülü rafting listing gives the same warning for the river.

Dust, mud and what to wear

Dust is part of the deal on an Antalya quad safari, especially in summer. MGM figures show Antalya averages under one rainy day a month in July and August, so the tracks are dry and each quad throws up dust for the riders behind. Spacing out in the line helps, and the instructor sets the distance.

Our tour page and other operators recommend:

• Closed shoes, such as trainers. Sandals are a bad idea on footrests.
• Old clothes that can get covered in dust or mud; we also suggest long trousers to protect your legs.
• Sunglasses or goggles for your eyes. TUI recommends a face mask and goggles and says they can usually be bought on site.
• A bandana or buff for your face. These are not provided on our ATV safari, so bring one.
• Sun cream and water in summer.

In the wet months the problem changes from dust to mud. MGM's long-term averages show about 12 rainy days in December and January, and Vigo Tours notes that some sections can become muddy after rain. Our tour page says some riders like the mud even better. Either way, leave valuables at the hotel and keep both hands on the handlebars; if you film your ride, fix the phone firmly.

Is it safe? How the instructors run it

A guided safari is not free riding. On our ATV tour, the instructors start with a safety talk and driving instructions, hand out helmets and other safety gear, and give everyone a short practice ride on easy ground. They ride in front and set the speed, and the group follows in line.

What is included on our quad safari:

• Pickup and drop-off at hotels in selected areas of Antalya, with air-conditioned transport both ways
• The quad, professional instructors, the safety talk and the practice ride
• Helmet and other safety gear
• Fuel and full insurance for the activity

Not included: food and drinks, professional photos and videos, a bandana or face covering, and personal expenses.

The rules that keep people safe are simple: keep the speed and spacing the instructor gives, do not overtake, and stop if you feel out of control.

When a jeep safari makes more sense

In our range, the jeep safari is not sold on its own. It is part of a full activity day: a ride into the Taurus Mountains, rafting in Köprülü Canyon, lunch by the river and a zipline, in an order set by the activity team. Our combo runs from about 08:00 to 18:00 with pickup from central Antalya hotels and an English-speaking guide. Rafting equipment, safety gear, lunch, local taxes and parking fees are included; drinks at lunch and photo or video services are extra.

Choose the jeep combo if:

• your group includes people who do not want to drive a quad,
• you want a full day out of the resort, not a half day,
• you like the idea of rafting and a zipline as well as the off-road ride.

Choose the quad if you only have half a day, or you want to be at the handlebars yourself. It is easy to ride in the morning and spend the afternoon on the beach or in Kaleiçi, the old town.

Or a quad safari in Cappadocia instead?

If your trip includes both regions, you may wonder which ride to do. They are very different. In Antalya you ride forest and dirt tracks in the countryside and foothills inland. In Cappadocia the attraction is the landscape of rock formations, and the sunset rides through the valleys are the classic choice. Our Cappadocia ATV tour guide covers that ride in detail, and the Cappadocia sunset ATV quad safari in the Red and Rose valleys starts from $65 per person.

Doing both is fine. They do not feel like the same activity twice.

Planning tips for Antalya off-road days

• Book the quad on a beach day. At 3 to 4 hours including transfers, it fits in a morning.
• Send your hotel name first. Pickup covers selected Antalya areas; Lara, Belek, Side, Kemer and Alanya hotels should check with us before booking.
• Give ages and licences upfront. It saves disappointment at the base.
• Bring cash for photos. Photo and video packages are extra on both our ATV and our jeep combo.
• Use spring and autumn. Our tour page names spring and autumn as the most pleasant seasons for riding.

For a full holiday plan, our 3-day Antalya itinerary shows how an activity day fits next to the old town and the ruins, Antalya day trips compares the main excursions by resort, and things to do in Antalya gives the bigger picture. Arriving soon? See our Antalya airport transfer guide.

Tours that cover this

• Antalya ATV quad safari off-road with hotel transfer: instructor-led quad ride on forest tracks, 3 to 4 hours with transfers, helmet, fuel and insurance included. From $50 per person.
• Rafting, zipline and jeep safari combo tour from Antalya: jeep into the Taurus Mountains, rafting in Köprülü Canyon, zipline and lunch. From $67 per person.
• Cappadocia sunset ATV quad safari in the Red and Rose valleys: a one-hour ride at sunset if your trip continues to Cappadocia. From $65 per person.
• Suluada Island and Adrasan boat tour from Antalya: a calm sea day to balance an active one. From $50 per person.

See every option on our Antalya tours page and in experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions