Green Canyon

About this place

Green Canyon is not a canyon at all but a reservoir: behind Oymapınar Dam, a 185-metre concrete arch completed in 1984 on the Manavgat River, the water backed up into a limestone gorge in the Taurus foothills and became a narrow, twisting lake of milky turquoise that looks doctored in photographs and turns out to be entirely real from the deck of a boat. The dam itself is a working power station and off limits, so do not expect to stand on it or stroll the shoreline; the only practical way to see the place is the boat trip. The standard format is a full day: a bus collects you from your hotel in Side or Manavgat around nine, you spend roughly six hours on the water, and you are back at the hotel by about four. The boats are mostly double-decked wooden vessels carrying 70 to 110 people, with some larger ones, and have a bar, toilets and changing cabins, two swimming stops in sheltered bays, a buffet lunch at a lakeside restaurant and free fishing rods for anyone tempted. From Side in 2026 it costs around 30-35 euros per adult and about 20 for children aged 6 to 11, transfers, lunch and soft drinks included; from Alanya, Belek or Antalya the longer transfer adds a few euros. Children generally love it, but the way down to some of the jetties involves steps, so if you have a pushchair or older relatives in the party, ask the agent which pier your boat uses before booking. Two things are worth knowing before you book. First, the water is noticeably colder than the sea, since it comes from the depths of the reservoir; many visitors put it at around 20 degrees, which is bliss in August after the Side sun but can take your breath away in May or October, and plenty of people never leave the deck. Second, the big boats run on a party-cruise format, with loud music, dancing on the top deck and several vessels converging on the same bays at the same time, which rather defeats the peace and quiet you came for. If calm is what you want, or your family prefers privacy, ask your hotel or agent about a small private boat for your group; it costs more and changes the day completely. Getting there: there is no public transport to the pier. From Side it is about 30 km and roughly 45 minutes by car via Manavgat, then up the river valley to the Oymapınar area near Sevinç village, where the car parks and jetties sit above the dam. If you drive yourself you can buy a seat on a boat at the pier, usually for less than the all-inclusive tour price since the transfer is not included. The season runs roughly April to October; late May, June and September are the sweet spot, with warmer water than spring and fewer crowds than July and August. With your own car it pairs well with Manavgat Waterfall on the same day.