A steering wheel, not handlebars
The buggy is driven with a steering wheel, and you sit in a seat inside its tubular frame with your passenger beside you. If you drive a car at home, the main control is one you already know.
What will be new is the ground under the wheels. The course lies in the Aspendos countryside on the land along the Köprüçay river, not in Belek, and it mixes forest tracks, dusty open stretches and shallow river sections, with mud when conditions allow. None of it is a smooth road, and that is the point of the day.
The briefing comes first
After the transfer from your hotel, the day starts at the base with a safety briefing from the instructor. This is where you hear how the buggy is handled and how the group moves along the course. Listen closely, ask about anything that is unclear, and say so if you feel nervous; nobody expects you to know it all already.
Helmets are handed out at the base. That helmet comes with the price and is the one piece of protective kit we supply. Dust masks and bandanas are yours to bring if you want them, and goggles can be bought at the base.
The test ride is the real gate
Nobody heads out at the wheel without first passing a compulsory test ride. Expect a genuine assessment: some people do not make it through. It shows whether the person at the wheel can handle the buggy before the group heads out onto the course.
Get through it and you drive. If it goes badly, or you realise during it that driving is not for you, you move to the passenger seat instead. You will not be asked for a driving licence, because this is a private off-road course, not a public road, and that is exactly why the test ride carries the weight it does. Drivers must be 16 or older and bring an ID that shows their age.
Why the short route suits a first go
Both routes run on the same course: the short one is 18 km and the long one is 28 km, covering 10 km more. On a first off-road drive, the short route gives you the forest, the dust and the river at a more modest length, and it costs €35 for the driver against €43 on the long route.
Passengers pay half: €17.50 on the short route and €21.50 on the long one. Whichever you choose, the programme takes about 4–4.5 hours hotel to hotel, with the transfer, the briefing and the test ride included. If the short route leaves you wanting more, the long one is there for your next booking.
Following the guide in the convoy
Out on the course, the guide rides at the front of the convoy and decides the pace for everyone behind. Your job is to keep to it: stay in line, leave a sensible gap to the buggy in front and follow the guide's lead. There is no need to push and no prize for overtaking; the safari is not a race.
If you feel unsure at any point, slow down within the pace of the group rather than trying to keep up with the fastest driver. The guide is there for exactly that kind of moment.
What to wear for your first ride
The safari is not recommended during pregnancy or with back or neck problems. If either applies to you, message us on WhatsApp before you book.
Otherwise, dress for the ground rather than for the beach. Dust settles on everything along the forest tracks and open stretches, and the river sections, plus any mud on the day, leave their mark on shoes and clothes. Anything you would hate to see stained is better left at the hotel.
- Old or comfortable clothes that can take dust and mud
- Sturdy shoes that cover your feet; leave flip-flops and slippers behind
- Nothing white, unless you want it to change colour
- Your own sunglasses and a bandana for your nose and mouth, as neither is included