Dress for the track, not for the photo
The buggy safari and the quad safari share one private off-road course inland from the Side coast: forest tracks, dirt roads, uneven ground, small stream crossings and water-splash stops. Dust hangs behind every vehicle, mud sits in the low points, and water finds its way in. Dress for that, and the mess is the fun of it.
So the rule is short: old clothes, comfortable outdoor clothing, and colours that forgive dirt. Dark colours rather than white — a white T-shirt looks very different by the end of the drive. Long or short sleeves is your call; nothing you wear should need to come home looking new.
- Old clothes you would happily hose down afterwards
- Comfortable outdoor clothing you can move in
- Dark colours rather than white
- Nothing you would mind getting dusty, dirty or muddy
Shoes: closed, sports shoes ideal, flip-flops not suitable
Closed shoes matter most. Sports shoes or trainers are ideal: they stay on, they grip, and they do not mind dust or water. In a buggy you work two pedals; on a quad your feet ride close to whatever the track throws up.
Flip-flops are not suitable for off-road driving — they slip off, protect nothing from mud or water, and turn a simple practice drive into a distraction. A sandal is not a closed shoe either. Bring an older pair you do not mind ruining and keep the sandals for the evening.
Helmet included — goggles and bandana are extras
A helmet is provided and worn for the whole safari; it is in the price and not an extra. Goggles and a bandana are the two optional extras: not in the base price, sold at the base, or bring your own. A bandana over nose and mouth is the usual answer to dust; goggles keep it out of your eyes. Sunglasses count as your own eye protection. We publish no price for the extras; you pay at the base if you want them.
Pack a change of clothes for the showers at the base
Changing cabins and showers at the base are included. After 18 km of off-road driving you can rinse off the dust and mud before the return hotel transfer — so a change of clothes is worth packing if you would rather arrive back at the hotel clean.
Pack the spare set in a bag that can take the dirty one home, plus a small towel — we do not publish whether towels are supplied. Door to door the day is approximately 4–4.5 hours; the shower is the last stop before the transfer.
Children on the Quad Safari and the Family Buggy Safari
Children aged 6–10 ride as passengers with an adult on the Quad Safari and the Family Buggy Safari, and they dress like the adults: old clothes, closed shoes, dark colours. Everyone wears a helmet for the whole safari, children included, so a hat is no substitute. Children under 6 cannot take part; anyone aged 11 or over rides at the adult fare.
The Buggy Safari sells adult seats only; a family with children aged 6–10 books the Family Buggy Safari — same buggies, same course, the child beside an adult driver. Drivers are 16 or older and bring ID as proof of age.
The night before: what to lay out
Your hotel pickup time is earlier than the departure time shown on the calendar and is confirmed with your booking — it depends on your hotel and the route. We collect from Side, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı, Titreyengöl, Sorgun, Kızılağaç, Gündoğdu and Kızılot, so lay the clothes out the evening before.
No driving licence is required — the safari runs on a private off-road course, not on public roads — so the document to pack is your ID. Bring some money for extras: goggles, bandana, food and drinks, and photos and video by the base team are paid at the base. The safari itself is paid on the day, nothing is charged online, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before. Then only the information briefing, the safety briefing and the practice drive stand between you and the track.