If you’re tired of lounging lazily by the seaside, you can add a little variety to your vacation – especially since a safari in Kemer is simply magical. Yes, there are some nuances that we will discuss below, but overall the excursion is worth every penny.
General Information
First, you need to decide: what type of safari suits you? A jeep safari in Turkey or a quad bike safari? The difference lies in the route and the vehicles, although calling the vehicles used in the rides “jeeps” is a bit of a stretch.
And a quad bike safari in Kemer (Kvadro Safari Kemere), as you might have guessed, is a trip on quad bikes.
The first excursion is more relaxed and smooth, while the second is a bit more dynamic – though it’s not a survival race, of course.
Jeeping
Let’s start with the more relaxed type – the jeep safari in Turkey (Kemer). This excursion consists of rides in small vehicles, micro jeeps. In our opinion, if larger SUVs were used on such a tour, the overall impression might have been even greater. However, it wouldn’t be fair to say that the program suffers because of this; it’s more about the extra value for the participants. But that’s another story.
So, these are small jeeps, and even an ordinary tourist can be behind the wheel—as long as they have a valid driver’s license.
The excursion begins in the morning when that very “little one” arrives at your hotel to take you to the assembly point for the entire little group. The convoy consists of about 14–15 vehicles. The small size is understandable due to the high cost of fuel, and it’s also a more economical option for tourists.
After a brief instruction, the group sets off along a pre-determined route. The road is excellently selected from a comfort point of view – and there’s no need to worry about difficult terrains. The entire route is on asphalt and fairly good dirt roads.
At the very beginning of the route there isn’t much to see, but once the convoy starts ascending, that’s when the real treat begins – the views of the sea and mountains are mesmerizing. With a removable roof, you can take excellent photos and videos.
By the way, if you forgot your camera but remembered your money, at the end of the trip you’ll be offered a disc containing a video shot by a professional operator during the ride.
In addition to the rides, the program includes three stops (this was the standard setup). The first stop is for lunch (the cost of which is included in the tour price). You can choose from an omelette, chicken, or beef. It’s quite possible that in 2025 there were some changes, but the principle remains the same – within 30–40 minutes your driver will check what you prefer, and upon arrival you just need to sit down at the place where your meal is served.
And by the way, pomegranate juice is not included in the price; we paid an extra 3 dollars for it.
After lunch, you can stroll through the village, sample fruits picked straight from the branch, and take photos by the enormous tree.
The second stop is a cave with stalactites. Well, this place is somewhat debatable in terms of interest – it seems more like a time-filler for the excursion rather than something to satisfy tourists’ curiosity. In our opinion, the Vorontsov Cave in Sochi is somewhat larger and more interesting. The descent is subject to a fee – 1.5 dollars.
The third stop is a small waterfall by a pond. There is a café (paid) on site, and you can take a dip if you don’t forget your swimwear. And then there’s a bridge – who do you think once walked here? Of course, Alexander the Great; he is said to have trampled everything here with his tireless march.
On the return, you will be offered the edited video. The price varies by source; on average, it is about 20–25 dollars per disc.
Regarding the price, depending on where you purchase the tour, its cost will differ. Traditionally, a ticket bought from a guide is several times more expensive than one purchased on the street (approximately 25 dollars on the street and about 60 dollars from a guide at a hotel), and everyone rides in one convoy – so think about it. If you don’t want to buy on the street but also don’t want to overpay the guide, use the Internet; below we present a reputable travel agency.
Regarding the price, it may turn out in a rather amusing situation that you end up riding in the same vehicle with people who bought a ticket three times more expensive – or three times cheaper. In such cases, even the driver prefers not to discuss the price.
What should you bring? First of all, plenty of water (so you won’t have to buy it at an inflated price on the road), clothes with covered shoulders (otherwise you might get quite a sunburn), and a scarf – it can get dusty. Incidentally, you can buy a scarf from the driver for 4–5 dollars.
Quad Bikes
If micro jeeps aren’t your thing, or if you simply want to continue with a bit of pseudo-extreme fun in Turkey, consider the option of quad bike rides. This excursion is a bit “dirtier” and involves riding off-road – though don’t expect a complete absence of roads, it can still be quite a thrill.
A quad bike is designed for two people, and since you pay for the bike in full, you can save quite a bit – roughly half the price. And if you’re riding solo, you have no other option.
No “Category A” license is required; you’ll be allowed to drive without one, after receiving a brief instruction on proper behavior in a convoy and behind the wheel in general.
After the instruction, there is a standard run on an improvised circuit, formation of the convoy, and then off you go, towards adventure. Sure, you might be tempted to scream and speed off to a destination, but no – it’s not that way. The convoy moves at a slow pace; the guides carefully monitor that no one races or falls behind, so as not to turn the ride into chaos.
It should be noted that for female participants we recommend not overpaying for two quad bikes (if riding in a pair), because although they are not hard to drive, there are certain challenges (a numb finger or even a blister can occur). There have been cases where women were reassigned to ride with instructors.
The entire excursion takes place over rather challenging terrain – there are ditches, boulders, and fallen trees; at times it isn’t easy, but your driving skills quickly improve and within minutes you feel as if you were born in the saddle.
There will be one stop along the way, near a picturesque pond – so don’t forget your swimwear.
As for a camera or phone, the guides do not recommend taking them along because no one will be responsible for them. However, we feel that this is a tactic to increase the number of sold video discs. The discs, along with the recorded footage, will be shown to everyone after the trip. The disc’s price is usually no more than 10 USD, but you should definitely negotiate – it’s often possible to get a discount of up to 50% off the initial price. The staff even mention in passing that they initially set a high price so that tourists can bargain.
The price for a two-hour quad bike safari is 40 dollars. Regarding whether to purchase through a guide or on the street, we offer an alternative – see the offer below.
Don’t forget to bring plenty of water, clothes with covered shoulders that you don’t mind getting dirty (it can get grimy), and a scarf, as it can also get dusty.
You won’t be served food during the excursion; if you’re not confident in your stomach, consider taking a snack with you.
So, the safari in Kemer (in Antalya, by the way, a similar program is available) is a worthwhile excursion that you should try if you’ve never experienced anything like it before. Sensible tourism recommends it!
