Experience the Thrill of an Alanya Buggy Safari

Right then lads and lasses listen in and put down that half finished pint because I am about to tell you how to inject a bit of serious adrenaline into your holiday. If you have spent the last few days lying on a sunbed in Alanya turning a lovely shade of lobster red you are probably itching to do something that does not involve sleeping or eating. Do not get me wrong the beaches here are mint but sometimes you just need to get your heart racing and get a bit of dirt under your fingernails. That is exactly where an Alanya buggy safari comes into play. I have been knocking about Turkey for donkey’s years and I can tell you that getting behind the wheel of one of these machines is the best way to see the real countryside without having to hike up a mountain in forty degree heat.

Let us get one thing straight from the off because I do not want you turning up expecting a luxury cruise. An Alanya buggy safari is not a Sunday drive to the supermarket. It is a proper dusty loud and bumpy adventure that takes you right up into the Taurus Mountains. The best part is that the buggies are usually two seaters so you can share the experience with your other half or your best mate. You can argue about whose driving is worse while you are bouncing over rocks and splashing through mud puddles which is always a laugh. It is a cracking way to test a relationship or cement a friendship. The buggies are automatic and dead easy to handle so you do not need to be Lewis Hamilton to drive one but you do need to have your wits about you because the terrain is rugged.

Now I need to give you some serious advice about the logistics so you do not get mugged off before you even start. Most of the Alanya buggy safari tours are based way out in the sticks near the forests. It is miles away from the main hotel strip. If you think you can just jump in a yellow taxi and head up there yourself you are having a laugh. The taxi drivers in Alanya are decent lads mostly but the petrol prices are sky high and the meter will tick up faster than you can blink. A return trip in a cab will cost you more than the tour itself. Always book an Alanya buggy safari that includes the hotel pick up and drop off. It saves you a fortune and it saves you the stress of trying to give directions to a driver who does not speak a word of English.

When you arrive at the base camp for your Alanya buggy safari you will realize pretty quickly why I told you not to wear your best clothes. It is dusty. I mean seriously dusty. By the time you finish the tour you will look like a breaded chicken cutlet ready for the fryer. Do not wear white. In fact do not wear anything you care about. Wear old shorts and a t shirt that you do not mind ruining. You will also need a bandana or a scarf to cover your mouth and nose. The tour companies will try to sell you one for a fiver which is a bit of a rip off so if you are smart you will buy one from a local market in town for peanuts before you go. Sunglasses are also non negotiable unless you want eyes full of grit.

The route on a typical Alanya buggy safari is absolutely banging. You start off on some flat tracks to get the hang of the steering and then you head up into the pine forests. The smell of the pine trees in the heat is lush. You will drive through riverbeds and up steep hills and you get these amazing views looking back down over the coast. It is a completely different side of Turkey compared to the concrete jungle of the resort. Halfway through the Alanya buggy safari you usually stop at a river or a natural pool for a swim. The water is freezing cold which feels like heaven when you are covered in dust and sweat. Make sure you have your swimmers on underneath your clothes because there are not always changing rooms in the middle of the forest.

Let us talk about the lunch situation because driving over rocks works up a serious appetite. Most Alanya buggy safari packages include lunch at a local riverside restaurant. It is usually simple stuff like grilled chicken or fish with salad and bread but honestly it tastes better than a Michelin star meal after you have been bouncing around for two hours. Just remember that drinks are usually extra so bring some cash. Speaking of cash you will need it for the photos too. Throughout the Alanya buggy safari there will be photographers snapping pictures of you looking cool behind the wheel. At the end they will try to sell you the photos and a video for a price that might make your eyes water. Do not be afraid to haggle. Everything is negotiable in Turkey. If the price is too high walk away and watch how quickly it drops.

Another thing to watch out for is the heat. Even though you are moving and there is a breeze the sun is relentless. You are exposed to the elements for hours on an Alanya buggy safari. Slap on the sun cream before you leave the hotel and top it up when you stop for lunch. I have seen so many Brits come back from these trips looking like beetroot because they thought the wind would protect them. It will not protect you from the UV rays so do not be daft.

One final tip for the parents out there regarding the Alanya buggy safari. While it is great fun for older kids most companies have age restrictions for drivers. Usually you have to be over sixteen or possess a valid driving license to take the wheel. The little ones can ride as passengers but hold onto them tight because it gets bouncy. It is not really suitable for toddlers or babies so leave them with the grandparents at the hotel if you can.

So to wrap it all up an Alanya buggy safari is one of the top excursions you can do if you want a bit of action. It is fun it is dirty and it gets you out of the hotel for a full day. It is the perfect mix of sightseeing and adrenaline. Just remember to book with the transfer included wear your old rags and bring a scarf for the dust.

Right I am handing the microphone over to you lot now. I know loads of you have torn up the tracks in Alanya. Who was the designated driver on your Alanya buggy safari and did they nearly crash into a tree. Did you manage to get the dust out of your hair or are you still finding it a week later. Did you brave the freezing cold river for a swim. Drop a comment below and tell us your war stories. Your tips and funny disasters are what makes this community great so do not be shy. Let us have a laugh in the comments section. Cheers everyone.