Unleash Adventure with an Alanya Jeep Safari

Right then lads and lasses listen in and put down that lukewarm Efes for a second because I am about to save you from turning into a permanent fixture on your sun lounger. If you have been roasting yourself by the pool for the last few days you are probably starting to wonder if there is more to this country than just all inclusive buffets and questionable tan lines. Do not get me wrong I love a bit of downtime but you cannot come all the way to Turkey and not see the proper wild side of it. That is where an Alanya jeep safari comes into play. I have been knocking about this coastline for donkey’s years and I can tell you that jumping into one of these open top beasts is the absolute best way to blow the cobwebs away and see the real stunning scenery hidden behind the hotels.

Let us be honest for a minute because you did not fly four hours just to look at the back of a stranger’s head at the poolside bar. You want a bit of adventure. An Alanya jeep safari is exactly what it says on the tin. It is a full day expedition that takes you right up into the Taurus Mountains and away from the humidity of the coast. It is one of the most popular Alanya excursions for a reason. It is loud and it is dusty and it is absolutely brilliant fun. You get to feel the wind in your hair and see the landscape change from concrete hotels to pine forests and rugged cliffs which is a sight for sore eyes let me tell you.

Now I need to give you some serious advice about the logistics so you do not get mugged off before you even leave the lobby. Most of these tours head deep into the hinterland. If you think you can just hail a yellow taxi and meet them up there you are having a laugh. The taxi drivers in Alanya are decent enough blokes generally but the petrol prices here are astronomical and the meter will tick up faster than your heart rate on a first date. A return trip in a cab would cost you more than the entire holiday budget. Always book an Alanya jeep safari that includes the hotel pick up and drop off. It saves you a fortune and it saves you the hassle of trying to navigate mountain roads that would make a goat dizzy.

When the convoy arrives to pick you up for your Alanya jeep safari you will notice the vehicles are usually robust open top 4x4s. This brings me to a massive tip regarding your wardrobe. Do not wear your Sunday best. I repeat do not wear white. You are going to be driving off road on dusty tracks. By the time the day is done you will be covered in a fine layer of Turkish dust that seems to stick to everything. It gets everywhere. Wear old shorts and a t shirt that you do not mind getting grubby. Also you will need a bandana or a scarf to cover your mouth and nose when you hit the dirt tracks. The tour guides will try to sell you one for a fiver but you can pick one up at the local market for peanuts before you go so be smart about it.

The route on a typical Alanya jeep safari is absolutely cracking. You leave the tarmac behind and start climbing into the foothills. The smell of the pine trees is lush and the air gets a bit cooler as you go up which is a relief from the roasting heat at sea level. You pass through traditional villages where life moves at a completely different pace. You might see the locals working in the fields or sitting in the tea gardens. It gives you a glimpse of the real authentic culture that you just do not see in the resort. The guides usually stop at the best viewpoints so you can snap some photos of the valleys and the peaks to make everyone back home jealous.

One of the highlights of an Alanya jeep safari is the swim stop. You will usually pull up at a mountain river like Dim Cay or a hidden lake. The water here is fresh and often freezing cold compared to the soup like temperature of the sea in August. It is a proper shock to the system but it feels amazing when you are hot and dusty. Make sure you have your swimmers on underneath your clothes because changing facilities in the mountains can be a bit basic or non existent and nobody wants to be doing a towel dance in the bushes.

Let us talk about the grub because bumping around in a jeep works up a serious appetite. Most Alanya jeep safari packages include lunch at a rustic village restaurant. It is usually simple honest food like grilled chicken or fish with salad and rice. It is not Michelin star dining but it tastes fantastic when you are sitting in the shade of a tree with a view of the mountains. Just remember that drinks are usually extra so bring some cash in Lira to buy a cold coke or a beer. Also regarding the price of the tour itself it tends to fluctuate because of the inflation here but generally the entrance fees to the national park areas are included in your ticket price so you should not have any nasty surprises there.

A big tourist trap to watch out for on any Alanya jeep safari is the hard sell on photos and videos. Throughout the day there will be a cameraman filming the convoy and snapping pictures of you waving your arms in the air. At the end of the tour they will try to sell you the DVD or a link to the photos 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 steep just walk away and watch how quickly they drop it.

Also keep in mind that the sun is relentless. Even though you have the wind in your face on an Alanya jeep safari you are exposed to the UV rays all day. Slap on the sun cream before you leave and top it up at lunch. I have seen so many Brits come back looking like beetroot because they forgot that the wind does not stop you from burning.

So to wrap it all up an Alanya jeep safari is the perfect antidote to a boring beach holiday. It gets you out of the hotel and into the wild. It is exciting and it is messy and it is a proper laugh. 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 the adventurers in the room. I know loads of you have bounced around the mountains in the back of a jeep. Did you manage to keep your hat on during your Alanya jeep safari or is it currently halfway down a cliff. Did you brave the freezing cold river water or did you just dip a toe in and leg it. Drop a comment below and share your war stories. Your tips and funny disasters are what makes this community a proper guide for the next lot of travellers so do not be shy. Let us get the banter going in the comments section. Cheers everyone.