Your Thrilling Alanya Quad Safari Awaits

Right then listen up you lot and put down that half melted ice cream for a second because I am about to tell you how to inject some serious horsepower into your Turkish holiday. If you have been lying on a sunbed in Alanya for the last three days turning a lovely shade of lobster pink you are probably bored stiff by now. Do not get me wrong the beaches are mint but there is only so much sand a bloke can handle before he needs a bit of action. That is exactly where an Alanya quad safari comes into the picture. I have been knocking about this coastline for donkey’s years and I can tell you that getting behind the handlebars of a quad bike is the absolute best way to see the real Turkey without being stuck on a stuffy coach with fifty other sweating tourists.

Let us get one thing straight from the off because I do not want you turning up expecting a gentle Sunday drive. An Alanya quad safari is a proper dusty loud and adrenaline fuelled adventure that takes you right up into the Taurus Mountains. It is one of the most popular Alanya excursions for a reason. You are in the driver’s seat literally. You control the speed and you control the fun. The best part is that you do not need to be a mechanic or a pro racer to do it. The bikes are automatic and dead easy to handle so even if the only thing you have ever driven is a shopping trolley you will be fine.

Now I need to give you some serious advice about the logistics so you do not get mugged off before you even start your engine. Most of the Alanya quad safari tours are based way out in the sticks near the forests and riverbeds. It is miles away from the main hotel strip where you are likely staying. 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 an absolute fortune likely more than the tour itself. Always book an Alanya quad safari that includes the hotel pick up and drop off. It saves you a massive headache and leaves you with more cash for a few cheeky pints later.

When you arrive at the base camp for your Alanya quad safari you will realize pretty quickly why I told you not to wear your best designer gear. It is dusty. I mean seriously dusty. By the time you finish the tour you will look like a breaded goujon 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 are happy to retire to the bin afterwards. You will also need a bandana or a scarf to cover your mouth and nose or you will be eating dirt for two hours. 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 quad safari is absolutely banging. You start off on some flat tracks to get the hang of the steering and then you rev up and head into the pine forests. The smell of the pine trees in the heat is lush. You will drive through dry riverbeds and splash through muddy puddles and climb up dusty mountain paths. It gives you a completely different perspective of the country. You pass through little rural villages where life is totally different to the chaos of the resort. Halfway through the Alanya quad safari you usually stop at a river or a mountain lake for a swim. The water is often 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 changing facilities in the middle of a forest are usually non existent.

Let us talk about the lunch situation because wrestling a quad bike over rocks works up a serious appetite. Most Alanya quad safari packages include lunch at a traditional village restaurant. It is usually simple honest grub like grilled chicken or fish with salad and rice but honestly it tastes better than a fancy meal after you have been bouncing around for two hours. Just remember that drinks are usually extra so bring some cash in Lira. Speaking of cash you will need it for the photos too. Throughout the Alanya quad safari there will be photographers snapping pictures of you looking heroic on your bike. 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 massive warning regarding safety on your Alanya quad safari involves footwear. I see Brits turning up in flip flops all the time and it drives me mad. Do not wear flip flops. You are driving a heavy machine with a hot engine. If your foot slips you will burn yourself or lose a toe. Wear trainers or secure sandals that stay on your feet. The guides will likely not let you ride if you are in sliders so do not be that person who holds up the group.

Also keep in mind that the sun is relentless. Even though you are moving and there is a breeze you are exposed to the elements for hours on an Alanya quad safari. Slap on the sun cream before you leave the hotel and top it up when you stop for the swim. The wind tricks you into thinking it is cooler than it is but the UV rays are brutal.

So to wrap it all up an Alanya quad safari is one of the top things you can do if you want to escape the hotel and feel a bit of freedom. It is exciting it is dirty 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 petrolheads now. I know loads of you have torn up the tracks in Alanya. Did you feel like the king of the road on your Alanya quad safari or did you end up in a bush. Did you manage to get the dust out of your ears or are you still finding it a week later. Did you brave the freezing cold river dip. 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.