Köprülü Canyon: Turkey's Premier Rafting Destination
Köprülü Canyon — Köprülü Kanyon in Turkish — is a dramatic limestone gorge carved by the Köprüçay river through the southern foothills of the Taurus Mountains, in the Manavgat district of Antalya province on Turkey's Mediterranean coast. The canyon itself runs roughly 14 km through sheer rock walls draped in cypress and pine, and the whole area is protected as Köprülü Canyon National Park (coordinates approximately 37.28° N, 31.18° E). It's the single most popular white-water rafting destination in the country, drawing day-trippers from across the Turkish Riviera almost every day of the rafting season.
What makes Köprülü Canyon stand out isn't only the rafting, though. Above the gorge, a beautifully preserved Roman arched bridge — the Oluk Bridge — still spans the river, and higher still, the ruins of the ancient mountain city of Selge sit scattered across a remote plateau, largely untouched by mass tourism. Few places in Turkey combine an adrenaline activity, Roman engineering, and a genuine "lost city" in a single national park.
Quick Facts
| Location | Manavgat district, Antalya province (~37.28° N, 31.18° E) |
| River / canyon length | Köprüçay river; canyon runs roughly 14 km |
| Key activity | White-water rafting, mostly grade II–III |
| Historic sites | Roman Oluk Bridge, ancient Selge (theatre, temples) |
| Status | Köprülü Canyon National Park, small entrance fee |
| Best time to visit | April–October for rafting season |
| Nearest airport | Antalya (AYT), about 90 km away |
Why Köprülü Canyon Is Turkey's Rafting Capital
The Köprüçay's combination of cold, clear, fast-moving water and a manageable grade II–III difficulty makes it ideal for a broad range of visitors — families with children, first-time rafters, and more experienced paddlers looking for a scenic rather than extreme run. The classic ~14 km stretch through the gorge takes a couple of hours on the water and is run as a standard package: transport, safety gear, a certified guide, and usually a riverside lunch included. Unlike more technical rafting rivers elsewhere in Turkey, Köprülü Canyon prioritizes accessibility, which is exactly why it has become the default rafting day trip from Antalya, Side, Belek, and Alanya.
The cold water comes from mountain springs and snowmelt feeding the Köprüçay, keeping temperatures refreshingly low even in the height of summer — a welcome contrast to the Mediterranean heat outside the gorge. See our rafting guide for a full breakdown of the run, difficulty, and what to expect on the water.
The Roman Oluk Bridge
Spanning the gorge partway along its length, the Oluk Bridge is a remarkably intact Roman-era arched stone bridge, still standing after roughly two thousand years above the rushing river below. It's one of the more photogenic structures in the park and a reminder that this canyon has been a crossing point and trade corridor since antiquity, long before it became a rafting destination. Most rafting trips pass beneath or near the bridge, and it's also reachable on foot for visitors exploring the park independently.
Ancient Selge: A Lost City Above the Canyon
High above the gorge, on a remote mountain plateau, lie the ruins of Selge, once a powerful Pisidian city with its own coinage, a theatre carved into the hillside, and temple remains scattered across the site. Unlike Turkey's better-known ancient cities, Selge sees relatively few visitors thanks to its remote, winding access road — which is part of its appeal for travelers who want ruins without the crowds. Read our full ancient Selge guide for how to get there and what survives on site today.
A National Park Beyond the River
Köprülü Canyon National Park extends well beyond the rafting stretch itself, covering dense endemic cypress forest, hiking trails, and quiet picnic spots along the riverbanks. Entry to the park requires a small fee, and while rafting is sold as a package by operators, independent visitors can also explore the park's walking trails, the bridge, and riverside areas without joining a rafting trip. See our things to do guide for the full range of activities beyond white water.
Planning Your Visit
Before you go, it's worth reviewing the practical details:
- Rafting at Köprülü Canyon — difficulty, what's included, and what to expect on the river.
- Ancient Selge — the ruined mountain city above the gorge.
- Best time to visit — seasonal water levels and weather.
- How to get to Köprülü Canyon — routes and transfer options from Antalya.
If you'd rather not arrange transport and rafting logistics yourself, you can book a Köprülü Canyon tour that bundles transport, gear, and guiding into a single day trip from the coast.
Combining Köprülü Canyon With Nearby Sites
Köprülü Canyon's inland location makes it a natural half-day or full-day excursion from Antalya, Side, or Belek, and it's often combined with a visit to the ruins of Aspendos, whose Roman theatre lies along the same general route from the coast. Travelers exploring the wider Antalya region sometimes also pair a Köprülü Canyon trip with the coastal ruins and canyon scenery of Olympos and the Chimaera flames further west, though that makes for a longer, separate outing given the distance between the two.
Photos and Further Reading
Browse our Köprülü Canyon photo gallery for more images of the rafting run, the Oluk Bridge, and Selge, or check the FAQ for quick answers to the most common visitor questions.
