Köprüçay River

The Köprüçay River flows down from the Taurus Mountains to the Mediterranean through Köprülü Canyon National Park, making it Turkey's most popular and accessible rafting river. Its clear, cool water and forgiving rapids draw huge numbers of day-trippers from the nearby beach resorts of Antalya.

The whitewater is gentle, family-friendly Class II with a few livelier Class II–III sections, a bright, refreshing run through a pine-clad limestone canyon. The forgiving nature of the rapids and the warm regional climate make it ideal for first-timers, and swimming stops in the turquoise pools are part of the experience rather than the whitewater itself being the main challenge.

The canyon's setting is historic as well as scenic: a well-preserved Roman bridge arches over the gorge, giving the river its name, which means Bridge River, and the ancient city of Selge lies in the hills above. Cypress and pine forest, sheer white cliffs and the cold spring-fed water contrast sharply with the hot coastal plain below. Trips typically last around two hours on the water and include a riverside lunch, and the ancient bridge and hilltop ruins of Selge make an easy add-on for those curious about the canyon's history.

The season is long, running from spring into autumn, roughly April through October, thanks to the mild Mediterranean climate and dependable flow; spring brings the highest, coolest water. Dozens of outfitters run half-day trips with transport from the resorts, often combined with the canyon's history and a riverside lunch. Easy, scenic and endlessly popular, the Köprüçay is the perfect introduction to rafting for holidaymakers on Turkey's southern coast.