The Fethiye jeep safari is a budget group excursion, and it has been a staple of the area for years. You are collected from your hotel and travel in a convoy of open 4x4 trucks along back roads into the mountains, with stops at viewpoints and villages, and then on to Saklıkent Canyon, where you walk the boardwalk and wade into the gorge. Lunch is included in the linked trip, usually served at a riverside restaurant, and many operators add a swim stop or a mud bath. The linked safari has a good average rating across more than sixty reviews. It is aimed at groups of friends and families who want an easy, active day with a guide and no planning, and it costs much less than a private tour.
What to expect
It is more fun than refined. The trucks are open-sided and the ride is bumpy and dusty, the group is mixed and the atmosphere is friendly and boisterous. Water fights between trucks are a feature of some summer safaris, so expect to get wet, and bring a change of clothes. The boardwalk and gorge wade is the same as on other Saklıkent trips, so the same advice on cold water and grippy shoes applies.
Season
The safari is at its best in warm months, when the water games, swimming and mud baths are all part of the day. In November the same route runs less often, the air is cooler and the water in the gorge is cold, so check with the operator whether the trip is running and what is included. A dry, clear winter day can still make a good outing, but dress in layers and bring a waterproof for the open trucks.
Choosing between this and a guided small-group trip: if you want a quieter, more informative day, with Tlos and the Gizlikent Waterfall, the small-group Saklıkent tour in this guide is a better fit. If you want a low-cost, lively day with a convoy, a swim and lunch, the jeep safari does the job. Book a day or two ahead, bring cash for drinks and tips, wear a hat and sun cream in season, and ask whether the day includes any shop stops so there are no surprises.
What to expect
The experience
A guided convoy of open 4x4 trucks through mountain villages to Saklıkent Canyon, with a gorge wade and lunch included.
Best time
May to October for the swimming and water games; winter days are cooler and the gorge water is cold.
How long
A full day with hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Tips
Bring a change of clothes, water shoes, sun protection and cash for drinks, and check whether the trip is running outside summer.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Groups and families who want a lively, low-cost day out.
- Families
- Children usually enjoy the open trucks and the water; keep them close in the gorge.
- Couples
- Fun rather than romantic; a small-group tour suits couples better.
- Pair with
- A quiet evening in Fethiye harbour afterwards.
- Time needed
- A full day.
Good questions
Does the jeep safari run in November?+
Less often than in summer. Confirm with the operator whether it is running and what is included.
Is lunch included?+
Yes, the safari we link includes lunch, usually at a riverside restaurant.
Will I get wet?+
Probably, especially on summer trips with water games and gorge wading, so bring a change of clothes.
Is it suitable for children?+
Usually yes for older children, though the ride is bumpy and the gorge water is cold.
How does it differ from the small-group Saklıkent tour?+
The safari is a lively, low-cost convoy day, while the small-group tour is quieter and adds Tlos and the Gizlikent Waterfall.
