Photo: Gokhan aktas 07 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Köprülü Canyon
Turquoise rapids, a Roman bridge that still carries the road, and cedar forests climbing to an ancient city in the Taurus Mountains.
Overview
An hour and a half from the beaches of Antalya, the road leaves the cotton fields and climbs into the Taurus Mountains. Then the land splits open: far below, a river of impossible turquoise rushes between walls of gray limestone, and rafts bounce through the rapids. This is Köprülü Canyon, and above it, an ancient city hides in the pines. For the canyon and the ancient city in one day, join our Köprülü Canyon and Selge tour.
- Good for
- Rafting, hiking, nature lovers, families
- Best combined with
- Selge, Aspendos, Side
The Canyon and the National Park
The Köprü River, the ancient Eurymedon, has cut a gorge about 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) long, one of the longest in Turkey. So it is often called the longest canyon in Turkey. In 1973, the state protected it as a national park of 366 square kilometers (141 square miles).
Cedars, bears and trout
Around the canyon, cedar forests cover the slopes, while in places the rocks rise in pillars like the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Besides, deer, wild goats, bears, foxes, badgers and wolves live in the park. The cold, fast river is also rich in oxygen, so it is full of trout.
Rafting in Köprülü Canyon
Here, the river means rafting. In the warm months, local operators run rafting trips down the river from the banks near Beşkonak. However, the water stays cold even in August, so expect to shout when the first wave hits.
Afterwards, rafters often gather on the bridge over the Büğrüm stream, where an old stone arch still stands beside the modern road.
The Roman Bridges of Köprülü Canyon
The canyon takes its name from its bridges: köprü means bridge in Turkish. First, find Oluk Bridge, a single stone arch over the narrowest part of the gorge that still carries the road today. Beyond it, old stone roads once linked the mountain city of Selge to the cities of the plain.
Up to Selge
Finally, drive or hike on from the bridge to the village of Altınkaya. There, among the rocks and pines, lie the theater, the agora and the temples of Selge, once the strongest city of the mountains.
Our notes for Köprülü Canyon
- TroutThe river is famous for its trout, served grilled by the water.
- Tree housesBeşkonak and Karabük have tree-house stays for a night in the forest.
- WaterBring dry clothes: the river is cold all summer.
- BridgesStop at Oluk Bridge for the view straight down into the gorge.
Our suggestion Raft in the morning, then eat grilled trout at one of the riverside restaurants near Beşkonak, and drive up to Selge in the soft afternoon light.
How to Visit Köprülü Canyon
Getting there
The canyon lies in the Manavgat district, northeast of Antalya, between the villages of Bolasan and Beşkonak, and the park has its own national park page.
Nearby sights
Then combine it with the great theater of Aspendos on the way, the beach town of Side and the city of Perge. For more wild places, see our collection of the great outdoors.
Because the cold river feels like a gift after the heat of the coast. Raft the rapids in the morning, eat trout by the water, then drive over the Roman bridge and up through the pines to the theater of Selge.
Map
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Köprülü Canyon?
In the Manavgat district of Antalya Province, northeast of Antalya, between the villages of Bolasan and Beşkonak.
Can you go rafting in Köprülü Canyon?
Yes. The Köprü River is one of the best-known rafting rivers in Turkey, and local operators run trips on it in the warm months.
How long is Köprülü Canyon?
About 14 kilometers (8.7 miles), with walls up to 100 meters (328 feet) high. It is often called the longest canyon in Turkey.
What is the Roman bridge in Köprülü Canyon?
Oluk Bridge, an ancient stone bridge over the gorge on the road up to Selge. It still carries traffic today.
