Köprülü Canyon

Rafting routes, pine forest, and an ancient Roman bridge standing over the water.

Why it is worth visiting

Köprülü Canyon is one of the rare places where nature and history meet in the same frame. It holds one of Türkiye’s best-known rafting routes on its clear, cold water, while a two-thousand-year-old Roman bridge still stands above the same valley.

The canyon and the river

The Köprüçay rises in the highlands of Isparta’s Sütçüler district and reaches the sea at Beşkonak in Antalya. The valley the river has carved runs for about 14 kilometres between Bolasan and Beşkonak, with walls that exceed 100 metres in places, making it one of Türkiye’s longest canyons. The area has been a national park since 1973.

Forest and nature

The national park surrounding the canyon is notable not only for its water but for the largest natural cypress forest in the Mediterranean. This cypress forest of roughly 400 hectares is the most visible part of the area’s plant diversity, and the park shelters a large number of endemic species. The canyon’s slopes, covered in red pine, combine with the cold water to create a cool micro-climate.

Oluk Bridge

At one of the canyon’s narrowest points, the ancient Oluk Bridge rises over the Köprüçay. The stone bridge, about 22 metres long, stands tens of metres above the water between two sheer walls. Just before the bridge, a pool-like stretch where the water grows still is the starting point for most rafting trips.

Rafting and safety

Rafting runs from spring to autumn, while the water level is right. The route includes sections suitable for beginner groups too. Given that the water can be cold and the current strong, it matters to join a licensed and experienced operator and to use all the equipment — life jacket and helmet — properly.

Planning a day

Köprülü Canyon is mostly experienced as a day trip, starting in the morning and ending in the afternoon. Rafting trips usually include equipment, a guide and return transport; before joining, it matters to be sure the operator is licensed and that safety gear is fully provided. Given that the water can be cold, a change of clothes helps. For those not rafting, the canyon still offers a calm day, with walking routes around the Oluk Bridge and shaded spots along the river. Summers are busy; arriving early makes it easier to avoid both the crowds and the heat.

Selge and around

Above the canyon, the ancient city of Selge (Zerk), with its theatre and mountain views, is a quiet stop that can be added to a rafting day. Manavgat, with its waterfall and river trips, lies in the same area.