Yes — beginners can drive a quad or buggy in Side. Most of the guests on our safaris are complete first-timers, and the tour is built around that. Every driver does a safety briefing and a supervised test drive at our base before the track: guests who handle the machine confidently ride as drivers, and anyone who prefers not to drive joins as a securely belted passenger. The quad safari costs €25 per adult, the buggy safari €30 — booking online is free and you pay on the day of the tour.
First-Timers Are the Rule Here, Not the Exception
We run quad and buggy safaris every day in the Taurus foothills behind Side, and most people who climb onto our machines have never driven off-road in their lives. Nobody is dropped onto the track to figure it out alone: our guides explain the machine, watch you drive it in the practice area, and only then lead the group out for roughly 1.5-2 hours of real off-road riding — forest tracks, dust, mud pits and water-splash stops. What matters is not what you have driven before, but how you handle the machine at the base.
What the Safety Briefing Teaches You
Before anyone touches a throttle, our professional guides run a full safety briefing at the base:
- How the controls work — handlebar throttle and brakes on the quad, steering wheel and seat belts in the buggy.
- How to sit and how to take bumps and slopes.
- How much distance to keep from the machine in front.
- The guides' hand signals, so the whole group slows, stops and turns together.
Your helmet is included and fitted at the base. Protective goggles and bandanas against the dust are available there as paid extras. We describe the whole system step by step in our guide to safety, briefing and the test drive in Side.
The Supervised Test Drive: Nobody Skips It
After the briefing, every driver does a supervised test drive in the practice area at our base. A guide watches how you start, steer, brake and turn. Guests who handle the machine confidently head onto the track as drivers; guests who feel unsure — or simply decide driving is not for them — join the same tour as passengers. Nobody goes on the track without passing this comfort check, and nobody is pressured either way. Two firm rules for every driver: at least 16 years old, and ID shown at the base.
Quad or Buggy: Which Is Easier for a Nervous Beginner?
Both are beginner-friendly, but they feel different. The quad is a single-rider ATV — one machine per driver, handlebar throttle, full control, closer to a motorbike feeling. The buggy is a two-seater side-by-side with a roll cage, a steering wheel and seat belts, and your companion sits belted right next to you. For nervous first-timers the buggy is usually the easier start — the steering wheel feels familiar from the car.
| Feature | Quad (ATV) | Buggy |
|---|---|---|
| Controls | Handlebar throttle, full control | Steering wheel, car-like feel |
| Seating | Single rider — one machine per driver | Two-seater side-by-side, roll cage, seat belts |
| Price (adult / child) | €25 / €15 | €30 / €18 |
| Duration door-to-door | ~3 hours | ~4 hours |
| Best for | Beginners who want the full solo experience | Nervous first-timers, couples, parents with a child passenger |
The full comparison lives in quad vs buggy safari in Side — which should you choose, or go straight to the Side quad safari and Side buggy safari pages.
What If I Can't Control It? Then You Ride as a Passenger
The answer is simple: if the test drive shows that driving is not for you, you join the tour as a passenger and miss none of the fun. Passengers ride from age 6, securely belted — in the buggy, right next to the driver. Guests with back or neck issues should also choose the passenger seat. Out on the track our guides control the pace and keep the group together; departures run with up to 40 guests and the guides manage the line the whole way.
Practical Details for First-Timers
- Drivers: 16+ with ID shown at the base. Passengers: from age 6, securely belted.
- Pick-up: free hotel pick-up and drop-off from Side centre, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı, Gündoğdu, Sorgun and Titreyengöl. Choose a morning or afternoon session — the exact time is confirmed at booking.
- Bring: a complete change of clothes; dust, mud and water splashes are the point. Changing cabins and showers wait at the base.
- Wear: old clothes you will not mind seeing caked in dust and mud — nothing white or brand new — and closed shoes such as trainers; flip-flops do not survive the track. Put sunscreen on before you set off and bring sunglasses for the transfer.
- Valuables: best left at the hotel; a phone rides safest in a zipped pocket or a small bag — dust and water splashes are unforgiving to loose electronics.
- Included: briefing, supervised test drive, helmet and hotel transfers. Goggles, bandanas, food, drinks and the professional photo/video service are paid extras at the base.
Five Beginner Mistakes Our Guides Fix Every Day
After thousands of first-timers, the same small habits come up again and again — and every one of them has an easy fix:
- Over-braking and death-gripping the wheel. Stabbing the brakes mid-corner is what makes a machine feel twitchy on loose dust. Ease off the throttle early, brake in a straight line before the bend, and hold the wheel firmly but loosely — soft elbows soak up the bumps instead of your shoulders.
- Riding too close to the machine in front. Bunching up means you eat the worst of the dust and cannot read the track. Leave a sensible gap: the guides keep the convoy together the whole way, so a bigger gap costs you nothing.
- Chasing speed instead of the terrain. The fun is the mud holes, water splashes and forest tracks — not a race. Match the guide’s pace, look well ahead rather than at your front wheels, and keep a steady throttle through the water crossings.
- Turning up in beach clothes. Flip-flops, white shorts and dangling jewellery have no place on a dusty track. Closed shoes and old clothes make the whole day relaxed.
- Underestimating the sun. An open machine means hours outdoors. High-factor sunscreen, water, and — in the peak of summer — the morning session keep the heat from stealing the fun.
FAQ
Can I drive a quad in Side with no experience at all?
Yes. Most of our drivers are first-timers. After the briefing and supervised test drive at the base, you head onto the track once a guide has seen you handle the machine confidently.
Is the buggy easier than the quad for beginners?
Usually, yes. The buggy has a steering wheel, seat belts and a roll cage, and a passenger sits belted next to you — most nervous first-timers find it more familiar. The quad gives you your own machine and full control through a handlebar throttle.
What happens if I don't feel confident on the test drive?
You join the tour as a passenger, securely belted. Nobody who is uncomfortable on the machine is sent onto the track, and nobody is pressured to drive.
Do I have to pay in advance?
No. Online booking is free and there is no prepayment — you pay on the day of the tour: €25 per adult for the quad safari, €30 for the buggy.
Should I choose the morning or the afternoon pickup?
Both run the same tour. Mornings are cooler — the comfortable pick with young kids or in the peak of summer — while afternoons bring softer golden light for photos. Choose a session when you book; the exact pick-up time is confirmed at booking.
What should I avoid wearing?
Flip-flops, bare feet, anything white or brand new, and loose scarves or dangling jewellery. Closed shoes and old clothes are perfect — and changing cabins and showers wait at the base for afterwards.
Still weighing it up? The best proof is the test drive itself. Book your place free online for the quad safari or the buggy safari in Side — no prepayment, pay on the day of the tour — and watch how quickly a beginner becomes a driver on our track.