The short answer: wear clothes you genuinely don't mind ruining, put on closed shoes or trainers, and pack a complete change of clothes. On a quad or buggy safari in Side you will get dusty on the forest tracks and wet at the water-splash stops — that's half the fun. Your helmet is provided free at our base, and free changing cabins and showers are waiting when you get back. Tours start from €25 per adult, booking online is free and you pay on the day.
Why your outfit matters on our tracks
Our safaris run on forest tracks in the Taurus foothills directly behind Side: roughly 1.5–2 hours of actual off-road riding through dust clouds, mud pits and water-splash stops. In summer the dust is fine as flour and finds its way into everything; at the splash stops almost nobody stays dry. After thousands of departures from our base we can promise two things: you will come back dirty, and you will come back smiling. Guests who dress for mud enjoy every minute; guests in white designer outfits spend the ride protecting them.
One extra guide tip: darker colours and earthy tones hide the dust far better than anything white or pale.The complete what-to-wear checklist
Here is what our guides recommend, tested on every single departure:
| Item | Why you need it | Bring or get at the base |
|---|---|---|
| Closed shoes or trainers | Essential — they protect your feet and grip the footrests and pedals; flip-flops don't survive the first mud pit | Bring from the hotel |
| Old T-shirt and shorts | Perfectly fine in season — just accept they will get muddy | Bring |
| Swimwear under your clothes | Dries fast and turns the splash stops into pure fun | Bring |
| Complete change of clothes | Dry clothes for the ride back to your hotel | Bring |
| Sunglasses or protective goggles | Keep dust and sun out of your eyes; goggles are sold at our base | Bring, or buy at the base |
| Bandana | Keeps dust out of your nose and mouth on dry days | Sold at our base |
| Sunscreen | Open tracks and strong southern sun | Bring and apply before the ride |
| Hair tie | Long hair, a helmet and wind are a bad combination | Bring |
| Socks | Keep dust off your ankles and make trainers comfortable all day | Bring |
| Towel | For the free showers at the base after the ride | Bring |
| Bottle of water | The foothills are thirsty work, especially in summer — drinks are also sold at the base | Bring, or buy at the base |
| Plastic bag | Carries your muddy clothes and shoes back to the hotel | Bring |
| Helmet | Mandatory head protection for every rider | Provided free by us |
One seasonal note: from late autumn to spring the mud gets deeper and the air cooler, so a light long-sleeve layer and old long trousers are smarter. In July and August most guests wear shorts and a T-shirt over swimwear — it works perfectly.
What to leave at the hotel
Leave your valuables at the hotel: jewellery, watches, passports and anything you would be sad to see covered in mud — you genuinely won't need them on the track. Our base has free changing cabins and showers, so the routine is simple: arrive in your riding clothes, get spectacularly dirty, shower off and change into the dry set you brought before we drive you back.
What not to wear
A few things fail on every single departure, so leave them off entirely: trailing scarves and pashminas (they flap in the wind and can catch on something — a snug bandana tucked in does the same job safely), wide-brim sun hats and loose caps (they simply blow off, and on the track your helmet covers the sun-and-protection job anyway), flowing dresses, kaftans and anything very baggy (billowing fabric snags as you climb in and out), dangling jewellery, and anything white, brand-new or made of delicate fabric like silk or fine linen. Fresh make-up is wasted here too — between the dust, the spray and the heat it will not survive the first kilometre.
Phones, cameras and photos
Bring your phone or camera if you like, but it rides at your own risk — dust and splash water show no mercy to electronics. If it does come along, keep it in a zipped pocket or a cheap waterproof pouch on a lanyard — loose items bounce out on rough ground and are rarely seen again. There is no need to film while driving (please don't): our guides stop the group at the best photo spots along the route so everyone can shoot safely. Prefer to leave the phone at the hotel? Our professional photo and video team at the base captures the whole experience — a paid extra, no obligation, decided on the day.
Outfit sorted — here's what is included
Every departure includes free hotel pick-up and drop-off along the Side coast — Side centre, Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı, Gündoğdu, Sorgun and Titreyengöl — in a morning or afternoon session, with your exact pick-up confirmed at booking. Also included: a full safety briefing from our professional guides, a supervised test drive at the base, your helmet, and the changing cabins and showers. Paid extras at the base are the protective goggles, bandanas, food and drinks, and the photo/video service. The Side Quad ATV Safari is €25 per adult and €15 per child for around three hours door to door; the two-seater Side Buggy Safari is €30 / €18 for around four hours.
FAQ
Will I really get wet on the safari?
Yes. The water-splash stops are a deliberate highlight, and most guests get properly wet — it's the part everyone talks about afterwards. Swimwear underneath plus a dry change solves it completely.
Can I wear flip-flops or sandals?
We strongly advise against it. Open shoes slip off in mud and give your feet no protection on the footrests. Old closed trainers are the single most important item on the whole list.
Shorts or long trousers?
Both work. In July and August most guests ride in shorts — cooler, though your legs catch more dust and sun. Light long trousers or leggings keep you cleaner and better protected, and they are the smarter choice in the muddier months from autumn to spring.
Do I need to bring a helmet or goggles?
No helmet needed — we provide one free for every guest, driver and passenger alike. Protective goggles and dust bandanas are optional and sold at our base, or bring your own sunglasses for lighter dust days.
I wear contact lenses — anything to know?
Trail dust and contact lenses are an uncomfortable mix. Wraparound sunglasses or the protective goggles sold at our base keep most of the grit out, and it is worth packing a lens case, drops and backup glasses just in case. Riding in prescription glasses is no problem at all.
What should children wear?
Exactly the same: closed shoes, old clothes, a full change. Children join from age 6 as passengers — in the buggy they sit securely belted next to the driver. Drivers must be at least 16 and show ID at the base.
Can I drive, or should I ride as a passenger?
Every driver takes a supervised test drive with our guides at the base before we head out. Guests who handle the machine confidently ride as drivers; anyone who prefers not to drive simply joins as a passenger and misses nothing. Guests with back or neck issues should choose the passenger seat.
Dressed right, a safari day in Side is pure fun from the first dust cloud to the last splash. Pick your machine — the single-rider Side quad safari from €25 or the two-seater buggy safari with roll cage and belts — book free online and pay on the day of the tour. Curious how the whole day unfolds? Read what happens on a quad safari in Side, hotel to hotel, and if safety questions come first in your family, start with is a buggy safari in Side safe.