Köprülü Canyon

## Overview Köprülü Canyon is a 14 km limestone gorge carved by the Köprüçay River, a national park since 1973 and Türkiye's premier white-water venue. This is one of the essential sights in Antalya and rewards visitors who arrive with a little context and a full water bottle. ## A short history Standing on the site today, it is easy to forget that Köprülü Canyon has survived earthquakes, empires and centuries of neglect. What you see is the accumulated work — and loss — of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman hands. Nineteenth-century travellers wrote of overgrown ruins reclaimed by pine forest; modern excavations, most of them Turkish-led since the 1940s, have brought the site back to life while preserving its patina. ## What to see, section by section - **the Roman Oluk Bridge over the gorge.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. - **the 14 km Class II-III rafting run.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. - **the ruins of ancient Selge village at 900 m.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. - **the Roman aqueduct at Kesme Boğazı.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. - **the riverside trout restaurants at Beşkonak.** A highlight of any visit, and worth pausing for photographs and a moment of quiet. Give yourself at least 90 minutes to walk between these areas without rushing; two to three hours if you photograph seriously. ## Best time to visit May–september for rafting flow and warm water; the water stays a shock at 12°c so wetsuits are provided. Shoulder-season months (April–May and September–October) combine mild weather with thinner crowds, and the low-angled light in those months flatters every marble surface. ## Photo spots The most rewarding frames are the Roman bridge from the downstream boulder, and the emerald water from the Selge switchback road. Bring a wide-angle lens if you have one, and consider a polarizer to cut the Mediterranean glare. ## Tickets and hours - **Hours:** park open daily 08:00–19:00; rafting operators 09:00–17:00. - **Admission:** park entry free; rafting day trip €35–45 including lunch; jeep safari €30. The Museum Pass Antalya is almost always worth it if you are visiting two or more sites — it pays for itself quickly and lets you skip the ticket queue. ## How to get there 100 km east of Antalya; almost everyone books a hotel-pickup day tour (Class II-III rafting, transport and lunch included) rather than self-driving. If time is short, a private guided tour with hotel pickup removes every logistical headache — see our related tours below. ## Insider tips - Bring a strap for your glasses — plenty end up on the riverbed each week. - Ask your operator for the longer 14 km run, not the shortened 7 km cruise-ship version. - Selge village needs a 4×4 or a jeep-safari add-on; a normal rental car will scrape.