Tazi Canyon-Selge Antique City and Devil’s Stones from Side

Tazı Canyon is the headline act: a deep gorge, green mountain slopes and the Köprülü River below, reached after a coach ride and a bumpy-looking change to a jeep. The day also takes you high into the Taurus Mountains to walk among the ruins of Selge, an ancient Pisidian city.

I like the contrast between the two main stops: canyon views first, then a chance to put some history beneath your feet at Selge. I also like that lunch and hotel pickup are included, and that one guide, Özkan, was praised for adapting to the group and helping where needed.

The catch is the Devil’s Stones. They are a major part of the tour’s name and description, but there is no timed stop for them in the route provided. Ask the operator before booking if seeing them is important to you. You should also expect about three hours of coach travel, before counting local transfers and stops.

• Tazı Canyon: A 30-minute visit with guided time, a walk and photo opportunities above a gorge described as up to 300 metres deep.
• Selge’s ruins: Spend an hour among the remains of a city founded in the 4th century BC.
• A coach-to-jeep change: The route includes two 30-minute jeep transfers, adding a more rugged stretch to the day.
• Lunch near Köprülü Canyon: A 40-minute break includes lunch; drinks are not included.
• Flexible pickup area: Pickup and drop-off options include Side, Alanya, Belek, Antalya and other nearby resort areas.
• Check the Devil’s Stones stop: The attraction is advertised, but the scheduled route does not show when or where you visit it.

A canyon-and-ruins day from Side

This is a full-day outing for anyone who wants a break from resort streets and a look at two very different sides of Antalya Province. You leave your hotel area by coach, switch to a jeep for the mountain section, visit Tazı Canyon and Selge, then return by way of Köprülü Canyon for lunch.

The tour runs about eight hours, though the exact feel of the day depends on your pickup point. Side is one of the listed options, as are Alanya, Belek, Antalya, Kemer and several smaller resort areas. The broad pickup range is handy if you are not staying in one of the largest towns, but it can also mean a longer collection route before the excursion proper begins.

The advertised price is $30 per person. With hotel pickup and drop-off, a guide, lunch and safety equipment included, that is a lot of ground covered for the price. You will still need money for personal expenses and drinks, and the value depends in part on whether the Devil’s Stones stop is actually part of your departure.

The first stretch to Köprülü Canyon

The day begins at your hotel’s main entrance, near the security gate. Be ready there rather than inside the lobby, and allow a little patience for pickups across a wide service area. The first coach ride is listed as about 1.5 hours, with another 1.5 hours for the return journey.

Your first scheduled break is at Köprülü Canyon, where you have 20 minutes before changing vehicles. This is a brief pause, not a long visit, so think of it as a chance to stretch and prepare for the jeep section rather than a full canyon stop.

The jeep or SUV ride lasts about 30 minutes. It connects the coach route with the mountain sights and gives the trip a more adventurous feel than a coach-only excursion. The information provided does not describe the road surface or the exact vehicle, so if you are concerned about a rough ride, ask the operator before booking.

Tazı Canyon’s high viewpoints

At Tazı Canyon, you have about 30 minutes for a guided visit, a walk, photographs and free time. That is enough for a focused stop, but it is not a leisurely hike. Keep your camera ready and use the guide’s time well, especially if you want to hear about the area as well as take in the view.

The canyon is described as roughly 40 kilometres long and up to 300 metres deep, with green mountains around it and the Köprülü River running through it. Those figures help explain why this is the day’s most striking natural stop: you are looking down into a long cut in the mountains, not just pausing beside a small roadside viewpoint.

The tour description promises scenic views of mountains and water, along with a chance to take photographs. It does not specify the walking distance, path conditions or how much time you spend at each viewpoint. Wear shoes you can walk in and avoid planning a long wander here; the schedule gives you half an hour.

One recent departure ended with a swim in the river, which its guide and group enjoyed. Swimming is not listed as a standard activity, though, so treat that as a possible bonus rather than a promised part of the program. The scheduled river-side break later in the day is for lunch and free time, not a guaranteed swim.

Selge: a mountain city with room to explore

After another 30-minute jeep ride, you reach Selge Ancient City for an hour. Founded in the 4th century BC, Selge was an important centre of Pisidia, a historic region of southwestern Anatolia. Its high position in the Taurus Mountains makes the setting part of the visit: these are ruins away from the modern resort coast, surrounded by mountain scenery.

The remains include a theatre, temples, an agora, a stadium and a necropolis. That range gives you more to look for than a single photogenic structure. You can get a sense of how a city was organized, from public gathering spaces to places connected with worship and burial.

A guide is included, and the visit is scheduled as both a guided tour and free time. That balance matters at an archaeological site. A guide can give you context for the stones and point out what you might otherwise walk past, while free time lets you pause for photographs or explore at your own pace.

An hour is useful, but it is not enough for a slow, detailed visit to every listed feature. If you are passionate about archaeology, keep expectations measured. This is a broad introduction to Selge within a busy day, not a dedicated site visit.

Lunch and the return from the mountains

The route returns by jeep to Köprülü Canyon for a 40-minute break that includes lunch and free time. Having lunch included makes the $30 price easier to assess, particularly on a day with substantial road travel. Drinks are not included, so bring money for them and check with the operator if you want to know what meal is served.

The break also gives you a chance to rest before the coach ride back. One group had a tasty lunch and finished with a refreshing river swim, but neither the exact menu nor a swim is specified as a guaranteed feature. Plan around the included meal, not around a particular dish or water activity.

The final coach ride is listed at 1.5 hours, followed by drop-off at one of 12 locations. As with pickup, your return time may depend on where you are staying and the order of stops. If you have evening plans, leave a buffer rather than scheduling something tight.

The Devil’s Stones question

The Devil’s Stones are described as unusual rocks near Manavgat, with shapes that can resemble animals, birds or people. Local legends are associated with their appearance and origins, making them a different kind of stop from the canyon and ancient city.

Here is the practical snag: the tour description promises a look at the stones, but the timed route lists Köprülü Canyon, Tazı Canyon, Selge and lunch, with no separate Devil’s Stones stop. The listed schedule also does not say whether the rocks are visited briefly along the route or left out of some departures.

If the stones are a main reason you are considering this trip, contact Hera Daily Tour and ask directly whether they are included on your date, how long the stop lasts and where it fits into the eight-hour day. Do not assume that the name alone guarantees a visit. If the operator confirms the stop, you can treat it as an extra attraction; if not, decide whether the canyon and Selge are enough for you.

Guides, languages and the feel of the day

Guiding is offered in English, Russian and Lithuanian. The language mix can matter on a shared outing: one departure was conducted mostly in Lithuanian, while the driver also translated and explained things in Russian and English. If you need commentary in a particular language, confirm it when you book rather than assuming every guide will divide the time equally among all three.

A guide named Özkan was described as friendly, helpful and flexible, taking the group’s needs into account. That is a useful sign of the kind of service that can make a long day easier, but guides can vary by departure, so it is not a promise that Özkan will lead your trip.

The experience has a strong outdoor focus and several vehicle changes. It suits you if you enjoy scenic stops, short walks and a little variety in how you travel. It may suit you less if you want a slow archaeological tour, a long hike or a quiet day with minimal time on the road.

Practical details before you book

The tour is listed as eight hours, with pickup and drop-off included. The provider asks you to wait at the main hotel entrance near the security gate. Pickup choices span 12 areas, including Side, Alanya, Belek, Antalya, Kemer and other towns, so confirm the correct location and time for your hotel.

Safety equipment is included, though the specific equipment is not named. Baby strollers, non-folding wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs are not allowed, and alcohol and drugs are prohibited. If you have mobility concerns, ask the operator about the jeep transfers and walking at the stops before booking.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. These terms are useful if your plans are not fixed, but they do not resolve the key question about the Devil’s Stones. Confirm that detail first.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want a reasonably priced day combining a dramatic canyon viewpoint with the ruins of Selge, and you are comfortable spending several hours travelling by coach and jeep. The included lunch and hotel transfers add real value, while the guide’s role can help turn a quick visit to the ruins into more than a photo stop.

Hold off, or ask more questions first, if the Devil’s Stones are essential to your plans, if you need a specific tour language or if a long road day does not appeal. The strongest case for booking is the combination of Tazı Canyon and Selge. Make sure you are happy with that combination even if the stones are not part of your departure.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about eight hours. The scheduled coach rides are about 1.5 hours each way, with additional time for stops and jeep transfers.

Which pickup locations are available?

Pickup options include Kızılağaç, Ilıca, Evrenseki, Alanya, Side, Kızılot, Çolaklı, Okurcalar, Kemer, Avsallar, Belek and Antalya.

Which languages are offered?

Live guiding is offered in English, Russian and Lithuanian. The language mix can vary, so confirm your preferred language when booking.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included during a 40-minute break at Köprülü Canyon. Drinks are not included.

Is the Devil’s Stones stop included?

The tour description names the Devil’s Stones, but the timed route does not show a separate stop there. Confirm with the operator whether they are included on your departure.

What is included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, a guide, lunch and safety equipment are included. Personal expenses and drinks are not.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Are wheelchairs and strollers allowed?

Baby strollers, non-folding wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs are not allowed. Safety equipment is included, but the tour information does not specify which items are provided.