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Sapadere Canyon, Alanya

Sapadere Canyon: an emerald pool and a small waterfall between smooth grey rock walls
Photo: Anika Levchuk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Paid at the gate; 225 TL as of April 2026, reportedly card only
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Hours
Daily, roughly 8:30–18:30; may close after heavy rain
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
2 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Tours from Alanya
Group tours from ≈ €26–27 with pick-up, 6–8 hours
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Distance
≈ 45 km from Alanya, about an hour by car
Trail
Steel-and-wood boardwalk over the stream, 600–750 m
Time needed
1.5–2 hours
Getting there
Car, taxi or tour; no public transport to the canyon itself
Address
Sapadere Mevkii, Alanya
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Coordinates
36.52996, 32.31413YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

≈ 45 kmfrom Alanya via Demirtaş, about an hour by car
2 sourcesTurkish Wikipedia “Sapadere Kanyonu”Ministry of Culture and Tourism Culture Portal
≈ 750 mlong, with walls around 400 m high
2 sourcesMinistry of Culture and Tourism Culture Portal (Antalya Directorate of Culture and Tourism)Turkish Wikipedia gives 600 m of boardwalk and 400 m height
A waterfalland an ice-cold natural pool deep in the gorge, where people swim in summer
2 sourcesTurkish Wikipedia “Sapadere Kanyonu”Ministry of Culture and Tourism Culture Portal
Steel and woodboardwalk pinned to the canyon walls with iron rods
2 sourcesMinistry of Culture and Tourism Culture PortalTurkish Wikipedia
≈ 300 mfrom the entrance to the first waterfall
SourceMinistry of Culture and Tourism Culture Portal
24 kmalong the Antalya–Mersin highway to Demirtaş, where the mountain road begins
2 sourcesTurkish Wikipedia “Sapadere Kanyonu”Ministry of Culture and Tourism Culture Portal
Taurus Mountainsthe gorge is cut into the limestone of the western Taurus, above Sapadere village
2 sourcesWikidata Q20476539Turkish Wikipedia
“Sapa dere”the village is named after the stream (dere) that runs through it and the canyon
2 sourcesTurkish Wikipedia “Sapadere, Alanya”OpenStreetMap
Silk and a millthe village has a water mill and a silk-weaving workshop
SourceMinistry of Culture and Tourism Culture Portal
3,358 meco walking trail opened in 2022
SourceTurkish Wikipedia, citing Alanya Municipality (Alanya Belediyesi)
2008the year the gorge was fitted out and opened to visitors
2 sourcesShowcaves.com “Sapadere Kanyonu”Küre Ansiklopedi “Sapadere Kanyonu”

Sapadere Canyon tours, tickets and opening hours

Most visitors come on a tour from Alanya or Side: a coach, a jeep safari or an open-top cabrio bus. Group tours from Alanya start at roughly €26–27 per person, include pick-up and a guide, and usually add the Dwarf Cave (Cüceler) or Dim Cave, lunch by the Dim River and a stop or two on the way. They take 6–8 hours. Check whether the canyon ticket is included before you pay, and how long you actually get in the gorge.

Going on your own, you pay at a ticket office by the start of the trail. We couldn’t find an official fee as of 30.10.2026 — neither Alanya Municipality nor the Ministry of Culture’s portal lists one — The most recent dated figure comes from the Russian magazine T—Zh: 225 TL as of April 2026. Nothing else confirms it, and tour listings quote other, undated amounts, so we mark it as verifying.

Opening hours aren’t officially published either. Showcaves, a directory of caves and gorges, lists daily 8:30–18:30 all year, but that entry dates from 2021. Don’t turn up just before closing: the boardwalk there and back takes an hour or more.

How to pay. T—Zh’s author says the gate takes cards only, no cash. If a foreign card is declined, the suggestion is to ask someone in the queue to pay for you and hand them the lira. Cash is still handy for the cafés and trout restaurants in the village.

How to get to Sapadere Canyon from Alanya

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

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destinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

More tips

  1. From the centre — the harbour below Alanya Castle — drive east on the D400 coast road towards Gazipaşa.
  2. After 24 km, in Demirtaş, turn left, inland into the mountains, following signs for Sapadere.
  3. Follow the narrow paved road for about 20 km of switchbacks through Sapadere village. Take it slowly: tour jeeps and minibuses come the other way.
  4. The road ends at a car park with the ticket office and a picnic area. Door to door it takes about an hour.
  5. There is no regular bus or dolmuş to the canyon. Without a car, hire a taxi for the day with waiting time (agree the fare before you set off) or book a tour. According to the Russian magazine T—Zh, dolmuş No. 2 runs as far as Demirtaş, but you’ll still need a taxi from there.
  6. Staying in Mahmutlar or Kargıcak? You’re already on the right side of town. From Avsallar, add about half an hour.

Is Sapadere Canyon worth it?

Yes, if you want a break from the beach: mountain air, shade and properly cold water. The gorge is compact, the boardwalk is easy for most people, and the drive up through the Taurus is a sight in itself. It’s best on a hot summer day, early, before the tour groups arrive.

No, if you’re after a big canyon hike — the trail itself takes an hour or so, and the round trip by road adds two more. Without a car or a tour it’s awkward to reach. And if what you really want is a boat trip through a canyon, that’s Green Canyon or Köprülü near Manavgat, not Sapadere.

What is Sapadere Canyon?

Sapadere is a narrow gorge in the limestone of the Taurus Mountains, about 45 km east of Alanya. Over thousands of years the stream that gives the village its name has cut a passage roughly 750 m long between sheer walls up to 400 m high. At the bottom are cascades, small waterfalls and clear green pools.

To let visitors through without wading, a steel-and-wood boardwalk was pinned to the walls with iron rods. It runs above the water, climbing and dropping as the gorge twists, and ends at a waterfall with a natural plunge pool. People swim there in summer — after the heat on the coast, it’s the highlight of the trip.

Officially it’s still Alanya district, but it feels like another world: noticeably cooler than the coast, with the last 20 km of road winding up the mountainside.

What to see in the canyon

  • The first waterfall, about 300 m in — the classic shot of the boardwalk above the water.
  • The narrowest stretches, where the walls nearly meet overhead and you see only a strip of sky.
  • Emerald pools below the cascades; the colour is brightest around midday, when the sun reaches the floor of the gorge.
  • The waterfall and plunge pool at the end of the trail, where people swim in summer.
  • On the way, Sapadere village with its water mill, a silk-weaving workshop and trout cafés by the stream.

Before you go

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Sapadere Canyon, Dim River or Dim Cave

Sapadere Canyonyou are hereGorge with a boardwalk and waterfalls≈ 45 km, about an hourYes, in an icy pool1.5–2 h on siteCar, taxi or tour
Dim RiverRiver with cafés on platforms over the waterJust outside townYes, in a cold river2–3 h with lunchTaxi, car or tour
Dim CaveLarge karst caveJust outside townNo≈ 1 hTaxi, car or tour

Sapadere is the one you make a special trip for — mountains and a real gorge. If you just want cool water without the long drive, the Dim River is enough.

Water, caves and canyons around Alanya

Alanya’s places by the water and underground, rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Alanya Shipyard3930 minPrice being verified28.2 km
Damlataş Cave3830 min≈ 225 TL, children less29.2 km
Cleopatra Beach363 hFree29.9 km
Dim Cave261 h300 TL, children 7–12 150 TL18.3 km
Dim River262 h 30 minFree16.9 km
Sapadere Canyonyou are here212 h≈ 225 TL, being verified—

Mountains and water in a day

The canyon in the morning while it’s quiet, the ruins of Syedra above the sea on the way back, lunch on the Dim River platforms and the cool of Dim Cave in the late afternoon.

  1. Sapadere Canyonyou are here2 h · ≈ 225 TL, being verified
  2. 303 min walk from the previous stopSyedra1 h 30 min · €7 for foreigners, under-8s free
  3. 210 min walk from the previous stopDim River2 h 30 min · Free, you pay only for food
  4. 32 min walk from the previous stopDim Cave1 h · 300 TL, children 7–12 150 TL

4 places · about 16 h 5 min with walks · 545 min on foot in total

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How to do it right

  • Drive up early — you’ll beat the groups and have the boardwalk to yourself.
  • Carry both a card and some lira: the gate reportedly takes cards only, the village cafés prefer cash.
  • Pack a swimsuit even if you’re unsure — on a hot day you’ll decide at the waterfall.
  • On a jeep safari, ask how long you get in the canyon; under an hour is too short.
  • On the way back, stop at the Dim River for lunch on a platform over the water.
  • With bad knees or older travellers, allow extra time: the trail has steps and short climbs.

Questions

How do I get to Sapadere Canyon from Alanya?

Drive or take a taxi east on the D400 to Demirtaş, then about 20 km of mountain road — roughly an hour in total. There’s no regular bus; the alternative is a tour.

How much is the Sapadere Canyon entrance fee?

There’s no official published fee. T—Zh gives 225 TL as of April 2026 and says the gate takes cards only — check on the day.

What are Sapadere Canyon’s opening hours?

Daily, roughly 8:30 to 18:30 according to Showcaves; there’s no official timetable. The gate can close after heavy rain.

How much is a Sapadere Canyon tour?

Group tours from Alanya start at roughly €26–27 per person and take 6–8 hours, usually with a cave visit and lunch by the Dim River. The canyon ticket isn’t always included.

How long do you need at Sapadere Canyon?

Plan 1.5–2 hours on site: an hour or so for the boardwalk there and back, plus time for a swim. With the drive, it’s half a day.

Can you swim in Sapadere Canyon?

Yes, people swim in the natural pool under the waterfall at the end of the trail in summer. The water is very cold even on hot days.

How long is the Sapadere Canyon walk?

The boardwalk is 600–750 m one way, depending on the source, with some steps. Most people walk it there and back in about an hour.

Is Sapadere Canyon good for kids?

Yes, the boardwalk has railings and is fine for children. Keep them close on the wet sections and leave the pushchair behind — there are steps.

When is the best time to visit Sapadere Canyon?

A hot summer day, in the morning: the gorge is cool and the groups haven’t arrived. After heavy rain the trail may be closed.

Is Sapadere Canyon worth visiting?

Yes, if you want mountains and cold water instead of the beach. If you don’t want half a day on the road, the Dim River is a closer alternative.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, Culture Portal: Sapadere Kanyonu — length, height, boardwalk, waterfall, village (from the Antalya Directorate of Culture and Tourism)
  • Turkish Wikipedia: Sapadere Kanyonu — distances, boardwalk, pool, eco trail; Sapadere, Alanya — village and name
  • Wikidata Q20476539 and OpenStreetMap — coordinates and feature type
  • Showcaves.com: Sapadere Kanyonu — opening hours, length and height, year opened
  • Küre Ansiklopedi: Sapadere Kanyonu — year opened
  • T—Zh (Russian magazine): Sapadere Canyon, July 2026 — April 2026 entrance fee, card-only payment, closures after rain, dolmuş to Demirtaş
  • Sputnik8: Sapadere Canyon — no public transport to the canyon
  • Tripster: Sapadere Canyon tours from Alanya — prices, duration, itinerary
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedLength, height, the boardwalk and the waterfalls are checked against the Turkish Ministry of Culture’s Culture Portal, Turkish Wikipedia and Showcaves. They disagree on length: the portal and Showcaves give the canyon as about 750 m, Wikipedia gives 600 m of boardwalk, so we show both. All three give the walls as 400 m high. As of 30.10.2026 neither Alanya Municipality nor the Ministry’s portal publishes a fee or hours, and the canyon’s own site didn’t load. The fee is from T—Zh (225 TL, April 2026) and the hours from Showcaves (8:30–18:30, a 2021 entry); neither has a second independent source, so both are marked verifying. An English-language aggregator with different figures (350 TL, 8:00–19:00) is left out: it gives no check date and contradicts itself. Older and undated prices are left out too. Card-only payment at the gate and the No. 2 dolmuş to Demirtaş come from T—Zh alone, and the text says so. The 2008 opening year matches in Showcaves and Küre Ansiklopedi. That there’s no public transport to the canyon is confirmed by Sputnik8 and T—Zh. Tour prices are from Tripster listings on the day and change with the season.

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Alanya Shipyard

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Red Tower

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