Orienting Yourself in Köprülü Canyon National Park
Köprülü Canyon National Park stretches along the Köprüçay river in the Manavgat district of Antalya province, roughly centered around 37.28° N, 31.18° E. The park covers a substantial area of the Taurus Mountain foothills, but for most visitors it breaks down into two distinct zones: the lower gorge, where rafting, the Roman Oluk Bridge, and riverside facilities are concentrated, and the upper plateau near Altınkaya village, where the ruins of ancient Selge sit well above the river.
The Lower Gorge: Rafting and the Oluk Bridge
The main rafting section runs roughly 14 km through the gorge, generally accessed and organized around the Beşkonak area, where most rafting operators, riverside restaurants, and put-in points for the river run are clustered. The Oluk Bridge spans the gorge partway along this stretch, visible from the water on most rafting trips and also reachable on foot for visitors exploring independently. This lower section is where the overwhelming majority of day-trip activity takes place, and it's the part of the park included in nearly every standard rafting tour.
| Landmark | Approx. location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main rafting section | Beşkonak area, along the Köprüçay | Put-in and take-out points for the classic 14 km run |
| Oluk Bridge | Mid-gorge, above the river | Roman-era arched stone bridge, visible from rafts |
| Riverside restaurants | Along the Köprüçay, Beşkonak area | Shaded lunch platforms used by most tour packages |
| Ancient Selge | Altınkaya village plateau, above the gorge | Reached by a separate winding mountain road |
The Upper Plateau: Ancient Selge
Above the gorge, on a remote plateau near Altınkaya village, lie the ruins of ancient Selge — a genuinely separate destination within the same national park, not a short walk from the rafting area but a distinct drive up a winding mountain road. Visitors specifically interested in the ruins should plan this as its own leg of the trip rather than expecting to combine it casually with a standard rafting stop. See our ancient Selge guide for the access route and what survives at the site.
Routes In From the Coast
Köprülü Canyon is reached from Antalya's resort coast via inland roads running north from the Manavgat and Side area toward the Taurus foothills. The most common approach for both independent drivers and tour operators is via the main road toward Beşkonak, which serves as the gateway to the rafting section of the park. See our how to get there guide for detailed distances and drive times from Antalya, Side, Belek, and Alanya.
Using GPS and Navigation Apps
For independent drivers, searching "Köprülü Kanyon Milli Parkı" or the Beşkonak area in most navigation apps will route you to the general rafting and park entrance zone, though specific tour operators often have their own pickup points or base locations slightly off the main road. If you've booked a tour, confirm the exact meeting point or hotel pickup arrangement with your operator ahead of time rather than relying solely on a generic map search, since rafting company bases can be spread along a stretch of riverside road rather than concentrated at a single fixed entrance.
Distances at a Glance
For context on how Köprülü Canyon sits relative to the main resort towns along this part of the coast: Antalya city and airport are roughly 90 km away; Side and Manavgat are considerably closer, generally the shortest approach; Belek sits at a broadly similar distance to Side; and Alanya is the furthest of the main resort bases, requiring the longest drive. Exact times depend on traffic and the specific route taken, so build in buffer time regardless of your starting point.
Combining the Map With a Wider Antalya Itinerary
Köprülü Canyon's inland position places it within reach of other regional sites for travelers planning a broader loop — the ancient theatre at Aspendos lies along a similar general route from the coast, and further west along the Mediterranean, the coastal ruins and eternal flames of Olympos and the Chimaera make for a separate but comparably themed day trip if your itinerary allows for it. Neither of these sits within walking or short-drive distance of Köprülü Canyon itself, so treat them as distinct legs of a longer Antalya-region visit rather than a single combined outing.
Planning Your Route
Whether you're joining an organized rafting tour or navigating independently, it helps to fix in your mind which zone of the park you're heading to — the Beşkonak rafting area for the river and the Oluk Bridge, or the Altınkaya plateau for Selge — since they involve different roads and driving times from the coast. See our tours guide for packages that clarify which zones are included, and our overview guide for a full picture of what each part of the park offers.