City of Side: Altinbesik Cave & Ormana Tour w/ Boat & Lunch

Altinbesik Cave is the star of this long day from Side, but the road into the Taurus Mountains is much of the pleasure. You’ll ride past steep mountain scenery, stop above Green Canyon and Green Lake, then take a 20-minute boat trip across Turkey’s largest underground lake.

I like the mix of nature and village life. You see the unusual timber-and-stone button houses, eat lunch in Ormana, and visit a Silk Road village rather than spending the whole day at one attraction. I also like that the tour includes hotel transport, lunch, a local guide, and the boat ride for $57.

The main drawback is time on the road. Some pickup days have involved a bus change at a meeting point, and the mountain drive can take about two hours each way. The cave visit itself may feel short, around 7 to 10 minutes of actual viewing, so this suits you best if you want a full mountain excursion, not only a cave tour.

Key points at a glance

• Altinbesik’s underground lake: Take a boat into the cave and see stalactites and stalagmites around the Golden Cradle Cavern.
• Taurus Mountain views: Stop at Avasun for views toward Green Canyon and Green Lake, with plenty of photo chances.
• Button houses: Learn how the distinctive houses in Ürünlü and Ormana were built and why they are unusual.
• Village lunch: Eat at a local restaurant in Ormana, with drinks paid separately.
• Silk Road heritage: Visit Sarihacilar, a historic village with a traditional house and a 650-year-old Ottoman mosque.
• A long but useful day: Hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, guide, lunch, and the cave boat ride are included for $57.

Why this Side day trip is worth your time

Side is known for its Roman ruins, beaches, and resort hotels. This excursion takes you in a different direction. Instead of staying near the coast, you head inland toward the Taurus Mountains, where the pace is slower and the villages look very different from Antalya’s beach towns.

I like this kind of outing because the day has several distinct parts. You get scenery, a cave, food, architecture, and local history. If one stop does not hold your attention, the next one is usually quite different.

The tour earns a rating of 4.6 from 225 bookings, which fits the experience well. The strongest points are the scenery, the guides, the smooth hotel transport, and the unusual cave visit. The weaker points are the long driving time, short stops in some villages, and the possibility of a sales presentation near the end.

Your guide speaks English or German. No individual guide name is provided, so the quality of the day will depend on the person leading your group. English-language guiding has been described as friendly and informative, though one guide’s English was mixed with German.

The road into the Taurus Mountains

Pickup is from your hotel in the Side area. You may first ride to a meeting point and change into another minibus, so do not be surprised if the vehicle you board at the hotel is not the one used for the mountain portion.

The transport is an air-conditioned minibus. That matters on a nine-hour day, but you should still expect a lot of sitting. One reported schedule included an early pickup, a two-hour ride into the mountains, and regular rest stops.

The route includes steep roads and hairpin bends. The turns are part of the mountain setting, but they may not suit you if you get carsick. Bring water, keep a light snack close by, and choose a seat where you feel comfortable.

Vehicle trouble has happened on at least one outing, including an overheated bus and a clutch problem on a steep slope. Those incidents were resolved, but they show why this is not a tightly timed city tour. Build some patience into your day.

Avasun and the view over Green Canyon

The first notable stop is Avasun, known as the village of bay leaves. The focus here is the view rather than a long village visit.

You’ll look across toward Green Canyon and Green Lake, with the Taurus Mountains forming the backdrop. This is one of the best places to take photos, so keep your camera ready and do not leave it buried in your luggage.

The stop also gives you a first sense of how different the inland area is from Side. The air, roads, and buildings change as the minibus climbs. You are not simply being taken from one attraction to another. You are watching the region shift from resort coast to mountain village.

The stop is likely to be brief, so use the time well. Take your photos, listen to the guide’s explanation, and stay aware of the meeting point.

Ürünlü and the button houses

Ürünlü is known for its button houses, one of the most interesting parts of the excursion. These traditional homes use a distinctive construction style, with wooden beams and stone arranged in a way that gives the buildings their unusual name and appearance.

You will have a tea or coffee break at a traditional house. This is a small detail, but it helps the visit feel less like a quick roadside photo stop. You get a chance to sit down, look closely at the building, and hear more about how the houses were made.

The village stop can feel short. Around 20 minutes may not be enough to properly explore every old building or understand the layout of the village. If you are interested in traditional architecture, pay attention to the guide early and ask questions while you have the chance.

One practical point: the tour also visits Ormana, where you see more button houses. The first village may therefore feel less important than expected if you are hoping for a long walk through a preserved old settlement. The architectural explanation later in the day is likely to be more rewarding.

Taking the boat into Altinbesik Cave

Altinbesik Cave National Park is the main attraction. The cave contains an underground lake described as the largest in Turkey, and the boat ride is included in the tour price.

The boat trip lasts about 20 minutes. You travel across the dark water inside the cave and see stalactite and stalagmite formations in the Golden Cradle Cavern. It is an unusual setting, and the short ride gives the tour its strongest wow factor.

Keep your expectations sensible. This is not a long underground expedition. The actual cave viewing can feel over in 7 to 10 minutes, especially if you imagined a huge cave system with a long walking route. The boat ride is the key experience, not a full day spent exploring underground chambers.

The cave may also feel less dramatic if you compare it with large show caves elsewhere in Europe. Its appeal comes from the combination of the lake, the boat, the rock formations, and the remote mountain setting.

Wear firm shoes. You may not walk far inside the cave, but the day includes village paths, uneven ground, and outdoor stops. Comfortable footwear will make the whole outing easier.

Lunch in Ormana

After the cave, the group continues to Ormana village for lunch at a local restaurant. The meal is included, but drinks are not, so bring some Turkish lira or another accepted form of payment.

Lunch is prepared for the group, with tables already set when you arrive. That makes the stop efficient, which is useful on a nine-hour itinerary. It also means you will not spend much time choosing from a large menu.

The meal has been described as tasty, though portions may feel modest. A traditional trout dish is a good choice if it is available. One practical complaint was the price of beer, so check drink prices before ordering if you are watching your budget.

I see the lunch as part of the village experience rather than the reason to book the trip. You get a chance to eat away from the resort strip and sample local food, but you should not expect a long restaurant visit or an elaborate feast.

Ormana’s unusual village architecture

Ormana gives you another look at button houses and the rural character of the area. The village is an important stop because you can connect the building style with an active community rather than seeing only one isolated old house.

Still, the schedule may limit your time. A short stop can leave you walking around without much context if the guide does not explain what you are seeing. I would stay close to the guide and ask for the most important buildings instead of trying to cover every street.

A small regional-products presentation may also form part of the later tour. You may have the chance to buy local goods. Some people enjoy this chance to take home food or craft products, while others may find it feels like a sales stop.

Treat it as optional. You do not need to buy anything, and the main value of the day remains the cave, mountain scenery, village architecture, and historical sites.

Sarihacilar, the Silk Road village

The final cultural section takes you to Sarihacilar, a village on the old Silk Road. This gives the day a useful historical thread. The route was not only a way through the mountains for modern visitors. It also connected communities and trade routes.

You visit a traditional house and a 650-year-old Ottoman mosque. The mosque is a strong finish because it adds a real sense of age and place after the more scenic parts of the day.

You may also see an old village school in this area. The building methods used for the button houses are explained here, along with the story of the village school. For me, this is the kind of stop that makes the tour more than a photo trip. It connects the buildings to daily life and local communities.

Entry into the mosque is available for those who want it. Dress with ordinary respect for a religious site, and follow the guide’s instructions.

What the $57 price really includes

At $57 per person, the tour offers good value if you use all of its main elements. A nine-hour outing includes hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned minibus, a professional local guide, lunch, and the 20-minute cave boat ride.

The price also covers access to several places that would be difficult to combine independently in one day. The mountain roads are not simple to navigate, and the tour links Avasun, Ürünlü, Altinbesik, Ormana, and Sarihacilar without requiring you to arrange separate transport.

The value is weaker if you want a short, focused cave visit. Much of the day is spent in the vehicle, and some village stops are brief. You are paying for a full regional circuit, not only the underground lake.

Drinks and personal expenses are extra. That includes drinks at lunch and any regional products you choose to buy. The booking terms are flexible: you can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps you from paying at the time of booking.

What to pack for this mountain day

Keep your packing simple, but prepare for a long outing.

• Wear firm, comfortable shoes.
• Carry water and any small snacks you may want during the drive.
• Bring sun protection for the outdoor viewpoints.
• Keep some money available for drinks and personal purchases.
• Bring a camera or phone with spare battery power.
• If you are prone to motion sickness, prepare for winding mountain roads.

Toilets are available at regular stops, which makes the long drive easier. You should still use the facilities when the minibus stops rather than assume another break will come soon.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend this tour if you want to see rural Antalya Province, enjoy mountain roads and scenery, and like combining nature with local culture. It suits curious visitors who would rather see villages, traditional houses, and a historic mosque than spend another day beside a hotel pool.

It is also a good fit for anyone looking for a fairly priced full-day outing from Side. The included lunch and boat trip make the cost easy to understand.

I would think twice if your main goal is a large, dramatic cave. The underground lake is memorable, but the cave visit itself is short. You should also avoid booking this as a relaxing day with little driving. The journey is a major part of the experience.

Families and older visitors should consider the early pickup, winding roads, and amount of time in the minibus. The regular rest stops help, but this remains an active day with uneven village surfaces and mountain travel.

Should you book the Altinbesik and Ormana tour?

Book it if you want the whole mountain story, not just one attraction. The best parts are the Taurus views, the boat ride inside Altinbesik Cave, the button houses, the local lunch, and the old mosque in Sarihacilar.

Skip it if you need a short itinerary, dislike winding roads, or expect hours inside a vast cave. At $57, it is a solid value for a nine-hour regional tour, provided you accept that the cave is one stop within a much larger day.

FAQ

How long does the Altinbesik and Ormana tour last?

The tour lasts about 9 hours, including transportation from Side and the return trip to your hotel.

What languages does the guide speak?

The tour has live guides in English and German.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the tour.

Is the Altinbesik Cave boat ride included?

Yes. The price includes a 20-minute boat trip to Altinbesik Cave.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at a restaurant in Ormana is included.

Are drinks included with lunch?

No. Drinks are not included and must be paid for separately.

What villages does the tour visit?

The route includes Avasun, Ürünlü, Ormana, and Sarihacilar.

Can I cancel the booking for a refund?

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