Sapadere Canyon (Sapadere Kanyonu) is a narrow limestone gorge in the Taurus Mountains, about 45 km from the centre of Alanya. A mountain stream has cut a slot between cliffs that rise hundreds of metres, polishing the rock into bowls, chutes and green pools. Since the late 2000s a walkway of wood and steel, roughly 750 m long, has been fixed to the canyon wall, so that anyone who can manage a level walk can go right into the gorge.
The path ends at the main waterfall, which drops into a natural pool of startlingly cold, clear water. On a 35 °C August day the canyon is ten degrees cooler than the beach, which is exactly why half of Alanya’s excursion buses come here. The canyon was closed after a rockfall in December 2024 and reopened in July 2025 with steel protective tunnels over the exposed sections of the walkway.
Top things to do: Sapadere Canyon
Walk the boardwalk
The walk from the ticket gate to the waterfall is about 750 m each way and almost flat, with a few steps. Allow 20–30 minutes each way with photo stops. The walkway hugs the cliff a few metres above the water, passing cascades, potholes and overhangs — look down for the deep green pools and up for the strip of sky.
See the waterfall
The boardwalk ends at a viewing platform in front of the main waterfall, which slides down a mossy chute into a round pool. Spring brings the most water; by late summer the fall is thinner but the pool is at its most inviting.
Swim in the natural pool
Swimming is allowed in the designated pool area. The water comes straight off the mountain and stays very cold all year — most people manage a minute or two. Bring swimwear, a towel and shoes with grip; there are simple changing cabins near the entrance. Never jump from the rocks: depth varies and the stone is slippery.
Eat by the stream
Restaurants and tea gardens at the entrance and along the road serve grilled trout, gözleme, fresh orange and pomegranate juice and village breakfast at tables beside the water. See our Sapadere village guide for more.
Combine it with the valley
Most visitors add the Dwarf’s Cave on the same road, and nearly every tour pairs the canyon with lunch on the Dim River and often Dim Cave.
How to get to Sapadere Canyon
- By tour: the easiest option. Coach and jeep tours pick up from hotels between Konaklı and Kargıcak — compare them on our tours page.
- By car: follow the D400 east from Alanya for about 25 km to Demirtaş, then turn inland at the signposted Sapadere junction for a further 18–20 km of winding mountain road. Allow 50–70 minutes. There is a car park at the entrance.
- By dolmuş: possible but slow — minibuses run from Alanya to Demirtaş, and onward services to Sapadere village are infrequent. Check return times before you set off. Details in our getting-there guide.
Insider tips
- Local sources put the 2026 entrance fee at around 225 TL for adults, with a reduced student ticket and free entry for young children. Fees are revised often — carry Turkish lira in cash and check the current rate.
- The canyon is open daily; published hours are roughly 08:30–18:00, with later closing reported in midsummer.
- Arrive before 10:30 or after 15:00 to miss the tour-bus peak between about 11:00 and 14:00.
- Wear trainers or sandals with a heel strap. Wet sections of the walkway are slippery and flip-flops are a poor idea.
- Mobile signal fades inside the gorge. Agree a meeting point if your group splits up.
- After heavy rain the canyon can close at short notice for safety checks.
Best tours & tickets: Sapadere Canyon
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Sapadere Canyon:
Day trip from €25 Alanya: 3-in-1 Sapadere Waterfalls, Dim Stream & Dim Cave Tour
The most-booked Sapadere product on GetYourGuide, with more than four thousand reviews. One long, easy day strings together the three inland classics of Alanya: the canyon, the Dim River restaurants and Dim Cave, with hotel pickup along the coast.
- Walk the full Sapadere Canyon boardwalk to the waterfall
- Riverside stop on the Dim Çayı
- Dim Cave and its underground lake
Jeep safari from €26 Sapadere Canyon Jeep Safari: Dim River, Caves & Waterfalls (Meal Included)
The best-rated way to reach the canyon: an open-top jeep convoy climbs through banana gardens and mountain villages before the canyon walk, with a meal included and water fights between the jeeps part of the fun.
- Open 4×4 convoy on Taurus back roads
- Sapadere Canyon boardwalk and swim stop
- Lunch included at a river restaurant
Day trip from €35 Alanya: 3-in-1 Sapadere Waterfall, Dim Stream & Dim Cave Tour
A long-running version of the same three-stop itinerary with the slightly higher rating of the two bestsellers. Reviewers praise the pacing: enough time in the canyon to reach the waterfall without rushing, then a lazy lunch on the water.
- Sapadere Canyon walk with time for a cold dip
- Lunch break by the Dim River
- Guided visit to Dim Cave
Day trip from €15 Alanya: Sapadere Canyon, Dwarfs Cave and Alanya City Tour
A good-value coach day that pairs the canyon with the nearby Dwarf’s Cave and finishes with the headline views of Alanya. Entrance fees and lunch are often optional extras at this price, so read the inclusions before you book.
- Sapadere Canyon and the small Dwarf’s Cave (Cüceler Mağarası)
- Village stop in the Sapadere valley
- Alanya viewpoints on the way back
