On the route
Taking Photos on the Side Jeep Tour, From an Open Jeep
Your phone will be the camera of the day, and the day is not kind to phones. Here is where to take it out, and where to leave it zipped away.
Short answer
The pictures come at the stops: the old Roman bridge, the arches of the Roman aqueducts, the lookout high over Green Lake, the wall of Oymapınar Dam, and the canyon seen from above. Between them, put the phone away: the tracks are bumpy and, in summer, the water fights reach everyone. Photos and videos by the tour team are not in the fare; they are a separate service.
The five stops that make the pictures
- The old Roman bridge. The first halt, where the asphalt gives out and the jeeps line up before the tracks. The convoy is still dry and tidy here; it will not be later.
- The Roman aqueducts. Arches standing in open country, with the jeeps pulled up beside them. Several of the operator's own frames on this site were taken at this stop.
- Green Lake from above. A panoramic lookout over the lake and the dam country — the widest view of the day.
- Oymapınar Dam. A short photo stop by the dam wall.
- Above Green Canyon. The last viewpoint before lunch, looking down over the canyon.
The driver may change the order to suit the day; the stops themselves stay in it. On the zoo route there is one more, the zoo stop, where a photograph with the lion cubs is possible but whether a cub is out is the zoo's decision, not ours.
Between the stops, the phone goes away
Filming from a jeep on a rough track gives you a shaky clip and a real chance of dropping the phone over the side. Past the Roman bridge the tracks are bumpy in places, the jeeps run through stream crossings, and on summer departures the water flies between them on purpose. A strap or lanyard that ties the phone to your wrist is worth more than any case.
Dust is the quieter problem. The open jeeps pick it up from the tracks, and it settles on a lens without your noticing. A soft cloth in a pocket, and a wipe before each stop, saves a day of hazy pictures. How to seal the phone against water is covered in the water fights and what to wear and bring.
The tour team's photos
The photo and video service of the tour team is not part of the fare. It is offered separately, and nobody has to buy it. Its price is not on our record, so you will not find one here; if you are interested, ask the team on the day. Without it, your own phone is the only camera, which is the best reason to look after it.
What we cannot tell you
Drones: the operator's record says nothing about them either way, so we make no claim. If you plan to bring one, ask us before the day. The night safari: no photograph of the evening, the dinner or the catamaran is on record, which is why its page shows the day jeeps and says so.
The water stops are described in more detail in Green Lake and Oymapınar. When you are ready to choose a date, start with the classic day.
