A common complaint about boat trips on the Antalya coast is not the price — it is the surprise on board: drinks that suddenly cost money, a "free" transfer that was not free. Here is what is and is not included on every Side Boat Trips excursion, tour by tour.
One rule protects you: the tour page list is your contract
Side Boat Trips is a direct local operator, not a reseller, so the "included / not included" list on each tour page is the final word: if it says lunch is on board, it is; if drinks are sold, you read that before you book. There is no prepayment — book online with instant confirmation and pay on tour day, on the boat, cash or card; cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure. Stung elsewhere before? See our breakdown of "cheap" boat trips and their hidden costs.
Included on every group tour
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from Kumköy, Evrenseki, Çolaklı, Gündoğdu, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Kızılağaç, Kızılot and Side centre; the exact time is confirmed the day before, and the meeting point is usually your hotel's outer gate.
- Lunch — on board or at a stop, detailed per tour below.
- Insurance and safety equipment, with life jackets in all sizes.
- Children aged 0–2 travel free; child price tiers are shown on each tour page.
Tour by tour: what's included, what's extra
- Dolphin Island (~8 hours door to door). Included: hotel transfer, the Manavgat River cruise past riverbanks where turtles bask on the branches, a ~1.5-hour swim stop where river meets sea, extra open-sea stops, grilled chicken with rice and salad, foam party, life jackets for every age. Extra: all drinks (sold on board) and optional water sports at the beach stop. No dolphin guarantee — they are wild animals.
- Pirate galleon (~7 hours, departs 10:00 from the Manavgat River pier). Included: children's programme (treasure hunt, rope pulling, free face painting), a river-and-sea swimming stop, foam party, live music all day, lunch with a children's menu, marine insurance. Extra: all drinks, even soft drinks — everything comes from the on-board bar. Runs on set weekdays — see the booking calendar.
- Green Canyon boat tour (~7 hours, about 5 on the lake). Included: transfer from the Side, Manavgat and Alanya areas, the Oymapınar photo stop, swimming in the cool mountain lake, lunch at the lake restaurant (köfte, chicken or fish), soft drinks on the boat, fishing equipment, a guide (English, German, Russian) and travel insurance. Extra: drinks at the restaurant. Alcohol is not allowed; not suitable for guests with limited mobility.
- Suluada full day. Included: lunch on the boat and swimming stops in the coves of the "Maldives of Turkey". Extra: drinks, sold on board. The island has very little shade — pack sun protection.
- Private gulet (~7 hours, up to ~50 guests). Included: crew, insurance, a menu agreed for your group, your own playlist, delta swimming, the Temple of Apollo from the sea. Extra: hotel transfer (on request). One bottle of spirits is allowed; celebration decoration needs 2–3 days' notice.
- Luxury yacht (~6 hours, up to ~25 guests). Included: captain and crew, fuel, port fees, insurance, lunch or dinner agreed in advance. Extra: VIP transfer. Boarding is via steps (not wheelchair-accessible); in bad weather you reschedule or cancel free of charge.
Drinks: the one detail that changes from boat to boat
Almost every "hidden cost" story is about drinks. The honest summary: on the Green Canyon boat, soft drinks are included; on the pirate galleon, every drink comes from the bar; on the Dolphin Island and Suluada trips, drinks are sold on board. None of it is hidden — each tour page states it before you book.
FAQ: what's included on Side boat trips
Is hotel transfer included in the price?
Yes on all group tours — pickup and drop-off are included, with the time confirmed the day before. On the private gulet, transfer is arranged on request at extra cost; the luxury yacht's VIP transfer is also paid.
Do I pay anything in advance?
No. Booking is free with instant confirmation; you pay on tour day on the boat, cash or card, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours beforehand.
Is lunch included on every trip?
Yes on all group tours: chicken with rice and salad on the dolphin boat, köfte/chicken/fish at the lake restaurant, a children's menu on the galleon, lunch on board at Suluada. Private charters agree the menu in advance.
Are water sports included?
No — at the dolphin tour's beach stop they are optional; you pay only if you use them. Nothing is added to your bill automatically.
Open the tour page of the trip you like, check its included list and book in under a minute — you pay nothing until tour day.
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