Qu'est-ce qui est inclus dans une excursion en bateau secondaire ? (Liste complète)

Booking a boat trip in Side sounds simple until you start comparing offers and realise the headline prices hide very different things. One operator quotes EUR 20 and another EUR 45, and the only honest answer to "why" is: they include different stuff. After years of putting guests on boats from both Side Harbour and the Manavgat River, I can tell you the price gap almost always comes down to what is bundled in — transfer, lunch, drinks, gear, and crucially whether you are sharing the deck with forty strangers or have the whole boat to yourselves.

This guide breaks down exactly what is included in a Side boat trip so you know what you are paying for before you hand over a euro. I will go line by line through the typical shared tour and the private charter, flag the few things that are almost always extra, and show you how to read a listing so there are no surprises at the jetty. If you only want a quick sense of the numbers, jump to the Side boat tour prices breakdown; otherwise, read on.

The short answer: what every Side boat trip should include

Whatever you book, a properly run Side boat trip should cover the boat itself, a professional captain and crew, life jackets in adult and child sizes, and at least one supervised swim stop in calm, sheltered water. Beyond that baseline, inclusions split sharply between shared group trips and private charters. Here is the at-a-glance version before we dig into each.

Included item	Shared / group trip (EUR 20-25 pp)	Private charter (from EUR 45 pp)	Luxury yacht (from ~EUR 600/boat)
Boat, captain & crew	Yes (shared deck)	Yes (whole boat)	Yes (whole yacht)
Round-trip hotel transfer	Usually yes	Usually yes	Usually yes / on request
Lunch on board	Yes (set menu)	Yes (BBQ)	Yes (BBQ / catered)
Soft drinks & snacks	Usually extra	Included	Included
Snorkelling gear	Sometimes / rented	Included	Included
Life jackets (all sizes)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Private deck & route choice	No	Yes	Yes

What's included in a shared group boat trip

The classic Side day out — the pirate-style wooden boat packed with music, families and sun loungers — sits at the EUR 20-25 per person mark. For that you get a genuinely good-value package, but it is worth knowing precisely where the line falls between "included" and "buy on board".

Aboard the Side Pirates galleon — foam parties and treasure hunts.

Hotel transfer

Almost every shared tour includes round-trip hotel transfer. A minibus collects you from your hotel in Side, Kumkoy, Sorgun, Colakli or Manavgat, drops you at the boat, and brings you back afterwards. Guests staying in Belek or Antalya can usually arrange transfer on request, sometimes for a small supplement. If you booked online and the listing says "transfer included", confirm your hotel name is on the pickup list — that is the single most common point of confusion.

Lunch on board

A cooked lunch is standard on full-day shared trips. Expect a set menu — typically chicken or fish with rice, salad and bread, served on board partway through the day. It is simple, hot and plentiful. Half-day trips of three to four hours often skip the meal, so check the duration: if a tour is priced low and runs only a morning, lunch may not be part of it.

Swim stops, life jackets and crew

You will get two or three swim stops in sheltered spots, life jackets for every age, and crew who keep an eye on swimmers. Wild dolphins and loggerhead turtles are often spotted on the morning sea route, but no honest operator guarantees them — they are wild animals. For more on how the day actually unfolds, see the best boat tours in Side.

Good to know: On shared trips, drinks are almost always extra. There is an on-board bar selling water, soft drinks, tea, beer and cocktails. Bring some cash in Turkish lira for the smoothest experience — and a refillable water bottle so you are never caught short between rounds.

What's included in a private boat charter

Private charters start from around EUR 45 per person and change the whole feel of the day. Instead of a fixed circuit shared with strangers, you book the entire boat — deck, captain, crew and route — for your group alone. The inclusions are noticeably more generous, which is most of why the price is higher.

The whole boat — no strangers, no fighting for shade, no fixed seating.
Professional captain and crew — every charter comes with a licensed skipper; you need no licence or experience.
BBQ lunch — grilled on board, usually fresh and more generous than a shared set menu.
Soft drinks and snacks — included rather than sold separately.
Snorkelling gear — masks and fins on board for everyone.
Flexible route and timing — linger at a swim spot, chase a sunset, or skip a stop entirely.

If you are weighing the two formats against each other, the private vs group boat trips comparison lays out the trade-offs in detail, and private boat rental in Side covers how booking the whole boat works.

What's included on a luxury yacht charter

At the top end, a luxury yacht charter is priced per boat rather than per person — from around EUR 600 for the whole vessel. That figure covers the yacht, captain and crew, a catered or BBQ lunch, soft drinks, snorkelling equipment and full use of the boat for the day. Because you pay per boat, the more people in your group, the better the per-head value — which is why yachts suit celebrations, larger families and special occasions. The deep dive lives in our yacht charter in Side guide and the luxury yacht charter guide.

A private motor yacht for a day entirely on your terms.

What's usually NOT included

Knowing the exclusions matters as much as the inclusions. Here is what typically sits outside the headline price.

Drinks on shared trips — water, soft drinks and alcohol are bought from the on-board bar.
Tips for the crew — appreciated but never compulsory.
Personal extras — souvenir photos, towels on some boats, and anything you buy at the Grand Bazaar on Manavgat River tours.
Belek/Antalya transfer supplements — possible on request, occasionally with a small fee.
Travel insurance — always your own responsibility.

What you will not find with a reputable Side operator is hidden costs. The price you book should be the price you pay, with on-board drinks and tips being the only routine extras.

Sea route vs river route: inclusions differ slightly

Side has two distinct departure areas, and the included experience changes with each.

Cruising the calm, green Manavgat River toward the delta.

Side Harbour (sea route)

Boats from Side Harbour head out to open sea, toward Dolphin Island and within sight of the Temple of Apollo, with swim stops in the sea. This is the route for dolphin and turtle spotting and proper open-water swimming. See the Apollo Temple and blue lagoon guide.

Manavgat River (river route)

River cruises are calm and flat, sailing downstream to the "two-waters" delta where the river meets the sea for a swim, plus a stop at the Grand Bazaar. One thing to set straight: river boat tours go downstream to the delta and do not sail up to the Manavgat Waterfall, which is a separate land attraction. The freshwater Green Canyon trip at the Oymapinar dam is also a different tour entirely. Full detail in the Manavgat River boat tour guide and Side Harbour vs Manavgat River.

How to read a listing so there are no surprises

Before you book, scan the listing for four things: the duration (half-day three to four hours, or full-day six to eight), whether transfer is included and lists your hotel, whether lunch is included, and how drinks are handled. If all four are stated clearly and there is no mention of hidden fees, you are looking at an honest tour. If a price seems far below the EUR 20 floor, assume lunch or transfer has been stripped out.

Good to know: Mornings are the calmest water and your best shot at dolphins, so the included experience is genuinely better earlier in the day. Sunset cruises trade dolphin odds for romance. Plan around the best time for a boat tour in Side.

Who each option is for

Shared group trip is for you if: you want maximum value, a lively social atmosphere, and you do not mind a fixed route and buying your own drinks. Great for families on a budget and solo travellers.

A relaxed day of island hopping and swimming.

Private or yacht charter is for you if: you want privacy, a flexible route, included drinks and gear, and a calmer or more special day — couples, larger groups, celebrations and anyone travelling with small children who prefer their own space.

Ready to see exactly what is included?

Browse our group boat trips with transfer, lunch and swim stops all spelled out — no hidden costs, just the price you book.

View group boat trips →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hotel transfer included in a Side boat trip?

Yes, most shared and private tours include round-trip hotel transfer from Side, Kumkoy, Sorgun, Colakli and Manavgat. Belek and Antalya pickups are usually available on request, sometimes with a small supplement.

Is lunch included?

Full-day shared trips include an on-board set-menu lunch, and private charters include a BBQ lunch. Short half-day trips of three to four hours often do not include a meal, so check the duration.

Are drinks included?

On shared group trips, drinks are usually extra and bought from the on-board bar. On private charters and yachts, soft drinks are included.

What does a shared boat trip cost?

Shared group boat trips run from EUR 20 to 25 per person, typically including transfer, lunch and swim stops, with drinks extra.

What does a private charter cost?

Private boat rental starts from around EUR 45 per person and includes the whole boat, captain and crew, BBQ lunch, soft drinks and snorkelling gear.

How much is a luxury yacht charter?

Luxury yacht charters start from roughly EUR 600 for the whole boat, priced per vessel rather than per person, so larger groups get better per-head value.

Is snorkelling gear included?

Private charters and yachts include masks and fins for everyone. On shared trips, gear is sometimes provided or available to rent, so confirm before you go.

Are children discounted?

Yes, children are usually offered a discounted rate, and life jackets in child sizes are provided on board. See the best family boat tours in Side.

Do I need a licence to charter a private boat?

No. Every rental comes with a professional, licensed captain and crew, so you need no licence and no boating experience at all.

Are dolphins guaranteed?

No. Wild dolphins and loggerhead turtles are often seen on the morning sea route, but they are wild animals and can never be guaranteed. Mornings give the best chance.

Are there any hidden costs?

No. Reputable Side operators charge no hidden fees — the price you book is the price you pay. The only routine extras are drinks on shared trips and optional crew tips.

Do river tours visit the Manavgat Waterfall?

No. River boat tours sail downstream to the delta where the river meets the sea. The Manavgat Waterfall is a separate land attraction upstream, and Green Canyon is a different freshwater lake tour.

How long does a boat trip last?

Half-day trips run about three to four hours and full-day trips about six to eight hours, including transfer time.

What should I bring if drinks and some extras are not included?

Bring cash in Turkish lira for the bar and any bazaar shopping, plus sunscreen, a hat and a towel. Our what to bring guide has the full checklist.

Is a Side boat trip safe?

Yes. Boats carry life jackets in all sizes, swim stops are in calm sheltered water, and crews are experienced. More in are Side boat tours safe.

The bottom line

What is included in a Side boat trip comes down to the format you choose. A shared group trip bundles transfer, lunch and swim stops into a EUR 20-25 price with drinks extra; a private charter from EUR 45 adds the whole boat, BBQ lunch, included drinks and snorkelling gear; and a yacht from ~EUR 600 gives you the lot for your group alone. Match the inclusions to the day you actually want and there are no surprises at the jetty.

Qu'est-ce qui est inclus dans une excursion en bateau secondaire ?