Boat Tours in Side and Manavgat
Planning a boat tour from Side? See the Manavgat River trip with waterfall entry, a swim at the river mouth, lunch on board and bazaar time, plus tips and FAQ.
A day on the water is one of the easiest ways to take a break from the beach in Side, and when people here talk about a boat tour they usually mean the Manavgat River. The river flows past the town of Manavgat and into the Mediterranean close to Side, so one relaxed day can combine a waterfall, a slow cruise, a swim where fresh water meets the sea, lunch on deck and the local bazaar. This guide follows that day as Maxtoria runs it, spells out what is and is not included, and explains how it differs from the sea trips and Green Canyon cruises that are also sold as boat tours around Side.
At a glance
Duration: about 09:00 to 14:45, plus hotel transfers
Departures: currently Mondays and Thursdays, the Manavgat market days
Included: hotel pickup in Side, waterfall ticket, river cruise with a swim stop, lunch on board
Guide: English and Turkish
What is a boat tour from Side?
The trip most often sold as the Side boat tour or Manavgat boat trip is a river excursion. You are collected from your hotel, driven to Manavgat, and spend the middle of the day on a boat on the Manavgat River before some free time in town. It is a sightseeing day rather than a party cruise, with a swim built in, and it suits anyone who wants a gentle, varied day out.
Two other kinds of trip also go by the name boat tour locally: sea trips along the Side coast, and cruises on the reservoir at Green Canyon in the Taurus Mountains. Both are compared further down, so you can choose before you book.
What can you see on a Manavgat boat tour?
On Maxtoria's Manavgat boat tour from Side the day has five quite different parts, which is why it works well for couples, friends and families alike.
Manavgat Waterfall
The first stop is Manavgat Waterfall, where the river spills over a long, low rocky ledge. It is only a few metres high, but the width of the cascade, the spray and the shaded walkways beside it make it a pleasant start before the heat of the day. Your entrance ticket is already paid, and about 45 minutes are set aside here.
The Manavgat River
A short drive brings you to the pier, and the boat heads downstream toward the coast. The cruise is unhurried: reed beds, fishing boats and riverside orchards slide past, with the Taurus Mountains behind. River turtles sometimes surface along the banks, so keep an eye on the water.
Where the river meets the Mediterranean
Before it reaches the sea, the Manavgat runs alongside the coast, separated from it only by a narrow strip of sand. The boat moors here for the swim stop, which lasts about an hour. You can swim on the river side, where the water is fresh and cooler, and on the sea side, where it is salty and warmer — an unusual contrast that most guests remember. If the wind picks up, the crew may choose a calmer spot on the river instead.
Lunch on board
Back on deck, a warm lunch is served while the boat rests in the shade near the river mouth. Lunch is part of the price; drinks on board are paid separately, so bring a little cash.
Manavgat Bazaar
The boat cruises back upriver and a short transfer takes you into Manavgat for about an hour and a half of free time. The town's main market is held on Mondays and Thursdays, and the tour currently runs on exactly those two days. Stalls sell fruit, spices, textiles and souvenirs, but shopping is entirely optional — many guests simply wander and watch everyday life. Our Manavgat market guide has more on what you will find.
Typical itinerary
This is the current program of the Side departure. Times are approximate and can shift with traffic and the weather.
Hotel pickup in Side — before the 09:00 start; your exact time is confirmed after booking
Manavgat Waterfall — about 45 minutes, entrance included
Drive to the river pier — about 20 minutes
Cruise downriver — about 40 minutes
Swim stop at the river mouth — about 1 hour
Lunch on board — about 45 minutes
Cruise back upriver — about 30 minutes
Free time at Manavgat Bazaar — about 1 hour 30 minutes
End of the activity around 14:45 — then the drive back to your hotel
Other Manavgat trips, including some listed on Maxtoria, do the boat first and the waterfall later, so always check the program of the tour you choose.
What is included in the price?
Included
Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Side area
Manavgat Waterfall entrance ticket
Manavgat River boat trip with a swim stop
Lunch on board
Tour guide (English and Turkish)
Travel insurance
Not included
Drinks on the boat
Purchases at the bazaar
Tips and other personal expenses
How long does the boat tour take?
The activity runs from about 09:00 to 14:45 — roughly five and three-quarter hours, of which around three are spent on or beside the boat. Pickup happens before the start time and drop-off after the end, so plan on most of the day and expect to be back at your hotel in the afternoon. The exact pickup time depends on where your hotel is and is confirmed after you book.
River, sea or canyon: which boat trip suits you?
Three very different excursions around Side are all called boat tours. Here is how Maxtoria's versions compare:
Manavgat River | Side sea trip | Green Canyon | |
|---|---|---|---|
Setting | River, river mouth and Manavgat town | River delta and the open sea | Dam lake in the mountains |
Swimming | Fresh and salt water at the river mouth | Two stops, including Turtle Bay | Freshwater stops in the canyon |
Lunch | On board | On board | Lakeside restaurant |
Drinks | Not included | Unlimited soft drinks | Unlimited soft drinks on the boat |
Also | Waterfall and bazaar | Foam party and entertainment | Dam viewpoint |
Manavgat River boat tour
Pick the river if you want a calm day with sightseeing on land as well as on the water. The pace is gentle, river water is usually calmer than the open sea, and the waterfall and bazaar give the day more than one focus.
Side sea boat trips
Sea trips are about swimming and time on deck. Maxtoria's full-day pirate boat trip from Side boards at the Manavgat pier, cruises down to the delta for a first swim, then sails past ancient Side and the Temple of Apollo to Turtle Bay for swimming and snorkelling, with lunch, unlimited soft drinks and a foam party on the way back. For turquoise coves, the longer Suluada boat tour from Side drives to Adrasan harbour first. All current options are on the Side boat tours page.
Green Canyon boat trip
Green Canyon is not on the coast at all: it is the reservoir of the Oymapınar Dam, hemmed in by steep, wooded slopes of the Taurus Mountains. The Green Canyon boat trip from Side starts at a dam viewpoint, cruises through the canyon with freshwater swim breaks and serves lunch at a lakeside restaurant. Read what you can do on a Green Canyon tour for more ideas.
Boat tours from Antalya and along the coast
Staying in Antalya rather than Side? The Manavgat River cruise from Antalya covers the same highlights — the swim where the river meets the sea, lunch on deck, the waterfall and the bazaar — with a longer transfer from the city. For sea trips that leave from Antalya itself, see boat tours in Antalya. The tours listed below this guide also include boat trips from Alanya, Kemer and Marmaris, and there is plenty more to plan on our Side tours and activities page.
How to book
Open the Manavgat boat tour listing, choose a date in the calendar and add the number of adults, children and infants. You can pay online by card or on the day, and free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before the start time. In July and August it is worth booking a few days ahead. For a closer look at how the day is run, read how the Manavgat boat tour is organized.
What to bring and wear
Swimwear — easiest worn under your clothes — and a towel
Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses; the deck and the market can be very sunny
Comfortable shoes for the waterfall paths and market lanes
Some cash for drinks on board and bazaar shopping
A phone or camera, ideally in a waterproof pouch
A light layer in spring and autumn, when the breeze on the water feels cool
Leave valuables at your hotel if you can — you will be swimming and walking through a busy market.
Best time for a boat trip
Maxtoria's calendar currently lists the Manavgat river tour through the winter as well as the summer, but the swim is the main draw, and the sea around Side is comfortable for most swimmers from about June to October. May, June, September and October bring warm days without the peak heat. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, so book early and plan for strong sun. In the cooler months the cruise, waterfall and bazaar are still enjoyable even if you skip the swim.
For month-by-month weather, see the best time to visit Antalya.
Families, children and safety
The pace is gentle and there is no hiking, which makes this one of the easier full-day trips for families. Infants up to 5 years join free of charge, and a reduced child rate applies up to age 11.
Keep children with you at the swim stop and swim only where the crew indicates.
If someone in your group is not a confident swimmer, ask the crew about life jackets before getting in.
The crew chooses the swimming spot on the day and may move to calmer water on the river when it is windy.
The listing does not confirm wheelchair access. Boarding the boat, the waterfall paths and the market can be difficult with limited mobility, so contact Maxtoria support before booking if this applies to you.
How long is the Side boat tour?
The activity runs from about 09:00 to 14:45. Add hotel pickup before and drop-off afterwards, and plan on most of the day; about three hours of it is the boat part.
Where does the Manavgat boat tour depart from?
You are picked up from your hotel in the Side area. The boat itself leaves from a pier on the Manavgat River, which the group reaches by a short drive after the waterfall.
Does the boat tour include hotel pickup?
Yes. Pickup and drop-off at hotels in the Side area are included. Pickup is earlier than the 09:00 start, and the exact time is confirmed after you book.
Is lunch included?
Yes, a warm lunch is served on board. Drinks on the boat are not included and are paid for on the spot.
Can I swim during the boat tour?
Yes. There is a swim stop of about an hour where the Manavgat River meets the Mediterranean, so you can try both fresh and salt water. In windy weather the crew may choose a calmer spot on the river.
Are Manavgat Waterfall and its entrance fee included?
Yes. The waterfall is the first stop of the day and the entrance ticket is part of the price, so there is nothing to pay at the gate.
Is the Manavgat Bazaar part of the tour?
Yes. You get about an hour and a half of free time at the bazaar. The tour runs on the market days, Monday and Thursday, and shopping is optional.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, comfortable shoes and some cash for drinks and the bazaar.
Is the boat tour suitable for children?
Yes. The pace is relaxed, infants up to 5 join free and a child rate applies up to age 11. Children should stay with an adult at the swim stop.
What happens if the weather is unsuitable?
Wind mostly affects the swim, and the crew may move it to calmer water on the river. Decisions on the day are made by the crew with safety first. If your own plans change, you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start, or contact Maxtoria support about another date.
Which languages does the guide speak?
The tour is guided in English and Turkish.
Is this the same as a Side pirate boat trip?
No. The Manavgat tour is a river day with a waterfall and a bazaar; pirate boat trips spend more time at sea, with swim stops, soft drinks and entertainment on board.
How can I book the boat tour?
Book on the tour page: choose a Monday or Thursday departure, add your group and pay online by card or on the day. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before the start.
Side
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