Quick answer
A local operator's guide to where boat trips in Side actually depart: Side harbour by the old town, the Manavgat river landings and the Green Canyon marina at Oymapinar — plus how hotel pick-up works and when it's simpler to walk to the quay yourself.
Boat trips in Side leave from three places. Sea tours — pirate boats, dolphin trips, island cruises — sail from Side harbour at the tip of the old town. Manavgat river cruises board at landings in the town itself. Green Canyon catamarans board at a marina on the Oymapinar reservoir, up in the hills. Most of our boat trips from Side include hotel pick-up, so the meeting point usually comes to you.
The three departure points at a glance
We run these boats ourselves, so we know exactly where each one waits. There is no embedded map in this article on purpose: the descriptions below are written so you can find each spot in words, and your transfer driver knows every one of them anyway.
| Departure point | Where it is | Tours that use it | Water conditions | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side harbour | At the tip of the Side old-town peninsula, where the pedestrian street ends, near the Temple of Apollo | All sea tours: Side Boat Tour, Relax Boat Trip, Island Boat Tour, Caretta Bay, Dolphin Island, pirate boats, fishing, VIP charters | Open sea, close to the coast | Hotel pick-up on most tours; walkable from old-town hotels |
| Manavgat river landings | Along the riverbank in Manavgat town, inland from the coast | Manavgat River cruise & Grand Bazaar day | Flat, sheltered river water | Included transfer drops you close to the gangway |
| Green Canyon marina, Oymapinar | On the Oymapinar reservoir, in the forested hills above Manavgat | Green Canyon catamaran cruise | Calm freshwater lake — no waves | Nearly everyone arrives on the included transfer |
Side harbour: where the sea tours leave from
Side harbour sits at the very tip of the old-town peninsula. Walk the pedestrian street through the shops and restaurants, keep the ancient theatre behind you, and the street simply ends where the sea begins: a small working harbour with tour boats moored side by side, and the columns of the Temple of Apollo standing a few minutes along the waterfront. If a boat trip in Side leaves from the sea, it leaves from here.
The tours boarding at the harbour include the full-day Side Boat Tour, the Relax Boat Trip with waterfall views, the Island Boat Tour with its foam party, the Caretta Bay trip, the Dolphin Island tour, the Side Pirate Boat Tour and its Little Pirates kids' version, our deep-sea fishing trips and our private VIP yacht and wooden boat charters. Charter day rates for mid-size groups run roughly €1,200–2,200 per boat, with premium yachts from €1,500 to €3,000 and up; for every scheduled sea tour, prices are shown live on the tour page. Browse the full line-up on our all boat trips hub and compare your options before you travel.
The Manavgat river landings: for the river cruise and bazaar day
The Manavgat River cruise does not use the sea harbour at all. The flat-decked river boats moor at landings along the riverbank in Manavgat town itself, a short drive inland from the coast. You will not need to hunt for the spot: on this tour we collect guests from Side, Belek and Alanya, and the coach drops you close to the gangway. The water is flat and sheltered, which makes it an easy day for anyone nervous about waves, and on the combined tour the cruise is paired with time at Manavgat's Grand Bazaar.
The Green Canyon marina at Oymapinar
Our Green Canyon catamarans board at a marina on the Oymapinar reservoir, the dam lake in the forested hills above Manavgat. This is the one departure point you would struggle to describe to a taxi driver from memory, which is exactly why the transfer is part of the product: we run pick-ups from Side, Kumkoy, Evrenseki, Belek, Antalya and Alanya, and the coach delivers you to the boarding pontoon. The reservoir is calm fresh water with no swell at all — the most seasickness-friendly cruise we operate.
Because guests join from along the whole coast, the starting price depends on where your hotel is:
| Departure area | Green Canyon 2026 starting price (per person) |
|---|---|
| Side | about €28–33 |
| Alanya | from about €38 |
| Kumkoy | about €43 |
| Belek / Manavgat | about €48 |
| Antalya | about €54 |
Belek guests can compare their other days out on our Belek departures hub. Check dates and lock in the departure area that matches your hotel on the Green Canyon cruise page.
Trips that start further along the coast
A few of our trips board well outside the Side area, and for those the coach journey is part of the day. The Suluada Island trip runs from Side and Antalya, with the boat boarding on the coast beyond Antalya — one of the longer road transfers we operate, and worth it for the island's clear water. Our Kemer boat trip boards on the Kemer coast, scuba diving days run at Side's Underwater Museum, Kumkoy, Kemer, Antalya and Alanya, and the Starcraft day cruise and disco-yacht night cruise sail from Side and Alanya. Exact boarding details for each of these are on the individual tour pages, and everything sailing out of the city is listed on our Antalya departures hub.
Hotel pick-up or make your own way?
Hotel pick-up is included on most of our tours, and it covers the whole resort strip: Side, Kumkoy, Evrenseki, Colakli, Gundogdu, Kizilagac, Kizilot and Cenger, plus Belek, Antalya, Alanya and Kemer on selected trips. Guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel, which is why we never print fixed clock times in advance. Sea tours are back by late afternoon.
Making your own way makes sense in one case: if you are staying in or near Side old town, the harbour may be a pleasant walk from your door. Tell us when you book and we will confirm where and when to meet at the quay. For the river landings and especially the Green Canyon marina, take the transfer — that is what it is there for.
- Booked a sea tour and staying in the old town? Ask us about meeting at the harbour.
- Staying anywhere else on the coast? The included pick-up is the simple option.
- Self-driving? Mention it at booking and we will confirm the meeting arrangements for your tour.
Safety at the quay and on the water
Every boat we use is a licensed commercial vessel, operating under Turkey's Ministry of Transport and harbour master inspection system, and our captains and crew hold professional seafarer qualifications. On board you will find life jackets in adult and child sizes plus a first aid kit. Swimming happens only at supervised stops, with boarding ladders down and crew watching the water. Sea tours stay near the coast in normal conditions, and the harbour master suspends departures when the weather is not safe — a call we never argue with. At sea, the Turkish coastguard responds on 158. If waves are your main worry, choose the freshwater Green Canyon cruise: it is the calmest option we run.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the main boat trip meeting point in Side?
Side harbour, at the tip of the old-town peninsula where the pedestrian street meets the sea, a few minutes from the Temple of Apollo. All of our sea tours board there; most guests arrive on the included hotel transfer rather than finding it themselves.
Is hotel pick-up included, and when will I know my time?
Pick-up is included on most tours. Guests are collected from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel, so treat any fixed time you see printed elsewhere with suspicion.
Can I skip the transfer and walk to the boat?
For harbour departures, often yes — if your hotel is in or near Side old town, tell us when you book and we will confirm the meeting arrangements at the quay. For river and canyon trips, the included transfer is the practical choice.
Where does the Green Canyon boat actually leave from?
From a marina on the Oymapinar reservoir in the hills above Manavgat — not from the sea. It is calm fresh water, the most seasickness-friendly cruise we offer, and nearly every guest arrives on the included coach transfer.
Do Manavgat river cruises use Side harbour?
No. The river boats board at landings along the Manavgat riverbank in the town itself, and your driver drops you close to the gangway. The combined tour pairs the cruise with Manavgat's Grand Bazaar.
Book the right departure for your hotel
You do not need to memorise any of this. Tell us where you are staying and we put you on the right coach to the right quay — harbour, riverbank or reservoir. Compare dates, live prices and pick-up areas on our boat trips from Side hub and book the departure that fits your week.