Quick answer
Why a private boat suits families in Side: your own space, your own pace, no crowd, and one per-boat price you split across the group. Compare a family private charter with the big shared boat, and see our honest boat trips and per-boat options.
A family private boat in Side beats the big shared boat because you get the whole vessel to yourselves: your own space for the kids, your own pace for swim stops and meals, and no crowd to work around. You pay one price per boat and split it across the family, so for four or more it often lands close to a busy shared trip. Browse our boat trips to compare.
What "private" actually means on the water
When we run a private boat, the captain and crew work for your group alone. No strangers, no fixed timetable set by forty other passengers, no queue for the ladder. We set out in the morning and shape the day around your family: longer swim stops for the children, a quieter cove for lunch, an earlier turn back if the little ones have had enough sun. On a big shared boat the schedule is fixed for everyone, and that is fine for some. For a family, the control is the point.
Our private options run per boat, priced on request rather than per head. That is the honest way to quote a charter, because the cost depends on the boat, the route and the day.
Space: room to breathe with kids aboard
The biggest practical difference is deck space per person. On a packed shared boat every sunbed and shaded seat is claimed early, and a family of four or five ends up split across the deck. On a private boat the whole layout is yours: somewhere shaded for a nap, a spot to keep bags and towels together, and room for children to move without weaving through other people's things. For families with toddlers or grandparents aboard, that space is worth more than any single feature on the brochure.
Your own pace: swim, eat and rest on your schedule
Children do not run on a timetable. A private boat lets you stop where you like, swim as long as the kids want, and eat when they are hungry rather than when a large group is herded to lunch. If someone needs a rest, the captain can find a calm spot. This is the part families notice most once they have tried it, and it is the main reason we point larger groups towards a charter.
No crowd: calmer, safer, quieter
Fewer people on deck means fewer ladders to share, more room around the swim area, and a captain who can keep eyes on your children rather than a full manifest. It is calmer for everyone. Parents relax more when the deck is not crowded, and that alone changes the feel of the day.
The cost split: how per-boat pricing works for families
This is where the maths turns in a family's favour. A shared trip charges each person; a private boat charges once for the whole vessel, and you divide it across your group. The more of you there are, the more sensible the private price looks per head. For a couple, a shared boat is usually cheaper. For a family of four, five or six, a charter split several ways can land close to what you would each pay on a busy shared boat, with none of the crowd.
We quote our private boats per boat on request. Our public trips carry approximate per-person starting prices so you can compare honestly: sea trips from around EUR20-25, the Green Canyon reservoir cruise around EUR28-54, the Manavgat market and boat day from EUR21, and Suluada in the EUR42-68 band. Private charters do not sit on a fixed per-person figure, so ask us and we will price your day. Tell us your dates and group size and we will send a per-boat quote.
| Family private boat | Big shared boat | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is aboard | Your family only | Up to a full boat of strangers |
| Pace | Set by you | Fixed for the whole group |
| Deck space | Whole boat is yours | Shared, claimed early |
| Swim stops | As long as you like | On a set timetable |
| Pricing | Per boat, on request | Per person |
| Best for | Families and groups of four or more | Couples and solo travellers on a budget |
Our private boats: VIP boat, gulet and motor yacht
For a family day out of Side we run three private options. The private VIP boat from Side is our exclusive Mediterranean day for a single group. The private gulet charter is the traditional wooden gulet, roomy and shaded, well suited to a slow family day with plenty of deck to spread out. We also charter a luxury motor yacht for a full day for groups who want something faster and more polished. All three are priced per boat on request, so send us your group size and we will quote the whole vessel.
Not just the sea: river, canyon and market days
The Manavgat river experiences are worth knowing before you choose. We do not sell a separate scenic "river cruise" as its own product, and we would rather be straight about that. What we do run is the Manavgat market and boat day from Side from EUR21, which pairs a river boat with the Manavgat bazaar, and the Green Canyon boat tour from EUR28 on the Oymapinar reservoir, the calm freshwater lake on the Manavgat river. Families staying elsewhere can look at the Manavgat market and boat from Belek or the Alanya Manavgat boat and bazaar day. If you would rather stay on the sea, there is the Side pirate boat and the day trip out to Suluada island. For a slower day, a fishing trip from Side is a relaxed way to spend time on the Mediterranean, though we will never guarantee a catch.
Departure points and how the day runs
We run boats out of Side, Manavgat, Antalya, Alanya, Belek and Kemer, so pick the departure closest to your hotel. Browse everything on offer from your base on the Side departures hub, or check the Belek and Alanya hubs if you are staying that side. On tour days, guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel. Hotel transfer is arranged as part of the booking. You book online and pay on the tour day, so there is nothing to sort at the harbour. Ready to lock in your family's day out? Send us your dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is a private boat worth it for a family?
For a family of four or more, usually yes. You get the whole boat, your own pace and no crowd, and because the price is per boat rather than per person, splitting it across the group brings the per-head cost down. For a couple, a shared trip is normally the cheaper choice.
How much does a private family boat cost in Side?
Our private boats are priced per boat on request, not on a fixed per-person figure, because the cost depends on the vessel, the route and the day. Tell us your dates and group size and we will send a per-boat quote. For comparison, our shared sea trips start from around EUR20-25 per person.
Which private boat should we choose?
The VIP boat suits a single group wanting an exclusive Mediterranean day; the gulet is the roomy, shaded wooden boat that families like for a slow day; the motor yacht is the faster, more polished full-day option. Group size and the pace you want usually decide it. Ask us and we will point you to the right one.
Can we do the Manavgat river with children?
Yes. The river days are family-friendly: the Manavgat market and boat combines a river boat with the bazaar, and the Green Canyon tour is a calm freshwater cruise on the Oymapinar reservoir. We do not sell a standalone scenic river cruise, so these are the two river experiences we honestly recommend.
How does hotel pickup work?
Guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel. Hotel transfer is arranged as part of the booking. You book online and pay on the tour day.
A family private boat in Side gives you the space, the pace and the quiet that a big shared boat cannot, at a per-boat price you split across the group. Compare the options and start planning on our boat trips page, and send us your dates and group size for a per-boat quote.