Quick answer
An honest operator's guide to doing the Manavgat river by boat from Side. We run the Manavgat market and boat day from EUR21 and the Green Canyon reservoir cruise on the same river from EUR28. Prices, transfers and what to expect.
The Manavgat river cruise price from Side starts at around EUR21 per person for our Manavgat market and boat day, which pairs a river boat trip with a wander around the Manavgat bazaar. The other river option is the Green Canyon boat tour on the Oymapinar reservoir, from about EUR28. We run both; there is no separate "scenic river cruise" product. See all boat trips to compare.
The honest answer: two ways to be on the Manavgat river
People search for a "Manavgat river cruise" expecting one product. In reality, on this stretch of the river there are two genuine boat experiences, and we run both. The first is the Manavgat market and boat day from Side, which combines a boat trip on the lower Manavgat river with time at the town's weekly bazaar. The second is the Green Canyon boat tour, a calm freshwater cruise on the Oymapinar reservoir that sits on the same river, upstream behind the dam.
We'd rather tell you this plainly than sell you a name that doesn't exist. If a booking site is advertising a standalone "Manavgat scenic river cruise" as a distinct product, it is almost certainly one of these two dressed up with different wording. Below we explain what each one actually is, roughly what it costs, and how the transfer works.
Manavgat market and boat day (from EUR21)
This is our most popular Manavgat day and the cheapest way onto the river. The day combines a boat trip on the Manavgat river with a visit to the Manavgat market, so you get water and shopping in one outing. It's a relaxed, good-value day out rather than a high-adrenaline trip, which suits families and anyone who wants a gentle look at the river plus a proper Turkish bazaar.
From Side the price starts at around EUR21 per person. The same idea runs from other resorts too: the Manavgat market and boat tour from Belek starts from about EUR43, and there's an Alanya Manavgat boat and bazaar version from around EUR43 as well. The higher prices reflect the longer transfer, not a different boat. For the exact inclusions and the live price, always check the tour page before you book.
Green Canyon boat tour (from EUR28)
Green Canyon is the calm, deep-green reservoir held back by the Oymapinar dam, upstream on the Manavgat river. This is the trip most people picture when they imagine a "scenic river cruise": still freshwater, steep canyon walls and a slow cruise rather than sea swell. It's a good choice if you want scenery and quiet over a busy day of swimming stops.
Starting prices sit in the EUR28 to EUR54 band per person depending on where you're picked up and what's included. Because it's a reservoir rather than open sea, the water tends to be calmer, which is worth knowing if anyone in your group isn't keen on choppy conditions. If a peaceful cruise is what you're after, the Green Canyon boat tour is the one to book.
Manavgat options and prices compared
Here's how the Manavgat river options line up on approximate starting price. These are bands only; the live per-person price is always shown on the tour page.
| Option | What it is | Departs from | From (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manavgat market + boat | River boat trip plus the Manavgat bazaar | Side | EUR21 |
| Manavgat market + boat | Same day, longer transfer | Belek | EUR43 |
| Manavgat boat + bazaar | Same day from the eastern resorts | Alanya | EUR43 |
| Green Canyon boat tour | Calm reservoir cruise on the Oymapinar lake | Side / region | EUR28–54 |
If you're weighing up the two river experiences: choose the market and boat day for value and a bit of shopping, and Green Canyon for the quieter, more scenic cruise. Ready to lock one in? Browse our boat trips and pick the departure point that matches your hotel.
How the hotel transfer works
Transfer is arranged as part of the booking. Guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel. That's why you'll see different start times quoted around Side, Belek and Alanya — pickup depends on how far your resort is from the boat, and we sequence the route the evening before.
Because the transfer distance changes the price, a Manavgat day from Side starts lower than the same day from Belek or Alanya. If you're staying further east or west, browse the tours from Side hub or your own resort's page to see options built around your pickup point.
What about a proper sea trip or fishing day?
If the river isn't quite what you're after, we run plenty on the Mediterranean too. Our Side pirate boat tour is a sea day from around EUR23, and the Antalya Suluada island boat tour runs from about EUR68 for clear water and swimming stops; sea trips generally sit in the EUR20 to EUR68 band.
For a slower day, the fishing trip from Side is a relaxed sea-fishing outing, with an Alanya fishing version too. We won't promise a particular catch or hand you a species list — fishing is fishing, and honesty matters more than a sales line. It's a calm day on the water first and foremost.
Private boats for your own group
If you'd rather not share, we charter private boats across the region. Options include a private VIP boat tour from Side, a private gulet charter and a luxury motor yacht full day. These are priced per boat on request rather than per person, so tell us your group size and date and our captains will put together a route. It's the way to go for a family celebration or a group that wants the schedule to itself.
How and when to book
All of our trips are booked online, and you pay on the tour day — there's no need to hand over the full amount up front. Once you've booked, we confirm your morning pickup the evening before so you know exactly when to be in reception. Prices on this page are approximate 2026 starting anchors; the live per-person price and full inclusions are always shown on each tour's own page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a single "Manavgat river cruise" I can book?
Not as one branded product from us. On the Manavgat river there are two genuine boat experiences: the Manavgat market and boat day (from EUR21) and the Green Canyon reservoir cruise (from EUR28). Both are real and both put you on the river — they're just different trips, so we link them separately rather than invent a third name.
How much is the Manavgat river cruise from Side?
The cheapest way onto the river is our Manavgat market and boat day, from around EUR21 per person from Side. The Green Canyon reservoir cruise starts from about EUR28. These are starting anchors; the live price shows on each tour page and depends on your pickup point and inclusions.
What's the difference between the market boat day and Green Canyon?
The market and boat day pairs a river boat trip with the Manavgat bazaar — good value and a bit of shopping. Green Canyon is a calm cruise on the Oymapinar reservoir upstream, chosen mainly for the quiet, scenic freshwater rather than shopping. Different days on the same river.
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. We build the pickup route the evening before, which is why start times differ across Side, Belek and Alanya.
Do I pay when I book?
No. You book online and pay on the tour day. We confirm your morning pickup the evening before, so there's nothing to sort out on the day beyond being ready in reception.
Ready to plan your day on the water?
The good-value market and boat day, the calm Green Canyon cruise and our sea trips all start in the same place. Compare all our boat trips, pick your departure point, and book online — you pay on the tour day, and we'll confirm your pickup the evening before.