Cruises in Antalya District

Boat days around Antalya differ by what happens on deck. The pirate yachts of Alanya and Side run seven hours with swimming stops, music and a foam party towards the end, and families and groups take them. The all-inclusive catamaran is calmer: lunch, drinks and three or four bays across the day. Alanya's evening format folds a boat leg, dinner and the cable car into a single route. The pub crawl with a party boat is already a night programme, with pick-ups from Side as well.

Fresh water forms a separate line. The Green Canyon above the Manavgat dam is reached from Belek, Side and Alanya — half a day with lunch aboard, the water holding its colour all summer. The Manavgat river tour passes a bazaar and a waterfall. The sea also works as transport: Suluada off Adrasan is a ten-hour run from Side for water you do not get inshore; four-hour yacht cruises around ancient Side leave from Side and Belek, including an evening departure; from Antalya there are six-hour sailings and the twelve islands tour.

Practical notes. The season runs April to October, and in July and August the water is markedly easier than the shore. Lunch is usually included; drinks on the pirate boats almost always are not, while on catamarans they are. Swimming stops feature on nearly every daytime departure but not on evening ones. Bring your own towel and sun cream — boats rarely carry them and shade is limited.