Cruises in Side

Two different kinds of boat trip leave from Side. The first runs along the ancient headland: a four-hour yacht cruise rounds the ruins from the water, so the columns of the Temple of Apollo and the wall of the Roman theatre appear from an angle no walking tour can offer. Further along the coast are the runs to Suluada island off Adrasan, where the water holds its turquoise over pale sand and the swimming stop takes up most of the day.

The second kind is freshwater. The Green Canyon on the Oymapınar reservoir lies about half an hour inland: the boat moves slowly between wooded slopes, makes two or three swimming stops, and the water stays cold even in July because the reservoir is deep. These programmes nearly always include lunch on board and soft drinks, and some routes combine the canyon with the Manavgat river and a stop at the market.

What differs between offers. Large double-deckers carry many people and run to a timetable, while catamarans and smaller yachts take fewer passengers and leave more deck space. Check at booking whether alcohol is covered and how many swim stops are made — that is precisely what separates one all-inclusive package from another. Day sailings call for a hat and sun cream, since shade on the upper deck is scarce. The season holds from April to late October.