The Manavgat River by Boat: The Calm Start of the Day
A dolphin boat that begins on a river sounds odd until you are on it. The opening stretch on the water is the quietest, and it sets the pace for everything after.
Short answer
The Side dolphin boat trip starts on the river, not the sea. The boat leaves at 10:00 and cruises down the calm Manavgat river towards the Mediterranean, reaching the coast at the Boğaz river mouth, where the first swim is. It is the easy opening stretch before the swims, the lunch on deck and the run out to Dolphin Island.
Before the boat: your hotel
The day begins at your hotel, not at the water. An air-conditioned vehicle collects you, and we message your pickup time on the eve of the trip, by phone or WhatsApp, because it depends on where you are staying. The 10:00 departure is the boat's time — your pickup is earlier.
The transfer is in the fare from every area of the Side belt and from Manavgat town; see the pickup areas.
On the river
The river stretch is calm water, and that makes it the gentlest part of the day. The photograph on this page was taken from a deck on this stretch: the bow net, green water, reed banks and another tour boat ahead. Find a seat, settle in, put the sun cream on and let the morning start slowly.
For anyone uneasy about boats, this is the part to relax into. What the open sea is like later we cannot say in advance; if that worries you, ask us before booking.
- Sit at the bow if you want the open view ahead.
- Choose a shaded spot if you burn easily; the swims later bring plenty of sun.
- Keep your swimsuit on under your clothes — the first swim is waiting at the end of the river.
The river and the town
The Manavgat river crosses the coastal plain and flows into the Mediterranean. Manavgat town sits inland on its banks, away from the beach strip, and the river carries on from there to the sea. If you are staying in the town, you are on the same river — but you are still collected from your hotel like every other guest.
Where the river ends
The river stretch finishes at the Boğaz mouth, where cold fresh water meets the warm sea and the boat anchors for the first swim — the subject of where the river meets the sea. From there the day moves on to lunch on deck, Dolphin Island and the foam party home; the whole order is on the day, stop by stop.
The river is not a separate ticket. It is the first chapter of one day, sold at €21 a head from age 11. Choose your date; nothing is paid until the trip itself.