City of Side: Full-day Boat Tour with Lunch & Foam Party

The main event here is simple: you spend nearly a full day on a sailboat, moving between the Manavgat River, Bosphorus, and Mediterranean Sea with several chances to swim. The foam party adds a splash of family-friendly silliness, while the boat’s jump point, reported at up to 8 meters, gives older children and confident swimmers an extra thrill.

I like the way lunch is handled, with a choice of grilled fish or chicken served with rice and salad. I also like the number of water stops, since you are not stuck on deck for nine hours waiting for one quick swim. The main catch is that drinks, photos, ice cream, and optional activities such as Jet-Ski rental cost extra, so your final bill can rise above the $32 tour price.

Key points to know before booking

• Four chances to swim: Stops include the first river area, the Mediterranean, a third swim location, and a final stop near the Manavgat Bosphorus.
• A real lunch, not just a snack: Choose grilled fish or chicken, served with rice and salad.
• The foam party is the big family hit: Children can dance and play on the boat while the crew runs the music and foam.
• Hotel pickup covers a wide stretch of Side: Transfers serve hotels from Gündoğdu and Çolaklı through Side, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Kızılağaç, and Kızılot.
• Bring your own swim kit: Pack swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Food and drinks from outside are not allowed.
• Good value for an active day: At $32 per person, the price includes transport, lunch, insurance, a guide, life vests, and the boat trip.

Starting from Side with a hotel pickup

Your day starts with a bus pickup at the security door of your hotel. This matters in the Side area, where resorts are spread along the coast and a central meeting point can mean an early walk or taxi ride. Pickup is offered in Gündoğdu, Çolaklı, Evrenseki, Kumköy, Side, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Kızılağaç, and Kızılot.

The exact time depends on your hotel, so confirm the address and pickup details with Seven Tours before the morning of the trip. The wide pickup zone is useful, but it also means the transfer can include several hotel stops. You should leave a little flexibility in your morning rather than planning another activity close to the advertised return time.

Once you reach the boat, staff greet you and ask which lunch you prefer. The listed choices are fish or chicken, served with rice and salad. The meal is cooked fresh on board, and the fish option may be trout, while the chicken is described as chicken breast. That makes this more substantial than the usual excursion meal of bread, fruit, and a small side dish.

The boat is described as a sailboat, though the day follows a set cruise route with scheduled stops and entertainment. You are buying an active boat day rather than a quiet sailing trip. Music, swimming, jumping, and foam are central to the experience.

Following the Manavgat River out to open water

The cruise begins along the Manavgat River. This opening stretch gives the guide time to explain the area while you settle in, find a place on deck, and get used to the rhythm of the boat. Commentary is offered in English and German, so check that your preferred language is available when you book.

The river section is one of the more interesting parts of the route because it shows a different side of the Turkish Riviera. Instead of going straight out to sea, you first travel through the waterway that connects the inland Manavgat area with the coast. You can watch the banks pass by before the scenery opens toward the sea.

I would use this first part of the trip to apply sunscreen, arrange your towel, and decide how much time you want to spend in the water. Sunscreen is especially important on a boat, where sunlight reflects off the surface and a breeze can make the heat feel less intense than it is.

First swim stop and the Manavgat Bosphorus

The first swim break comes before or around the Manavgat Bosphorus area. The name refers to the stretch where river water and sea water meet, with the river on one side and the Mediterranean on the other. It is a distinctive setting, even if your main goal is simply to get wet and cool off.

Life vests are available for everyone on board. If you are not a strong swimmer, or if your children need extra support, ask the crew for one before entering the water. The boat is suited to families, but the open-water setting still calls for sensible supervision.

At the Manavgat Bosphorus, you may have the chance to rent a Jet-Ski or buy a gözleme, a traditional Turkish flatbread dish. These extras are not included, and availability or pricing should be checked on the day. They give you another way to use the stop if you do not want to swim for the full break.

One thing I appreciate about this route is that the stops are not treated as tiny photo pauses. The available information describes them as long enough for swimming and jumping from the boat. That gives you time to get in, enjoy the water, and climb back aboard without feeling rushed.

A grilled lunch with a choice of fish or chicken

Lunch is served on board after the early water activities. You choose between fish and chicken, with rice and salad alongside. Fresh grilling is a practical choice for a day at sea: it is warm, filling, and easy to eat without a table setting or long stop ashore.

The meal has earned especially strong praise for its quality and portion value. I would still keep expectations in the right place. This is an excursion lunch prepared for a boatload of people, not a restaurant meal with a wide menu. The appeal is the fresh-cooked main dish and the fact that lunch is already built into the fare.

You will need to buy drinks separately. Drinks are not included, and outside food or drinks are not allowed on board. Prices reported for the boat have been about €1 for water, €2 for soft drinks, and €3 for alcoholic drinks, though you should confirm current prices before ordering.

If you want to keep costs close to the advertised $32, bring only the items that are allowed and plan for at least a paid drink. Pack sunscreen, sunglasses, a towel, and swimwear instead of trying to carry a picnic aboard.

The Mediterranean swim and the foam party

After lunch, the boat heads into the Mediterranean Sea for another swim break. This is likely to feel different from the river and Bosphorus sections because you are now surrounded by open coastal water rather than the meeting point of two waterways.

The turquoise water is the reason many people book this outing, but the main pleasure is access. You can step or jump from the boat, swim below the deck, then return to dry off in the sun. The boat’s jump point has been described as reaching up to 8 meters, so ask about the safe jumping area and judge it against your own ability. A high jump is optional, not a test you need to pass.

The foam party follows the Mediterranean stop. Crew members cover part of the boat in foam, turn up the party mood, and invite you to dance. Children tend to enjoy this most, but adults who like loud music and playful group activities can join in too.

This is not the right cruise for someone hoping for a silent afternoon with only the sound of the water. The foam party is a major part of the program, and music and movement will shape the middle of the day. If your group includes different ages, the swim breaks give quieter passengers a chance to step away from the dance area and relax.

The third swim stop and the return north

After the foam party, the boat continues to a third swimming location. The repeated stops are a real strength of the schedule. You are not limited to one crowded rush into the water, and you can skip one stop if you want a break from swimming.

The final part of the route returns toward the Manavgat River. The boat stops once more near the Manavgat Bosphorus for another swim break before heading to the finish point. That last opportunity can be useful after the foam party, especially for anyone who wants to rinse off in the sea before the bus ride back.

The schedule covers about nine hours, including transfers and the boat program. That is a long day. I would book it on a day when you want one main activity, rather than trying to fit in Side’s old town, a market, or another excursion afterward.

The return to your accommodation is included. Since the pickup area covers many resort districts, the exact drop-off time can vary. Keep your evening plans loose, particularly if you have dinner reservations or an airport transfer.

What the $32 price really covers

At $32 per person, this is priced as a budget-friendly full-day excursion. The value is strongest if you make use of the whole package: hotel pickup and drop-off, boat transport, four swimming opportunities, lunch, guide services, insurance, life vests, and the foam party.

The lunch alone is not the reason to book, and the foam party will not suit everyone. The strongest value comes from combining transport with a full day on the water. Booking a private boat, arranging separate transfers, and paying for lunch would usually require more planning and likely more money, though this group outing does not offer the same privacy.

Extras need some attention. Drinks, photos, ice cream, and Jet-Ski rental are outside the price. The experience does not list private seating or a quiet section, so assume the boat’s atmosphere will be shared and social.

A score around 4.5 out of 5 from six ratings fits the experience’s profile: the food, crew, swimming, and foam party receive the most positive attention, while the main limitations are the long group format and extra costs. For a family or mixed-age group, those strengths matter more than a lack of luxury.

Who will enjoy the Baba Boat most

This tour fits families with children who enjoy swimming, boat jumping, and foam parties. The crew is described as engaging from the start, and the combination of water breaks and entertainment keeps the day moving. Life vests are available for children and less confident swimmers.

It also suits couples or friends who want a social day rather than a private sailing trip. You get music, food, water activities, and a set route without having to organize separate transport from Side.

Strong swimmers should enjoy the jump point and repeated stops, but you do not need to be an expert in the water. Ask the staff for a life vest and stay within your comfort level. The crew can provide flotation support, but parents remain responsible for watching their children.

This is less suitable for anyone seeking a peaceful luxury cruise, a flexible private itinerary, or a serious sailing lesson. The boat day is built around swimming and entertainment. It is also a poor match if you dislike wet clothes, loud group activities, or paying separately for drinks.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, which broadens its appeal, though the information provided does not explain the details of boarding, deck access, or water-entry arrangements. If those points matter to you, confirm them with the local partner before booking.

Practical packing advice for a hot boat day

Bring swimwear, towel, sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen. Wear something easy to change out of, since you may swim several times and take part in the foam party.

Keep phones and cameras in a waterproof pouch. Photos are not included, and staff may offer them for an additional charge. You should not bring outside food or drinks, and pets are not allowed.

I would also bring a small amount of cash for drinks or optional purchases such as a gözleme or Jet-Ski rental. The listed drink prices have been modest, but prices can change, and card payment details are not provided.

Try to arrive at the hotel security door a few minutes early. Pickup is included, but the exact time depends on the accommodation. Confirm your hotel address and pickup time with Seven Tours rather than relying only on the general booking time.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, with a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Side plans are still changing.

Should you book this Side boat tour?

Book it if you want a full, active day on the water at a low price. The best reasons are the multiple swim stops, fresh grilled lunch, hotel transfers, and the foam party that gives children a clear highlight to look forward to.

Think twice if you want quiet sailing, a private boat, or a tightly timed day. Nine hours is a serious commitment, and drinks, photos, ice cream, and water sports add to the cost.

For families and groups who want swimming, food, music, and easy transport from a Side resort, this is a strong value. Pack lightly, confirm your pickup time, budget for drinks, and treat the high jump as an option rather than an obligation.

FAQ

How long does the Side boat tour last?

The experience lasts about nine hours, including the boat trip and hotel transfers.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $32 per person.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included from hotels in Gündoğdu, Çolaklı, Evrenseki, Kumköy, Side, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Kızılağaç, and Kızılot.

Where should I wait for pickup?

Pickup is at the front of your hotel’s security door. Confirm the exact pickup time and hotel address with Seven Tours.

What lunch choices are available?

You can choose grilled fish or chicken. Lunch also includes rice and salad.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks must be purchased separately on the boat.

How many swimming stops are included?

The route includes a first swim break, a Mediterranean swim break, a third swim location, and another stop near the Manavgat Bosphorus on the return.

Are life vests available?

Yes. There are enough life vests on board, and staff can provide them for children or people who are not confident swimmers.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. Live guiding is available in English and German.

Is the boat tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. The provided information does not specify the boarding and deck-access arrangements, so confirm those details if needed.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Can I bring my own food or drinks?

No. Outside food and drinks are not allowed on board.