Side Lazy Day Boat Trip

Side’s lazy day boat trip is built around simple holiday pleasures: sit on the water, eat lunch, swim three times, and let someone else handle the driving. At $42.05 per person, it offers an easy full-day outing without the cost or planning burden of a private charter.

I like the included Turkish lunch, which helps the price feel fair, and I like the hotel pickup and drop-off, especially when you are staying outside Side’s old center. The three swimming stops give the day some shape instead of leaving you on deck for hours.

The main caution is the atmosphere. This is not guaranteed to be a quiet cruise. A recent complaint described loud music, too little room, and a group much larger than the advertised maximum of 45 people. If you want peace and space, keep that possibility in mind.

Key points to know before booking

• Three swimming opportunities break up the roughly six-hour boat outing and give you several chances to get in the water.
• Turkish lunch is included, but drinks are not, so plan for extra spending on board.
• Hotel pickup begins around 8:30 am, with collection at your hotel’s security gate.
• A foam party adds a lively element, making this more of a social boat day than a quiet sailing trip.
• The listed capacity is 45 people, though one customer reported a much larger crowd on their departure.
• Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before departure, with weather-related cancellations handled by a new date or full refund.

What the Side boat day is really about

This is a straightforward day on the water, not a sightseeing cruise packed with monuments or historical stops. The experience begins in Side, then moves into a six-hour boat outing with swimming, lunch, and entertainment.

That simplicity is part of its appeal. You do not need to plan a route, rent a vehicle, pack a picnic, or work out how to reach the harbor on your own. Pickup, a local guide, lunch, and return transport are all handled for you.

I would think of this as a resort holiday activity. You book it for sun, water, food, and a change from the hotel pool. The boat itself is the destination, with the swimming pauses and foam party providing the day’s main events.

The tour is offered in English, and most people can take part. The activity is also near public transportation, although the supplied details focus on hotel pickup rather than asking you to make your own way to a separate meeting point.

Starting at 8:30 am with hotel pickup

The morning starts at about 8:30 am, with pickup from your hotel’s security gate. That detail matters. You should not wait inside the lobby or assume the vehicle will collect you from your room entrance.

Have your confirmation ready and allow some flexibility. Transfer times are approximate, and traffic can change the length of the ride. The exact schedule may also depend on where your hotel is located in relation to Side and the other pickups.

Round trip transport is included, so you can relax on the way to the boat and avoid arranging a taxi after a long day in the sun. I consider this one of the tour’s strongest practical features. A boat trip can lose much of its charm when you must negotiate separate transport at both ends.

The transfer also means the advertised seven-hour duration is not necessarily seven hours spent cruising. The main boat outing is described as about six hours, while the full experience lasts roughly seven hours overall. Your actual return time can shift with traffic and the day’s operating schedule.

Six hours on the water from Side

Once you reach the boat, the day settles into a repeated rhythm: cruise, stop, swim, eat, and relax. The details do not identify named bays or landmarks, so you should not book this expecting a sightseeing route with a long list of famous coastal sites.

Instead, the value comes from being out on the water for several hours. You can spend time sitting on deck, watching the coast from offshore, and taking a break from the built-up resort area around Side.

The boat has an advertised maximum of 45 people, which would create a reasonably social but manageable group if followed. One serious complaint described a boat carrying closer to 100 people, with insufficient space for everyone. I cannot tell you how often that happens, but it is important enough to ask about before booking if personal space matters to you.

The same complaint also raised loud music and staff confusion about the exact trip. That does not cancel out the strengths of the outing, but it changes how I would describe it. This is best approached as a casual party-style boat day, not a silent retreat.

Three swimming stops give the day a useful rhythm

The tour includes three opportunities to swim. That is a good feature for anyone who wants active time in the water rather than a full day sitting in a chair.

Three stops also help divide the long boat outing into manageable sections. You can swim at one stop, rest during the next cruise, eat lunch, and then decide how much energy you have left for another swim.

The supplied details do not name the swimming locations or give the length of each stop. You should therefore avoid planning around a particular cove or expecting a fixed amount of time in the water.

Bring what you need for a comfortable swim, but keep your packing sensible. The only confirmed food inclusion is lunch, and drinks are specifically excluded. If you want water or another beverage, budget for buying drinks separately. The details do not state whether towels, snorkeling equipment, or other water gear are provided, so do not assume those extras are part of the price.

For families and mixed-age groups, the three-stop format can work well. People who want to swim get several chances, while those who prefer to remain on board can use the pauses to rest. The activity is suitable for most participants, but the information does not provide a more detailed accessibility description.

Turkish lunch and the cost of drinks

Lunch is included, and it is described as Turkish cuisine. That gives the $42.05 price more weight than a boat trip that charges separately for every meal.

I like included lunch on a long outing because it removes one small but annoying decision from the day. You do not need to leave the boat to find food, and the meal gives you a proper break between swimming and cruising.

The description does not list the dishes, serving time, or options for dietary needs. If you have a food allergy, special diet, or strong preferences, contact the provider before departure rather than guessing what will be served.

Drinks are not included. This is the most obvious extra cost to plan for. The available information does not specify drink prices or say if you may bring your own, so ask Tourmania if that point affects your budget.

At this price, the package is good value if you use the transport, eat the included lunch, and enjoy several hours on the boat. It is less appealing if you mainly want a short swim and would rather pay only for a few hours. The trip takes most of a day, so the real question is not just the ticket price. It is whether you want to devote a full morning and afternoon to a social boat outing.

The foam party changes the mood

The foam party is the tour’s most playful feature. It adds a burst of entertainment for people who enjoy music, group activities, and a slightly silly holiday atmosphere.

This also explains why the trip may not feel especially lazy in the quiet sense of the word. You can rest on board, but the foam party and loud music may make the mood more energetic than peaceful.

I would recommend the trip to you if you like a social setting and do not mind shared entertainment. It may suit friends, couples who want an easy day out, and families with older children who enjoy swimming and music.

I would think twice if you are hoping to read quietly, take photographs in calm conditions, or spend the day listening only to the water. One complaint specifically described loud music throughout the trip, so noise is not a minor concern for someone seeking silence.

Group size deserves a question before you go

The advertised maximum is 45 people. That is a useful number because boat comfort depends heavily on how many people are sharing the deck, seating, swim areas, and meal service.

At 45, you should expect a shared excursion rather than an intimate cruise, but the boat may still feel workable. At a much higher number, the same itinerary could become crowded and less relaxing.

Because one departure was described as having around 100 people, I would contact Tourmania before booking and ask how many people are expected on your date. Also confirm that the boat you will board matches the advertised Side Lazy Day Boat Trip. This is especially sensible if the name of the activity appears alongside several similar boat excursions in the area.

The provider responded to the complaint by apologizing for the crowding, music, and staff communication, and said the concerns were being passed to the operations team. That response is useful because it shows the problem was taken seriously, but it does not guarantee a particular group size on your date.

Who will get the most from this $42.05 outing

This trip makes the most sense for you if you want a ready-made day with little planning. Hotel pickup, a local guide, lunch, swimming, and return transport cover the core needs of a simple holiday excursion.

It is also a sensible choice if you are comparing the cost of separate taxis, a meal, and a boat outing. At $42.05, the package keeps those pieces together and gives you about seven hours of activity.

I would especially consider it for:

• Couples looking for a low-effort day away from the hotel
• Families and groups who want several swimming chances
• People who enjoy music and a foam party
• Visitors who prefer an English-offered activity with hotel transport
• Anyone who wants a social boat experience instead of a private or silent cruise

I would choose another type of excursion if you need a guaranteed small group, quiet conditions, named sightseeing stops, or a private boat. Those features are not promised here.

Booking timing, weather, and cancellation

The activity is commonly booked about eight days ahead, so you do not need to reserve months in advance. Still, booking several days early is sensible during busy holiday periods, especially if your dates are fixed.

You receive confirmation at the time of booking, and the ticket is available on mobile. Pickup is offered, with collection at the hotel security gate.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off uses local time, so check the timing carefully if you are booking from another country.

The trip requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy gives you some protection, but it is still wise to avoid scheduling the boat trip on your final day in Side if a change would leave no room to reschedule.

My advice before you reserve

I would ask four practical questions before paying:

• How many people are expected on the boat for my date?
• Is the group limit of 45 being followed?
• What drinks are available, and what do they cost?
• Are towels or swimming equipment provided?

The supplied information confirms lunch but does not confirm towels, equipment, drink prices, or the names of the swimming locations. Getting those answers can prevent small surprises on the day.

I would also tell your hotel reception that pickup is at the security gate and keep your phone available in case the driver needs help locating you. Since traffic affects transfer times, do not schedule another fixed activity immediately after the advertised return.

Should you book the Side Lazy Day Boat Trip?

Book it if you want a reasonably priced, all-in-one day on the water with three swims, Turkish lunch, hotel transport, and a foam party. The package offers plenty for the money, and the 4.5 rating from 48 published ratings, along with a 90 percent recommendation rate, suggests that it works well for many people.

Do not book it blindly if your idea of a lazy day means quiet deck space and low passenger numbers. The report of a much larger crowd and loud music is a serious warning, even though the advertised maximum is 45.

My call is simple: reserve this for a social, easygoing boat day, but contact Tourmania first to confirm the expected group size and atmosphere. That one check will tell you far more about whether this is your kind of Side excursion.

FAQ

How long does the Side Lazy Day Boat Trip last?

The full experience lasts approximately seven hours. The boat outing itself is described as about six hours.

What time does hotel pickup begin?

Pickup begins at approximately 8:30 am. You should wait at your hotel’s security gate.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch featuring Turkish cuisine is included in the tour price.

Are drinks included?

No. Drinks are not included and will require additional payment.

How many swimming opportunities are provided?

The tour includes three opportunities to swim during the boat outing.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.