Pairing your Side days
Dolphin Tour or Private Yacht in Side: Shared Boat or Your Own
The real difference is who else is on board. On the dolphin tour you share the boat and pay per seat; on a private yacht the boat is for your group only.
Short answer
Book the dolphin tour if a shared boat suits you: a fixed route down the Manavgat river to Dolphin Island, three swims, a grilled lunch on deck and foam with music for the return, at €21 per adult and €15 per child aged 2 to 10, paid on the day. Choose a private yacht when your group wants the boat to itself, for an occasion or simply for privacy.
Per seat or per group
On the dolphin tour you pay for the seats you need. Two people pay two fares; a family of five pays for five, with anyone under 2 free. The route, the stops and the times are fixed: departure at 10:00, and back in harbour in the 16:30–17:00 window.
A private yacht is the opposite arrangement. The boat is reserved for your group, and how it is priced and what the day includes are set out on its own site. Before you compare, work out the dolphin tour cost for your party on the dolphin tour prices page, then put the two side by side.
Big days: birthdays, anniversaries, groups
For a celebration the question is how much of the day you want to shape. On the dolphin tour you join a programme that is already planned. We do not promise a cake or decorations; ask when you book and you will hear what can be done. One booking can hold up to 20 guests; a larger group is an enquiry through the contact page.
If the occasion needs the whole boat with no other guests aboard, that is what a private yacht is for. Our celebrations guide helps you decide which way to go.
What to ask either boat
Our answers for the dolphin tour: hotel transfer, lunch, foam party, guide and insurance are included, and drinks are sold at the bar. Pickup times go out by phone or WhatsApp the day before. Payment happens in euros on the tour day. The full set is in our questions to ask before booking.
- What exactly is in the price, and what costs extra on board?
- Is hotel pickup included, and how will I get my time?
- When and how do I pay?
- Until when can I cancel without paying?
- What happens if the weather stops the boat?
Cancelling, and the weather
The dolphin tour costs nothing to cancel up to 48 hours before. Reply to your confirmation, message us on WhatsApp or use the contact page. Later than that, ask us. If the weather keeps the boat in harbour, nothing has been charged online, so there is nothing to refund; we contact you and you can move to another date or cancel. Our cancellation guide has the steps. A private yacht has its own terms, listed on its site.
Booking either
Private yachts are booked on our sister site sideprivateyachts.com, which lists their price, times and what is included. For the shared boat, book here, with nothing taken online and the fare paid in euros on the day.
