Gulet, Motor Yacht or Wooden Boat: Which Private Boat in Side?
In Side, a flybridge motor yacht suits celebrations, couples and sunset, with sun pads, shaded tables and an upper deck. The wooden sailing gulet suits families and groups who want a traditional, unhurried day. The two wooden river boats suit a calm, shaded river-and-sea day on the Manavgat. Every type is chartered whole for one group, from €550 for the boat.
Three questions before you compare
The boat matters, but the day matters more. Before you look at decks and bimini tops, answer three questions and the choice usually makes itself.
- Is the day mainly about swimming, about the occasion, or about slowing down?
- Are you going out in the daytime (10:00–15:00) or for the sunset package from 15:00?
- How large is your group, and how many are children? We do not publish capacities; tell us and we match the boat.
Motor yachts: decks on two levels
Our motor yachts are white, modern and laid out for spending time on deck. Three are flybridge yachts, with a second deck above the wheelhouse; the fourth is a motor yacht with teak decks.
- The flybridge motor yacht: an open upper deck with bean bags, large foredeck sun pads, a shaded stern dining table and an enclosed salon. Suits families, friends and celebrations.
- The luxury flybridge yacht: a round table under a red bimini on the flybridge, a coachroof sun deck and aft seating. Suits couples, small groups and special occasions.
- The teak-deck motor yacht: teak side decks, a cushioned bow sun pad, a shaded aft table. Suits couples and small private groups, often at sunset.
- The harbour flybridge yacht: flybridge with bimini and a stern boarding ramp, moored in Side harbour by the lighthouse. Suits couples and small groups.
The motor boat: built for swimming
Between the yachts and the wooden boats sits the white motor boat. It has a large sun deck on the bow, a shaded upper deck, a covered lower deck with seating and a stern platform with a swim ladder, and it is pictured at anchor off Side's rocky coast in clear water. If your group plans to be in and out of the sea all day, start here; our guide for families explains why it works so well with children.
The wooden sailing gulet: the traditional choice
The gulet is the boat people picture when they think of the Turkish coast: a classic wooden hull and a mast. Ours has cushioned sun decks at both ends and a shaded dining table, and it suits families and groups who want an unhurried, traditional day, or a sunset with a different character from a sleek yacht.
Choose the gulet for atmosphere and space to lounge. Choose a motor yacht if you want a salon, a flybridge or a more modern feel. See the wooden sailing gulet for its photos.
The wooden river boats: calm water and shade
Two of our boats are wooden boats pictured on the Manavgat river, which meets the sea next to Side. The large wooden boat has an upper deck laid out with blue sunbed mattresses and a shaded wooden deck with tables below; it suits a quiet day without a party and larger families or groups. The small traditional wooden boat has a shaded deck with tables, an open upper deck and seating at the bow, and suits families and small groups.
They offer a different kind of outing from the yachts: green riverbanks and calm water as well as the sea. Our Manavgat river guide describes that day in more detail.
At a glance: who each type suits
If you only read one part of this page, read this. When two types both fit, tell us and we help you decide; you can also line the boats up yourself on the comparison page. Prices for every type start from €550 for the whole boat, with a quote for your group, as explained in our prices guide.
- Celebration or proposal at sunset: a flybridge motor yacht
- Two people, a quiet evening: the teak-deck motor yacht or the harbour flybridge yacht
- A swimming day with children: the motor boat with the sun deck
- A traditional day for a family or group: the wooden sailing gulet
- A calm, shaded river-and-sea day: one of the wooden boats
- A big group: tell us the number; the large wooden boat, the flybridge motor yacht and the gulet are the usual candidates
Ready for your own boat?
Tell us the date and your group — we reply with one price for the whole boat.
Questions guests ask
Is a gulet or a motor yacht better for a sunset trip?
Both work. The gulet gives a classic wooden-deck evening; a flybridge motor yacht gives a raised upper deck and a more modern feel. Choose by the atmosphere you want.
Which boat in Side has the most shade?
All of our boats have a shaded area. The wooden boats lean most towards shade, with covered decks and tables; the flybridge motor yacht also has an enclosed salon.
Can you recommend a boat if we can't decide?
Yes. Tell us your group, the package and what the day is for, and we suggest the boat that fits.