Manavgat River Boat Cruise & Grand Bazaar Day from Side

Sail the emerald Manavgat River, swim where fresh water meets the sea, splash through a foam party, then shop one of the region's biggest markets.

Some holiday days simply do it all, and this is one of them. Your morning starts the easy way, with a comfortable air-conditioned pickup from your hotel and a short ride to the pier, where our roomy boat is waiting to cast off at 10:00.

We glide out along the calm Manavgat River, green hills leaning in on both sides and the noise of the resorts fading behind you. The real showstopper is the swimming stop at the river mouth, the spot locals call the Bosphorus, where you can dive into the icy, crystal-clear fresh water of the river or drift in the warm, salty swells of the Mediterranean, sometimes just a stroke apart.

Once you've built up an appetite, a freshly cooked lunch is served right on deck. Later the boat slips out into open sea and turns into a floating party, with an energetic foam session that gets kids and grown-ups laughing together.

Back at the pier, the day shifts gears into culture and shopping. You get two full hours of free time to wander the enormous Manavgat Grand Bazaar, held only on Mondays and Thursdays and packed with textiles, spices, fresh produce and souvenirs. If you'd rather chase a natural wonder, our guide can point you toward the famous Manavgat Waterfall nearby.