Private Boat Charter From Dalyan
A private boat is not a different river. It is the same route with the clock handed back to you, and that turns out to matter more than most people expect.
- Duration
- Half day or full day
- Departure
- You choose
- Departs from
- Dalyan quay, town centre
- Group
- Your party only
- Season
- April to October
- Price
- Prices are on our sister site
The usual reasons: a group that will not fit comfortably on a shared deck, small children who need the day shaped around a nap, or someone who wants two hours in the thermal pool rather than one.
The route, stop by stop
- You write the route
The standard shape is tombs, Sultaniye, lunch, Iztuzu. Every element of it is movable. People add a long swim stop in the channels, or go straight to the beach in the morning and take the lake on the way back.
- Timings that suit your group
Leave at eight to beat the heat, or at noon because you are not on holiday to get up early. The one fixed point is the hour you agree to be back at the quay.
- Stops nobody else asks for
A quiet channel with the engine off, an hour longer in the thermal pool, a second swim on the way home. None of these survive on a shared boat, because a shared boat has thirty other opinions aboard.
- The turn for home
You decide when. That sounds like a small thing until you have watched a shared boat leave Iztuzu at four o'clock on the best afternoon of the week.
Included
- The whole boat and its skipper for the agreed period
- Fuel and harbour fees
- Shade on deck, swim ladder and drinking water
Not included
- Site entry fees and the thermal pool
- Lunch, unless agreed when booking
- Beach umbrella and sunbed
How many people fit
Boats here vary and the sensible number is well below the licensed one. A deck that legally carries twenty is pleasant with twelve and cramped with eighteen, and it is the shade rather than the seats that runs out first.
A private boat is not a fast boat
The river has a speed limit and the delta channels are shallow and narrow. Nothing goes quickly here, which is most of the charm. Powered speedboats are also banned within a kilometre of Iztuzu because of the nesting beach.
What to bring
- Swimwear
- An old T-shirt for the mud
- Towel
- Sun cream
- Hat
- Cash
Frequently asked questions
Is a private boat worth it for two people?
Usually not, unless the point is privacy. For two people wanting to see the river, the shared boat is the more sociable choice and gives up very little.
Can we bring our own food and drink?
Generally yes, and many groups do. Remember that glass and bare feet on a wet deck are a poor combination.
Can we go at sunset instead?
Yes. A private evening run down to the river mouth and back is one of the more popular versions, especially in September.
Do we get a guide as well as a skipper?
The skipper is a boatman rather than a licensed guide. He will tell you a great deal about the river and rather less about the archaeology. A licensed guide at Kaunos is a separate arrangement, so ask for one when you book if you want it.
You may also want to read
Dalyan Day Boat Trip
The whole river in one day: tombs, sulphur pools and the long stop at Turtle Beach.
Trip detailsDalyan Sunset Cruise
Two hours on flat water while the light goes, and the tombs lit from below on the way home.
Trip detailsEkincik Bay and the Blue Cave
Out of the river and along the cliffs: the one Dalyan boat day that is properly at sea.
Trip details