Comparison
Private boat or shared boat trip in Alanya: an honest comparison
A shared boat trip sells you a seat on a boat with other passengers and a set programme; a private boat gives your group the whole boat, from €580, with a route the captain adapts to you. Small budgets and solo travellers usually do well on a shared trip; groups and anyone who wants privacy usually prefer the private boat.
The basic difference
Both kinds of trip go out on the same sea. The difference is who the day is organised around. A shared trip is planned for many passengers at once, so the programme is fixed. A private boat is planned around one group, so the programme can move.
That one difference shapes everything else: price, pace, atmosphere and how much say you have over the route.
How the private boat works
The private boat takes your group of up to 12 guests for six hours. The route runs along the Alanya Castle headland, past the Red Tower and beside Pirate Cave, Lovers' Cave and the Phosphorus Cave, with swim stops in quiet bays. The captain adapts it to your wishes, sea and weather permitting; the castle and sea caves guide describes it in detail.
The price is for the boat, not per person: from €580 for the whole boat, with captain, crew, fuel, mooring and hotel transfer from central Alanya districts included. How that figure works for different group sizes is in the price guide.
You book on the private boat page and pay on the day.
How a shared boat trip works
On a shared trip you buy a place on a boat alongside other guests. The route and stops are set for everyone, and the atmosphere depends on who else is on board. Many people enjoy exactly that: it is sociable, simple to book and paid per place rather than per boat.
If that sounds like your kind of day, our sister site lists shared boat trips in Alanya, with their own routes, prices and inclusions.
Who should choose which
Neither is better in general. They answer different needs.
- Solo travellers and couples on a tight budget: a shared trip is usually the sensible choice
- Families with small children: the private boat, for a pace you control
- Groups of friends or relatives: the private boat, where one price covers everyone up to 12
- Travellers who enjoy meeting people: a shared trip
- Anyone celebrating an occasion: the private boat, with no strangers on board
Questions to ask yourself
How many of you are there? The larger your group, the more the whole-boat price makes sense. How much do you care about the route? If you want to linger at the caves or swim more, a private boat lets you ask. How do you feel about other passengers? Some people love the company; others came on holiday to get away from it.
Choose the private boat if you are a group or want the day on your own terms; choose a shared boat trip if you are travelling light and enjoy a lively boat full of people.
Ready to book your boat day?
Pick a date and send your booking — you pay on the day, nothing online.
Questions guests ask
Do private and shared trips see the same coast?
The private boat follows the castle headland, the Red Tower and the sea caves. For shared trip routes, see our sister site's own pages.
At what group size does a private boat start to make sense?
It depends on your budget, but the larger your group, the more the single whole-boat price works in your favour. Check the live figure on the boat page.