Okurcalar, Avsallar and İncekum sit on the coast between Side and Alanya, roughly 95–105 km from Antalya Airport (AYT) — about 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 35 by road when the traffic behaves. On a run this long the choice comes down to one thing: a shared package shuttle is priced per person and stops at several hotels in turn, while a private transfer is priced per vehicle and drives straight to your door.
For a couple travelling light, the shuttle can work out fine. For a family, a group, or anyone arriving tired and late, the maths and the comfort usually tip towards a private car or minibus. Here's the honest breakdown.
The distance is the deciding factor here
This is one of the longer resort runs from Antalya Airport. Okurcalar and Avsallar are past Side and Manavgat, on the approach to Alanya, and İncekum's long sandy beach sits between them. A direct drive is around 95–105 km. Real journey time varies with traffic and season — the Antalya–Alanya coastal road is noticeably busier from June to September, so add a margin in peak summer.
Because the leg is long, the difference between "straight there" and "several drops along the way" is bigger than it would be for a short hop. That's the crux of the comparison below.
Shuttle vs private transfer — the honest comparison
| Shared package shuttle | Private transfer | |
|---|---|---|
| Priced | Per person | Per vehicle (the whole car/minibus) |
| Route | Calls at several hotels in turn; on a 95–105 km run, more hotels can mean a good deal longer on board | Direct to your hotel, no other stops |
| Drop order | Your hotel may be one of the last drops on the round | You are the only booking |
| Departure | Often waits until the coach is filled or the scheduled slot | Leaves when you're through arrivals |
| Child seats | Not always available | Free on request |
| Late-night arrival | May not run at all hours | Runs 24/7, driver waits with your name sign |
| Luggage | Shared hold, space can be tight | Sized to your group and cases |
Neither option is "bad" — they're built for different travellers. A shared coach genuinely spreads the cost for solo travellers and couples happy to sit through a few stops. The point is simply to know which one fits your group before you're standing in arrivals.
When the shuttle makes sense
If you're one or two people travelling with a single case each, arriving at a sociable hour, and you don't mind the coach filling up and calling at other hotels first, a shared shuttle keeps the per-person cost down. On a long run like this it's the patience that costs you, not the money — so if you're relaxed about arrival time, it's a fair choice.
When a private transfer genuinely wins
For Okurcalar, Avsallar and İncekum, the private case is stronger than average precisely because the leg is long. It's the clear pick when:
- You're three or more, or a family. A standard taxi seats only four and often can't swallow a full family's luggage. Once you're splitting one fixed vehicle price between several people, the per-vehicle model frequently beats per-person coach fares — spell out your own numbers with an instant quote before you decide.
- You're travelling with children. Free child and infant seats on request, and no 90-minute-plus coach round with restless little ones.
- You land late. Shared services thin out or stop; a private driver is there whatever the hour. See our late-night transfer guide.
- You've got bulky luggage — pushchairs, golf clubs, a wheelchair. A private minibus is sized to your group.
- You want a fixed price, door to door, no changes. One agreed fare, one driver, straight to your hotel entrance.
How the booking and payment work
You get a fixed price agreed at the time of booking — no meter, no surprises on the day. There's a meet & greet at arrivals with your name on a sign, free flight tracking so your driver adjusts to delays, and free waiting if you're held up at passport control or baggage. You can pay the driver in cash on the transfer day, or online — no prepayment is required, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before. We're a licensed D2 intercity operator, so this is a proper regulated service, not an informal arrangement.
For the specifics on this route, see our Antalya Airport to Okurcalar & Avsallar transfer guide, and if you're heading a little further along the coast, the Alanya transfer guide covers the next stretch. Wondering about the shuttle-vs-private call more broadly? Our package shuttle vs private transfer explainer lays out the general trade-offs.
Book a private transfer or get an instant quote for Okurcalar, Avsallar or İncekum — see your fixed price for the whole vehicle in a few seconds, with nothing to pay upfront.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Okurcalar and Avsallar from Antalya Airport?
It's roughly 95–105 km by road, or about 1 hour 20 to 1 hour 35 direct. İncekum sits between the two resorts on the same stretch. Real time depends on traffic and season — the coastal road towards Alanya is busier from June to September, so allow extra in peak summer.
Why can a shared shuttle take so much longer than the driving time?
A shared coach carries a load of passengers and calls at several hotels in turn, so your hotel may be one of the last drops on the round. On a leg this long, those extra stops can add a considerable amount of time on top of the direct drive. A private transfer skips all of that and goes straight to your door.
Is a private transfer cheaper than the shuttle for a family?
Often, yes. A shuttle charges per person while a private transfer is one fixed price for the whole vehicle, so for a family of four the maths frequently flips in the private car's favour. The honest way to check is to put your group size into the instant quote at /en and compare it against the per-person shuttle fare you've been offered.
Do I have to pay in advance?
No. You can pay the driver in cash on the transfer day, or online if you prefer — no prepayment is required. The price is fixed when you book, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before your transfer.
Can I get a transfer if my flight lands very late?
Yes. A private transfer runs around the clock, and your driver is there with a name sign whatever the hour, having tracked your flight. Shared shuttles don't always run late at night, so on a long run out to Okurcalar or Avsallar a private car is the more reliable choice for a late arrival.
Are child seats available?
Yes — free child and infant seats on request, so do mention the ages when you book. It's one of the clearest reasons families choose a private transfer over a shared coach on a run this length, since shuttles can't always guarantee the right seat.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
Nothing to worry about. Flight tracking is included and free, so your driver knows your real landing time and adjusts to meet you. Waiting is free too, so if you're held up at passport control or baggage reclaim, your driver simply waits.
Can I book a return transfer back to the airport too?
Yes, you can arrange the return leg at the same time. Your driver will confirm a pick-up time from your hotel that allows a comfortable margin for the roughly 95–105 km run back to Antalya Airport, taking the season's traffic into account. Booking both ways together keeps one fixed price and one operator for the whole trip.