The three resort villages of Kumköy, Evrenseki and Çolaklı sit shoulder to shoulder along the coast just west and east of ancient Side — a golden ribbon of all-inclusive resorts, long sandy beaches and palm-lined boulevards. If you have booked a week in one of these hotels, there is one detail that quietly decides how your holiday begins: how you get from the aircraft door to your hotel reception.
This is the part most people leave until the last minute, then regret. A tired family stepping out of Antalya Airport arrivals at midnight, dragging four suitcases past a wall of taxi drivers, is not the holiday photo anyone hoped for. A private transfer solves exactly that moment.
At bookridenow.com we run private, door-to-door transfers between Antalya Airport and roughly 103 hotels across the Kumköy, Evrenseki and Çolaklı zone. This guide covers everything — what a private transfer actually involves, what it costs (approximately), how pickup and drop-off works at your specific hotel, and the small mistakes that catch travellers out. No fluff, no pressure. Just the honest version.
Where exactly are Kumköy, Evrenseki and Çolaklı?
All three are part of the greater Side resort region in Manavgat district, Antalya Province. They are close enough that many visitors use the names almost interchangeably — but locally they are distinct pockets, each with its own character.
- Kumköy (Side West / Sorgun-adjacent): Immediately west of Side old town, backed by the pine forest of Sorgun. Big, mature 4- and 5-star resorts, wide beach, family favourite.
- Evrenseki: A quieter, slightly more residential resort strip just west again, with a long private-beach coastline and a relaxed, less-crowded feel.
- Çolaklı: East of Side toward Manavgat, a dense cluster of all-inclusive hotels a few hundred metres from a soft sandy beach — one of the most popular family bases on this entire coast.
The practical takeaway: all three are reached from the same airport by the same road, and the transfer experience is almost identical whichever of the 103 hotels you are booked into. The driver simply turns off the coastal highway at the right junction for your village.
Which airport? Antalya (AYT) is your gateway
For Kumköy, Evrenseki and Çolaklı, your airport is Antalya Airport (AYT). It is the second-busiest airport in Turkey, extremely well connected across Europe and Russia, and it sits roughly 60–65 km west of these villages along a fast, modern dual carriageway (the D400 coastal highway).
You will sometimes see Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport (GZP) mentioned for this coast. GZP is genuinely useful if you are staying in Alanya or Gazipaşa, but for Kumköy/Evrenseki/Çolaklı it is the wrong choice — it lies on the far side of Side, roughly 100+ km away, and would add a long, expensive drive. For these three villages, AYT wins every time. (If you are weighing the two airports for an Alanya trip specifically, that is a different decision entirely.)
Airport → resort: distance and journey time
The drive from AYT is genuinely easy — mostly a straight, well-surfaced highway with the Taurus Mountains on one side and glimpses of the Mediterranean on the other. Here are realistic figures for a private transfer (not the optimistic "brochure" times).
| Destination | Approx. distance from AYT | Typical private-transfer time |
| Kumköy (Side West) | ~62–65 km | 65–75 min |
| Evrenseki | ~59–62 km | 60–70 min |
| Çolaklı | ~57–60 km | 60–70 min |
In light traffic you can reach any of the three in about an hour. During the peak summer changeover days (Saturdays and Sundays in July and August), add 15–20 minutes — the road fills with holiday coaches and transfer vehicles all at once. A private car still beats a shared shuttle here, because you are not waiting for the shuttle to fill up or looping through five other hotels first.
What a private transfer actually involves
"Private transfer" is one of those phrases that gets used loosely, so here is precisely what it means with bookridenow:
- Your own vehicle. The car, minivan or minibus is booked for your party alone. No strangers, no extra stops.
- Meet & greet at arrivals. After baggage reclaim, your driver is waiting in the arrivals hall holding a name sign — your name or your lead passenger's name.
- Flight tracking. We monitor your flight. If you land early or two hours late, the driver adjusts. You never pay a "waiting penalty" for a delay that isn't your fault.
- Door-to-door. You are driven directly to your hotel's main gate or reception — not a car park down the road.
- A fixed, pre-agreed price. You know the total when you book. No meter, no surprise "night surcharge" invented at 1 a.m.
The whole point is that once you clear passport control, the thinking is done. You walk out, someone is holding your name, and 60-odd minutes later you are checking in.
Who is a private transfer really for?
Honestly? Almost everyone flying into this region — but some travellers benefit far more than others.
All-inclusive families
This is the core of the Kumköy/Evrenseki/Çolaklı crowd. If you have children, a double buggy, travel cots and a week's worth of suitcases, the maths is simple: cramming that into a shared shuttle (or negotiating child seats with a random taxi at midnight) is misery. A private minivan with pre-booked child seats, straight to your resort gate, is worth every euro.
Couples on a relaxed break
You have flown for hours. The last thing you want is to stand at a shuttle desk while it fills. A private car is a small upgrade that starts the holiday the moment you land.
Groups of friends
Six or eight people splitting one minibus makes private transfer the cheapest per-person option and the most fun — you all travel together, luggage included.
Older travellers & anyone with mobility needs
Door-to-door with luggage handled is not a luxury here, it's a necessity. Let us know in advance and we match the right vehicle.
Approximate prices (clearly labelled: approximate)
Prices in Turkey move with the season, fuel and exchange rates, so treat the table below as an approximate guide only — always confirm the live quote when you book. These are typical one-way private-transfer ranges from AYT to the Kumköy/Evrenseki/Çolaklı zone. Return trips are usually cheaper than two singles.
| Vehicle | Best for | Approx. one-way price* |
| Saloon car (1–3 pax) | Couples, small families | ~€35–€55 |
| Minivan / Vito (1–6 pax) | Families with luggage | ~€45–€70 |
| Minibus (7–13 pax) | Groups, extended families | ~€70–€110 |
| VIP / Sprinter (up to 16 pax) | Large groups, extra comfort | ~€110–€170 |
*Approximate July 2026 ranges, one-way, for the whole vehicle — not per person. Child seats are typically free or a small supplement. Always check the live total at checkout.
Notice the key detail: private-transfer pricing is per vehicle, not per head. That is why a family of four or a group of six almost always finds private transfer cheaper — or barely more expensive — than shared shuttle seats, once you add it all up.
Private vs. shuttle vs. taxi vs. car hire
There is no single "best" answer — only the best answer for you. Here is the honest comparison for this coast.
Private transfer
- Pros: Direct, no waiting, fixed price, meet & greet, child seats, flight tracking, door-to-door.
- Cons: Slightly pricier than a bare shuttle seat for solo travellers.
Shared shuttle
- Pros: Cheapest per single seat.
- Cons: Waits to fill; drops other hotels first (your resort can be last); can add an hour; awkward with lots of luggage or small children.
Airport taxi
- Pros: Available on the spot.
- Cons: Price not fixed in advance; night/luggage surcharges; no guaranteed child seats; you negotiate while exhausted.
Car hire
- Pros: Freedom to explore independently.
- Cons: Overkill if you are on all-inclusive and rarely leaving the resort; parking, fuel, insurance excess, and driving an unfamiliar road tired after a flight. Many families hire a car for one or two days mid-trip and take a private transfer for the airport legs — the best of both.
How hotel pickup and drop-off works
This is the question we get asked most, so let's be specific.
On arrival at Antalya Airport
- Land, clear passport control, collect your bags.
- Walk into the arrivals hall. Your driver is waiting past the exit doors, holding a sign with your name.
- Can't spot the sign? Your booking confirmation includes a WhatsApp / phone number — one message and we point you straight to the driver.
- The driver helps load your luggage, and you're off.
Drop-off at your hotel
Across all 103 hotels in the Kumköy, Evrenseki and Çolaklı zone, drop-off is to the hotel's main entrance, gate or reception — wherever the resort allows vehicles to stop. The big all-inclusive resorts here (think the large gated complexes in Çolaklı and the beachfront properties in Evrenseki) all have clear vehicle drop-off points, and our drivers know them.
All you need to give us at booking is your hotel name. That's it. We map it to the correct village zone and route the driver accordingly.
The return leg
For your trip home, we schedule pickup from your hotel reception based on your flight time, factoring in check-in windows and seasonal traffic. You'll get a confirmed pickup time the day before, and the driver is there waiting — not the other way round.
Luggage, child seats and special requests
- Luggage: Standard suitcases plus hand luggage are included. Travelling with golf clubs, a wheelchair, a pushchair or a surfboard? Just tell us at booking so we send a vehicle with the boot space.
- Child & baby seats: Available on request — infant seats, toddler seats and boosters. Request them when you book, not on the day. This is the single most common thing families forget.
- Extra stops: Need to grab water, SIM cards or nappies on the way? Ask the driver — short stops are usually no problem on a private transfer.
Seasonal notes: when you travel changes everything
Summer peak (June–September)
This is when Kumköy, Evrenseki and Çolaklı are heaving. Flights are back-to-back, arrivals halls are busy, and the coastal road is at its fullest on weekend changeover days. Book your transfer early — vehicles genuinely sell out on peak Saturdays. Evening arrivals are common; the meet & greet matters most exactly when the airport is most chaotic.
Shoulder season (April–May, October)
Arguably the sweet spot. Warm sea, quieter roads, faster transfers, and easier availability. The drive is at its most pleasant.
Winter (November–March)
Many resorts here reduce operations or close for the season, and flight volumes drop. Transfers still run for the hotels that stay open, and prices can be softer. Roads are quiet, so journey times are at their shortest.
For current conditions before you pack, it's worth a quick look at a reliable Antalya weather reference, and you can always confirm terminal and arrivals details on the official Antalya Airport site.
Once you're settled: the best day trips from this coast
The beauty of basing yourself in Kumköy, Evrenseki or Çolaklı is that some of the Antalya coast's best experiences are on your doorstep. Once you've unpacked and had your first buffet dinner, these are the trips worth building your week around:
- Boat trips along the Side coast — a relaxed day on the water is the classic here. See the options at sideboattrips.com.
- Green Canyon boat tour — the turquoise reservoir up in the mountains behind Manavgat is genuinely spectacular and easy to reach from Çolaklı and Kumköy. Details at greencanyonboattours.com.
- White-water rafting in Köprülü Canyon — a fun, family-friendly adrenaline day trip inland. Take a look at bookraftingantalya.com.
Any of these can be reached from your resort, and the same door-to-door thinking applies — starting your holiday relaxed at the airport just sets the tone for the rest of it.
Insider tips locals would tell you
- Give your exact hotel name, not just the village. "Çolaklı" has dozens of resorts — the precise name lets us route perfectly.
- Screenshot your booking confirmation. Airport Wi-Fi can be patchy; an offline copy with the driver's contact number saves stress.
- Book the return at the same time. It's cheaper and one less thing to arrange from a sun lounger.
- Peak Saturday arrival? Expect the airport to be busy — that's normal. Your driver is tracking you; take your time at baggage reclaim.
- Tip in cash if you're happy. Turkish drivers appreciate a small tip, though it's never mandatory.
- Have your hotel's location screenshotted too. Handy for the return pickup timing and for your own peace of mind.
Common mistakes travellers make
- Flying into GZP by accident. For these three villages, always choose AYT. Double-check before you book flights.
- Forgetting to request child seats. They must be reserved in advance — you can't conjure one at arrivals.
- Assuming a shuttle "seat price" beats a private car. For a family or group, add up the seats — private is often cheaper and always faster.
- Not booking ahead in peak season. Turning up hoping to sort a transfer on a busy July night is how people end up overpaying a random taxi.
- Underestimating the road on the return. Leaving your resort too late for a peak-day departure risks a stressful airport dash. Trust the pickup time we set.
Professional advice: the simplest way to get it right
After thousands of transfers on this coast, our honest recommendation for a Kumköy, Evrenseki or Çolaklı holiday is:
- Fly into AYT.
- Book a private return transfer in advance for the whole party.
- Request child seats up front if you need them.
- Save your driver's contact and your confirmation offline.
Do those four things and your transfer becomes the most forgettable part of the trip — which, for a transfer, is exactly the point.
Frequently asked questions
1. How far is Antalya Airport from Kumköy, Evrenseki and Çolaklı?
Roughly 57–65 km. It's a straightforward drive of about an hour along the D400 coastal highway.
2. How long does the transfer take?
Typically 60–75 minutes by private car, depending on your exact hotel and traffic. Add 15–20 minutes on peak summer changeover days.
3. Should I fly into AYT or GZP?
Antalya Airport (AYT) for all three villages. Gazipaşa (GZP) is far better suited to Alanya and would add a long, costly drive for Kumköy/Evrenseki/Çolaklı.
4. How much does a private transfer cost?
Approximately €35–€55 one-way for a car, €45–€70 for a minivan, and €70–€170 for minibuses and larger groups. Prices are per vehicle and vary by season — always confirm the live quote.
5. Is the price per person or per vehicle?
Per vehicle. That's why families and groups usually find private transfer excellent value.
6. Where will my driver meet me?
In the arrivals hall after baggage reclaim, holding a sign with your name. Your confirmation also has a phone/WhatsApp number if you can't spot them.
7. Do you track my flight?
Yes. We monitor your flight, so if you land early or late the driver adjusts. Delays that aren't your fault don't incur penalties.
8. Which hotels do you cover?
Around 103 hotels across the Kumköy, Evrenseki and Çolaklı zone — from large gated all-inclusive resorts to smaller beachfront properties. Just give us your hotel name at booking.
9. Do you drop off right at my hotel?
Yes — door-to-door to your hotel's main gate or reception, wherever vehicles are permitted to stop.
10. Can I get child or baby seats?
Absolutely, on request. Reserve them when you book so we can fit the right seat before the driver sets off.
11. How much luggage can I bring?
Standard suitcases plus hand luggage are included. For oversized items (golf clubs, wheelchairs, pushchairs), tell us at booking so we assign a vehicle with room.
12. Is a private transfer better than a shared shuttle?
For families, groups and anyone with lots of luggage, yes — it's direct, faster and often similar in total cost. Shared shuttles suit solo budget travellers who don't mind waiting and extra stops.
13. Can I book a return transfer too?
Yes, and it's usually cheaper than two one-way trips. We set your return pickup time based on your departure flight and the season.
14. What if my flight is delayed or arrives at night?
No problem. Flight tracking covers delays, and we operate late arrivals — the meet & greet is especially valuable when the airport is busy or it's the middle of the night.
15. Can we make a quick stop on the way to the hotel?
Usually yes — a brief stop for water, a SIM card or supplies is fine on a private transfer. Just ask your driver.
16. How far in advance should I book?
In peak summer, book as early as you can — vehicles sell out on busy Saturdays. Off-season, a day or two ahead is usually fine, but earlier is always safer.
Conclusion
Kumköy, Evrenseki and Çolaklı are made for exactly the kind of holiday most people picture when they think of the Turkish coast: sun, sand, an all-inclusive band and nothing much to worry about. The one thing worth getting right in advance is the transfer — because a smooth, private, door-to-door ride is what lets the "nothing to worry about" start the moment you land.
Skip the taxi haggling and the shuttle waiting. Book a private airport transfer to your Kumköy, Evrenseki or Çolaklı hotel on bookridenow.com — fixed price, meet & greet, flight tracking, child seats on request, and a driver who knows your resort. Get your quote in a couple of minutes and arrive relaxed. We'll be waiting with your name on the sign.