How long is the drive to the boat, and is Suluada worth the earlier start? Those are the questions our team fields about the Side to Suluada boat tour, on WhatsApp, at hotel lobbies, and on the boat itself. Answers come from the people who run the trip, not from a call centre.
Where do you pick up from?
Two-way, air-conditioned transfer is included from all hotels in the Side region and surrounding areas. You do not make your own way to Adrasan: the drive there and back is part of the tour. If you are unsure whether your hotel counts as “surrounding areas,” just ask us when you reserve; we will tell you straight.
What time is pickup?
Earlier than most Side excursions, Suluada is the longest route we sail, and an early start is what buys you a full day on the water instead of half of one. We do not publish a generic clock time here because it depends on your hotel’s position on the route: your exact pickup time is confirmed personally the evening before the tour. Expect an early alarm and consider it a fair trade.
How long is the tour?
The listed duration is 10 hours, door to door. The boat itself sails from Adrasan at 09:40 and docks back at the port around 16:00; the rest is the scenic transfer and the morning break.
Is lunch really included?
Yes, and it is a proper one: a freshly prepared onboard lunch with a choice of grilled fish or chicken, with pasta or rice, plus a daily selection of Turkish mezes (stuffed vine leaves, stuffed peppers or lentil patties), a seasonal salad, and seasonal fruit with Turkish tea after the meal. What is not included: bar drinks of any kind, extra snacks and ice cream, and the optional breakfast during the Adrasan morning stop, which you pay directly at the restaurant if you want it.
Can children come? What do they pay?
Yes. Children aged 4–10 pay €30, adults from age 11 pay €40, and infants aged 0–3 sail free. Our published guidance lists a minimum age of 6 for the full experience; younger children are welcome aboard free of charge but must be supervised on deck at all times. If you are weighing the day up with small kids, our family guide gives the unvarnished version.
How many people are on the boat?
The tour runs with a maximum of 30 participants. It is a shared cruise, not a private charter, but it is also not one of those floating nightclubs with hundreds aboard.
How do we get onto the island?
The boat anchors near Suluada, and tender boats shuttle guests to the bay where applicable. It is a short hop; keep your phone in a dry bag for it. On the island you will have free time to swim and sunbathe, and we visit the Love Cave along the way.
Do I pay in advance?
No. Reservation is free and you pay on the tour day. No deposits, no online prepayment, no card required to hold your seat. This is house policy across our tours: we would rather earn your trust than hold your money.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour. Combined with pay-on-the-day, that means changing your mind costs you exactly nothing if you tell us in time. Telling us matters, though: an empty seat we could have given someone else is the one thing we ask you to avoid.
What happens if the weather turns?
Our captains do not sail into conditions they do not trust, full stop. If the sea state makes the trip unsafe or unpleasant, we tell you honestly and offer another day or a free cancellation. Since you have not paid anything in advance, there is no refund battle to fight; you simply are not charged.
Is Suluada better than a standard Side boat trip?
Different, is the honest word. A standard boat day loops the coastline near Side and is shorter and cheaper; Suluada is a destination day: a white-sand island off Adrasan with water that earns the “Turkish Maldives” nickname. If you want a lazy swim-and-sunbathe loop, take the standard trip. If you want the one boat day you will still be talking about at home, this is it. See how it fits alongside everything else in our complete Side excursions guide.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, towel, hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen (the glare off the white sand is real), sea shoes and some cash for drinks and the optional breakfast. There is no shop on the island. The full checklist is in our what to bring and wear guide, and the full cost picture is in the price breakdown.