Suluada Boat Trip from Antalya: Price, Season and How Long It Takes

Suluada, the small island off Adrasan that travel brochures call the "Maldives of Turkey", can only be reached by boat and lies about 7 to 8 km off the coast of Kumluca district. For the 2027 season, our Suluada trip from Antalya costs from $50 per person, with hotel transfer, the boat trip and lunch on board. Most questions we get from holidaymakers are not about the price but about the day itself: how long it takes, when the boats run, and whether the long drive from Lara, Belek or Kemer is worth it.

This article answers those questions with the timings we work to in Adrasan, compares Suluada with the other boat trips on the coast, and explains what is and is not allowed on the island.

Where is Suluada and why is the water so pale?

Suluada belongs to Antalya province and lies at the western end of the gulf, about 7 km from Cape Gelidonya. The island is about 1,200 m long and narrow, uninhabited and without roads. Its name means "watery island" in Turkish, after a freshwater spring where sailors filled up for centuries.

In antiquity the island was known as Krambusa. The bay nearby that local captains call American Bay takes its name from US Navy ships that anchored there in the 1960s and 1970s, according to Wikipedia, and many Suluada boats also stop there. Cape Gelidonya, about 7 km away, is the headland with the lighthouse that marks the western end of the gulf, and on a clear day you see it from the boat.

The very pale, turquoise water at the beaches comes from the white limestone and the shallow, sandy bottom. On calm days you can see several metres down from the boat. That is why Suluada became so well known on social media, and why the boats are full in high summer.

The island is protected. Overnight stays and camping are not allowed. The caves on the south coast are home to the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal, and swimming near those caves is forbidden because of strong currents.

How does a Suluada trip from Antalya work?

The day starts early. Our vehicle collects you in selected areas of Antalya, and the drive to Adrasan follows the coast south past Kemer. In Adrasan harbour you board the boat. According to the boat operators, the crossing to the island takes about three quarters of an hour.

A typical route with several swim stops, as described by captains from Adrasan: a stop at the north beach, a second at the west beach, about an hour each, lunch in a cove on the east side, a stop at the freshwater spring and a last swim in a bay on the way back. Boats pause in front of the so-called Love Cave for photos. The order depends on the wind and can change on the day.

Lunch is freshly prepared on board. Drinks and snorkelling gear are not included. In the afternoon the boat returns to Adrasan, and you are back at your hotel in the evening.

When do the boats run to Suluada?

The excursion boats run in the warm months. A captain from Adrasan told the DHA news agency in 2019 that the summer season starts on 15 May and that boats are taken out of the water for maintenance at the end of October. In calm years with a warm autumn, trips run into October. Wikipedia gives April to November for daily excursions. For planning: May to early October is safe, and the edges of the season depend on the weather.

The best months for calmer water and fewer crowds are June and September. In July and August many Turkish families also come at weekends, and the beaches fill up. According to the same report, nearly 60 boats sail to the island every day in season from Adrasan, Çıralı, Olympos and Mavikent, and on some days more than 2,000 visitors arrive.

Suluada, Porto Ceneviz or Kekova: which boat trip?

On holiday in Antalya you can choose between several boat days. The three our guests ask about most often:

Suluada is the right day if you want to swim and see the clearest water on the coast. Kekova is worth it if you want to combine history with the sea. More in our story on the Kekova tour from Antalya.

What this means for your trip

Do not plan the Suluada day on your arrival or departure day, because the pickup is early and the return is in the evening. If you are staying in Side or Alanya, ask first whether a pickup is possible, because the drive to Adrasan from there is much longer.

Bring sun protection, water shoes for the pebble beaches, a towel and some cash in lira for drinks on board. A snorkel mask and fins are worth it, because the water is very clear. Near the caves on the south coast, please stay on board.

You can already ask about the 2027 season. Many guests combine the island with a culture day, such as Perge, Aspendos and Side, and a day in the old town. Which months are most pleasant on the coast is set out in our story on the best time to visit Antalya.

Questions travellers are asking

Plan it with us

We organise boat days along the whole Antalya coast, with transfers from your hotel.

• Suluada boat tour from Antalya with lunch: from $50.
• Porto Ceneviz boat tour from Antalya with lunch: from $60.
• Demre, Myra and Kekova sunken city by boat: from $120.
• Antalya old town, Düden waterfalls and boat trip: from $90.

We cover more boat trips in our guide to boat trips from Antalya. Send your hotel and travel dates on WhatsApp +90 545 307 67 88, and we will reply in English or German.

Sources: Wikipedia, Suluada; DHA via Habertürk, report from Adrasan on the boat season, 30 September 2019.