First Boat Trip or an Older Guest: The Side Dolphin Boat Day
Nobody needs sea legs or a swimming badge for this day. What helps is knowing the order of things, and asking the awkward questions before the morning rather than at the gangway.
Short answer
You need no boating or swimming experience. A vehicle picks you up at the hotel, the boat leaves at 10:00 down the calm Manavgat river, and every swim stop is optional — you can stay on deck the whole time. Older travellers and anyone with limited mobility should ask us before booking, because accessibility varies and the operator checks it.
How the morning unfolds
The day before, a phone call or a WhatsApp message brings your pickup time; it moves with the hotel you are in, so there is no single time for everyone. On the morning an air-conditioned vehicle collects you and drives you to the boat, which leaves at 10:00.
The first part is on the river, not the sea. The boat follows the Manavgat river down towards the coast, a gentle way to find your feet before open water. The whole order, from Boğaz to the foam party, is in the day, stop by stop.
If you are a nervous swimmer
There are three chances to swim and no obligation to take any. At the river mouth the cold fresh river water and the warm salty sea are a few strokes apart, which surprises people the first time; at Dolphin Island the boat anchors for a long swim; one last stop follows before the trip home.
Staying aboard is a perfectly ordinary choice. If you would only go in with a swimming aid, ask us before booking: nothing of the kind is on the operator's record, so we promise nothing we cannot confirm. When you do swim, listen to the guiding on board at each anchor. The swim stops guide goes into each one.
For an older traveller
The day is long — out at 10:00, back at the harbour around 16:30–17:00, with the drive at each end — and much of it is in bright sun. There is shade on deck as well as sun, lunch is served on board, and cold drinks are on sale at the bar.
Getting on and off a boat is the part to think about. Accessibility varies, and the record does not describe it, so if walking, steps or balance are a concern, tell us before you book. We check with the operator and give you a straight yes or no rather than a hopeful maybe. The same goes for any health question; see is it safe?.
Pack the bag the night before
- Swimsuit, worn under your clothes, and a towel.
- Sunglasses and high-factor sun cream.
- Something light to wear over swimwear, and shoes that slip off easily.
- Euros in cash: the fare is paid on the day, and drinks at the bar are extra.
- Anything you take every day, such as medication, since you are away from the hotel until the evening drive back.
The full list, and what to leave behind: what to bring. When you are ready, reserve your places — no card needed.