Quick answer
A practical operator's guide to preventing kids' seasickness on a Side boat trip — calm-water tour choices like Green Canyon, where to sit, light food, fresh air, and when to ask a pharmacist or GP about medication. Includes a tip-vs-benefit table and real family boat options from BestBoatTrips.
To prevent kids' seasickness on a Side boat trip, pick a calmer tour first — our freshwater Green Canyon boat tour stays flat with no open-sea swell. Then sit children low and mid-boat, keep them looking at the horizon in fresh air, feed them something light beforehand, and only use travel-sickness medicine on a pharmacist's or GP's advice. See all our family boat trips in Side.
Why kids feel seasick (and why the boat you choose matters most)
Seasickness happens when the balance system in the inner ear senses movement that the eyes don't match — the body feels the roll and pitch, but a child staring down at the deck or a phone sees a still world. That mismatch triggers the queasy, pale, sweaty feeling parents know well. Children are more prone to it than adults, and once it starts it's hard to reverse.
That's why the single biggest lever isn't a tablet or a wristband — it's the trip. A calm-water day gives a child's balance system almost nothing to argue with. On our freshwater Green Canyon route there is no sea swell at all, which is exactly why we recommend it for families, nervous first-timers and non-swimmers. If you want the lowest chance of a queasy child, start with the water, not the medicine cabinet.
Choose a calmer tour: Green Canyon and other gentle options
We run boats across Side, Manavgat and the wider Antalya coast, and the sea day varies a lot from tour to tour. If seasickness is your worry, here's how our family-suitable trips compare in plain terms.
- Green Canyon boat tour — freshwater reservoir, calm and flat, no seasickness, great for families and non-swimmers. From EUR28. One honest note: the water is cold. See the Green Canyon tour.
- Little Pirates boat trip — built for young children, from EUR20. See Little Pirates.
- Side dolphin island boat tour — a shorter sea day, from EUR21, which can help if you'd rather not be out on open water for long. See the dolphin island tour.
- Side pirate boat tour — lively, with animation, better suited to older kids, from EUR23. See the pirate boat tour.
- Side relax boat trip with waterfall — a quieter option for families who want a calmer pace.
- Private VIP boat — a private family day where you control the pace and stops; per boat on request. See the private VIP boat.
Not sure which suits your family? Browse everything that leaves from the coast on our tours from Side hub and check each tour page for the current day's details before you book.
Where to sit and how to position a child on board
Position makes a real difference on a moving boat. The middle of the boat, low down and close to the waterline, moves the least — the bow and stern swing far more. Sit your child there where you can, facing forward.
Keep their eyes on the horizon or a fixed point on land, not on a book, a tablet or the deck. Reading and screens are classic triggers because the eyes lock onto something still while the body feels the swell. On our boats there's usually room to move, so if a child starts to feel off, get them up, outside and looking out to sea rather than tucked into an enclosed corner.
Fresh air, the horizon and staying cool
Fresh air genuinely helps. Warm, stuffy or fuel-smelling spaces below deck make queasiness worse, so keep children out in the open where they can feel the breeze. A cool, well-hydrated child copes far better than a hot, tired one.
Shade matters here, and it varies by boat — some have more covered space than others. If your child needs a shaded spot to cool down between swims, ask us or the crew when you book so we can point you to the right boat. Bring hats, sun cream and water, and take breaks in the shade before anyone overheats.
Light food before and during the trip
Send kids aboard with something in their stomach, but keep it light and plain — a small breakfast of bread, crackers or a banana beats a greasy fry-up or an empty stomach. Both extremes make seasickness more likely. Sip water regularly through the day; fizzy, sugary or very cold drinks aren't ideal.
If your family has particular dietary or baby-feeding needs, tell us when you book. We'll do what we can, but please don't assume specific facilities are on board — confirm the details on the relevant tour page rather than counting on anything we haven't listed.
Comparison table: prevention tip vs how it helps
| Prevention tip | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Choose a calm-water tour (e.g. Green Canyon) | Removes open-sea swell almost entirely, so the balance system has little movement to react to |
| Sit low and mid-boat | The centre of the boat moves the least — far less roll and pitch than bow or stern |
| Look at the horizon, not screens or books | Lets the eyes match what the body feels, closing the mismatch that triggers nausea |
| Stay in fresh air on deck | Avoids stuffy, warm, fuel-smelling spaces that make queasiness worse |
| Eat a light, plain meal beforehand | Neither an empty nor an overloaded stomach — the sweet spot for avoiding sickness |
| Keep cool and hydrated, use shade | An overheated, tired, thirsty child feels sick faster |
| Pick a shorter sea day if worried | Less time on open water means less chance of symptoms building up |
| Ask a pharmacist or GP about medication | Gets the right product and dose for your child's age and weight, safely |
Ready to plan a calm day out? Take a look at our Green Canyon boat tour — it's the trip we point most anxious parents towards.
Medication: only with a pharmacist's or GP's advice
Travel-sickness medicines and remedies exist, but children are not small adults — the right product, dose and age suitability really matter. We're boat operators, not medical professionals, so we won't recommend a specific tablet or brand. If you want to use something, speak to a pharmacist or your GP before the trip and follow their guidance. Bring anything you're prescribed with you on the day.
The good news is that with a calm tour and the simple habits above, most families never need medication at all.
Booking, transfers and what to tell us in advance
You can book online and pay on the tour day. Guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel, so there's nothing to arrange yourself beyond letting us know where you're staying.
Life jackets, including child sizes, are carried on our boats. Parents must supervise their own children in and around the water at all times — the crew run the boat, but they can't watch every child. If you have dietary needs, baby-feeding requirements or want to check shade on a particular boat, tell us when you book and confirm the specifics on the tour page.
Frequently asked questions
Which Side boat trip is best for a child who gets seasick?
The freshwater Green Canyon boat tour is our top pick, because there's no open-sea swell — it stays calm and flat, which is the most reliable way to avoid seasickness. A shorter sea day such as the dolphin island tour is another gentler option. Check each tour page for current details before you book.
Do I need to give my child seasickness tablets before the trip?
Not necessarily. With a calm-water tour, the right seating, fresh air and a light meal, most children are fine without medication. If you do want to use a travel-sickness product, ask a pharmacist or GP first so you get the correct one for your child's age and weight.
Where should my child sit to feel less queasy?
Low down and in the middle of the boat, facing forward, with their eyes on the horizon rather than a phone or book. The centre moves the least, and matching what the eyes see to what the body feels is the key to preventing nausea.
What should my child eat before a boat trip?
Something light and plain — bread, crackers or a banana — rather than a heavy, greasy meal or nothing at all. Keep them sipping water through the day and avoid very sugary or fizzy drinks.
Are life jackets provided for children, and is the water safe?
Yes, we carry life jackets including child sizes. Parents must supervise their own children in the water at all times. If you're on the Green Canyon tour, remember the water is cold. For anything specific to a tour, confirm the details on its page.
Plan a calm, easy day on the water with the whole family — browse our family boat trips in Side, pick the trip that suits your children, book online and pay on the day.