Quick answer
A practical, honest guide to keeping children sun-safe on a boat trip in Side and Antalya: how shade varies by boat, plus hats, high-factor cream, cover-ups, timing and hydration. Includes a step-vs-reason table and our family-friendly boats to book online.
The most reliable way to protect kids from the Antalya sun on a boat trip is to bring your own shade kit rather than assume the boat has plenty. Ask us before booking how much covered deck a boat has, then pack a wide-brim hat, high-factor cream, a UV cover-up and water. On our family boat trips in Side, child-size life jackets are carried and parents supervise in the water.
How much shade is there really? Ask before you book
Here is the honest part first: shade varies a lot from boat to boat, and we would rather tell you that than pretend every deck is covered. Some of our boats have a generous covered saloon and a shaded upper deck; others are open sun boats built for lively days where the shade is more limited. We run these boats ourselves, so if shade matters for your family, ask us before you book and we will tell you what a specific boat offers.
Don't guess from a single photo. Confirm the detail you care about on the relevant tour page, or message us and we'll give you a straight answer for the boat and date you have in mind.
The sun protection steps that actually matter
Antalya summers are hot and the light bounces off the water, so children get more sun than they would on land. You don't need anything complicated — just a few habits done consistently. Here is what each step does and why it earns a place in your bag.
| Protection step | Why it matters on a boat |
|---|---|
| Wide-brim or legionnaire hat | Shades the face, ears and neck — the spots that burn first and are hardest to reach with cream. |
| High-factor, water-resistant cream (reapply) | Sea and pool water plus towel-drying wear cream off; reapplying every couple of hours keeps cover on. |
| UV cover-up or rash vest | A layer of fabric beats cream you forget to top up — ideal for swimming and long open-deck stretches. |
| Sunglasses for children | Glare off the water is intense; eyes need protection as much as skin. |
| Own shade (light towel, cover, seat under the canopy) | Not every boat has lots of covered deck, so bring a backup and claim a shaded spot early. |
| Regular water and cool-down breaks | Heat and salt air dehydrate kids fast; small, frequent drinks prevent grumpy, overheated afternoons. |
Cream, cover-ups and hats: the small kit that does the heavy lifting
Put cream on children before you leave the hotel, not on the boat — it needs time to bind before the first swim. Choose a high factor and reapply after every dip and every couple of hours, because water and towels take it straight back off. For younger kids especially, a rash vest or cover-up does more than cream you have to remember to top up. A hat with a brim and a pair of sunglasses finish the job.
Pack all of it in a small dry bag: hat, sunglasses, cream, a cover-up per child and a light towel that doubles as extra shade. It weighs nothing and saves the day.
Timing: sail smart around the strongest sun
The sun is fiercest in the middle of the day, which is exactly when many boat trips are at anchor for swimming. You can't move the sun, but you can plan around it: get the kids into shade during the hottest stretch, save the longest open-deck time for earlier and later, and treat the swim stops as a chance to cool down rather than to roast on the front deck.
Departure works the same way. 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 you'll know your start and can plan the morning cream and hats around it.
Hydration and cool-downs
Children overheat faster than adults and often won't say they're thirsty until they already are. Bring more water than you think you need, offer small drinks often rather than one big bottle, and use the swim stops and the shaded saloon as regular cool-downs. If a child goes quiet, flushed or headachey, get them into shade with water straight away — that's the signal to slow down for a bit.
Which of our boats suit families?
Different trips suit different ages, and shade and pace differ too. From our Side departure trips, here's an honest run-down of the family-friendly options we run.
- Green Canyon boat tour (from EUR28): calm freshwater with no seasickness, good for families and non-swimmers — the water is cold, so it's a refreshing swim rather than a warm one.
- Little Pirates boat trip (from EUR20): built for young children, so this is our first pick for smaller kids.
- Side pirate boat tour (from EUR23): lively, with animation on board — better suited to older children who want the fun and noise.
- Side dolphin island boat tour (from EUR21): a shorter sea day, which helps when little ones tire early.
- Side relax boat trip with waterfall: a quieter day for families who want calm over animation.
- Private VIP boat (per boat, on request): your own boat and your own pace — you set the shade and swim breaks around your children.
Prices above are approximate 2026 starting bands per person (Green Canyon runs from EUR28 up to EUR54); the private boat is priced per boat on request. The live price and the exact details are always on the tour page. Ready to plan a sun-safe day out? Tell us the ages and we'll point you to the right boat.
Tell us what your family needs when you book
If you have dietary needs, a baby to bring or anything else we should plan for, tell us when you book and we'll do our best to help. We won't pretend every boat has a changing table or a specific baby menu — those aren't things we'll invent. What we can do is note your needs in advance and confirm what a particular boat offers. Child-size life jackets are carried on our family trips, and parents supervise their children in the water at all times.
You can book online and pay on the tour day, so it's easy to lock in a boat once you've chosen the right one for your children.
Frequently asked questions
Do all your boats have shade?
No — shade varies by boat. Some have a covered saloon and a shaded upper deck, others are more open. That's why we ask you to check with us before booking: tell us the boat and date and we'll tell you honestly how much covered deck it has.
What should I pack to protect my kids from the sun?
A wide-brim hat, high-factor water-resistant cream to reapply, a UV cover-up or rash vest, children's sunglasses, plenty of water and a light towel that can double as extra shade. Apply cream before you leave the hotel so it has time to bind.
Which boat trip is best for young children?
The Little Pirates boat trip is built for young children, and the dolphin island trip is a shorter sea day that suits little ones who tire early. For a calm, seasickness-free day, Green Canyon is a strong choice — just note the water is cold.
What time is the hotel pickup?
Guests are picked up from their hotel in the morning; the exact time is confirmed the day before and varies from hotel to hotel. Once you know your pickup, you can plan the morning cream and hats around it.
Are life jackets provided for children?
Yes — life jackets including child sizes are carried on our family trips. They don't replace supervision, though: parents must watch their children in the water at all times.
Plan a sun-safe day on the water
Kids and the Antalya sun mix fine when you pack a bit of shade, keep the cream topped up and time the day around the fiercest hours. We'll be straight with you about how much shade each boat has, so you can choose with confidence. Browse our family boat trips in Side, pick the boat that fits your children, and book online — you pay on the tour day.