Compare a few boat trips in Side and you will notice something odd: one operator lets children ride free until age four, another until five, a third until six. As a direct local operator, we keep it simple — this guide explains exactly how child ages and prices work on our tours, and where to check the details before you book.
The simple rule: ages 0–2 always sail free
On every group boat trip we run — the dolphin island cruise, the pirate galleon, Green Canyon and Suluada — children aged 0 to 2 travel completely free. No infant surcharge, no "the boat is free but the transfer isn't" fine print. Your baby counts as a guest for seating and safety planning, but not on the bill.
This applies to group tours. Private charters like our gulet and luxury yacht are booked as a whole boat, so children simply join the guest list — message us on WhatsApp with the ages and we will explain how it works for your group.
Older children: where the child rate actually is
Here is where the market gets messy. Tours differ in what they include — a full lunch on board, a kids' menu, organised activities, insurance — so the age brackets for older children also differ from tour to tour. Rather than quote one number that would be wrong half the time, we print the child tiers directly on each tour page, right next to the adult rate. Open any trip on our tours page and you will see exactly which ages pay a reduced rate and from which age the full rate applies — before you enter a single detail.
Why the child count in your booking really matters
It is tempting to book "2 adults" and sort the kids out later. Please don't — the numbers you enter drive real preparation:
- Seats: group boats plan capacity per guest, babies included.
- Food: on the dolphin cruise, grilled chicken, rice and salad are prepared on board for the number of guests booked; on the pirate galleon the crew preps the children's menu in advance.
- Life jackets: when we know the children's ages, the right sizes are set aside before departure.
Plans changed? No problem — cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the trip, and since there is no prepayment (you pay on the day, on board, cash or card), updating a booking costs nothing. A quick WhatsApp message is enough.
Life jackets and safety for every age
Life jackets are available in every size, from infant upwards, on all our boats. Swimming stops are chosen with families in mind: the dolphin cruise stops for about 1.5 hours where the Manavgat river meets the sea — shallow, calm water — and the pirate galleon anchors at the same gentle spot. On the Green Canyon tour, swimming happens in a calm mountain lake and alcohol is completely banned on board, which many parents appreciate. The pirate ship also carries sea insurance, and its treasure hunt, tug-of-war and free face painting are designed for ages 3 and up.
Which trip suits which age?
Babies and toddlers do well on the dolphin island cruise: the day runs roughly 8 hours door to door with hotel pickup, and 0–2s are free anyway — see our guide to taking a baby on a boat trip. Children from 3 get the most out of the pirate galleon with its organised activities and kids' menu; note it sails on set days of the week, and the live booking calendar shows current dates. Families who prefer calm water enjoy Green Canyon's lake day.
FAQ: children on Side boat trips
Is my 2-year-old really free on every boat trip?
Yes — on all group tours, children aged 0–2 travel free. Still include them in the booking so we count them for seating and life jackets.
Where do I find the price for my 5- or 6-year-old?
On the page of the specific tour you want, next to the adult rate. Brackets differ per tour, so always check the page rather than assuming.
Do I have to pay for children in advance?
No. Nothing is prepaid — the whole family pays on the day of the tour, on board, in cash or by card, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.
Are there life jackets small enough for a toddler?
Yes, life jackets are available for every age and size on all our boats.
Pick your trip, check the child tiers on its page and book in minutes — instant confirmation, no prepayment, and your hotel pickup time confirmed the day before.
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