The five things every boat day needs
Read the small print of every excursion we sell — the classic Side boat tour, the pirate ships, the river-and-bazaar days — and the same five items keep appearing in the tour notes: swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. Trips that anchor over white sand or open water ask specifically for high-SPF cream, because light reflected off the sea burns faster than poolside sun.
- Swimwear — worn under your clothes, it saves changing on board
- A towel — the tour notes consistently ask you to bring your own
- High-SPF sunscreen — reapply after every swim stop
- A hat and sunglasses — hours on an open deck in full sun
- A small dry bag or pouch for phone, cash and room key
Footwear: what actually works on a deck
Decks are wet from the first swim stop onwards, so flat shoes with grip — deck shoes, sport sandals, trainers you can slip off — beat anything with heels or slick soles. Several of our trip notes say it outright: non-slip footwear is the best choice on board, and flat soles make boarding easier too.
Combination days need one step more: boat-plus-bazaar trips from Side and Belek involve real walking through market lanes, so comfortable walking shoes earn their place in the bag. Barefoot is fine while you sunbathe; put shoes back on whenever you move around the boat.
Cash: what actually costs extra on board
Lunch is part of almost every full-day cruise we list, but the excluded lists are just as consistent about what is not: on many boats soft and alcoholic drinks cost extra, along with photo and video packages, some optional activities and tips — always at your discretion. On relax-style cruises drinks may be included instead; the individual tour's included list settles it.
Market combos are the other cash moment: for the Manavgat bazaars the trip notes recommend small Turkish lira notes, and friendly bargaining is part of the fun. The tour price itself is paid in euros on the day of the trip, so plan your holiday cash with that in mind.
What to leave at the hotel
A boat deck is a wet, busy, communal place, and our own tour notes ask guests to keep valuables with them rather than counting on a secure hiding spot. The cleaner answer is not to bring valuables at all: jewellery, expensive watches, documents with no job to do on board — the hotel safe does that work better than any beach bag.
The same logic covers anything that must not get wet or sandy. If losing it would hurt, it does not belong on a swim-stop day; and if it truly has to come, its home is that small dry bag from the checklist.
Phones, cameras — and the foam party warning
Do bring the phone: this coastline earns its photos, and the fishing and pirate trips even recommend a camera outright. Just stay aware of where the water is. Spray underway, wet hands at swim stops and one famous moment — the foam party — are exactly how holiday phones die.
On party-style boats like the classic full day from Side, the foam party erupts right on deck and everyone nearby gets gloriously soaked — phones included if they are still in a pocket. Zip yours into the dry bag before the foam starts, or hand it to a dry volunteer who films from a safe distance.
Trip-specific extras worth packing
Most days need nothing beyond the core list, but a few routes reward one extra item. Evening and night cruises call for a light jacket against the breeze after sunset, and the water in Green Canyon stays refreshingly cool all year, so a light layer helps after a swim there. The boat trip to Suluada anchors off an island beach with no shop at all — everything you want for those hours rides in your bag.
One thing no bag can fix is a queasy stomach. If that worry is on your list, read our guide to seasickness and comfort on board before you choose a boat — calm-water formats exist.
- Fishing mornings — a camera for the catch; on the Side fishing boat your own snacks and cold drinks are welcome
- Kids' pirate cruise — costumes for children are provided on board, though your own pirate outfit is welcome too
- Bazaar combos — small lira notes and comfortable walking shoes