Suluada
A small island about 7 km off Adrasan with no settlement on it. Its pale sand and turquoise water have earned it the nickname 'the Maldives of Antalya'; it is reachable only by boat.
Suluada is the main stop for day boats leaving Adrasan bay. The small beach on the north side, with its pale sand and shallow floor, turns the water an extraordinary turquoise — this is the spot that earns the Maldives comparison. There are no buildings, electricity or drinking water on the island.
The name comes from sailors who once found fresh water here. Today the island is protected within Beydağları Coastal National Park and landing is limited to set points. Boats usually anchor in the cove for a swim stop; loggerhead turtles are seen in these waters.
Tours leave between 9 and 10 in the morning and return in the late afternoon, stopping at the Adrasan coves and sea caves on the way. Wind and swell build in the afternoon, so morning departures mean a calmer sea and clearer water. There is almost no shade on the island — a hat and sunscreen are essential.
- Best time
- June–September
- Budget
- Moderate
Tips
- Choose a morning departure: calmer sea, clearer water.
- No shade, toilets or drinking water on the island — rely on the boat.
- Water shoes make the rocky entries much easier.