Suluada Island Guide: Everything to Know About Turkey’s Maldives

Just off the southern tip of Adrasan, in Antalya's Kumluca district, sits Suluada: a small island where nobody lives. Its bright white sand and water that turns from pale aqua to deep blue in a few strokes earned it the nickname "Turkey's Maldives". Here is where it is, how you get there and how to spend the day well.

A green island with a white beach, a map pin above it and a boat in front

Turquoise water and white sand beach at Suluada island

Finding the island on the map

Suluada is only a short crossing from Adrasan, a quiet village on the stretch of coast between Kemer and Kumluca. This shoreline is protected and has barely been built on. On the island you will find no hotels, no restaurants and no roads. Boats are the only way out there, and that is exactly why the beaches stay clean and quiet.

Where the name comes from

Break the word apart and it explains itself: su is Turkish for water, ada for island. It refers to a freshwater spring that rises on the island, something you rarely see on a rocky islet in the Mediterranean. Swim over to where the spring flows into the sea and you will notice the water suddenly getting cooler.

Why the sea looks so turquoise

Fine, pale sand covers the seabed off the main beach. The water above it is shallow and very clear, so sunlight bounces off the sand and back up, giving that strong turquoise you know from photos. It looks its best in the late morning with the sun high overhead, and that is when our boats drop anchor at the beach.

Getting there from Antalya

  1. Pickup: our minibus collects you at your hotel in Antalya, Kemer, Konyaaltı, Lara or Belek.
  2. The drive: we head south along the coast, past Kemer and the Lycian mountains, to Adrasan.
  3. On the water: boarding runs from 09:45 to 10:00, and we usually reach Suluada beach around 10:30.

Pickup zones and rough driving times are listed on our hotel transfer page.

Our favourite stops around Suluada

  • The main white sand beach: the view everyone comes for, with plenty of time to swim and sunbathe.
  • The west coast: rocky coves where visibility is excellent for snorkelling.
  • Fener Bay: named after the nearby lighthouse, it is a calm place for one last swim.
  • Hacivat Bay: striking rock formations on the route back to Adrasan.

Advice from our crew

  • For warm water and fewer boats around, go on a weekday in June or September.
  • Shoot the beach from the deck before you get in, then take more pictures from the water.
  • Treat the island with care: bring all rubbish back to the boat and leave the sand and shells where they are.

Before you pack, have a look at our packing list for the Suluada boat trip, and read through the complete programme of the day.

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