Swimming with dolphins in Side means a trip to the deep pool at Sealanya Dolphinpark in Alanya, where a small group of up to 8 people shares the water with one dolphin and the trainers. Before the swim the trainer gives a safety briefing, and everyone in the water wears a life jacket.
We pick up guests from hotels in Gündoğdu, Çolaklı, Evrenseki, Kumköy, Side, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Kızılot and Kızılağaç.
Book your seat online with no prepayment — you pay on the bus on the day of the tour.
Swimming with dolphins in Side at a glance
- Hotel pickup: 08:30–09:30
- Venue: Sealanya Dolphinpark in Alanya
- Swim with a dolphin: about 20 minutes
- Back at your hotel: 12:30–13:30
- Swimming skills: required, as the pool is 6 m deep
- Children: from 6 years old and taller than 1.20 m
- Not suitable for: pregnant women and guests with certain health conditions (see the FAQ below)
- Payment: cash on the bus ($, €, ₺)
Tour programme
- 08:30–09:30 | Hotel pickup
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed.
- Transfer to Sealanya Dolphinpark
From hotels in Side it’s 31–58 km to the dolphinarium, a drive of 30 to 50 minutes depending on the area.
- Trainer’s briefing
Before you get into the water, the trainer explains the safety rules.
- Swimming with a dolphin
A small group swims with one dolphin, together with the trainers, for about 20 minutes.
- Photos (optional)
Photos taken by the dolphinarium’s photographer are sold separately.
- 12:30–13:30 | Back to your hotel
After the programme the bus sets off on the return trip.
How does swimming with dolphins in Side work?
Hotel pickup and the drive to Sealanya Dolphinpark
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier, between about 08:30 and 09:30. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed.
The bus then heads to Sealanya Dolphinpark, which is in Alanya, close to Türkler and Avsallar. The drive time depends on the area: about 30 minutes from Kızılot and Kızılağaç, about 40 minutes from Side and Kumköy and about 50 minutes from Gündoğdu.
Safety briefing and a 6-metre-deep pool
At the dolphinarium you change into your swimsuit or trunks and meet the trainer, who gives you a safety briefing.
The pool is 6 metres deep. Everyone swims in a life jacket, but you need to be confident in the water, so only guests who can swim can take part. Please take off jewellery and watches before the swim, and don’t put on sun cream.
Groups of up to 8 people with one dolphin
Each group swims with one dolphin, and there are no more than 8 people in a group. You swim together with the trainers. Places are limited, so it’s best to book in advance.
Children can swim from the age of 6 if they are taller than 1.20 m. Children aged 6–7 swim only with an adult, who also pays.
Family and friends who aren’t swimming can travel with the group and watch from the dolphinarium café for $20.
Photos from the dolphinarium’s photographer
You can’t use your own cameras or video cameras during the swim; the dolphinarium’s photographer takes the pictures. You can look through the photos and buy them at an extra cost before you leave.
Dolphinarium rules
The dolphins eat only fish, so please don’t feed them or throw anything into the pool. Please touch the dolphins only with a trainer beside you. Smoking isn’t allowed by the pool. The dolphinarium’s schedule and programme may change.
If you decide not to swim once the programme has started, there’s no refund.
Return to your hotel
After the programme the bus sets off on the return trip. You’ll be back at your hotel between about 12:30 and 13:30.
The time depends on which part of Side your hotel is in and on traffic.
Swimming with dolphins in Side suits adults and children aged 6 and over who can swim.
Book your seat online with no prepayment. You pay for the tour on the bus on the day.
Tour video
Tour video
Press Play twice to start the video.
What is included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Swimming with a dolphin
- Trainer’s briefing
- Life jacket
- Insurance
What is not included
- The dolphin show
- Trip for non-swimming companions: $20
- Photos by the dolphinarium’s photographer (optional)
- Drinks during the tour
- Personal expenses: souvenirs and other purchases
What to bring
- Swimsuit or swimming trunks
- Towel
- A change of clothes
- Drinking water
- Sunglasses
- Cash for photos and personal expenses
Distance to the dolphinarium
- Gündoğdu to Sealanya Dolphinpark: 58 km, about 50 minutes
- Çolaklı to Sealanya Dolphinpark: 54 km, about 45 minutes
- Evrenseki to Sealanya Dolphinpark: 50 km, about 45 minutes
- Kumköy to Sealanya Dolphinpark: 46 km, about 40 minutes
- Side to Sealanya Dolphinpark: 46 km, about 40 minutes
- Titreyengöl to Sealanya Dolphinpark: 45 km, about 35 minutes
- Sorgun to Sealanya Dolphinpark: 44 km, about 35 minutes
- Kızılağaç to Sealanya Dolphinpark: 31 km, about 30 minutes
- Kızılot to Sealanya Dolphinpark: 31 km, about 30 minutes
Distances and travel times are based on Google Maps and are intended as a guide. The actual journey time depends on traffic and on how long it takes to pick up guests from other hotels.
Discounts
- $1 off for each person in your booking who follows our Instagram (@goldwaytravel)
FAQ about swimming with dolphins in Side
How much does swimming with dolphins in Side cost?
Swimming with dolphins $140 for adults and children. The price includes hotel transfer, a swim of about 20 minutes, a briefing and a life jacket.
How do I book swimming with dolphins in Side?
Choose the date and the number of participants in the “Online Booking” form; the total is worked out automatically. In the form that opens, enter your full name, hotel, WhatsApp number and email, then send it. No prepayment: you pay on the bus on the day of the tour. Once your booking is confirmed, we send you an e-ticket with the exact pickup time via WhatsApp or Telegram. For step-by-step instructions with pictures, see
“How to book and pay on the bus”.
Do I need to be able to swim?
Yes. The pool is 6 metres deep, so you need to be able to swim, even with the life jacket that every participant wears.
How does the swim with the dolphin work?
First the trainer gives a safety briefing. Then a group of up to 8 people gets into the water: one dolphin swims with the group, and the trainers are close by. You may touch the dolphin only with a trainer beside you.
Is the dolphin show included in the tour?
No, the dolphin show isn’t included in the tour price.
From what age can children swim with dolphins?
From 6 years old, if they are taller than 1.20 m. Children aged 0–5 don’t swim with the dolphins. Children aged 6–7 swim only together with an adult, and the adult pays to take part as well.
Who can’t take part in the swim?
Under the dolphinarium’s rules, the swim isn’t open to pregnant women, guests with developmental disabilities or neurological or mental health conditions, and guests who have difficulty walking.
Can I buy photos of my swim?
Yes, you can buy the dolphinarium photographer’s photos at an extra cost before you leave. You can’t use your own cameras during the swim.
Can my family watch the swim?
Yes. Non-swimming companions travel with the group on the bus and watch the swim from the dolphinarium café for $20 per person. Please mention it in the “Special Requests” field when you book.
What should I bring?
Bring a swimsuit or trunks, a towel and a change of clothes. Please don’t wear jewellery or a watch during the swim, and don’t put on sun cream.
What time does the tour start?
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier, between about 08:30 and 09:30. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed.
What time will we be back at the hotel?
Guests are usually back at their hotels between 12:30 and 13:30. The exact time depends on where your hotel is and on traffic.
