On a private boat trip nobody else is on board. You choose the day and roughly when you start, the captain picks the bays to suit the wind, and lunch is cooked on board. It costs more than a seat on a group boat, but for a couple, a family or a group of friends the whole day is their own.
Gulet or motor yacht?
Three kinds of boat run private day trips from Bodrum. The right one depends on how many of you there are and how you want to spend the day.
| Boat | Size and guests | On board | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional wooden gulet | About 12–18 m; 8 to 12 guests on a day trip | A wide shaded deck, sunbeds and a table for lunch; unhurried cruising | Families and groups, a slow day of swimming |
| Small motor-sailer | Compact; right for a couple or a small family | Simple and relaxed, with shade and a swim ladder | Couples who want the bays to themselves |
| Motor yacht | About 15 m; a small group | Faster between bays, a modern lounge and cabins below deck | Seeing more bays in one day, or a special occasion |
Tell us how many you are when you ask for a quote. We match the boat to the group, so two people are not paying for a deck built for twelve.
How the day runs
Timings vary a little from boat to boat, but a private day follows the same shape:
- 1
Boarding between 9:00 and 10:00 in Bodrum town. The exact pier is in your confirmation.
- 2
The first swim stop within the first hour or so: snorkel, take out a paddleboard or just float.
- 3
Lunch on board around midday, cooked by the crew and served on deck with fresh fruit and soft drinks.
- 4
Afternoon bays: one or two more stops, chosen by the captain to suit the wind.
- 5
Back in Bodrum around 16:00–17:00. A standard day is about six to seven hours on the water.
Would you like a longer day? Most boats can stay out for extra hours. Ask in your request and the time is priced into your quote.
Where the boats go
Orak Island is the classic: water so clear and turquoise it looks unreal in photos. It is also the farthest stop, about an hour and a half each way from Bodrum town, so some boats add a fuel supplement for it. Your quote says whether it is included.
Karaada (Black Island), just off Bodrum, has a warm spring inside a sea cave. Many people swim in and spread the mineral mud on their skin.
Aquarium Bay is shallow and sheltered, with fish around you as soon as you put on a mask. Closer to town there are smaller coves the captain uses when the wind picks up.
The route is a plan, not a promise. In the Aegean the afternoon wind decides which side of the peninsula is calm, and a good captain takes you there.
What's included, and what isn't
Usually included
- ·
The boat for your group only, with captain and crew
- ·
Fuel for the standard route
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Lunch cooked on board, fresh fruit and soft drinks
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Swimming stops, snorkel gear and often a paddleboard
Usually extra
- ·
Alcohol: most day boats don't sell it, but you are welcome to bring your own
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On some boats, a fuel supplement for far stops such as Orak Island
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Extra hours, a photographer and tips for the crew
Every quote we send lists exactly what is included on that boat, so the day holds no surprises.
A sunset cruise instead
Some boats also run a shorter evening trip: out at about half past five, a swim in a nearby bay, dinner on board and back as the sun goes down behind Bodrum. Mention it in your request if an evening suits you better.
What to bring
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Swimwear, a towel and sunscreen
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A hat and sunglasses: the deck is bright even in the shade
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Soft-soled shoes for the deck
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Your own drinks, if you would like wine or beer with lunch
- ·
Cash for tips, if you want to thank the crew
How to book
Send us the date, how many of you there are, where you are staying and, if you have one, the kind of boat you prefer. We reply with the boats available that day and a full quote: boat, timings, route and what is included.
We also take care of getting there. If you are not driving, we arrange a private transfer from your hotel anywhere on the peninsula, or straight from Bodrum-Milas Airport.
Book as a tour: Private Gulet Day in Bodrum
