Bag packed, swimsuit and towel ready, and one question left. If you are asking where the Gumbet boat trip departs from, the answer is short: the pier inside Gumbet harbour, at 10:30. Because the word "harbour" points to more than one place in Bodrum, it is worth describing the spot and the ways of reaching it.
The departure point: Gumbet harbour pier
The boat casts off from the pier of Gumbet bay and ties up at the same spot at around 17:00. You do not need to travel to the marina in central Bodrum; a taxi heading there takes you in the opposite direction. The pier sits inside the resort area, within walking distance of most Gumbet hotels. We covered the different ways down to the pier one by one in a separate piece.
Which way along the beach?
Walk along the seafront with the water on your side and the boats come into view where the row of cafes and bars thins out. Our vessel, with its sound system on deck and room for a hundred guests, waits in that line during the morning. A crew member stands at the pier entrance with the booking list, so giving your name is enough.
If you come by hotel shuttle
Guests staying in Gumbet, Bitez and Ortakent hotels are picked up at no extra cost. Before the day of the trip, settle three details:
- The exact hotel name and the meeting point at reception
- Your pickup time, which leaves enough margin before departure
- Group size and children's ages: free under 6, half ticket from 6 to 12
Sending those details to the WhatsApp number listed in our note on who handles bookings is all it takes.
Three things people mix up
- Bodrum marina is a different place and has nothing to do with our departure.
- Boarding happens at the pier, not from the sand. Waiting mid-beach costs time.
- Departure is 10:30, not 10:00. Arriving a quarter of an hour earlier still helps.
Once you reach the pier
Bring your own towel; the boat has toilets, a shower and a changing cabin. Lunch is included in the price, while drinks are bought separately at the deck bar. You can follow the rest of the day in the hour by hour programme, and look at the details families with children ask about in another article.