Ferry vs boat day trip to Orak Island/Datça from Bodrum — which to choose and what to expect?

Another traveler said in August 2026 that lunch was chicken with rice, while they brought their own fruit and water and bought nothing on board. On Orak Island they played volleyball: the water is shallow and you can walk on white sand, though the island itself is rocky. She loved the upper deck — on the faster ride back it felt like sailing a catamaran over the waves. Smoking is not allowed upstairs, although she had to remind people a couple of times.

A review of a trip on 19 August 2026: by the end of the day you are tired of swimming. The route included Orak Island, which was the least liked stop; the other three bays were prettier and less crowded. Lunch was included: pasta, a large nugget and salad. An Efes beer on board cost about 300 lira. Many people smoke, mostly on the lower deck. Bringing your own food and drinks is apparently not allowed, but nobody checked. Turkish music plays almost the whole way.

In August 2026 a traveler was choosing between the ferry to Datça and a boat excursion and went with the boat: on the ferry not every seat on the upper deck is under an awning, and she did not want to ride in the sun in the heat. She said the boat trip was wonderful.