TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Visiting Necker Island by Dingy? Worth it?

All,

We are finally headed back to the BVI for a 10-day bareboat cruise after a two year hiatus.

One of our party would like to visit Necker Island.

Since we are not staying there, I presume this would mean anchoring off and coming in via dingy, and staying below the high-water mark on the beach.

Is this worth doing?

No. Do a Nature Tour with Gumption if you want to really see Necker Island.

I agree with using Gumption. You won’t see much from the beach areas and won’t be welcomed.
G

In 1990 we anchored off the lee side of the island and I swam ashore. There were 3 or 4 burly fellows watching me from the bluff. I was back in the water within a few minutes.

Other then having the experience of standing on some wet sand of a private, billionaires island I doubt a dinghy trip is 'worth it'.
The Gumption tour is outstanding however.

Thank you all for the feedback. This is basically what I figured, but it's nice to get confirmation.

We like to go ashore below the high tide mark and sit there just to piss off Sir Richard. Pretends to be a great guy but stay off my sand.

We were at Necker in August. Sir Richard and his entire family were there. He was swimming off the beach on the SW corner of the island the day we were there. We decided to take a swim as well and he didn't seem to mind at all. Sir Richard is a strong swimmer. We didn't talk or socialize and his security team never asked us to leave. Of course, we were about 200 yards away so Sir Richard probably never felt threatened!

He truly is a nice guy and his reputation is spot on...we ran into him at Soggy in April and he chatted with us and let us take pics with him. It was funny because at the same time someone was pretending to be Kenny Chesney there and was a real clown.

Gumption tour is well worth it

1+ For Gumption Tour

This seems a bit odd to me. Would you want someone purposely sitting at the edge of your yard just to piss you off?

You’re actually just pissing off some couple who spent a lot of money for a special time alone.
You should feel real proud.

We went to wedding there once and I would definitely recommend a proper tour. I haven't done the Gumption tour, but you have to see the lemurs and the grass tennis court with the beautiful bar next to it. The house on the hill. It's crazy. I would definitely do a tour if that's an option.

I never understand why anyone would intrude where they are not wanted. There is no shortage of islands or beaches in the bvi that are free and you are welcome to the vegetation line and beyond. The thinking of I'm going to do something to piss someone off on vacation creeps me out. Go round back of his island..take pics of flamingos and find another beach.

Well said.

Agree 100%👍

I wouldn't recommend going to shore on Necker Island as previous posters have stated. But, there is really cool snorkeling via dinghy of the southwest side of the island if the weather is calm and also an awesome sand bar off the east side of the island with three fake palm trees. You can dinghy in there with a cooler, relax, have lunch and watch the talented kite surfers put on a show!