Private Speedboat Guided Tour: Explore the best of Dubrovnik Islands

A private speedboat turns Dubrovnik’s island day into your own outing: cruise beneath the Old Town walls and Lovrijenac fortress, swim at Kolocep’s Blue Cave, then make time for Lopud and sandy Šunj Beach. The private boat is the main attraction: your group has room to shape the day rather than follow a large boat’s fixed pace.

I like the mix of cave swims and unhurried beach time, and the fact that a skipper leads the boat, so you do not need boating experience. One consideration: the $802.84 group price is not the whole cost. Fuel adds €100 in cash on the day, and lunch is separate.

The day, at a glance

• Your group gets a private speedboat for about eight hours, with capacity for up to 12.
• The route combines several kinds of stops: the Dubrovnik coastline, Kolocep’s caves, Lopud village, Šunj Beach and Sipan.
• Snorkeling gear is provided, along with bottled water, soda, local beer and red and white wine.
• Lopud is the lunch stop, but food is not included. A restaurant visit can be arranged.
• The day is flexible in feel: accounts of the trip describe skippers adapting stops to the group’s interests and comfort.
• Budget for fuel separately: the €100 surcharge is payable in cash on the tour day.

Dubrovnik’s walls from the water

The tour begins with a coastal view of Dubrovnik that you cannot get from the city streets. From the boat, you see the Old Town walls from the Adriatic, while your skipper shares local legends and facts. The route also passes below Lovrijenac fortress, built on a steep cliff rising 37 meters above the sea.

This opening gives the trip a useful sense of place before you head out to the islands. It also makes the speedboat more than simple transport: the coast itself is part of the sightseeing. If you have already walked the walls, seeing them from below offers a fresh angle. If you have not, this is a quick preview rather than a substitute for exploring the Old Town on foot.

The pace and commentary will depend on the skipper and the conditions on the day. Past skippers have included Niksa, Nick and Antonio. Their names are worth knowing, but they are not a guarantee of who will lead your trip.

Kolocep and the Blue Cave

Kolocep is known here for its sea caves, including the Blue Cave. The description of the route refers to three caves along the island’s cliffs, formed as the sea wore through the rock. At the Blue Cave, you can put on the provided mask and flippers and swim through a small-looking entrance into a larger space inside. Sunlight reflecting on the walls creates the blue effect.

That swim is likely to be the day’s most memorable stop if you enjoy being in the water. Snorkeling equipment is included, so you do not have to bring your own. The cave’s entrance is described as small, however, and you need to be comfortable swimming through it. If you are unsure, tell the skipper; the trip is private, and past groups have been able to shape the day around what they felt comfortable doing.

There is a small puzzle in the route: Kolocep’s caves appear in the island stop and again as a separate Blue Cave stop. Treat the cave as a featured part of the Kolocep visit, not necessarily as two entirely different cave outings. The exact timing and order can vary, so it is sensible to ask your skipper how the day is planned.

Lopud village, lunch and island history

Lopud is the natural place to pause for lunch. The tour allows time in the village, where a meal can be arranged at one of the island’s popular restaurants. Lunch is not included in the price, so set aside money for it and check with the skipper about the restaurant plan.

There is more here than a meal with a sea view. Lopud’s points of interest include old botanical gardens, established in the era of the Dubrovnik Republic with exotic plants brought home by sailors. You can also see a 15th-century Franciscan monastery and, among the island’s newer attractions, a museum of light.

The listed stop is about an hour, which gives you a taste of the village rather than a long, unhurried visit to every site. If a particular place matters to you, mention it before the day’s schedule takes shape. A past group had lunch at Restaurant Obala on Lopud, with a sea view, after its skipper recommended it. That is a useful example, not a promise that your group will eat there.

Šunj Beach: the long pause

The tour allots about two hours to Šunj Beach, on Lopud’s south side. After a boat ride and lunch, this is the time to slow down: swim, sunbathe or take a break at one of the beach bars, where coffee, cocktails and lunch are available.

Šunj is sandy, and its shallow water extends for many meters. That can make it appealing if you want an easy swim or are travelling with children. The water is described as warm, though the actual feel depends on the day and season. This is not a stop for island sightseeing so much as a proper beach break, so bring what you need for sun and swimming.

The two-hour window is one of the tour’s strongest features. Many island outings squeeze in a quick shoreline stop before moving on. Here, the longer pause gives you room to enjoy the beach without watching the clock every few minutes. The trade-off is that people who prefer a packed schedule of historic sites may want to spend less time here and more time in Lopud village.

Sipan and Sudurad

Sipan adds a different note to the day. The stop is around 30 minutes in Sudurad, a fishing village that was once popular with Dubrovnik’s aristocratic families. You can take in the rocky shore and views while hearing about the area’s links to those families.

This is a short visit, not a full island tour. Think of it as a change of scenery and a brief look at another part of the Elaphiti Islands, rather than time for an extended walk or a long list of sights. The contrast with sandy Šunj is useful: the day includes both a soft beach stop and a rockier coastal setting.

What the private boat changes

The listed price is $802.84 for a group of up to 12, not a per-person fare. With a full group, that works out to about $67 per person before fuel, lunch and any other personal spending. With fewer people, the individual cost rises, so this is best value when shared by a family or group of friends.

Fuel costs another €100, payable in cash on the day. Keep that separate from the quoted group price when comparing options. The boat rental and skipper or host are included, as are bottled water, soda, local beer, red and white wine, and snorkeling gear. Lunch is not included, though a restaurant visit can be organized.

Privacy matters beyond the arithmetic. You are not sharing the boat with unrelated groups, and the skipper can take your group’s interests and comfort into account. One party of seven, including two five-year-olds, had room to sit in the shade at the back or in the sun at the front of an Atlantic 750. That specific boat and layout may not be guaranteed for every departure, but it illustrates the sort of choice a private boat can offer.

The freedom also has limits. You still follow the skipper’s decisions and the conditions at sea. The tour is weather dependent, and swimming at a cave or beach may not suit everyone. For a couple, the private rate is a substantial spend; for a larger group that wants a full day on the water, the per-person value improves quickly.

Timing, comfort and practical details

Plan for about eight hours, with the listed island stops adding up to roughly five hours and ten minutes. The rest of the day includes travel between places, the coastal opening and time on the water. The exact sequence and length of stops may shift, especially since the trip is private and the cave appears in the route description in more than one place.

Wear swimwear and bring a towel and sun protection if you intend to make the most of the cave and beach stops. The tour supplies snorkeling gear, but the details provided do not specify what clothing or other personal items are supplied. Drinks are included, though lunch is on your own tab.

The activity is offered in English, and most people can participate. Confirmation is provided within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. There is no boating experience requirement because a skipper leads the tour. If the weather is poor, the tour may be cancelled, with a different date or a full refund offered. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time; changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Who should book this trip?

This is a strong fit for a family or group that wants a full day outside Dubrovnik without sharing a boat with strangers. It also suits swimmers who want a mix of cave, beach and village time, and anyone who values a skipper’s local guidance without needing to plan every transfer independently.

Families may appreciate the ability to set a comfortable pace and spend a long stretch at shallow Šunj Beach. A couple can enjoy the privacy, but should weigh the group price carefully against less costly shared boat options. If your priority is a deep visit to museums or historic sites, this is not the most efficient choice: much of the day is built around the coast and swimming.

Should you book it?

Book if you want the boat ride itself to be part of the holiday, not just a way to get from one island to another. Kolocep’s cave swim, Lopud’s lunch stop and two hours at Šunj make a satisfying mix, while a private skipper gives your group room to adjust the day. Before you commit, decide whether your group will use the beach time, budget for the €100 fuel charge and lunch, and confirm how the skipper plans to handle the Blue Cave stop.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about eight hours.

How many people can join?

It is a private tour for your group, with a maximum of 12 people.

Is boating experience required?

No. A skipper leads the tour, so you do not need boating experience.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is provided.

What drinks are included?

Bottled water, soda, local beer, and red and white wine are included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but a visit to a popular island restaurant can be arranged.

Is there an extra fuel charge?

Yes. A €100 fuel surcharge is payable in cash on the day of the tour.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather cancels the tour, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.