From Dubrovnik: Full-Day Private Boat Tour of Elafiti Island

Koločep’s Blue Cave is the headline stop, but this private boat tour is really about shaping a whole day around the Elafiti Islands. You can swim and snorkel, explore village streets, or linger over lunch, with a skipper who can discuss your wishes and adjust the route.

I like two things in particular: the freedom to choose how long to spend at each stop, and the mix of water time with a walk through historic Suđurađ. Snorkel gear, drinks and an underwater GoPro are included, so you can enjoy the day without packing every bit of kit.

The main consideration is the price: $470 for a group of up to six is good value when shared, but costly for one or two people. Food is not included, and the day depends on good weather.

Key points before you book

• Blue Cave swimming: Koločep is the first island stop, with time to enter the cave by speedboat and swim or snorkel.
• A route you can discuss: Tell the skipper what interests you, then agree on a plan for the day.
• Two different island moods: Suđurađ on Šipan offers a quiet village visit; Lopud gives you time to explore, swim or eat by the port.
• A group price: The $470 fare covers up to six people, making it more appealing for a family or small group than for a couple.
• Useful extras are included: Snorkel equipment, bottled water, beer and soft drinks, dry bags, and an underwater GoPro are supplied.
• Bring your own lunch budget: Food is extra, and you can choose to eat on Lopud or Šipan.

A private boat day, not a fixed island circuit

The Elafiti Islands lie off Dubrovnik’s coast, and this tour makes a full day of reaching them by private boat. The format is valuable because the islands are not simply a checklist. You can decide with your skipper whether the day should lean toward swimming, village time, lunch, or a bit of each.

The boat departs from Dubrovnik, with pickup included from your hotel, apartment or villa when the vehicle can stop nearby. The driver usually meets you outside about 15 minutes before the start. The listed tour length is eight hours, so plan for a substantial day rather than a quick coastal outing.

The route is flexible, but the named stops are Koločep, Lopud and Suđurađ on Šipan. An outline allows about an hour at Koločep and two hours each at Lopud and Suđurađ, alongside the departure, return and time spent travelling between islands. Those blocks are a guide, not a reason to rush: discuss your priorities before setting off.

That conversation matters. If swimming is your main goal, say so. If you would rather spend longer ashore or fit in a tasting, raise it with the skipper. The flexibility is not a promise that every wish or stop will fit; it is a chance to make a sensible plan together.

Koločep and the Blue Cave

Koločep is the first island stop, and the Blue Cave gives the morning a clear focal point. The boat takes you inside the cave by speedboat, where you can swim and snorkel. The water and cave setting are the main reasons to pack swimwear, a towel and water shoes rather than treating this as a sightseeing trip from the deck.

Snorkel equipment is included, as is use of an underwater GoPro. The guide can take photos and videos too, which is handy if you want to keep your hands free in the water. Waterproof dry bags are provided for personal items, but I would still bring only what you need at the water’s edge.

The stop is listed at about an hour, including time for a break, photos, sightseeing and swimming. If you want to linger in the water, tell the skipper early so you can work out how that fits with the rest of the day. The route can be flexible, but eight hours still puts a limit on how long you can spend at each island.

Conditions matter here. This is an outdoor boat trip that requires good weather, and the operator may offer another date or a full refund if poor weather cancels the tour. A sunny day makes the swim more appealing; a weather-dependent plan is part of the bargain.

Lopud: free time by the port

Lopud gives the day a slower change of pace. The outline allows roughly two hours here, with time to explore, take a break, swim, snorkel or stop for a drink. You are not confined to a guided walk, so you can decide whether to make this an active stop or simply enjoy being ashore.

Food is not included, but Lopud is one of the suggested places to eat. Restaurants overlooking the charming port make lunch a natural use of your free time. If a meal matters to you, ask the skipper about options and timing before you set off. One group’s plan included a restaurant reservation on an island of their choosing, so it is worth asking whether help arranging a table is possible for your date, rather than assuming it is part of the package.

You may also find time for coffee, a cocktail, beer or wine, all of which appear among the possible activities at this stop. Beer and soft drinks are included on the boat, but drinks ordered ashore are not stated as included. Keep that distinction in mind when estimating your spending.

Lopud’s appeal is choice. You can walk around, swim, shop, sunbathe or sit down for a meal, depending on what you prefer and how the schedule is going. If you are travelling with a group whose interests do not match perfectly, this open block gives everyone room to choose their own pace.

Suđurađ on Šipan: village streets and local tastes

Šipan is the largest of the Elafiti Islands, and the planned visit is to Suđurađ, a sleepy village with historic sites to see. The point of this stop is not simply another swim. It gives you a chance to step off the boat and get a feel for an island settlement, with a guide to help you notice places of interest.

The stop is allotted about two hours and can include lunch, free time, food tasting or wine tasting. Local olive oil tasting is also offered as a possibility. These experiences are not meals included in the price, so confirm the plan and any costs with the skipper. You might choose a tasting, a meal, a short wander, or some combination, depending on the time available.

Suđurađ and Lopud are not interchangeable stops. Lopud has more emphasis in this itinerary on free time, swimming and choosing where to eat; Suđurađ offers village history and the possibility of trying local wine or olive oil. If one of those matters more to you, mention it before departure so the skipper can help balance the day.

How flexible is the route?

The tour’s strongest feature is that it is private. Only your group participates, and the skipper can discuss a route around your interests. That is a meaningful advantage over a boat trip that follows one timetable for a large crowd, especially when your group wants different amounts of time in the water or ashore.

Still, flexible does not mean unlimited. The tour lasts eight hours, and the islands are reached by boat, so a longer stop in one place affects the time available elsewhere. Agree on the priorities early: for example, the Blue Cave and a long lunch, or a village visit and more swimming. That way, you are less likely to spend the day negotiating every next step.

Some outings have included visits to multiple caves, but the specifically named feature is Koločep’s Blue Cave. Treat additional caves as a possibility to discuss, not a guaranteed part of every route. Guide Dario has led some trips, and one outing included two guides both called Dario; the crew for your date may differ.

What the $470 price includes

The private group price is $470 for up to six people. At full capacity, that works out to about $78 per person for eight hours on the water, private transport, a skipper-guide, fuel, mooring and anchoring, drinks and snorkel equipment. For a family or group of friends, that is a strong value compared with paying for a private boat alone.

For two people, the same price is $235 each, so the value depends on how much you prize privacy and control over the day. You are paying for the boat as a group, not a per-person seat. A small group that wants a flexible day may find the cost worthwhile; a couple mainly seeking a boat ride could prefer a less private option if one is available.

Included items cover bottled water, beer and soft drinks, snorkelling equipment, waterproof dry bags, the underwater camera, photos and videos taken by the guide, all fees and taxes, and pickup and drop-off. Food is excluded. Budget separately for lunch, snacks or any tasting you choose, and check whether drinks or tastings ashore are extra.

Packing and practical details

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, flip-flops, water shoes and shorts. The water shoes are especially useful if you prefer more support around rocky or wet areas, though the tour information does not specify the exact surfaces at each stop. A dry change of clothes is a sensible extra if you have room.

Pickup is included from your hotel, apartment or villa when it is possible to park on the street in front. The meeting point may be arranged at a nearby accessible spot if stopping directly outside is not possible. Confirm the exact pickup details before the day, since one outing had a meeting-point mix-up in the booking app, even though the guide was not responsible for it.

The tour is in English and is not suitable for wheelchair users. Mobility scooters, non-folding wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs are not allowed. Fireworks, explosive substances and making fire are also prohibited. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this for a group that wants an island day with a balance of cave swimming, village time and a proper meal ashore. It suits families and friends who value privacy, have mixed interests, and can agree on a rough plan before they board. The private format is especially useful if your group would rather set its own pace than follow a fixed schedule.

It is less compelling if you are travelling alone or as a couple and mainly want the lowest-cost way to reach the islands. The full-group price remains the same, and lunch is extra. It is also a poor fit if you need wheelchair access or if your plans depend on guaranteed good weather.

Book it if sharing the cost makes sense and you want the skipper’s flexibility to shape a full day around the Blue Cave, Suđurađ and Lopud. Before you confirm, decide which stop matters most, ask how the route can fit that priority, and leave room in your budget for food.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts eight hours. The day includes pickup and return to Dubrovnik, boat travel and time at the islands.

Where does the tour go?

The named stops are Koločep, Lopud and Suđurađ on Šipan. The route is flexible and should be discussed with the skipper.

Is the Blue Cave included?

Yes. The Koločep stop includes a visit inside the Blue Cave by speedboat, with swimming and snorkelling.

Is food included in the price?

No. Food is not included. You can try local cuisine on Lopud or Šipan, and wine or olive oil tasting may be possible.

What drinks and equipment are included?

Bottled water, beer, soft drinks, snorkelling equipment, waterproof dry bags and use of an underwater GoPro are included.

Is pickup from my hotel included?

Pickup and drop-off are included from a hotel, apartment or villa when the vehicle can park nearby. The driver usually meets you outside about 15 minutes before the start.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Can wheelchair users join the tour?

No. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users, and mobility scooters, non-folding wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs are not allowed.