Private tours to Elaphite Islands by UFO BOAT

Dubrovnik’s UFO boat turns an island-hopping day into a private outing with room for your own music, swimming stops and a cold drink between islands. The eight-hour route visits Kolocep, Lopud and Sipan, giving you a taste of caves, a sandy beach and a quieter harbor.

I like the freedom to travel with just your own group, up to 14 people, and the practical extras: snorkeling gear, life jackets, drinks and a fridge for anything you bring. I also like that the crew can help you choose where to go and arrange lunch on Lopud.

The main consideration is the $2,601.99 group price. It can make sense when shared among a full group, but it is a big outlay for a couple or small party. Lunch and towels are not included, and the advertised eight-hour itinerary leaves little room to linger at every stop.

• Three distinct island stops: Swim among Kolocep’s caves, visit Lopud’s Sunj Beach and finish in Sipan’s Sudurad.
• Private for up to 14: You share the boat with your own group, not a larger tour party.
• Snorkeling gear and life jackets included: Useful for families and anyone who wants to get in the water.
• Drinks on board: Water, soft drinks, beer, wine and grappa are included, and you can bring more.
• Plan lunch ashore: Food is not included, but the crew can help book a Lopud restaurant.
• Eight hours, with a high group price: Best value when your party is close to capacity and ready for a full day at sea.

A private boat day with room to make it yours

The UFO boat is the draw before the islands even come into view. Its futuristic shape gives the outing a party-boat feel, but the appeal is not just the novelty. You have a private boat for your group, a crew to advise on the day, and the freedom to set the soundtrack and make swimming a priority.

This is an eight-hour experience from Dubrovnik, with pickup offered and the trip ending back at its meeting point. The boat can accommodate up to 14 people. That setup suits families, friends, birthdays, bachelor or bachelorette groups, and team outings that want time together without sharing the boat with strangers.

There is also a useful difference between this and a standard island ferry. You are not simply traveling between ports on a fixed passenger route. The crew can advise on where to go and what to do, and the plan includes time for swimming and snorkeling. Still, the stops and order are described as agreed with the crew, so it is wise to discuss your priorities before departure rather than assume every detail is fixed.

The listed price is $2,601.99 per group. Split among 14 people, that is about $186 per person; for a group of seven, it is about $372 each. The value depends heavily on your headcount and how much you prize privacy. Drinks, fuel, private transportation, snorkeling equipment, life jackets and fees are included, but food and towels are not.

Kolocep: caves, clear water and a first swim

Kolocep is the first planned stop, with about two hours set aside. The island is known here for caves and narrow rocky formations, including the Blue Cave. The boat carries snorkeling equipment, so you can swim and look beneath the surface rather than spend the entire stop on deck.

The crew may also guide you in jumping from rocks. That can add a little adventure, but it is an optional activity, not a requirement. If you prefer a quieter swim, you can stay in the water without taking a leap. Life jackets are available for adults and children, an important option for families or anyone who is not a confident swimmer.

The two-hour window offers a good introduction, though it is not a long land visit. The emphasis is on the coast and water, not on touring a village or walking inland. Bring a camera if you like taking pictures around caves, but keep it secure near the water. The tour provides gear, not towels, so pack one if you want to dry off before boarding again.

Lopud: Sunj Beach and time ashore

Lopud gets about three hours, the longest single stop in the plan. The main attraction is Sunj, a well-known sandy beach in a bay on the island’s southeastern side. That makes this a natural place to slow down after the cave stop, swim, and spend time on shore.

Lopud’s main settlement sits on the northwestern side, with a seaside promenade lined with restaurants and coffee bars. The beach and village are not the same stop, so ask the crew how they plan to handle your time and transfers between them. The tour description says the crew can make a lunch reservation at one of the island’s restaurants, which is worth arranging if a sit-down meal matters to your group.

Lunch is not included, and food is not provided on board. That is easy to overlook when drinks are listed among the inclusions. Plan to buy lunch ashore or bring your own food if the crew permits and you prefer a picnic. The boat has a fridge, and you are allowed to bring your own drinks.

If you want a walk, Lopud also has the ruins of Fort Sutvrac, around 15 to 20 minutes on foot from the settlement, with a view over Lopud Bay. Small churches and other historic buildings offer more to see, though the schedule may not allow time for a beach visit, lunch and a longer walk without feeling rushed. Pick your priority before you arrive.

Sudurad: a quieter finish on Sipan

The final stop is Sudurad, a small settlement on Sipan. The planned stop is about three hours, and the mood shifts from Lopud’s popular beach to a quieter harbor and village setting. If you want an island day that includes more than swimming, this is where you can pause for a walk and a meal.

Sipan has a history as a summer retreat for wealthy Dubrovnik families. Grand summer residences and palaces still give the island a different character from the beach-focused stop on Lopud. In Sudurad, two notable buildings sit around the central square, their sturdy, fortress-like appearance a reminder of the island’s past.

The local food is another reason to make time ashore. The tour description points to seafood seasoned with olive oil and local wine, though the meal is at your own expense. Ask the crew about lunch arrangements and the timing of this stop, especially if your group would rather eat on Sipan than Lopud.

Sudurad is described as uncrowded and calm, but that does not mean the boat will have unlimited time to explore. Three hours includes whatever time you choose to spend walking, eating or swimming. Let the crew know what matters most to you so the day’s pace fits your group.

What the price includes, and what it does not

The headline price buys a private outing rather than a seat on a shared boat. Fuel, private transportation, fees, bottled water, soft drinks, beer, wine and grappa are included. Snorkeling equipment and life jackets are provided, and there is a fridge for drinks you bring along.

That package suits a celebration or a family group that will use the boat for most of the day. The drinks can reduce the need to bring supplies, while the private format gives you more control over music and the feel of the outing. But the price does not cover lunch or towels, so budget for both. Do not assume that an account of food being served on board means a meal is part of this particular package.

At the full group size, the per-person cost becomes easier to justify. With fewer people, compare it with other boat options and ask whether privacy and the UFO-style boat are worth the difference. The experience provider also describes four-hour packages, but this specific tour is listed as approximately eight hours. Confirm the package and price you are booking rather than assuming the shorter option has the same route.

Crew service and the day’s pace

The crew’s advice matters because your day combines three islands, water time and meals ashore. Good communication can help you decide whether to spend longer at Sunj Beach, prioritize a cave swim or reserve time for a village walk. The crew has also been praised for friendly, attentive service and help organizing transfers and lunch.

Names associated with the company’s outings include Laura, Niko or Nikola, and Suzana. Crew members can vary, so treat those names as examples rather than a promise about who will be on your boat. The useful point is that the service has been described as personal and well organized, which is particularly valuable when you are coordinating a large group.

The itinerary assigns two hours to Kolocep and three each to Lopud and Sudurad. Those are substantial stops, but the day is still planned around an eight-hour window. If you want long lunches, extensive walks and multiple swims at every island, you may need to set priorities. The boat trip is best approached as a sampler of the Elaphites, not a chance to see every corner of each island.

Who should book this boat trip

I would consider this for a group that values privacy, shared time and the chance to swim from the boat. Families can make use of the life jackets and snorkeling equipment, while friends celebrating a birthday or other occasion can bring their own drinks and music. A group that wants both sea time and a few hours ashore has a good mix here.

It is less compelling for a small party watching every euro, or for anyone mainly interested in a long, detailed walk on one island. The price is fixed for the group, and the schedule divides the day among three stops. If you prefer to spend a whole day on a beach or explore one village at a slow pace, a ferry and a day on one island may suit you better.

The experience is listed for the season from April 1 to November 12, 2025, with daily operating hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The stated confirmation window is within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Most people can participate, and alcohol is for those aged 18 and over. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time; changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book it?

Book if you have a sizeable group, want your own boat, and care more about a flexible day of swimming and island stops than about keeping costs low. Kolocep’s caves, Lopud’s sandy beach and Sudurad’s quiet harbor give the outing a satisfying range, while drinks and snorkeling gear cover useful basics.

Before paying, confirm the exact pickup arrangements, the route, how much time you can spend at each stop, and where you want lunch. If your group is small, compare the per-person cost with other ways to reach the islands. For a full party ready to share the expense, this is a memorable way to put a day at sea at the center of a Dubrovnik visit.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours. The planned stops are about two hours at Kolocep, three hours at Lopud and three hours at Sudurad.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers a group of up to 14 people. Only your group participates in the private activity.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The planned stops are Kolocep, Lopud and Sudurad on Sipan. Stops and arrangements are made with the crew.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, and food is not provided on board. The crew can help arrange a restaurant reservation on Lopud.

What drinks and equipment are included?

Bottled water, soft drinks, wine, beer and grappa are included. Snorkeling equipment and life jackets for adults and children are also provided.

Can I bring my own drinks?

Yes. You can bring your own drinks, and there is a fridge on the boat.

Are towels provided?

No. Towels are not included, so bring your own if you will be swimming.