Blue caves, sandy beaches, and your own boat.

This private Elaphiti islands day turns Dubrovnik’s coastline into a slower, more personal experience, with snorkeling at Kolocep’s Blue and Green Caves, beach time on Šunj (Lopud), and a calmer island stop on Šipan. I especially like the flexible pacing that lets you linger where you want, and the fact that the boat day already includes unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, and fruit. One consideration: the plan depends on good weather, and a couple of extras cost cash on the spot (like an underwater scooter, plus some pickup areas).

If you’re tired of crowded tours that feel rushed, this is the opposite. You get hotel pickup and drop-off, life vests and snorkeling gear, and a local skipper who can adjust the route based on what your group wants—swimming more, going quieter, or adding extras like wine tasting, lunch, or a monastery visit. The result is a full sea-day view of Dubrovnik that feels like you’re in on the secret, not chasing a schedule.

The quick reasons this tour gets booked

• Private boat time: only your group, so you control the pace and the swimming stops
• Kolocep’s Blue and Green Caves: snorkeling right off the route with free admission listed for the stop
• Lopud’s Šunj Beach break: sandy beach time plus drinks and fruit on board
• Šipan culture options: Suđurađ seaside village and tastings tied to local makers and palaces
• What’s included saves money: snorkeling gear, towels, fuel, skipper, and unlimited drinks are part of the price

Private Elaphiti islands from Dubrovnik: what the day really feels like

Let’s start with the point of doing this by private boat: you’re not spending your day forming a line, following a guide’s pace, or squeezing into the same few viewpoints as everyone else. You’re out on the water, in control of stops, with a skipper who can reposition the boat when conditions change.

The itinerary is built around three classic Elaphiti island areas—Kolocep, Lopud, and Šipan. But what changes the feel is the flexibility. If your group wants extra swim time at a cove, the captain can usually work it in. If you want the route to feel more laid-back and less sightseeing-heavy, you can steer it that way. This is the kind of trip that works best when you pick a mood: quiet and swim-focused, or more balanced with a bit of island life and food.

And since this is a private charter, you’re not sharing the boat with strangers. That matters more than people think, especially if your group includes kids, grandparents, or anyone who just wants the day to feel smooth.

Meeting at the Old Town port near Lokanda: how you start without stress

You meet at the Old Town port area by the Lokanda restaurant, which is an easy landmark if you’re staying central. The tour also supports pickup that you request—either Old Town port or Gruz Port are listed start options—plus hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

The practical upside here is that you can plan your morning in Dubrovnik without turning it into a logistics puzzle. You show up at the port, your skipper handles the safety briefing, and you’re on your way. If you’re used to Dubrovnik days where the hardest part is getting across town, this makes the first hour feel calmer.

There is one detail to keep in mind for your planning: pickups aren’t guaranteed from every address without an add-on. The tour data lists a 70€ cash extra for pickup/drop-off at Sheraton, Mlini, or Cavtat. If you’re staying in one of those areas, ask early so you don’t get surprised.

Kolocep Island and the Blue/Green Caves snorkeling stop

Kolocep is the first major stop, and it’s built around water time. The headline is snorkeling at the renowned Blue and Green caves. You don’t just look at them from shore—you head into the cave area from the boat and explore with the snorkeling gear provided.

This is where I like the tour’s structure: the time is explicitly scheduled at about 2 hours for the Kolocep leg, but the experience isn’t just a quick pass. If your group enjoys floating, looking for fish, and checking out the cave-water edges, this portion can become the highlight of the whole trip.

A couple of practical points to set expectations:

• The tour lists admission for this stop as free, which means you’re not paying on top of the main price.
• Snorkeling gear is included (plus life vests), so you don’t need to hunt rentals in Dubrovnik.
• An underwater scooter is optional and costs 70€ cash, so if you think you’ll want that extra assist, budget for it.

One small drawback: if the sea is rough, cave snorkeling can feel less comfortable. The operator notes that the experience requires good weather, so the plan can shift if conditions aren’t right.

Lopud Island and Šunj Beach: the best break for sunbathing

After Kolocep, you head to Lopud, and the main reason to get excited is Šunj Beach. This is the sandy stretch people talk about because it’s a beach you can actually relax on, not just stand near for photos.

What I like here is that Lopud isn’t framed as a rushed stop. You get about 3 hours, and your onboard setup helps keep the break easy. Fresh fruits and local drinks are provided on the boat, and you can choose your mode: stay onboard to cool off, swim from the boat, or get onto the sand and settle in.

There’s also gear for water time beyond snorkeling. Snorkeling gear is ready again for this stop, and the listing suggests you can explore underwater if you want to keep going. If you’re traveling with mixed interests, Lopud is a great compromise stop because some people want beach time and others want water time.

Toward the end of your Lopud portion, there’s an optional village visit. The timing is described as a sunset-style choice, which is helpful because it means you’re not building in extra walking during peak heat. If you love a simple island village stroll, ask your skipper if it fits your group’s energy level.

Potential downside: Lopud is still part of a popular island route, so beach time can be busier than the cove swims. If your group is more “secluded swimming” than “sand-and-walk,” you’ll want to plan your time accordingly—start earlier in the beach window if possible.

Šipan Island: Suđurađ, Renaissance palaces, and tasting options

Šipan is the biggest and most populated of the Elaphiti islands, but the tour is designed to keep you away from the kind of crowds that can kill the mood. The focus here is less on mass tourism and more on island character.

You start in Suđurađ, a seaside town with two Renaissance palaces associated with the Skočibuha family. The tour data makes it clear that local producers are part of the story here—homemade goods like wine, olive oil, marmalade, fruits, and vegetables.

This is also where the tour becomes more flexible in a food-and-drink direction. If you want tastings, the skipper can arrange:

• a local tasting setup tied to island makers, or
• a local winery option with a wine, cheese, and olive oil tasting

Then you finish with a small-islet stop called Sikirica, with pebble beaches. That’s a nice way to cap the day: a final swim spot that feels different from the sandy Lopud break.

One consideration: Šipan includes options, but tastings and winery visits sound like arranged extras rather than guaranteed fixed inclusions. If food experiences matter to you, tell the skipper what you like before you arrive at Šipan so they can line up the right plan.

Included perks that change the value of the price

At $372.63 per person, this isn’t a cheap add-on. The value comes from what you don’t have to pay for separately.

Here’s what’s included:

• Snorkeling gear and beach towels
• Life vests and safety gear
• Fuel
• Local skipper
• Unlimited local beer, wine, water, and sodas, plus fruits
• Hotel pickup and drop-off

That unlimited drinks part is more than a nice-to-have. On a boat day, drinks and snacks can quietly become the biggest line item. Here, they’re built in, which makes it easier to justify the private charter.

Also, snorkeling and safety gear being included saves you time and stress. Dubrovnik has lots of tour options, but a lot of them make you handle rentals. This one doesn’t.

What’s not included:

• Lunch
• Underwater scooter (70€ cash)
• Pickup/drop-off for Sheraton, Mlini, or Cavtat (70€ cash)

So if you’re someone who expects a full day without extra spending beyond drinks, it’s worth planning for lunch cost and the possible scooter fee.

How flexible is the itinerary in real life?

The tour is described as flexible, and that matters because the Elaphiti Islands shift with wind, sun, and sea conditions. A flexible itinerary helps you avoid the classic problem where you’re stuck at the wrong place because the schedule says so.

In the same spirit, the captain and guide can arrange extras like wine tasting, lunch, and monastery tours. The practical lesson: if you want something specific—better food stop, a cultural add-on, more time in the water—ask early. Private boats run on small decisions, and the skipper’s job is to make those choices work for your group.

The best advice I can give: pick one priority for your day and one “nice-to-have.” For example:

• Priority: more cave and swim time at Kolocep
• Nice-to-have: a winery tasting on Šipan

That lets the skipper shape the day instead of guessing.

What to know about guides, onboard touches, and photos

A big theme from past experiences with this operator is that the skipper is part storyteller, part problem-solver. I’ve seen names come up like Ivan, Michael, GiGi, Marko, Paulo, Filip, Peter, and Bruno, with people praising how the day felt tailored to their interests and how the route avoided the cookie-cutter feeling.

Some tours also mention onboard photo perks. One trip noted a GoPro experience with photos shared later, and another mentioned a Polaroid-style group photo at the end. These may not be guaranteed for every trip, so if you care about getting photos, ask what’s available on your specific day.

No matter who you get, the key is that the boat day is designed for interaction. If you want more island context while you cruise, tell your skipper. If you want quiet time, you can also steer it that way.

How long should you book: 4 hours vs a full day

The duration is listed as 4 to 8 hours. That range is important because the same route can feel very different depending on how much time you give it.

A shorter 4-hour plan is best if:

• you want the water and caves but don’t need all island legs, or
• you’re pairing the boat day with other Dubrovnik plans (old town, dinner reservations, sunset walks)

A longer day (closer to 8 hours) is best if:

• you want true beach time on Lopud,
• you care about tastings on Šipan, and
• you plan on spending time in multiple swimming stops without feeling rushed

The tour structure supports both pacing styles, because your skipper can adjust what matters most within the time window.

Who this private Elaphiti boat trip suits best

This is an excellent fit for:

• couples who want a more romantic, private water day away from Old Town crowds
• families with mixed ages, since you can control swim time and take breaks onboard
• small friend groups who want to split time between beach relaxing and snorkeling without negotiating with strangers
• food-and-drink lovers who want tastings arranged around Suđurađ and Šipan’s local producers

If your goal is only to check off famous viewpoints quickly, this might feel like more time on the water than you need. But if your goal is a day with real sea time, this format works.

Should you book this tour?

I’d book it if you want Dubrovnik from the water and you like your day with fewer crowds and more choices. The price becomes easier to stomach when you focus on what’s included: snorkeling gear, towels, life vests, fuel, and unlimited beer/wine/soft drinks plus fruit. Add in hotel pickup and drop-off, and the day runs like a proper package.

I’d think twice if you’re planning for guaranteed cave snorkeling and beach time during uncertain weather, since the operator notes the experience needs good conditions. Also, if you’re expecting lunch to be included with no extra spending, you’ll want to budget for lunch separately.

Final tip before you decide: tell the skipper your priorities at the start—swimming time vs island village time vs tastings—so your day doesn’t become a compromise you didn’t want.

FAQ

What’s included in the private boat tour price?

You get snorkeling gear and beach towels, fuel, a local skipper, unlimited local beer, wine, water, sodas, and fruits, plus life vests and safety gear. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also included.

Where does the tour go during the day?

The tour includes stops at Kolocep Island (Blue and Green caves snorkeling), Lopud Island (Šunj Beach and optional village time), and Šipan (Suđurađ and Sikirica pebble beaches).

Can the skipper change the plan or add extras?

Yes. The itinerary is described as flexible, and the captain and guide can arrange extras such as wine tasting, lunch, and monastery tours based on your requests.

Are there extra costs I should plan for?

Lunch is not included. An underwater scooter costs 70€ cash. If you need pickup/drop-off at Sheraton, Mlini, or Cavtat, there’s an extra 70€ cash.

Is this tour really private?

Yes. It’s listed as a private tour/activity, meaning only your group will participate.

What if the weather is bad, or I need to cancel?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.