Private Full-Day Tour of Elaphiti Islands by Speedboat

The best part of this private speedboat trip is the freedom to leave Dubrovnik’s busy waterfront behind and stop at quiet coves that are hard to find on a map. You visit three Elaphiti islands, but the swimming stops between them may be the real prize.

I like the mix of Šunj’s unusual sandy beach and Koločep’s Blue Cave. I also like the personal attention: skippers such as Ivan, Nick, Niko, and Luka are praised for helping families, adjusting the pace, and guiding nervous swimmers into the water. The main drawback is cost. At $1,023.50 for up to eight people, plus fuel, this makes the most sense when shared by a full group.

Key points to know before booking

• Three islands in one day: Visit Lopud, Šipan, and Koločep, with several swimming and snorkeling stops between them.
• A rare sandy beach: Šunj Beach on Lopud offers a softer shore than the rocky and pebbly beaches common along the coast.
• A private, flexible route: Your skipper can adjust stops for swimming, photos, lunch, island walks, or time on the boat.
• Drinks and gear are supplied: Bottled water, beer, soft drinks, and snorkeling equipment are included.
• The fuel charge needs checking: The details give different figures, with an approximate €150 to €200 charge elsewhere and €100 listed under exclusions.
• Best for groups: The fixed price covers up to eight people, making the per-person cost much better for a family or group of friends.

Why a private boat makes sense around Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is famous for its old walls, but its nearby islands offer a different kind of day. The Elaphiti group gives you open water, small ports, swimming coves, and quiet island villages without requiring several separate ferry trips.

A private boat also changes the rhythm. You are not tied to a large group’s timetable or forced to leave a cove just as the water looks inviting. If one person wants to swim, another wants to sunbathe, and someone else wants to walk ashore for coffee, the skipper can usually shape the day around those preferences.

That flexibility matters most with families. One skipper helped a father who could not swim feel safe in the water, then guided him by paddle board into the cave and around the islands. Another skipper handled four children aged 12, 11, 9, and 8 with an easygoing attitude. The boat also has shaded seating, a sunbathing area, towels, and a stocked cooler, all useful details on an eight-hour outing.

The speedboat ride itself is part of the appeal, though it is not the quietest way to travel. You get across the channel quickly and cover more water than you would on a slow excursion boat. If you prefer a calm, leisurely ride with no wind or spray, ask about the boat before you commit.

10 am through the Elaphiti Channel to Šunj Beach

The day begins with a skipper at the boat around 10 am, although the meeting information gives a 9:30 am start time. Confirm the exact pickup time when booking, especially if your accommodation is outside the nearest mooring.

The first run takes about 40 minutes through the Elaphiti Channel to Lopud. This is a good opening stretch because you quickly leave the city behind and get broad views of the coast and islands.

Šunj Beach is unusual for this part of Croatia. Much of the coast is rocky or pebbly, while Šunj has sand. You get about an hour here to swim, lie in the sun, or have a drink. That is enough time to enjoy the beach without turning the first stop into an all-day stay.

I would bring footwear that is easy to remove and secure, along with sun protection. The information provided does not specify beach facilities or whether a beach chair is included, so do not count on anything beyond the time at the shore and the supplied boat refreshments.

Šunj is also a useful stop for groups with mixed interests. Children can enjoy a softer beach, confident swimmers can get into the sea, and anyone who would rather not swim can simply take in the setting. The tradeoff is that an hour passes quickly, especially if you need time to get from the boat to the beach and back.

A quiet island pause at Luka Šipanska

The route then heads to Šipan, the largest of the Elaphiti Islands. Before reaching Luka Šipanska, the skipper plans a short stop in a secluded bay for swimming, snorkeling, or photos.

This unscheduled-feeling pause is one of the strongest reasons to choose a private trip. You can jump straight from the boat into clear water, use the snorkeling equipment, or stay aboard and enjoy the view. The exact cove depends on the skipper and conditions, so think of it as a flexible part of the day rather than a fixed attraction.

Luka Šipanska is one of only two inhabited settlements on the island. About 200 people live on the entire island, giving the port a small-scale feel. You have roughly three hours here, which is the longest stop of the day and leaves room for lunch, drinks, and a walk.

The appeal is not a long list of sights. It is the chance to slow down around little bays, traditional boats, and ordinary island life. You can wander without trying to force a major sightseeing program into the visit.

Lunch is not included, so budget separately for it. The specific restaurant is not fixed in the supplied details. The skippers have arranged local meals in different places, including family-run seafood restaurants and low-key island restaurants, and recommendations have included grilled fish, vegetables, meat options, and local white wine. Treat that as a possible skipper recommendation, not a guaranteed menu or stop.

Three hours gives you useful breathing room, but it also means the tour is not nonstop sightseeing. If your group wants to linger over lunch, say so. If you would rather spend more time snorkeling, tell the skipper early.

Sikirica Bay and the turquoise water near Koločep

After Šipan, the boat heads toward Koločep with a stop at Sikirica Bay. This is described as a hard-to-locate place with striking turquoise water, making it a particularly good spot for a swim or snorkel.

A sea scooter may also be available, according to the tour details. Since the equipment and operating arrangements are not explained further, confirm what is included if that activity matters to you. Snorkeling equipment is included, but other water gear should not be assumed.

This stop is short, yet it gives the day a change of scenery. Šunj offers sand, Luka Šipanska offers a village port, and Sikirica offers a more secluded water stop. You are not simply repeating the same beach visit three times.

Koločep is the smallest island on the planned route and has fewer than 150 residents. In winter, it is almost empty. Its beaches are rocky or pebbly, and the water is the main attraction. Bring suitable footwear if you plan to walk ashore or enter from a rougher shoreline.

The island is presented as a clean, natural retreat, but you should not expect a developed resort atmosphere. That is precisely the point for some people. For others, the lack of a broad sandy beach may be less appealing after Šunj.

Swimming into the Blue Cave

The Blue Cave on Koločep is the visual highlight of the final island stop. You can take photos, swim, sunbathe, and snorkel before the return to Dubrovnik.

The cave may look daunting if you are not comfortable in open water. One skipper entered with a guest and guided the group using snorkels, while another helped a non-swimmer reach the cave by paddle board. That kind of assistance is valuable, but it does not turn the activity into a formal guided cave tour or guarantee that every person will enter.

If you are uneasy in the water, say so before arriving. The boat, paddle board, or a simple view from outside may let you enjoy the stop without pressure. Children should also be watched closely, as this is a swimming-based visit rather than a shore excursion with a structured walking route.

The cave stop is best understood as a natural photo and swimming site. Light, water conditions, and the number of people present can affect the experience. The skipper may be able to choose a quieter time or nearby cove, but that depends on the day.

The skipper shapes the quality of the day

With a private tour, the skipper is more than the person driving the boat. Your experience depends heavily on how well that person reads the group.

Ivan is repeatedly praised for offering choices, finding secluded swimming spots, arranging lunch, and keeping the day relaxed. Nick is noted for clear information about the area and for taking particular care with a father who could not swim. Niko is described as friendly and calm with children, while Luka received credit for useful sightseeing and swimming suggestions.

Those details point to an important booking tip: tell the operator what your group actually wants. Mention children, nervous swimmers, a preference for lunch, a wish for more snorkeling, or a desire to spend time walking ashore. The fixed route includes the main stops, but the strongest feature is the ability to adjust the spaces between them.

The skipper may also suggest additional coves on the way back to Dubrovnik. These places are not easy to find on a map, which makes them appealing, but they are not guaranteed named stops. Think of them as possible bonuses based on weather, time, and the skipper’s judgment.

What is included, and what will cost extra

The price is $1,023.50 per group of up to eight people. Split eight ways, that is about $128 per person before fuel and lunch. For four people, it becomes about $256 each before those extras, so group size has a major effect on value.

Included items are:

• Private transportation by speedboat
• Bottled water
• Beer
• Soft drinks
• Snorkeling equipment

Lunch is not listed as included. Any restaurant meal, coffee, wine, or other food purchased ashore will be extra.

Fuel is the point that needs clarification. The notes say the fuel surcharge is approximately €150 to €200, depending on the boat, while the exclusion section lists a €100 surcharge per booking. Those figures do not match. Ask Blue Mile Dubrovnik for the current amount, the boat assigned to your group, and when the charge is collected. The details say fuel is paid at the end of the tour.

For a full group, the cost can be fair for a private eight-hour boat day with drinks and equipment. For a small party, compare it with a shared excursion or a shorter private outing. The value here is privacy, time on the water, and route control, not a low-cost way to reach the islands.

Timing, pickup, and weather

The tour lasts about eight hours, with the listed route returning to Dubrovnik after the Koločep stop and additional possible coves. Pickup can be arranged from your accommodation if it is far from the closest speedboat mooring. Contact the operator in advance if you need that transfer.

The details give both 9:30 am and 10 am as start times. That is a small but important inconsistency. Confirm the exact time and meeting point rather than assuming the later time.

Good weather is required. If poor weather forces cancellation, you can be offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not refundable.

The tour is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is described as suitable for most people, but it centers on a speedboat, swimming, snorkeling, beaches, and cave access. Anyone with mobility, balance, or water-safety concerns should ask the provider specific questions before booking.

Who will get the most from this boat day

I would choose this for a family or group of friends who want a private day with a skipper rather than a fixed sightseeing cruise. It works especially well when your group has different priorities, since some people can swim, some can explore ashore, and others can stay on the boat with a drink.

It is also a good choice for repeat visitors to Dubrovnik. Instead of spending another day around the old city, you get a wider look at the coast and several small island communities.

The tour is less suitable if you want a tightly scripted cultural program, included lunch, or a low final price. The main activities are swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, photos, island walks, and meals arranged separately. The speedboat can cover ground quickly, but it will not provide the quiet pace of a slow ferry.

Should you book the Elaphiti Islands speedboat tour?

Book it if you can fill most of the eight seats and want the freedom to shape a full day around the sea. The combination of Šunj’s sand, Šipan’s small port, Sikirica Bay, Koločep, and the Blue Cave gives you a good range of coastal scenery in one outing.

Before paying, confirm the boat, pickup time, fuel surcharge, and lunch plan. If your group includes children or a nervous swimmer, tell the operator in advance and ask how the skipper can help at the cave and swimming stops.

For a full group seeking privacy and flexibility, this is a strong Dubrovnik day trip. For two people watching the budget, the extra cost may be hard to justify. The deciding question is simple: do you value having the boat and route to yourselves enough to pay for it?

FAQ

How long is the Private Full-Day Tour of Elaphiti Islands?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The listed price covers one private group of up to eight people.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The planned route includes Lopud, Šipan, and Koločep.

Is lunch included?

No. You have free time for lunch or drinks at Luka Šipanska, but meals and purchases ashore are not included.

Are snorkeling equipment and drinks provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, bottled water, beer, and soft drinks are included.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup can be arranged if your accommodation is far from the closest speedboat mooring. You should contact the provider to organize it.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you will be offered another date or a full refund.