Elaphite Islands & Mljet – Private Boat Excursion from Dubrovnik

The best part of this private boat trip is the freedom to trade Dubrovnik’s heat and busy streets for Kolocep’s Blue Cave, Mljet’s Lemuni Lagoon, and quiet coves around the Elaphite Islands. You get a full day on the water without sharing the boat with strangers.

I like the flexible timing, since you can linger over a swim instead of racing from one stop to the next. I also like the comfortable Beneteau Flyer 850, with a sunshade, toilet, refrigerator, freshwater shower, snorkel gear, paddleboard, and drinks on board.

The main catch is the price. The listed group rate is $1,403.97 for up to seven people, but fuel costs another €300 per booking, paid in cash to the skipper, and lunch is extra.

Key points to know before you book

• Kolocep’s Blue Cave starts the water time: You have about 45 minutes for swimming and snorkeling near one of the area’s best-known sea caves.
• Mljet gets the longest stop: About three hours are set aside for Lemuni Lagoon, with an optional lunch on the island.
• The boat is private and compact: The Beneteau Flyer 850 carries up to eight people plus one crew member, making it a good fit for families or friends who want their own space.
• Your skipper can adjust the pace: Swimming, snorkeling, and shore time are flexible, subject to the skipper, weather, and your comfort.
• Fuel changes the real price: Add the fixed €300 fuel charge before comparing this trip with other boat outings.
• The strongest praise centers on the crew: Iso, Peter, and Esso are names connected with especially warm service and memorable days on the water.

A private escape from Dubrovnik’s summer heat

Dubrovnik is easy to love, but its stone streets can feel hot and crowded in summer. This excursion gives you a full eight hours away from the city, with the sea doing most of the work.

Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or port are included, which matters when you are carrying towels, swim gear, and sun protection. You are collected in a vehicle, taken to the boat, and returned afterward, according to the arrangements described for the experience.

This is not a rigid sightseeing cruise. Your skipper helps shape the day around your group. If you want more time in the water, you can use the flexible stops for that. If you prefer to walk around Sipanska Luka or stop for lunch on Mljet, the schedule allows room for it.

The tradeoff is that a flexible day depends on clear communication. Tell the skipper early if your group wants serious snorkeling, a long lunch, more time on shore, or simply a string of swims. The more clearly you explain your priorities, the more useful the flexibility becomes.

The Beneteau Flyer 850 and what it means on the water

The boat is a Beneteau Flyer 850 Sun Deck Cruiser, measuring about 8.7 meters long and three meters wide. It cruises at up to 22 knots, so the boat can cover a useful stretch of coastline during an eight-hour outing.

The deck and interior are described as comfortable for up to eight people plus one skipper. That capacity works best for a close group of family or friends. Seven paying participants share the boat privately, but this is still a small cruiser, not a spacious yacht with room for everyone to spread out.

Practical equipment makes a difference on a long swim day. You have a bimini top for shade, a swim ladder, freshwater shower, refrigerator, stereo with Bluetooth, 220-volt power, USB outlets, and a toilet inside the cabin.

Snorkeling equipment is included, as is a paddleboard. Water, fruit juices, sodas, and beer are also supplied. Bring your own towel, swimsuit, camera, and sunscreen, since those are specifically recommended.

The boat’s layout gives you options. You can sit under the shade when the sun gets too strong, cool off in the water, or use the cabin and toilet when needed. The freshwater shower is especially useful after swimming in several coves.

Kolocep and the Blue Cave, a short first swim

The first stop is Kolocep Island, one of the western Elaphite Islands. The focus here is the Blue Cave, reached by boat for swimming and snorkeling.

The planned stop lasts about 45 minutes. That is enough time for a quick swim, a look inside the cave, and some snorkeling, but it is not a long beach stay. Think of Kolocep as your opening water stop rather than the main event of the day.

The cave gives the morning a clear purpose. Instead of simply cruising past the islands, you get to enter a sea-level formation and see the water from a different angle. Conditions and access can depend on the sea, so your skipper remains the person making the practical call.

If your group includes strong swimmers, you may appreciate the chance to get in quickly after departure. If anyone is less comfortable in open water, tell the skipper before leaving. The flexible approach is useful here because the stop can be shaped around your group’s confidence and interest.

Three hours at Lemuni Lagoon on southern Mljet

Mljet receives the longest stay, about three hours, and that tells you where the day’s main relaxation time lies. At Lemuni Lagoon on the southern side of the island, you can swim, explore the water, and decide how much time to spend ashore.

The lagoon is a good middle section for the day. By then, you have settled into the boat, but you still have plenty of time left for the Elaphite Islands. Three hours gives you space to swim without watching the clock every few minutes.

Lunch on Mljet is optional and not included in the price. That flexibility is helpful for groups with different habits. You can arrange lunch on the island, or keep the stop focused on swimming and use the drinks on board.

Because the lunch details are not fixed in the tour information, ask your skipper about timing before you sit down to eat. A long meal could reduce your water time or shorten the later stop at Sipanska Luka. If food is a priority, make that clear at the start of the day.

Lemuni Lagoon is also the point where the private format pays off most. A large scheduled cruise usually has to move everyone along at a set time. Here, your skipper can respond to the mood of your group, within the limits of weather and the day’s travel time.

Sipanska Luka and the western Elaphite Islands

The next section takes you toward the western Elaphite Islands, including Jakljan and Sipan. About two hours are allocated to Sipanska Luka, with time to stroll, swim, and explore around places such as Prijezba.

This stop adds a little shore time to a day otherwise built around the sea. You can walk around the port area, take a break from the boat, or return to the water if that is what your group prefers.

Sipanska Luka is useful for people who do not want a nonstop swim excursion. Even a short walk can reset the day, especially if you have spent the morning in direct sun. The stop also lets you see the islands at a slower pace rather than only from the boat.

There is no separate admission charge for this stop. As with Mljet, lunch is not included, so any meal or personal spending is yours.

The main limitation is that two hours can pass quickly if your group wants both a proper walk and a leisurely meal. Decide in advance what matters most. If your priority is quiet water time, tell the skipper not to let shore time take over.

Elaphite coves for the final swim

The last listed stop is a one-hour swim and snorkeling session in coves around the Elaphite Islands. It is a fitting finish because you can use the final stretch for the activity your group enjoyed most.

The coves are the place to put the included snorkeling equipment and paddleboard to work. You can swim from the boat, look below the surface, or paddle at a relaxed pace. The swim ladder makes getting in and out easier, and the freshwater shower helps you rinse off before the ride back.

One hour is enough for a satisfying final stop, but it will feel short if everyone wants to snorkel, paddleboard, and swim. Again, the flexible approach helps, but the total day still has limits. You cannot stretch every stop without affecting the return time.

Bring sunscreen and reapply it. Shade is available under the bimini, but you will still spend many hours reflecting sunlight off the water. A camera is worth packing, but keep it protected around the sea caves and swim stops.

The skipper can make or break the day

A private boat gives you more control, but the skipper is still central to the experience. The people associated with this excursion include Iso, Peter, and Esso, with especially warm praise directed toward their hospitality and ability to shape a good day.

Iso is described as helping set up a day that suited the group, while Peter is linked with a honeymoon outing that included lunch at Bowa Restaurant. Esso is connected with a boat day described as a highlight of a wider Dubrovnik trip.

Those details offer useful clues about the service style. You can expect a skipper who is more than someone steering the boat, but you should not assume a particular skipper will be assigned to your departure. If you have a strong preference, ask when booking.

A good skipper also handles the practical judgment calls: sea conditions, safe access to the cave, the best order for stops, and how long your group should remain in the water. The experience requires good weather, so the skipper’s assessment matters.

What the $1,403.97 group price really buys

The listed price is $1,403.97 per group of up to seven people. The private format makes the number easier to assess as a group expense rather than an individual ticket.

At seven people, the listed price works out to about $201 per person before fuel and lunch. Add the required €300 fuel charge, and the total becomes $1,403.97 plus €300, before food. The exact per-person cost will depend on the exchange rate and the number of people in your group.

For a couple, the price is much harder to justify. For a family or group of friends filling most of the boat, the value improves because hotel or port pickup, skipper, drinks, snorkeling gear, paddleboard, and private use are included.

The price also buys time and control. You are not paying only for transport between islands. You are paying for an eight-hour private day with several swimming areas and the ability to adjust the pace.

Fuel is not hidden in the headline price, but it is easy to overlook. You pay €300 per booking directly to the skipper in cash, so plan for that before departure. Lunch is another separate cost, and no lunch price is supplied.

Who will enjoy this boat day most

I would point this experience toward a group that wants swimming and island scenery more than formal sightseeing. It suits families, couples traveling with friends, and small groups that value privacy.

It is also a good fit for people who want to avoid crowded boats. The private setup means only your group participates, and the skipper can respond to your comfort and interests.

You should be happy spending much of the day outdoors. The tour includes several swim and snorkeling stops, and its main appeal is the water. People who dislike boats, strong sun, or open-water swimming may find the day less rewarding.

The outing is suitable for most people according to the supplied participation information, but no detailed accessibility information is provided. Ask the operator about your specific needs before booking, especially if anyone requires help boarding or using the swim ladder.

Practical details that matter

The excursion lasts approximately eight hours. Pickup is offered from a hotel or port, and mobile tickets are accepted.

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, so check your dates carefully before paying.

Bad weather is treated differently. If the operator cancels because conditions are poor, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy does not cover a personal cancellation or requested amendment.

Pack light but bring the essentials:

• Swimsuit and towel
• Sunscreen and a hat
• Camera or phone in suitable protection
• Cash for the €300 fuel charge
• Any personal food you may need, since lunch is not included

Water, fruit juice, sodas, and beer are provided. If you choose lunch on Mljet or elsewhere, ask about the timing before settling in.

Should you book this private Elaphite and Mljet excursion?

Book it if your group can fill much of the boat, wants a full day on the water, and values private control over a fixed schedule. Kolocep’s Blue Cave, three hours at Lemuni Lagoon, Sipanska Luka, and the Elaphite coves give the day a good mix of short exploration and long swimming time.

I would be more cautious if you are only two people, watching every euro, or hoping for a fully catered luxury cruise. The headline price is high, fuel is extra, and lunch is not included.

For a family or group of friends, the value is stronger. The private boat, hotel or port transfers, swimming gear, paddleboard, drinks, and experienced skippers such as Iso, Peter, and Esso create a relaxed alternative to a crowded group excursion. Just budget honestly for the extra fuel and food, then tell the skipper what kind of day you want.

FAQ

How long does the boat excursion last?

The excursion lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the private boat trip?

The price covers a group of up to seven people. The boat is described as comfortable for up to eight people plus one crew member.

Is hotel or port pickup included?

Yes. Hotel or port pickup and drop-off are included.

What islands and locations are visited?

The trip includes Kolocep Island, southern Mljet Island at Lemuni Lagoon, Sipanska Luka, Jakljan, Sipan, Prijezba, and coves around the Elaphite Islands.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, though lunch on Mljet is available as an optional part of the day.

Is fuel included in the listed price?

No. Fuel costs €300 per booking and are payable directly to the skipper in cash.

Are drinks provided on the boat?

Yes. Water, fruit juices, sodas, and beer are included.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and use of a paddleboard are included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.