Pakleni Islands Sailing Tour

The best part of this outing is the chance to see the Pakleni Islands from a proper sailing boat rather than a crowded excursion vessel. You spend six hours on a spacious 42-foot regatta-style boat, with room to stretch out, watch the islands slide past, and take a swim in a clear Adriatic bay.

I like the sailing time, which gives the day a real sense of place, and I like the easy water access, with snorkeling gear and a SUP included. Lunch beside the sea is another strong touch, though you should know it costs extra and the exact stop depends on weather and anchorage conditions.

Key points to know

• A 42-foot sailing boat gives you more room for sunbathing than a small speedboat.
• Swimming stops may be at Zdrilca, Vela Garska, or another bay on St. Klement or Hvar.
• Snorkeling gear and a SUP are included, along with water, wine, crackers, and chocolate wafers.
• Lunch is separate, but the skipper chooses a suitable seaside restaurant when conditions allow.
• The pace can vary, with one experience described as slow during a long sailing stretch.
• Private and small-group departures are available, making this more flexible than a large boat trip.

Setting Sail Around the Pakleni Islands

The Pakleni Islands sit just off Hvar, where low green islands, rocky shores, and sheltered coves meet the open Adriatic. This tour is designed for people who want more than a quick boat transfer. The boat itself is part of the experience.

At 42 feet, it has enough space for sunbathing and moving around without feeling boxed in. A regatta-style sailing boat also gives you a more traditional sailing experience than a motorboat excursion. You may spend time under sail, depending on the wind and the skipper’s choices, with the boat moving at a slower, more relaxed pace.

That slower pace is usually a virtue. You have time to look around and enjoy the water instead of rushing from one stop to the next. Still, it is worth setting your expectations properly. One booking received a low rating because the sailing felt drawn out and monotonous, with about an hour and a half of slow movement. If you need constant activity, a fast island-hopping trip may suit you better.

For me, the appeal is the balance between open-water sailing and time in a quiet bay. You are not simply transported to a beach. You get a half-day on the water, with the route shaped by wind, weather, and safe anchorage.

The Route: St. Klement, Zdrilca, and Vela Garska Bay

There is no single fixed sequence of stops. The skipper chooses among several possible bays, including locations on St. Klement and Hvar. Zdrilca Bay and Vela Garska Bay are named possibilities, along with other coves and passages around the islands.

This flexibility matters. A sailing trip cannot sensibly promise the same anchorage every day because wind and sea conditions affect where the boat can safely stop. The skipper will choose the most suitable location for swimming, relaxing, and lunch based on those conditions.

St. Klement is one of the main islands in the Pakleni group. Its coves provide the kind of setting most people picture when they book this outing: clear water, rocky edges, and a quiet place to swim from the boat. Hvar’s bays offer a similar experience, with the added interest of seeing another part of the island from the sea.

You should not expect a long walking tour on land. The focus is the water and the boat. Stops are chosen for swimming and eating rather than sightseeing in a village or visiting a named monument.

Swimming in Clear Adriatic Water

The swim stop is the heart of the day. The listed bays have clear water suited to swimming, snorkeling, and underwater photography. You can step or climb into the sea from the boat, cool off, and use the snorkeling equipment provided.

The included SUP adds a little variety. If you would rather not snorkel, you can paddle around the anchorage, assuming conditions are suitable and the equipment is available for use at that time. The activity gives you several ways to enjoy the water without needing to bring your own kit.

Bring your own towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses. A jacket is also recommended, which is sensible on a sailing boat. The open water can feel cooler than the beach, particularly during the ride back or when the wind picks up.

The water is the main natural attraction, but the stop may not be a full afternoon at the beach. One experience described only two swimming stops across the day. The exact amount of swim time can change with the route, lunch timing, and weather, so book this as a sailing day with swimming, not as a dedicated beach tour.

Lunch at a Restaurant by the Sea

After swimming, the skipper aims to stop at a restaurant on the Pakleni Islands or nearby. The idea is simple and appealing: sit near the water and order a proper Dalmatian meal, often with seafood among the available choices.

Lunch is not included in the $141 price. That makes the final cost higher, so keep room in your budget for food and drinks at the restaurant. The advantage is that you choose what you want rather than receiving a fixed meal that may not suit you.

The restaurant stop also depends on anchorage capability and weather. The boat needs a practical place to anchor or reach the shore, and the skipper will select the most suitable location. Do not treat the named bays as a guaranteed restaurant destination. The exact stop is part of the day’s conditions.

The meal can be one of the more memorable parts of the trip because Dalmatian cooking makes good use of the sea around it. A previous booking described a very typical setting, excellent fish, and a friendly, helpful skipper. That is the kind of lunch this tour is aiming for, but the food and restaurant are not controlled in advance by the ticket price.

What the Skipper Adds

The skipper is both your boat operator and your guide. The tour is offered in Croatian and English, and the skipper decides the route, the anchorage, and the best place for lunch.

One especially positive experience came from a skipper from Hvar who shared local knowledge and made the day feel personal. You should not assume a particular skipper by name, since no skipper name is provided, but local familiarity can add useful context as you sail around the islands.

A good skipper matters here more than on a simple transfer. The route is flexible, and the skipper must match the day’s weather with a safe bay and a workable lunch stop. You can also ask questions about the islands, sailing, and local conditions during the trip.

The service is not perfectly consistent in every account. One person felt that only one drink was offered during the sailing, despite wine and water being included. The formal inclusions are clear, but I would still bring your own water bottle and ask early about what is available during the day.

What Is Included for $141

At $141 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach the Pakleni Islands. You are paying for six hours on a large sailing boat, a skipper and guide, water, wine, light snacks, snorkeling gear, and a SUP.

The value improves if you want the sailing itself. A short taxi boat to a beach may cost less, but it will not give you the same amount of time on the water or the same space to lie back and watch the route unfold. The 42-foot boat is a meaningful part of the price because it offers more room than a small day boat.

The price is less attractive if your main goal is simply to swim. You will also pay extra for lunch, and some people may find the sailing segments too slow. I would choose this tour for the complete combination of boat, bays, swimming, and seaside food rather than for any one feature alone.

Wine, crackers, and chocolate wafers are useful but modest provisions. Think of them as snacks between stops, not a substitute for lunch. If you get hungry easily, plan to eat at the restaurant and ask about the expected timing at the beginning of the trip.

Private and Small-Group Options

The experience is offered privately or in small groups. This is important because a sailing boat feels very different with a manageable number of people than it does when every seat and deck space is occupied.

A small group can give you a more social day while still leaving room to sunbathe and move around. It can also help keep the mood relaxed during the sailing sections. A private booking gives you more control over the atmosphere, though it will usually be the pricier choice.

The available information does not give a fixed group size, so check the exact option before paying. If you want the quietest setting or have a particular interest in swimming time, private sailing may be worth considering. If you mainly want the route and boat experience at a lower individual cost, a small group is likely the better fit.

The Right Pace for Your Day

Six hours is long enough to feel like a full outing, but not so long that you are committed to an entire day at sea. The usual shape is sailing, a swim stop, more time on the water, and lunch at a suitable bay or restaurant.

That structure works well for a relaxed day. You can sunbathe, talk, snack, swim, and watch the islands without trying to pack in too many stops. It also leaves room for the skipper to adjust the route if conditions change.

The tradeoff is that the pace is not fully in your hands. A sailing boat depends on wind, and the skipper may spend more time under way than you expect. If you prefer a high-energy trip with many short stops, look for a speedboat excursion instead.

I would also avoid booking this on a day when you need a tightly timed connection afterward. The duration is six hours, but sea conditions and the restaurant stop can affect the feel of the schedule. A relaxed day works best.

Who Will Enjoy This Sailing Tour

I would recommend it to couples, friends, and small groups who enjoy being on the water and want a more spacious boat experience. It is particularly suitable if you like combining gentle activity with time to rest.

You will get the most from it if you enjoy swimming, snorkeling, SUP use, and a long lunch by the sea. You do not need to be an expert sailor, since a skipper handles the boat, but you should be comfortable spending several hours offshore.

This is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or pregnant women. The activity includes getting into the water and moving around a sailing boat, so you should also consider your own comfort with boarding, climbing, and sea movement.

Families may find the swimming and SUP appealing, but the six-hour length and slower sailing periods may test younger children. Since no child policy is provided, check directly before booking if you are bringing children.

Practical Packing Advice

Pack light, but bring the items that make time on the water more comfortable:

• Swimsuit and towel
• Sunscreen and a hat
• Sunglasses
• A jacket for the sailing portions
• A camera suitable for water use if you want underwater photos

Snorkeling gear is supplied, as is a SUP, so you do not need to bring those items. Water, wine, crackers, and chocolate wafers are included, but lunch is not.

I would use sunscreen before boarding and keep it available during the day. Clear water and open deck space make the sun feel pleasant, but you may spend more time exposed than you expect.

Booking Flexibility and Availability

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option also makes this useful when you want to keep your plans flexible.

The duration is six hours, but you need to check the available starting times for your chosen date. Since the route depends on weather and anchorage conditions, flexibility helps both you and the skipper.

The tour has an overall rating of 4.7 from eight submitted ratings, with several strong scores praising the beautiful sailing day, friendly skipper, local knowledge, and good food at the separate lunch stop. The mixed experience also gives you a fair warning: the day can feel slow, and the number of swim stops and drinks may not match every expectation.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want a proper sailing experience around the Pakleni Islands, not just a quick ride to a swimming cove. The roomy 42-foot boat, included water activities, flexible route, and seaside lunch make it a well-rounded half-day on the Adriatic.

Think twice if you want many stops, a fast pace, or an all-inclusive price. Lunch costs extra, the route can change, and one slow day felt monotonous to its passenger.

For most people who like sailing and can accept a relaxed rhythm, $141 is reasonable for six hours on a large boat with a skipper, gear, wine, water, snacks, and access to clear island bays. I would choose a small-group departure for value and ask at the start how much sailing and swimming time the skipper expects that day.

FAQ

How long does the Pakleni Islands Sailing Tour last?

The tour lasts six hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $141 per person. Lunch is not included and must be paid for separately.

Is lunch included?

No. The skipper will aim to stop at a suitable restaurant on the Pakleni Islands or nearby, depending on weather and anchorage conditions.

Which bays might the tour visit?

Possible locations include bays on St. Klement, Zdrilca Bay, and Vela Garska Bay on Hvar. The exact route can change according to conditions.

Is swimming included?

Yes. The tour includes a swimming stop in a bay with clear water suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and underwater photography.

Are snorkeling equipment and a SUP provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear and a stand-up paddle board are included.

What refreshments are included?

The tour includes wine, water, crackers, and chocolate wafers. Lunch is separate.

Is the tour private or shared?

Both private and small-group options are available. The exact group size depends on the option you book.

What languages are offered?

The live guide service is available in Croatian and English.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.