Dubrovnik Private Speedboat Tour to Elaphite Islands with Drinks

The best part of this tour is the freedom to trade Dubrovnik’s crowded streets for open water within minutes. You’ll cruise toward the Elaphite Islands, swim near Koločep’s Blue and Green Caves, and spend time on Lopud, a quiet, car-free island with sandy beaches and waterfront restaurants.

I like the private format, since your skipper can change the balance between swimming, caves, lunch, and island time. I also like the small touches: cold beer, wine, soft drinks, water, towels, and snorkeling gear are included. The main catch is cost. At $386.98 for up to two people, plus a cash fuel surcharge, this is not a budget outing.

The half-day trip covers the closest islands and works well for a morning or afternoon. If you can spare the time, I’d choose the 8-hour option. Šipan is included only on the full-day tour, and the longer schedule gives you room to swim without racing from one stop to the next.

Key points before you book

• Koločep’s caves are the early highlight: Blue and Green Caves offer clear water, photo stops, swimming, and snorkeling.
• Lopud gives you the best island break: It is car-free, has two sandy beaches, and offers restaurants and cocktail bars.
• The full-day tour reaches Šipan: You can visit a peaceful fishing harbor, taste local wine, and see the Šikirica Lagoon.
• Your skipper can adjust the day: Captains such as Ante, Marin, Mario, Simon, Tony, and Joe have tailored routes around swimming and sightseeing requests.
• The price has an extra charge: Add €70 in cash for the 4-hour trip or €150 for the 8-hour trip.
• Early departures can help at the caves: One morning departure had the Blue Cave nearly to itself before the crowds arrived.

A private way to leave Dubrovnik behind

The tour begins with a brief panoramic look at Dubrovnik’s Old Town from the water. That view gives you a useful change of angle: the walls, harbor, and coastline make more sense when seen from offshore rather than from a packed lane inside the city.

You then head out by private speedboat. Only your group joins the boat, so you are not locked into a fixed pace or a large group schedule. That matters here. A cave stop may take ten minutes if you want photographs, or much longer if everyone wants to swim.

The boats are described as luxury private speedboats, but expectations should stay sensible. One detailed account called the boat well maintained and comfortable, while another found the two-person boat fairly basic and smaller than private boats used elsewhere. The fleet includes boats from 19 to 30 feet, with different options for groups of two, four, six, and eleven.

For two people, you should expect a compact boat rather than a large yacht. The tradeoff is speed and flexibility. You can move between islands quickly, stop at coves, and let the skipper shape the day around your interests.

Koločep and the Blue Cave stop

Koločep is the first island and the closest to Dubrovnik. The scheduled stop lasts about an hour, which is enough for a swim, a look at the caves, and photographs if you keep moving.

The island is known for five caves, with the Blue and Green Caves drawing the most attention. Their appeal is simple: clear turquoise water, rock formations, and the chance to enter by swimming. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, so you do not need to bring your own mask and snorkel.

The Blue Cave can become crowded. If this is a priority, request an early start. A morning group reached it before the main rush and had the cave nearly to themselves. That is one of the most useful planning tips for this tour.

Do not expect a quiet cave every time. Conditions, boat traffic, and your departure time will affect the experience. The water can also feel cold in early summer. One June outing had beautiful water but chilly swimming conditions, and an April trip was also cool. The supplied towels, life jackets, and drinks help, but bring a layer for the boat ride.

Koločep is less about a long island walk and more about time in the water. If you prefer historic streets, museums, or a substantial beach stop, Lopud will likely be more satisfying. If you like caves, swimming, and photographs, this is where the tour earns its keep.

Lopud, sandy beaches, and lunch by the sea

Lopud receives about two hours on the stated itinerary, making it the most rounded stop. The island is car-free, which gives its main village a slower feel than Dubrovnik. You can walk, sit by the water, visit a beach, or stop for lunch.

Lopud once had two monasteries, thirty churches, and several noble palaces. Only traces remain today, so this is not a formal history tour. Still, the island’s older buildings and harbor add some substance to what could otherwise be only a swimming trip.

The island has two large sandy beaches. One is near the main village. The other is Šunj Beach on the southern side, where you can swim, sunbathe, play picigin, or order a drink at a nearby cocktail bar.

If you want lunch, ask in advance about a reservation. The tour can arrange a table at a local restaurant known for freshly caught fish. Several itineraries included waterfront meals, with Obala receiving especially strong praise for its food and setting. Lunch is not included in the tour price, so plan to pay separately.

The private format works particularly well here. You can tell your skipper that lunch matters more than another cave, or that you would rather spend the time on the beach. Captains including Joe, Ante, Marin, and Simon have been described as flexible about this kind of adjustment.

Lopud is also the easiest stop for families. Teenagers can swim, play in the water, or relax on the beach, while adults can have lunch or a drink. One family with two teenagers called it the best tour of their trip. That sounds believable: the day has enough action without forcing everyone to sightsee at the same pace.

Šikirica Lagoon and the quieter side of Šipan

Šipan is available only on the 8-hour tour because it lies farther from Dubrovnik. If you choose the half-day option, you will not have time to include it.

On the way there, you can stop at Šikirica Lagoon for a swim. The water is described as clear and turquoise, with the lagoon enclosed by a calmer setting. This is the kind of stop that benefits from a full-day schedule. You are not simply rushing from one famous point to the next.

The island’s Sudurad area has a small fishing harbor with a peaceful, local feel. You can stroll along the waterfront or sit at a wine bar by the sea. Šipan is known for good olive oil and local wine, so this is a chance to experience the islands through food and drink rather than only from the water.

The stop lasts about an hour in the stated plan. That is enough for a short walk, a tasting, and a look around, but not enough for a serious island exploration. If you want a long beach afternoon, Lopud is the better choice. If you want a quiet harbor and a slower end to the boat ride, Šipan adds something worthwhile.

How much time should you choose?

The tour is sold in roughly 4-hour and 8-hour versions.

The 4-hour trip is a good fit if you have limited time in Dubrovnik, are visiting from a cruise ship, or want a relaxed morning before lunch. You can visit Koločep and Lopud, swim, see caves, and return to town without giving up an entire day.

A half-day trip can also work well for a group that does not want constant swimming. One itinerary focused on caves, added a few quieter swimming spots, and finished with time for lunch. Another group used the boat in the morning and returned refreshed for a light lunch in Dubrovnik.

The 8-hour trip is the stronger choice for most people who can afford it. You can include Šipan, allow more time at Lopud, stop at additional coves, and avoid feeling hurried. Several groups with teenagers or couples on a special trip described the full-day schedule as the highlight of their visit.

The longer tour is not automatically better for everyone. Eight hours on a small speedboat can be tiring if you do not enjoy sun, wind, and repeated swimming stops. If you mainly want to see the Blue Cave and have a quick island lunch, four hours should be enough.

The skippers make the difference

Your skipper is both driver and guide, so the quality of the day depends heavily on communication. The captains named in the feedback include Orsat, Tony, Ante, Mario, Joe, Marin, Simon, Nikola, Ivan, Josep, and Nicola.

The strongest pattern is flexibility. Captains adjusted the route for more caves, less swimming, extra beach time, a different village, or a particular lunch stop. One skipper suggested a nearby village after the group finished swimming early, turning an ordinary schedule change into a useful extra stop.

You can also ask about music. Some boats have speakers, and one group enjoyed choosing its own music during the day. Other outings included music from the skipper. This is a small detail, but it helps set the mood on a private boat.

Safety is another important point. Life jackets are provided, and several accounts describe the captains as careful and attentive on the water. You still need to follow instructions around caves, rocks, and swimming stops. The skipper knows the route, the boat, and the local conditions better than you do.

English is offered, and the named captains were described as able to explain local sights and answer questions. The depth of historical commentary may vary by skipper, but the focus is clearly on a friendly, personal day rather than a formal lecture.

Drinks, equipment, and what to bring

The tour includes beer, wine, soft drinks, bottled water, snorkeling gear, towels, and life jackets. Drinks are served throughout the day, which is useful because swimming in the sun makes hydration easy to forget.

The equipment list is practical rather than extravagant. Bring a swimsuit, sun protection, and a dry change of clothes. A light jacket is sensible for the ride, especially in spring or early summer when the water and wind can feel cool.

You should also bring money for lunch and the fuel surcharge. The lunch is not included. Fuel is paid in cash on the boat, €70 for four hours or €150 for eight hours.

The tour provider lists pickup and drop-off from the Sheraton, Mlini, and Cavtat for an additional €60 in cash. Do not assume hotel transport is included. Confirm your meeting point and any pickup charge before setting out.

Service animals are allowed, and the experience is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but you should be comfortable boarding a boat, moving around a compact deck, and getting in and out of the water if you plan to swim.

Is the $386.98 price good value?

The advertised price is $386.98 per group of up to two people. At first glance, that is a substantial amount for a boat trip. The value improves when you compare it with the private format, skipper, boat, drinks, snorkeling gear, towels, and the ability to shape the day around two people rather than joining a fixed group.

The extra fuel charge changes the real cost. Add €70 to the 4-hour trip or €150 to the 8-hour trip, paid in cash. Lunch is also separate, as is the optional €60 pickup and drop-off service from the listed locations.

For a couple, the half-day price may feel reasonable if you value privacy and want a direct route to the caves and islands. For a family or larger group, the private format can make more financial sense when the cost is shared, though you would need to select the appropriate boat size.

The price is harder to justify if you want a large, highly polished boat with lots of room. One person specifically found the boat smaller than private boats used in other destinations. Ask about the boat assigned to your group if deck space matters to you.

Who should book this boat trip?

I would recommend it to couples, families, cruise ship passengers, and small groups who want a flexible day on the Adriatic. It is particularly good for people who care more about swimming, caves, beaches, and island restaurants than formal sightseeing.

Families with teenagers should give it serious consideration. The mix of speed, swimming, beach time, caves, and music keeps the day varied. Couples celebrating a honeymoon or special occasion can also make good use of the private setting.

It is less suitable if you dislike boats, get uncomfortable in direct sun, or want a detailed guided tour of every historic site. The islands are the setting, not a series of indoor monuments. You will spend much of the day exposed to wind, water, and weather.

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. Otherwise, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a private day built around the sea, not a rigid sightseeing circuit. The Blue and Green Caves, Lopud’s sandy beaches, Šikirica Lagoon, and Šipan’s harbor give the day enough variety, while the skipper can adjust the route when your group wants more swimming or less time at a port.

Choose the 4-hour trip if your schedule is tight or you mainly want Koločep and Lopud. Choose 8 hours if you want Šipan, a proper lunch stop, extra coves, and time to relax without watching the clock.

I would book early, especially since the experience is often reserved well ahead of the travel date. Ask for an early start if the Blue Cave is your main goal, confirm the boat size, and budget for fuel and lunch. With those details clear, this is one of the more personal ways to see the islands outside Dubrovnik.

FAQ

How long is the Dubrovnik private speedboat tour?

You can choose an approximately 4-hour half-day tour or an approximately 8-hour full-day tour.

Which islands are included?

The route includes Koločep and Lopud. Šipan is included only on the full-day tour because of its distance from Dubrovnik.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but the skipper can arrange a reservation at a Lopud restaurant serving freshly caught fish.

Are drinks and snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Beer, wine, soft drinks, bottled water, snorkeling gear, towels, and life jackets are included.

How much is the fuel surcharge?

The fuel surcharge is €70 in cash for the 4-hour tour and €150 in cash for the 8-hour tour.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You can choose a different date or receive a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather. Free cancellation is also available up to 24 hours before the start time.