Private Elaphiti Islands Tailor-Made Boat Tour 4h -All inclusive

The best part of this four-hour outing is the freedom to explore the Elaphiti Islands by private speedboat, rather than follow a fixed group schedule. On Koločep, you can swim from the boat to the Blue Cave, poke around nearby caves, and use the supplied mask to see below the surface.

I like two things in particular: the small private group, limited to six people, and the friendly local skipper who can shape the trip around your needs. Nick has earned especially strong praise for finding good spots and adapting the outing, which is exactly what you want from a short boat trip.

The main catch is the price structure. The listed rate is $322.33 per group, but fuel is charged separately at €65 per person, and lunch is not included. Confirm the final cost before booking, especially if your group has six people.

Key points to know before you book

• Koločep’s Blue Cave comes with a swim from the boat: You should be comfortable getting into the sea, although rocks along the side offer places to stop if needed.
• Šunj Beach gives you a proper sandy beach stop: Its shallow, calm water suits families and anyone who wants an easy swim rather than more time on the boat.
• The private format keeps the pace flexible: Your skipper can tailor the stops and share local tips instead of running a rigid group program.
• Nick is a highly praised skipper: If he is assigned to your departure, you can expect a personable guide who has been singled out for accommodating group needs.
• Drinks, snacks, snorkeling gear, and life jackets are supplied: Beer, wine, soft drinks, and water are included, but lunch is not.
• The four hours include travel time: This is a compact island escape, not a full-day cruise.

A private speedboat is the point of the trip

From Lapadska Obala Pier in Dubrovnik, you set out in a private boat reserved only for your group. With space for up to six people, the experience is best understood as a flexible sea outing, not a formal sightseeing cruise packed with commentary.

That private setup matters. You can spend more time swimming if the water is inviting, or move on when you have had enough. If someone in your group wants a slower stop at the beach while others prefer the caves, your skipper can help shape the outing around those preferences.

The boat also makes the Elaphiti Islands practical to visit in a short window. You are not committing an entire day to a large excursion, yet you still reach two distinct island settings: rocky coves and caves around Koločep, followed by a sandy beach on Lopud.

You meet at Lapadska Obala 5 in Dubrovnik and return to the same point. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not provided, so allow time to reach the pier independently.

Koločep and the Blue Cave: the active first stop

Koločep, known locally as Kalamota, is the first major stop. The focus here is the water itself: caves, clear sea, swimming, and snorkeling from the boat.

The Blue Cave is reached by a short swim from the boat. The supplied description notes rocks along the side where you can stop if needed, but this is still a water-based visit. You should be happy entering the sea and swimming at least a short distance. Life jackets are provided, which is useful for anyone who wants extra support.

Inside the cave, the appeal comes from the color and the enclosed feel. It is a small natural space rather than a grand cavern, so expectations matter. You are not visiting a large underground attraction with walkways or elaborate facilities. You are swimming into a compact cave, looking at the light and water, then returning to the boat.

The snorkeling equipment adds value here. You can use the mask to look beneath the surface instead of treating the stop as a quick photo opportunity. The water is described as warm, clear, and blue, though conditions can change with weather. Since the tour requires good weather, poor conditions may lead to a different date or a full refund.

The broader cave exploration is also guided by the skipper. This is where the private format earns its keep. A local skipper can point out places to stop and help you decide how much time to spend swimming, looking around, or simply sitting on the boat with a drink.

The advertised time for Koločep is two hours, though the total four-hour duration includes travel. That means the full two hours may not translate into two uninterrupted hours at one cave or cove. The boat ride between Dubrovnik and the islands, plus the later trip to Lopud and the return to Dubrovnik, all come from the same four-hour clock.

Šunj Beach on Lopud: an easy hour by the sand

After Koločep, the boat continues to Šunj Beach on Lopud Island. This is a different kind of stop, and that contrast is one of the outing’s strengths.

Šunj is a spacious sandy beach with shallow, calm water. That makes it the more comfortable stop for families with children and for anyone who would rather wade and relax than swim from a boat. The sheltered bay helps keep the water calm, although sea conditions are never guaranteed.

You get about one hour here. That is enough for a swim, a walk along the sand, or a drink at one of the beachside cocktail bars. One bar has hammocks between the trees, giving you a place to rest in the shade and slow the pace before returning to Dubrovnik.

Lunch is not included, so this is the point where you may want to buy food if you need more than the supplied snacks. The tour includes drinks such as beer, wine, soft drinks, and water, but beach food and cocktails are separate expenses.

Šunj works well as the final stop because it asks little of you. After swimming near Koločep, you can spend the last part of the outing on solid ground, with shallow water and a relaxed beach setting. If your group includes mixed ages or different energy levels, this second stop balances the more active cave visit.

What the private format changes

A shared boat tour often gives you a fixed route, fixed timing, and people you have never met. Here, only your own group joins the activity, up to six people. That makes a real difference if you are traveling with family or friends and want the boat to feel like your own short escape.

You can also tell the skipper what matters most. Maybe your group wants more time snorkeling. Maybe one person would rather spend longer at Šunj. Maybe the main goal is simply to swim and enjoy the sea without rushing through a list of stops.

The description specifically presents the outing as tailor-made, and the skipper is happy to offer local tips. Keep in mind that flexibility does not mean unlimited time. You still have a four-hour booking, and the travel between Dubrovnik, Koločep, Lopud, and the return pier uses part of it.

Nick is the skipper whose name is specifically associated with excellent service. The strongest praise focuses on his ability to find good places and accommodate group needs. You cannot assume Nick will operate every departure, but his example shows the sort of personal service this small-boat format aims to provide.

Drinks and equipment: useful inclusions, with one important exception

The included supplies make this more than a bare boat transfer. You get snorkeling equipment, life jackets, snacks, and drinks including beer, wine, soft drinks, and water. All fees and taxes are included as well.

That is convenient on the water. You do not need to organize a separate mask or buy drinks before departure. Life jackets are supplied for safety, and the snorkeling gear lets you decide on the day whether you want to look below the surface.

Still, the phrase all inclusive needs a careful reading. Lunch is not included, and fuel costs €65 per person. Hotel transportation is also excluded. The fuel charge is the biggest factor when comparing this tour with other Dubrovnik boat options, so calculate the real total for your party before you commit.

At the listed base rate of $322.33 per group, the initial price looks reasonable for a private boat with room for six. For a full group, the base cost works out to about $54 per person before fuel. Once the €65 fuel charge is added per person, the final amount is much higher, though it still covers a private four-hour outing rather than a seat on a crowded vessel.

For two or three people, the total cost per person rises sharply. I would see the value most clearly for a group of four to six people who care about privacy and flexibility. A couple seeking the lowest-cost way to reach the islands may find a shared excursion better suited to the budget.

Timing, meeting point, and practical planning

The meeting point is Lapadska Obala Pier at Lapadska obala 5 in Dubrovnik. The tour ends back at that same pier, so you do not need to arrange a separate return from an island.

The total duration is approximately four hours and includes travel time. That is important when planning your day. You will not have four full hours split only between swimming and beach time, since the boat must travel to the islands and back.

The advertised stop allocation gives about two hours at Koločep and one hour at Šunj Beach, leaving the balance for movement between stops and Dubrovnik. Treat those times as a useful guide rather than a promise that every minute will be spent ashore or in the water.

The activity is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation is received at booking. Service animals are allowed, the meeting point is near public transportation, and most people can participate.

The water stops require a practical check of your own comfort. The Blue Cave involves swimming from the boat, while Šunj has shallow beach water. If someone in your party does not want to swim, tell the skipper at the start so the day can be adjusted as far as the time allows.

Who will get the most from this island outing?

This tour fits a family or friend group that wants its own boat and does not want to spend a whole day at sea. The mix of a cave stop and a sandy beach also gives the outing wider appeal than a trip focused only on snorkeling.

It is a good match for people who like choosing their pace. You can use the first stop for swimming and snorkeling, then shift to a calmer hour at Šunj. The supplied drinks and snacks keep the boat time easy, while the beach bars offer an option for extra food or a cocktail.

I would also consider it for a group with different preferences. One person can enjoy the water, another can sit back on the boat, and the group can discuss how to use its limited time with the skipper.

It is less suitable if you want a long beach day, a substantial included meal, or a low-cost transfer to the islands. Four hours passes quickly, especially once travel time is counted. The extra €65 fuel fee per person also means the advertised base price is not the final price.

Weather and cancellation details

This experience depends on good weather. If conditions make the trip unsafe or impractical, the operator offers another date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local Dubrovnik time.

That policy is worth noting because the main attraction is being on the water. Check the forecast before your deadline if your plans are flexible, but remember that weather can change after that point.

Should you book this Elaphiti Islands tour?

Book it if you are a group of up to six and want a private, flexible half-day on the water with both swimming and beach time. Koločep gives you the active Blue Cave stop, while Lopud’s Šunj Beach offers shallow water, sand, hammocks, and a slower finish.

I would be especially interested if Nick is your assigned skipper, since his personal approach is exactly what makes this kind of small boat outing work well. Before paying, ask for the complete price with the €65-per-person fuel charge included, and decide how you will handle lunch.

Skip it if your priority is the cheapest possible island visit or a full meal included in the fare. For a private group that values freedom, drinks on board, snorkeling gear, and a local skipper who can adjust the plan, it offers a strong Dubrovnik day out in a compact package.

FAQ

How long does the private boat tour last?

The tour lasts approximately four hours, including travel time between Dubrovnik, the islands, and the return meeting point.

How many people can join the private tour?

The private boat accommodates one group of up to six people.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Lapadska Obala Pier, Lapadska obala 5, Dubrovnik, and ends back at the same meeting point.

What islands and stops are included?

The tour visits Koločep Island, also called Kalamota locally, and Šunj Beach on Lopud Island.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and life jackets are included.

Are drinks and food included?

Beer, wine, soft drinks, water, and snacks are included. Lunch is not included, and food or drinks purchased at Šunj Beach cost extra.

Is fuel included in the listed price?

No. Fuel is listed separately at €65 per person. Hotel pickup and drop-off are also not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. If bad weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered a different date or a full refund.