Islands & Caves Private Tour with pickup, drinks & fuel included

The best part of this day is the freedom to combine sea caves, beaches, and island villages without joining a crowded boat group. You swim through Dubrovnik’s Blue Cave, explore more caves near Kolocep, spend time on Lopud, and finish with a calm stop at Sikirica Cove.

I like two things right away: the boat comes with fuel, drinks, snorkel gear, and pickup, and the private format lets your skipper adjust the pace. The main thing to consider is the weather. Wind can make the ride wet, and lunch costs extra.

Quick points about the day

• Three Elaphiti islands in one outing: Visit Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan, each with a different feel.
• Several chances to swim: The Blue Cave, Kolocep’s green caves, Sunj Beach, and Sikirica Cove all offer time in the water.
• A genuinely private setup: Only your group participates, with space for up to six people.
• Pickup and drinks included: Private transportation, bottled water, soda, alcoholic beverages, fuel, and lifejackets are provided.
• A flexible skipper-led route: Bruno and Kiko are named captains, and the day can be adjusted around your interests.
• Lunch is separate: You can eat at a recommended restaurant, but the meal itself is not included.

Why this private boat day works so well

This is not simply a ride from one island to another. It is a full day built around swimming, short village walks, and time on the water. The route covers three islands in the Elaphiti group, west of Dubrovnik, while leaving room for the skipper to tailor the stops.

The advertised price is $429.22 per group of up to six. That works out to about $72 per person if six people join, before lunch. For a couple, the cost per person is much higher, but you are paying for a private boat rather than a seat on a shared excursion. For a family or group of friends, the price becomes more reasonable, especially since fuel, pickup, snorkel equipment, drinks, and lifejackets are included.

I especially like the practical nature of the inclusions. You do not need to arrange a separate transfer to the harbor, rent snorkels, or worry about a fuel surcharge. Bottled water, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages are also supplied. You should still bring swimwear, sun protection, and a towel, but the main water equipment is covered.

The day lasts about 8 hours and 20 minutes. That is a long outing, so you get enough time to swim and explore rather than rushing from one photo stop to the next. Still, the schedule covers a lot. If you want long, quiet hours at one beach, this may feel busy. If you want to sample several island settings in one day, the pace makes sense.

Starting with Dubrovnik’s Blue Cave

The first stop is the Blue Cave near Dubrovnik. You reach it by boat, then enter the cave through the water with a snorkel. The clear water and reflected light give the cave its name, and the 30-minute stop is long enough for a swim and a look around.

This is a strong opening because it gets you into the sea quickly. You are not spending the first hour sitting on a boat waiting for the main attraction. Snorkeling equipment is provided, and lifejackets are available as well.

The cave is reached from the boat, so you should be comfortable getting into the water. The tour description presents this as a swim stop, not a dry sightseeing visit. If you prefer to remain on board, you will miss the point of this part of the day.

The Blue Cave can also set the tone for the rest of the trip. This is an active outing. You will be climbing in and out of the water, moving around small bays, and spending much of the day outdoors.

Kolocep’s three green caves

Kolocep is close to the Blue Cave, so there is little wasted time between the first two stops. Here, you visit three additional caves, with around 45 minutes set aside for swimming and exploring.

The first cave is described as large and easy to enter, making it a useful warm-up. The next caves are darker and more interesting from a swimming point of view. The appeal is not a formal guided tour inside a cave. It is the simple pleasure of swimming into openings in the rock, looking back toward the daylight, and seeing the color change in the water.

This stop rewards curiosity more than sightseeing checklists. You can use the snorkel gear to look beneath the surface, though the supplied details do not promise a particular marine life display. Expect natural coves and water access rather than a developed attraction.

The obvious limitation is that caves depend on sea conditions. Wind may make the ride and water entry less comfortable. One person specifically noted getting quite wet on a windy day, even though the pickup and captain were well received. Bring clothing that can handle spray, not just a perfect-weather outfit.

A short village stop on Kolocep

After the caves, the boat reaches a small fishing village on Kolocep. You have about 45 minutes to walk around, visit the small shop, or stop at the coffee bar by the sea.

This is a welcome change from swimming. Kolocep is not presented as a major sightseeing center, and that is part of its charm. You get a brief look at a small island settlement rather than another resort strip.

Do not expect a long list of attractions here. The value is in slowing down, stretching your legs, and seeing how the day feels away from Dubrovnik’s city traffic. If you want a long café stop or extensive shopping, 45 minutes will be limited. If you want a quick taste of village life, it fits neatly into the route.

Sunj Beach on Lopud

Sunj Beach is one of the best-known sandy beaches near Dubrovnik, and it is a useful stop for anyone who wants a break from rocky swimming spots. The beach has a broad shallow area, making it particularly suitable for children and less confident swimmers.

You have about an hour here. There are bars and restaurants, sunbeds, umbrellas, and space to settle in for a proper beach pause. The sandy shore gives the day a different feel from the caves and rocky coves.

Families will likely find this one of the easiest stops. The shallow water gives children more room to play, though normal beach supervision is still needed. You can also use the hour to eat or buy something locally, but lunch is not included in the tour price.

Sunj Beach is popular, so it may feel more developed and social than the quieter coves later in the day. That is not necessarily a flaw. It means you have access to basic beach facilities, but you should not expect total solitude.

Three hours to explore Lopud

The longest stop is Lopud, with about three hours available. That is where the private format becomes especially useful. Depending on how you spend your time, you can explore the village, visit the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries, and see other local sights such as Đorđić-Majneri Park.

The schedule mentions an optional golf cart tour. If you do not take that option, the boat docks near the village harbor. From there, you can explore on foot. The information provided does not say that the golf cart is included, so ask about its cost and arrangements before choosing it.

Three hours gives you breathing room. You are not forced to return to the boat after a quick photograph. You can walk, stop for food, visit the monasteries, and still have time to enjoy the waterfront.

I would treat Lopud as the cultural and walking portion of the day. The caves are about water and rock. Sunj is about sand and shallow swimming. Lopud gives you a chance to see island buildings, religious sites, and village life.

There is one practical issue: three hours can feel long if you only want to swim. Tell your skipper how you want to use the time. The strongest feature of this private trip is the ability to shape the day, so do not hesitate to say if you prefer more water time and less walking.

Sipan and the choice of Suđurađ or lunch

Sipan is the largest of the three Elaphiti islands on this route. The stop lasts about 45 minutes and offers two main choices. You can visit the small fishing village of Suđurađ, or ask to be taken to Bowa, a restaurant set in one of the island’s bays.

This is a nice final island stop because it gives you another village option without asking you to spend hours ashore. Suđurađ suits a short walk and a look at local life. Bowa suits those who want a scenic meal by the water.

Lunch is not included. The operator can recommend restaurants, reserve a table, and take you there by boat, which is helpful on a full-day outing. You should budget separately for the meal and clarify the restaurant plan when booking or at the start of the day.

The choice matters because lunch may take a large part of the available time. If you have your heart set on the final swimming stop at Sikirica Cove, tell the skipper before settling into a long meal.

Sikirica Cove, the last swim

The final stop is Sikirica Cove, also called Sjekirica in the route details. You get about an hour here for swimming and snorkeling.

The cove is described as having clear water, shallow sections, and abundant sea vegetation. That makes it a good closing stop for a relaxed swim rather than a quick look at another rock formation.

After a full day of moving between islands, an hour in one quiet cove is welcome. You can use the snorkel gear again, float in the shallows, or simply sit on the boat and enjoy the setting if you are tired.

As with the earlier caves, the experience depends on the weather. A windy day can make the boat ride rougher and the water less inviting. The tour requires good weather, and a cancellation caused by poor conditions comes with a choice of another date or a full refund.

What the skipper adds to the day

The skipper matters here because the route is flexible and the water conditions can change. Bruno is specifically praised for adjusting the day to suit the group, arranging a lunch reservation, and providing a friendly, capable boat service.

Kiko is also named as a captain who handled hotel pickup and drop-off. That door-to-door service removes one of the more annoying parts of a boat outing, especially if you are staying outside the old town or traveling with children.

Pasko, the owner, is mentioned for helping with arrangements. That suggests you can sort out details such as lunch and the preferred balance of swimming, villages, and beach time before or during the day.

I would speak clearly at the start. Say if your group wants more snorkeling, more time on land, a restaurant stop, or a shorter walk. A private boat day works best when you use that flexibility instead of accepting a fixed pace.

Drinks, transport, and what you still need to pay for

Pickup is offered, and the vehicle is air-conditioned. Private transportation is included, as are fuel and lifejackets. That is important value because boat fuel and hotel transfers can otherwise add surprise costs.

The supplied drinks include bottled water, soda, and alcoholic beverages. The alcohol inclusion is useful for a relaxed adult group, but anyone drinking should still take the boat conditions and the long day seriously.

Lunch is the main extra expense. You can receive restaurant recommendations and have a table booked, but the meal itself is not part of the $429.22 price. Beach purchases and any optional golf cart tour on Lopud should also be treated as separate costs unless confirmed otherwise.

The tour accepts mobile tickets, and confirmation is provided at booking. Most people can participate, but this is not a passive sightseeing cruise. You should be ready for repeated water entry, swimming, and movement around the boat.

Who should book this private Elaphiti Islands tour

I would choose this for a group of up to six that wants variety and control. Families benefit from the shallow water at Sunj Beach, while couples and friends can make better use of the caves, coves, and restaurant option.

It also suits anyone who has already seen Dubrovnik’s main sights and wants a full day outdoors. You escape city traffic, spend much of the day on the water, and see three islands without arranging several separate trips.

I would think twice if you dislike boat spray, swimming, or changing plans around the weather. The route has several water-based stops, and one person found a windy day quite wet. I would also choose another option if your main goal is a long, quiet beach day, since this outing covers many places in one day.

The published score is 5 out of 5 from 102 ratings, with 100 percent marked as recommended. The strongest praise centers on the private setting, helpful captains, hotel pickup, flexible schedule, lunch help, included drinks, and attractive swimming stops. Those are exactly the features that define the trip.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to pack one Dubrovnik day with sea caves, snorkeling, a sandy beach, island villages, and a private captain. The price makes the most sense for six people sharing the boat, but a smaller group may still prefer the comfort and freedom of a private outing.

Before you go, decide how important lunch, village walks, and swimming are to your group. Tell the skipper early, pack for spray, and leave room for weather changes. If that sounds like your kind of day, this is a strong way to see the Elaphiti islands without being tied to a large group.

FAQ

How long does the private island tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 8 hours and 20 minutes.

Which islands does the boat visit?

The route includes Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle is included.

What is included in the price?

The price includes bottled water, soda, alcoholic beverages, snorkeling equipment, private transportation, an air-conditioned vehicle, lifejackets, and fuel.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but the operator can recommend a restaurant, reserve a table, and take you there by boat.

How many people can join the private tour?

The tour is priced per group for up to six people, and only your group participates.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.