Dubrovnik: Private Elaphiti Islands and Blue Cave Tour

Dubrovnik’s best escape from the crowds may be out on the water, where a private boat carries you between the Elaphiti Islands, sea caves, and swimming spots chosen around your interests. The Blue Cave is the headline stop, but the real pleasure is having a skipper such as Mihael adjust the pace instead of rushing you from one sight to the next. I especially like the combination of private swimming time and a waterfront lunch on Lopud. The main catch is that fuel is extra, and the four-hour version can feel short if you want to fit in several islands.

I also like the hotel pickup, cooled drinks, towels, snorkeling gear, shaded seating, shower, ladder, and Bluetooth sound system. You can listen to your own music, stretch out on the boat, or ask to stay longer at a quiet bay. This is an easygoing private outing, not a rigid sightseeing cruise, so it suits families, couples, and groups that want control over the day.

At a glance

• Blue Cave by boat: Swim and snorkel around the cave formations at Koločep Island.
• A flexible private itinerary: Your skipper can suggest stops, then shape the route around swimming, beaches, lunch, or sightseeing.
• Two Elaphiti favorites: Visit historic Lopud and laid-back Koločep, with Šunj Beach and Sjekirica Beach available for extra swimming time.
• Comfort from hotel to harbor: Pickup and return transport, towels, drinks, shade, a shower, and a boarding ladder are included.
• Best value for a group: The listed price is $647 for up to nine people, before fuel and lunch.
• Choose your duration carefully: Six hours gives you a more relaxed day. Four hours works better for a compact boat outing.

Why this private boat trip works so well

The Elaphiti Islands sit just off the coast from Dubrovnik, yet the mood changes quickly once the boat leaves the city. Dubrovnik’s stone walls and steep hills give way to open water, small harbors, pine-covered slopes, old island villages, and coves that are easier to reach by boat than on foot.

The private setup is the key advantage. You are not tied to a large group’s timetable. If your family wants more swimming, you can spend longer in the water. If your group prefers a slow lunch, your skipper can work around it. Mihael and the other skippers are described as friendly, flexible, and well informed about the area, with a useful understanding of where to stop away from the busiest spots.

I would think of this as a custom day on the Adriatic, with sightseeing added around the edges. The boat has a Bimini shade, towels, a cooler with water, Coca-Cola, and beer, plus a Bluetooth sound system. Wine may also be available if requested, but the supplied details specifically list water, soft drinks, and beer as the included drinks.

There is one financial detail you should not overlook. The $647 price covers the private group, but not fuel or lunch. Fuel costs €80 for four hours, €90 for six hours, and €100 for eight hours. Longer routes cost more: €230 to Korčula, €400 to Hvar, and €500 to Split. Fuel is paid in cash on the boat.

Leaving Dubrovnik for Lopud

Pickup is available from your Dubrovnik accommodation. The driver waits in front of your lodging and takes you to the port, where the skipper and boat are ready. Several groups particularly valued this transfer because it removed the need to work out port transport, and the family-run team handled both the ride out and the return.

Lopud is often the first major island stop. It is known for its traditional stone architecture, scenic shoreline, and relaxed village feel. You can walk around, sit near the sea, or use it as a base for lunch and beach time. The island’s beauty is not just about the water. Old buildings, quiet paths, and a slower rhythm give the stop some local character.

If you have only four hours, Lopud may be more of a scenic pass and lunch stop than a full island visit. On a six or eight-hour outing, you have a better chance of combining Lopud with swimming and the Blue Cave without watching the clock every few minutes.

Koločep and the Blue Cave

Koločep is the most important stop for the cave portion of the trip. The Blue Cave is a natural formation where the light and water create a striking blue effect inside the rock. You can swim and snorkel near the cave entrance, look at the formations, and take in the unusual color from the water.

Bring your own sunscreen, swimwear, hat, and sunglasses. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, along with towels, but you will still want sun protection for the boat and beach stops. The water-based part of the tour is the strongest reason to choose this experience over a standard island sightseeing excursion.

Your skipper can help with the cave visit and explain the area as you go. I would not expect a long formal lecture on island history. The guiding style is more conversational, with local stories and practical help mixed into the ride. That suits the outing, especially when your main goal is to swim, explore, and enjoy the coast.

The Blue Cave can be the busiest point of the route. That is worth bearing in mind if you are hoping for complete solitude. Other stops may feel much quieter, but the cave is the place most boats want to see.

Sjekirica and Šunj Beach

After Koločep and the Blue Cave, the boat can continue to Sjekirica Beach and Šunj Beach. These are good places to slow down, swim, lie in the sun, and enjoy the views from the water.

Sjekirica works well for a quieter break. The supplied trip details describe it as a swimming and scenic stop, and the flexible format means you can decide how long to stay. If your group is happy floating and sunbathing, this is where the private boat format earns its keep. You do not have to leave just because the standard schedule says it is time to go.

Šunj Beach offers a more recognizable beach stop on Lopud. It gives you a chance to get off the boat and enjoy a proper stretch of sand, though the beach may not feel as private as a small cove. I would choose Šunj if your group wants a classic beach break, especially with children or anyone who prefers an easy shore stop.

The boat has a ladder for getting in and out of the water, plus a shower for rinsing off afterward. Those are simple features, but they matter on a warm day when you are moving between saltwater, sun, and lunch.

Lunch beside the sea on Lopud

Lunch is not included, but your skipper recommends a local restaurant and can help arrange a table. Several outings ended at a waterfront restaurant on Lopud, with La Villa mentioned as a particularly strong option. Bowa was also used by one group for a long lunch.

Expect to pay for your own meal, and confirm the restaurant choice and menu prices with the skipper before settling in. The appeal is the setting: a table close to the sea, fresh food, and time to eat without being pushed through a rushed group schedule.

This is one of the tour’s better local touches. You are not simply handed a generic packed lunch. You get a recommendation from someone who knows the islands, then choose how much time to give the meal. One group even had dinner by the water at sunset, showing how the tour can stretch into an afternoon or evening outing when arranged in advance.

Food quality and pricing will depend on the restaurant you choose. Since lunch is separate from the tour cost, include it in your budget. The private boat price is easier to justify for a family or group sharing the cost, but less attractive for one or two people.

How much time should you book?

The tour is offered from four to eight hours. Here is how I would think about the choices:

• Four hours: Best for a short boat escape, the Blue Cave, and one or two additional stops. Several people found this version memorable, but one clear piece of advice was that four hours is too short if you want a beach stop as well.
• Six hours: The best balance for most groups. You can combine Koločep, the Blue Cave, Lopud, swimming, and lunch at a comfortable pace.
• Eight hours: Best if you want a full day with several swimming spots, a long lunch, beach time, and perhaps a sunset stop. A group of seven booked eight hours and still wished for more time, which tells you how quickly a relaxed boat day passes.

The longer options are not just about adding more sights. They give you room to linger. A private tour feels much better when you are not checking the time after every swim.

The advertised route includes Lopud, Koločep, the Blue Cave, Sjekirica, and Šunj. You can also discuss longer transfers toward Korčula, Hvar, or Split, but the fuel charges rise sharply. Those routes should be treated as separate, more expensive plans rather than casual extensions.

What the boat provides

The included equipment makes this a comfortable outing rather than a bare-bones transfer. You get:

• Hotel pickup and return
• A skipper and English-speaking guide
• Snorkeling gear
• Cooled water, Coca-Cola, and beer
• Bimini shade
• Towels
• Bluetooth sound system
• Shower
• Boarding ladder

The spacious layout is useful for mixed-age groups. Teenagers can stretch out at the front, while other passengers sit in the rear seating area. The sound system is a fun extra if your group wants to create its own soundtrack, though I would keep the volume considerate near villages and beaches.

The boat is not a substitute for a fully accessible excursion. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users, and it is not recommended for people prone to seasickness. If you are unsure about the latter, take sensible precautions and choose a calm-weather day if possible.

Who gets the most value?

I would recommend this tour most strongly to groups of four to nine people. At $647 per group, the per-person cost becomes much more reasonable when shared. A group of seven, for example, pays less per person than a couple would, while still receiving a private boat and customized route.

Families benefit from the flexibility. You can shorten a swim, extend a beach stop, or choose a restaurant lunch instead of trying to match a large group’s pace. Teenagers also have plenty to occupy them, from snorkeling and cave swimming to music and sunbathing.

Couples and small groups can enjoy it too, especially if privacy matters. But if you are traveling alone or as a pair on a strict budget, a shared boat may offer better value.

The tour also suits people who like a mix of activity and downtime. You can swim, snorkel, explore a village, hear about local history, eat by the water, and then do absolutely nothing for a while. That last part is often the reason to choose a private boat.

The skipper makes the difference

Mihael is the name that comes up most often in the experience details, with Michael, Mihail, and Captain Z also used in the supplied accounts. The operation is family-run, and pickup may be handled by Mihael’s parents or other family members.

The strongest feature is not a formal sightseeing script. It is the skipper’s ability to ask what you want and make practical suggestions. You can request secluded swimming spots, a beach, caves, a long lunch, or a scenic route. The skippers also share local history and information about the islands as you travel.

That flexibility has limits, of course. The exact route depends on time, sea conditions, and your preferences. You should also clarify the pickup time, duration, restaurant, and fuel payment before departure so there are no surprises.

Price, fuel, and practical planning

The base price is $647 for a private group of up to nine people. Fuel is extra and paid in cash on the boat:

• Four-hour tour: €80
• Six-hour tour: €90
• Eight-hour tour: €100
• Korčula route: €230
• Hvar route: €400
• Split route: €500

Lunch is also extra. For a six-hour local island trip, I would budget for the listed fuel charge, your meal, and any personal drinks or extras beyond those supplied.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times depend on availability. The tour is conducted in English and operates as a private group.

Pack sunscreen, swimwear, a hat, and sunglasses. You may also want a dry bag for phones and valuables, though that item is not listed as included. Most important, leave enough room in your plan for the boat day to be flexible. The experience works best when you are not trying to force every island stop into a tight schedule.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a private, swimming-focused day with control over the pace, and if your group can share the cost. The six-hour option is the sensible choice for most people. It gives you time for the Blue Cave, Koločep, Lopud, a beach, and lunch without turning the day into a race.

Choose eight hours if you want a full Adriatic day, a long restaurant stop, several quiet coves, or a sunset finish. Choose four hours only if your schedule is tight or you mainly want the Blue Cave and a few scenic stops.

I would skip it if you dislike small boats, are prone to seasickness, need wheelchair access, or want every cost included upfront. For everyone else, the combination of hotel transfers, a helpful skipper, private swimming stops, and a flexible island route makes this one of the stronger ways to see the coast around Dubrovnik.

FAQ

How much does the private Elaphiti Islands tour cost?

The tour costs $647 per private group of up to nine people. Fuel and restaurant lunch are not included.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off at your hotel or accommodation in Dubrovnik are included. The driver waits in front of your accommodation.

How long does the tour last?

The available durations range from four to eight hours. Starting times depend on availability.

What islands and beaches can I visit?

The route includes Lopud and Koločep, with possible stops at Sjekirica Beach and Šunj Beach. The Blue Cave is visited at Koločep Island.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear, towels, a shower, and a boarding ladder are included.

What drinks are included?

Cooled water, Coca-Cola, and beer are included. The boat also has a Bimini shade and Bluetooth sound system.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users or people prone to seasickness?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people prone to seasickness.