Private Three island Tour from Dubrovnik

The best part of this private boat trip is the freedom to enjoy Dubrovnik from the water, then spend the day swimming through caves and stopping at quiet island beaches. You visit Lokrum, Koločep, Šipan, and Lopud, with time for snorkeling, cliff jumping, and a long break at Sunj Beach.

I like the small-group setup, which gives your party up to eight people and avoids the fixed pace of a crowded boat. I also like the practical touches: bottled water, soda, a restroom, snorkeling equipment, towels, masks, and floaties were available on the boat. The main drawback is the extra €200 in cash for the skipper and fuel, paid separately from the listed $602.06 group price.

Key points

• Four island stops from Dubrovnik: The route includes Lokrum, Koločep, Šipan, and Lopud, not just a quick coastal cruise.
• Blue Cave snorkeling on Koločep: Swim inside a blue-lit sea cave where the water is shallow enough to stand.
• A three-hour stop on Lopud: You get time for Sunj Beach, lunch, old churches, and a walk through the island village.
• A private group of up to eight: You share the boat only with your own party and can enjoy a more personal pace.
• Skipper Luka adds practical help: He can guide the boat into caves and arrange a reservation at a suggested lunch restaurant.
• Extra cash costs matter: Add €100 for the skipper and €100 for fuel before deciding if the total price fits your budget.

Why the private boat format works well

This is a water day built around swimming rather than sightseeing from the deck. You leave Dubrovnik at 10:00 a.m. and spend roughly four to eight hours moving among islands, caves, beaches, and small coastal settlements.

The private format is the real selling point. Up to eight people can travel together, so the cost makes more sense for a family or group of friends than for one or two people. You are not sharing the boat with strangers, and the skipper can respond to your group’s interests, especially if some people want more time in the water while others prefer a slower stop on land.

I like that the trip mixes active and easygoing moments. You can swim from the boat at Lokrum, use snorkeling gear at Koločep, take a short look at Šipan, then spend the longest stretch at Lopud. That makes the day workable for mixed groups, including children who may prefer shallow water and a sandy beach to open-water swimming.

The schedule is not a detailed cultural tour. It gives you glimpses of churches, a former Rector’s Palace, and fortress ruins, but the main attraction is the coast itself. Choose this trip for sea time, not for a deep archaeological program.

Lokrum gives you a quick first taste of the coast

The first island is Lokrum, the wooded island directly in front of Dubrovnik. It is uninhabited and easy to recognize from the city, but seeing it from a boat gives you a fresh view of Dubrovnik’s shoreline.

The stop lasts about 30 minutes. You can swim or jump from the boat, and the boat enters the Lokrum cave. This is a good opening stop because you get into the water early, rather than spending the first hour simply cruising.

The short timing is also a limitation. Thirty minutes is enough for a swim and a look inside the cave, but not enough for a full visit to Lokrum on foot. If you want the island’s gardens, monastery ruins, or walking trails, you would need a separate visit. On this tour, Lokrum is best treated as a scenic swimming stop.

As you continue toward Koločep, the boat makes a slow pass with views of Dubrovnik’s city walls and old harbor from the sea. Keep your camera ready here. The slower ride gives you time to photograph the walls from a position you cannot get on land, with the old harbor and open water in the same frame.

Koločep and the Blue Cave are the active center of the day

Koločep is the main water stop. The boat takes you to the Blue Cave, where you can use the supplied snorkeling equipment and swim inside. The sea appears blue within the cave, and the water is shallow enough for you to stand on your feet.

That detail makes this stop more approachable than a standard open-water snorkeling session. You can enter the cave, look around, and take a break without having to tread water constantly. It is still a sea outing, so you should be comfortable getting in and out of the boat, but the standing depth gives the stop a relaxed feel.

The scheduled time is about one hour. That allows room for swimming and snorkeling without making the cave visit feel rushed. If your group enjoys the water, this is likely to be the most memorable hour of the tour.

Cliff jumping is also possible for those who want more excitement. It is an optional part of the stop, not the purpose of the whole day, so you can sit it out and still enjoy the cave and snorkeling. I would treat the jumping as a choice for confident swimmers rather than something every member of the group needs to try.

The boat carries snorkeling equipment, and the practical gear is a useful advantage. Towels, masks, and floaties were also available for the group. Still, bring the swimwear and personal items you need for a full day around the water, since the itinerary includes several chances to swim and sunbathe.

Šipan offers a quieter change of pace

Šipan is the largest island in this group and has a more rural character than the beach-focused stops. Its highest point reaches 243 meters, and the island has two limestone ridges around a lower area where olives, figs, vines, carob, almonds, oranges, and other citrus are cultivated.

The scheduled stop is about 30 minutes, so do not expect a long island walk or a full meal here. Šipan works as a short scenic pause between the water activities and the longer visit to Lopud. The cultivated interior and low hills give you a different view of the Elaphiti islands, even if you only have limited time ashore.

I would keep your expectations clear. This is not the stop for a long village visit, detailed history, or a strenuous walk. The appeal is the change in scenery and the glimpse of an island shaped by orchards and small-scale farming.

For a group that wants nonstop swimming, Šipan may feel brief and less exciting than Koločep. For anyone who appreciates a quieter setting, it breaks up the day nicely.

Lopud is where the schedule slows down

Lopud receives the longest stop, about three hours, and that is where the tour becomes more than a boat ride. You can visit Sunj Beach, have lunch, explore on foot, or simply stay near the water.

Sunj is a sandy beach with shallow water, making it the most family-friendly part of the route. Children can play in the shallows, while adults can swim or sunbathe without needing to spend the entire afternoon aboard the boat. The sandy shore is also a welcome contrast to the rocky coast and cave entrances earlier in the day.

You can eat at one of the local restaurants on Lopud. Skipper Luka can suggest a place and make a reservation for you, which is useful during a busy summer lunch period. That help also lets you spend the three-hour stop as a proper break instead of trying to organize everything while walking around the island.

Lopud has several historical sights if you want to stretch your legs. Look for churches from the 15th and 16th centuries, the remains of the Rector’s Palace, and fortress ruins. A 15th-century Franciscan Monastery overlooks the village.

The island walk is best kept casual because the tour does not promise a formal guided history visit. You can combine a short look at the village and older buildings with lunch and beach time. If your group includes young children, the beach will probably take priority. If you prefer architecture, give yourself enough time away from the sand to see at least some of the older sites.

Three hours is a useful amount of time, but it passes quickly if you want lunch, a swim, and a walk. Decide early how your group wants to use the stop. Trying to fit in every sight can turn the most relaxed part of the day into a race.

Dubrovnik looks different from the sea

The coastal views are not just a transfer between stops. The slow passage by Dubrovnik’s walls and old harbor gives you a useful sense of the city’s position on the water.

From the boat, the walls appear as part of the shoreline rather than as a monument viewed from a street or lookout. You also get a clear chance to photograph the old harbor from outside the city. This is one of the strongest reasons to bring a camera, since the boat offers angles that a standard Old Town walk cannot provide.

The route also helps you put Dubrovnik’s nearby islands into context. Lokrum sits just offshore, while Koločep, Šipan, and Lopud create a wider island day beyond the city. You get both the famous city view and a break from the built-up center.

What the $602.06 price really means

The listed price is $602.06 per group of up to eight people. At full capacity, that works out to about $75 per person before the additional boat charges. For a family or group of friends, that can be a reasonable price for a private boat, several island stops, snorkeling equipment, drinks, and a full day on the water.

You must also pay €100 for the skipper and €100 for fuel in cash on the boat. Those charges add €200 to the group cost, and the final dollar amount will depend on the exchange rate. Treat the advertised price as the base cost, not the complete amount you will spend.

The value improves when eight people share the boat. A smaller group of two would pay much more per person, although the private setting may still be worth it if you care about having the boat to yourselves.

Bottled water, soda, snorkeling equipment, and a restroom are included. The supplied towels, masks, and floaties are useful extras for a swimming day, though lunch at Lopud is not included. Set aside money for the restaurant as well as the cash skipper and fuel charges.

Timing, comfort, and who should book

The tour starts at 10:00 a.m. and returns to the same meeting point. The stated duration is approximately four to eight hours, so the exact day can vary. The scheduled stops add up to about five hours, before travel time between islands, which explains why the overall duration is flexible.

The boat has a restroom, which matters on a long water outing. Drinks are supplied, and the private arrangement means your party can stay together throughout the day.

Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation, but the provided details do not specify the exact meeting point, so check that location carefully when booking. Confirmation is issued at the time of booking.

Weather is important. The tour can be canceled for poor conditions, in which case you receive a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.

This trip suits you best if you want:

• A private boat for family or friends
• Several chances to swim and snorkel
• A flexible mix of beach time and light sightseeing
• A sandy beach with shallow water for children
• A long lunch and walking stop on Lopud
• A more personal day led by a skipper such as Luka

It is less suitable if you want a formal history tour, a guaranteed full eight-hour outing, or a low-cost activity for one or two people. The caves and cliff jumping also mean you should be happy around boats and open water.

The skipper can shape the day

Skipper Luka receives specific praise for being kind, considerate, and skilled at handling the boat. Those qualities matter here because the route includes cave entrances, swimming stops, and several different islands.

A good skipper is especially helpful when your group has mixed interests. Some people may want to jump from the boat, while others prefer snorkeling or floating near the cave. At Lopud, Luka can also suggest a lunch restaurant and arrange a reservation, saving you one practical task during the island stop.

The skipper charge is paid separately in cash, so remember to plan for it before departure. This is an important part of the total cost and should not be treated as an optional tip.

Should you book the private island tour?

Book it if your ideal Dubrovnik day includes swimming, caves, island beaches, and private time with your own group. The Blue Cave at Koločep is the main water highlight, while Lopud gives you enough time for lunch, a sandy beach, and a short cultural walk.

I would especially recommend it for groups of four to eight, since the cost spreads more comfortably across several people. Families should appreciate Sunj Beach’s shallow water, and active adults can add cliff jumping and snorkeling at Koločep.

Think twice if you are mainly seeking historic sites or a detailed guided tour. You will see old churches, fortress remains, and the Franciscan Monastery on Lopud, but the heart of the day is the sea. Also budget for the extra €200 in cash, lunch, and the possibility that the weather may alter your plans.

FAQ

How much does the private three island tour from Dubrovnik cost?

The listed price is $602.06 per group of up to eight people. An additional €100 skipper charge and €100 fuel surcharge are paid in cash on the boat.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 10:00 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The approximate duration is four to eight hours. The scheduled island stops include about 30 minutes at Lokrum, one hour at Koločep, 30 minutes at Šipan, and three hours at Lopud.

Which islands does the boat visit?

The route includes Lokrum, Koločep, Šipan, and Lopud. It includes four island stops.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, and the boat also provides bottled water, soda, and a restroom.

Can I swim inside the Blue Cave?

Yes. At the Blue Cave on Koločep, you can use the snorkeling equipment and enter the cave. The water is described as shallow enough to stand in.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. You can eat at a local restaurant on Lopud, and skipper Luka can suggest a restaurant and make a reservation.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.