Private tour: Sea Kayaking & Snorkeling to Green Cave on Sipan island from Lopud

Sipan’s Green Cave is the star here: you swim through its opening, then watch sunlight reflect from the sandy floor and tint the water green. The day also gives you a rare mix of sea kayaking, snorkeling, a limestone arch, optional cliff jumping, a village lunch, and three islands without joining a large group.

I like the private format, since your guide can adjust the pace for your group. I also like the practical gear package: single or double kayaks, water shoes, snorkel equipment, and watertight bags are supplied. Guides named Marko, Ivica, and Ivo have been praised for patient instruction and personal attention.

The main consideration is effort. You paddle about 10 kilometers, spend hours in the sun and sea, and need enough comfort in a kayak to enjoy the day. Lunch and drinks cost extra, and the tour depends on good weather.

Key points to know before you book

• Green Cave swimming: Enter a little-known cave on Sipan by swimming through its opening, with snorkel gear provided.
• Three-island route: Paddle between Lopud, Sipan, and Ruda rather than staying in one bay.
• Private group of up to eight: Your own party takes part, with a local English-speaking guide.
• Optional cliff jumping: A chance for a thrill at the cove near the Green Cave, but you can skip it.
• Sudurad lunch stop: Leave the kayak for local food and time in a medieval fishing village.
• About 10 kilometers of paddling: Plan on a full, active day from roughly 10 or 11 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m.

A full sea day from Lopud to Sipan

This is not a short paddle followed by a quick swim. It is a full-day outing across the island waters near Dubrovnik, with several different kinds of stops built into the route.

You meet at the kayak center at Ul. Miha Pracata 2 to 8 on Lopud. The guide begins with safety instructions and paddling practice before you leave shore. That opening session matters, especially if you are new to sea kayaking or feel unsure about crossing open water.

The private setup is useful from the start. A guide can watch how your group handles the kayak and offer more help where needed. Children from age six may take part, but they must ride in a double kayak with an adult.

The route covers roughly 10 kilometers by kayak. That distance is manageable for many active visitors, but it is still a serious paddle. You should expect repeated stretches on the water, not just a few minutes between attractions.

Under the stone arch on Sipan

The first major paddle takes you across the channel toward Šipan, the largest of the Elaphite Islands. You head south and west along the coast toward a natural stone arch.

The arch makes an excellent early stop because it gives you a clear sense of the setting. You can paddle beneath the limestone opening and look out toward the Adriatic. It is a scenic place for photographs, but it also breaks up the crossing and gives the group a natural point to regroup.

You will be close to the water throughout this section, so the experience feels more immediate than a sightseeing boat ride. From a kayak, you notice the rock walls, small inlets, and changing water color at a slower pace.

The guide supplies top-end kayaks in single and double versions. That choice lets confident paddlers work alone while couples, parents, or less experienced participants can share a boat. Your guide also provides professional instruction, which is especially useful before the route opens into longer stretches.

Swimming into Sipan’s Green Cave

The Green Cave is the most unusual stop of the day. The kayaks are tied up near the cave, and you take masks and snorkels into the water.

The cave has an opening large enough for swimming, and the interior is described as spacious enough to stand in. Sunlight reflecting from the sandy bottom creates the green glow that gives the cave its name. The effect changes with the light, so this is a place to pause rather than rush through.

You then swim in the deeper cove outside the entrance. The supplied snorkel equipment helps you look below the surface without needing to bring your own mask or fins. Water shoes are also included, a useful detail around rocky shores and cave entrances.

This stop is best for people who are comfortable in open water. You need to swim from the kayaks to the cave and back, and the day includes time in a deeper cove. The information provided does not give a water depth or current conditions, so listen closely to your guide before entering.

The cave is also one reason this private trip can feel more personal than a standard sightseeing cruise. You are not simply looking at an opening from a boat. You are moving through it under your own power, with time to swim and snorkel at your own pace within the group.

Optional cliff jumping at the cove

After the cave, the guide offers cliff jumping. This is optional, not a required part of the tour.

That distinction matters. If you enjoy a bit of controlled adventure, the stop adds a lively edge to the quiet cave visit. If jumping is not for you, you can remain in the water, snorkel, swim, or relax while others take their turn.

You should make your own decision based on comfort and the guide’s instructions. The provided details do not specify the height of the jump or the number of platforms. Do not treat it as a test of courage. The kayaking, cave, and swimming already make this a worthwhile stop.

Lunch and a break in Sudurad

From the Green Cave, you continue along the coast to Sudurad, a fishing village on Šipan. The stop lasts about two hours, giving you time away from the kayak.

Lunch is not included in the $423.40 tour price, so budget separately for local food and drinks. The meal is described as local delicacies, but the exact restaurant and menu are not fixed in the information available. Your guide takes you to a place in the village, and you have time for sightseeing as well.

This pause is important for the rhythm of the day. A full morning of paddling, swimming, and snorkeling can be tiring, so a proper break lets you eat, dry off, and regain energy before the return route.

Sudurad also adds a human scale to the outing. Instead of spending every hour on the water, you get a short look at a traditional settlement and a chance to experience the islands through food. I would bring a payment method suitable for lunch, since meals and drinks are your responsibility.

Ruda and the second cave

After lunch, the group paddles back toward Lopud. The route includes a stop at Ruda, the third island of the day.

Here you explore another cave by kayak. This is different from the Green Cave visit, where swimming and snorkeling are the focus. At Ruda, the pleasure comes from guiding the kayak into a smaller rock opening and seeing how the coastline changes from the water.

The Ruda stop gives the return journey a purpose. You are not simply retracing the morning route. It also adds another chance for photographs and a quieter final section before reaching Lopud.

You return to the kayak center in the late afternoon. Depending on the selected start, the published timing is about 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Confirm the exact start time when booking, since the day length and meeting hours vary.

What the private price means

The cost is $423.40 for a private group of up to eight people. That can be expensive for one or two people, but the calculation changes as your group grows.

At the full limit of eight, the price works out to about $53 per person before lunch and drinks. For four people, it is about $106 per person. For two, it is about $212 per person. The private guide, equipment, cave visits, village stop, and full-day route are included in that figure.

A private trip also removes a common compromise: you do not have to match the pace of a large mixed group. That can matter if one person is new to kayaking, if children are joining, or if your party wants more time at the cave and less time at another stop.

The value is strongest for a family or group of friends that wants several activities in one day. If you only want a short kayak lesson or a quick swim, this outing may be more than you need. If you want a complete island day with an active element, the price is easier to justify.

Equipment, clothing, and comfort

You do not need to pack a full water-sports kit. The tour supplies kayaks, snorkeling equipment, water shoes, watertight bags, and professional instruction.

The watertight bags are especially handy. You can protect small personal items while paddling instead of leaving everything exposed at the kayak center. Keep valuables to a minimum anyway, since the day is spent moving between boats, water, caves, and a lunch stop.

Wear beach or sporty clothing. Bring any personal sun protection you normally use, though the supplied information does not specify whether sunscreen or other extras are included. You should also plan for wet clothing, since swimming into the cave is part of the route.

The tour is listed as suitable for most participants, but kayaking across open water still calls for basic physical ability. Children must be at least six and ride in a double kayak with an adult. The supplied details do not state that the activity is wheelchair accessible.

Guides and the human side of the day

The guide can make a major difference on a sea-kayaking trip. Names connected with this experience include Marko, Ivica, and Ivo. The useful qualities associated with the guides are not flashy entertainment, but clear instruction, attention to the group, and local knowledge.

Marko is specifically described as meeting a party at its hotel and walking with them to the kayak center. That kind of help is valuable if you feel nervous about finding the start point or crossing the sea with teenagers.

Ivica is praised for making the combination of kayaking, snorkeling, cliff jumping, and lunch feel well organized. Ivo is noted for pointing out details along the way, including a sea urchin, and for helping arrange a local lunch stop.

Your guide may not be one of these named individuals, so you should not book based on a promised guide name. Still, the operating style is clear: expect an English-speaking local guide who handles instruction, route decisions, and the transitions between activities.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this tour for an active family, a small group of friends, or a couple that wants one substantial sea day rather than several separate bookings.

It suits you if you like:

• Kayaking for several hours
• Swimming and snorkeling from a boat
• Natural caves and rock formations
• Optional adventure activities
• A local lunch stop
• A private pace with your own group

It may not suit you if you dislike open water, become uncomfortable in a kayak, or want a relaxed boat ride with little physical effort. The 10-kilometer paddle is the clearest warning sign.

Children are welcome from age six, but the adult in the double kayak will carry the main responsibility for paddling and steering. Ask your group honestly how everyone handles sun, salt water, and a long active day before booking.

Timing, meeting point, and weather

The meeting point is the kayak center at Ul. Miha Pracata 2 to 8 on Lopud, and the tour finishes there. The activity operates Monday through Saturday from May 15 through September 30, 2025, with the stated operating hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The advertised tour may begin at 10 or 11 a.m. and end at 5 or 6 p.m. Because those details do not line up perfectly with the general opening hours, confirm your exact departure time after booking.

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. The activity requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

Should you book this Lopud kayaking tour?

Book it if you want a private, active island day with real variety. The Green Cave, limestone arch, Sudurad lunch, optional cliff jumping, and Ruda cave give the route more substance than a simple paddle around Lopud.

I especially like the balance between action and downtime. You can swim, snorkel, and jump from rocks in the morning, then sit down for lunch in Sudurad before returning by kayak. The supplied gear and local guide also make the day easier for visitors who do not want to organize each part themselves.

Skip it if your group is not comfortable with about 10 kilometers of paddling or if you want every cost included. Lunch and drinks are extra, and the sea conditions can affect the plan.

For a group of four to eight, the price offers solid value for a private full-day outing. For two people, it is a much bigger spend, but the private attention and broad range of activities may still make sense if this is your main Dubrovnik-area adventure.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the kayak center at Ul. Miha Pracata 2 to 8 on Lopud, Croatia.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point on Lopud.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately five to eight hours. The stated schedule is about 10 or 11 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m.

How much does the private tour cost?

The price is $423.40 per group of up to eight people.

How many people can join the private tour?

Your private group can include up to eight people.

Is lunch included?

No. Food and drinks are not included in the tour price. Lunch takes place in Sudurad on Šipan.

What equipment is provided?

The tour provides single and double kayaks, snorkeling equipment, water shoes, watertight bags, and professional instructions.

Can children join the tour?

Yes. Children are welcome from age six, but they must be accompanied by an adult in a double kayak.

Is cliff jumping required?

No. Cliff jumping is an optional part of the stop near the Green Cave.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you are offered a different date or a full refund.