Dubrovnik : Full Day Group Sail Boat Tour to Elaphiti & Blue Cave

The best Dubrovnik views are offshore. This eight-hour sailing trip reaches Koločep, Šunj Beach, Lopud, and possibly Šipan, with plenty of time for swimming, snorkeling, and quiet stretches of open water. I like the small maximum group of eight, which makes the boat feel social without turning the day into a floating crowd.

I also like the relaxed, flexible feel. You may get a chance to steer, learn a few sailing basics, use the SUP, or simply stretch out under the boat’s sunshade. The main drawback is that food is not included, and Šipan is only visited if time allows, so you should treat it as an optional extra rather than a guaranteed stop.

Key points to know before booking

• Eight-hour sailing day: The tour leaves at 9:30 a.m. and returns to Lapadska obala 4 in Dubrovnik.
• Four possible island stops: Koločep, Lopud, Šipan, and the sandy Šunj Beach on Lopud.
• Blue Cave option: A visit may be possible from Koločep, depending on the group’s wishes and the timing.
• Small boat atmosphere: The maximum group size is eight people, allowing room to move around and talk with the skipper.
• Swimming gear included: Snorkeling equipment, a stand-up paddleboard, an outdoor shower, coffee, tea, water, and a welcome drink are provided.
• Bring your own lunch budget: Lunch is planned at a seaside restaurant on Lopud, but the meal itself is not included.

What the day feels like from Dubrovnik

This is not a sightseeing cruise where you sit in one place while a guide recites facts. It is a day on the water, with the route shaped by swimming conditions, weather, timing, and the interests of the small group.

You meet at Lapadska obala 4 at 9:30 a.m. The meeting point is near public transportation, and the boat returns there at the end of the day. Since the tour lasts about eight hours, plan for most of your daylight hours to be spent outside, often in swimwear, with short walks and a relaxed island lunch in the middle.

The boat has a sunshade, a useful detail in the strong summer heat. You also get an outdoor shower, which matters after swimming in salt water. Coffee, tea, water, and a welcome drink are included, but you can bring additional snacks and drinks. One particularly practical point is that the operator allows you to bring what you want onboard.

The tone depends partly on the skipper. Captain Dragan is described as easygoing and efficient, while Zeba is noted for being personable and attentive. The boat may be run by one skipper, so do not expect a large crew or a formal yacht-service setup. That is part of the appeal, but it also means the experience is informal.

Koločep, the first island stop

After leaving Dubrovnik, the boat heads toward Koločep, the first of the Elaphiti Islands. The scheduled time here is about two hours, including the sailing approach and a swimming stop of roughly one hour.

Koločep works well as an opening stop because it gives you time to settle into the rhythm of the day. The plan is simple: anchor near a clear bay, swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and look up at the cliffs around the water. The surroundings are described as quiet, with birds providing much of the sound. That is a pleasant change from Dubrovnik’s busy old-town streets.

You can use the provided snorkeling equipment to look beneath the surface. The trip is not built around a formal underwater tour, so conditions and visibility will shape what you see. Still, the chance to stop from the boat rather than crowd onto a city beach is one of the strongest reasons to book.

A visit to the Blue Cave may be possible from Koločep, depending on the group’s wishes. This point needs a little care: it is an option, not a guaranteed feature with a fixed timetable. If the Blue Cave is your main reason for booking, ask about its availability before departure and understand that the rest of the route may affect the decision.

The swimming stop is also flexible. You can snorkel, use the SUP, sunbathe, or stay aboard. The small group makes that easier because the boat does not need to manage dozens of people with different plans.

Šunj Beach brings sand and shore time

The next stop is Šunj Beach on Lopud, one of the best-known sandy beaches in this part of the coast. The stop lasts about an hour, giving you a chance to swim near the rocks, snorkel, sunbathe, or walk ashore for a drink at a beach club.

The sandy setting gives the day some variety. Koločep is about quiet bays and swimming from the boat, while Šunj gives you the option of a proper beach break. If you like to alternate between water time and a little movement on land, this is useful.

There is also a small tradeoff. An hour passes quickly at a popular beach, especially if you need time to swim, dry off, find a drink, and return to the boat. You may prefer to stay in the water instead of walking ashore, particularly if the beach is busy.

The tour includes the stop, but food and personal drinks are not included. The boat provides basic refreshments, including coffee, tea, and water. For anything else, bring it with you or plan to buy it during the shore stops.

Lopud combines lunch, a village walk, and a monastery

Lopud is the main island stop and receives about two hours. This is where the day shifts from pure sailing and swimming to a more rounded island visit.

You can walk through the village, eat lunch at a seaside restaurant, swim near the beach, or visit a 14th-century monastery. The restaurant is described as being about 20 meters from the beach, so you can combine lunch with time beside the water rather than treating the meal as a long interruption.

The captain may reserve a table by the water, which is a helpful touch during a busy day. It also makes Lopud a practical lunch stop because you do not have to spend your limited island time searching for a place to eat.

Lunch is not included in the tour price. That keeps the arrangement flexible, since you choose what to order, but you should budget separately. Food is not available onboard, so do not assume you can wait until late afternoon for a meal. Bring a snack if you tend to get hungry between swimming stops.

Lopud is likely to be the favorite stop for anyone who wants more than a boat ride. You get a village, a beach, a restaurant, and a religious site within the same two-hour window. The drawback is that you cannot do everything at a leisurely pace. If you want a long lunch, a full walk, and extended swimming, you will need to choose your priorities.

Šipan depends on the clock

Šipan is listed as the last island stop, but it is optional if time permits. That wording matters. The tour may already have spent its allotted time at Koločep, Šunj Beach, and Lopud, especially if the group makes additional swimming stops or spends longer at lunch.

If the boat reaches Šipan, you can walk around a small village, swim, enjoy the natural surroundings, or stop for a cold drink at one of the restaurants. It sounds like a gentle final island visit rather than a major sightseeing stop.

I would not book this experience specifically for Šipan. Think of it as a bonus. The core day is Koločep, Šunj Beach, Lopud, and time on the water. If Šipan is important to you, confirm how the route is being planned on the morning of the tour.

Sailing time is part of the attraction

The itinerary includes roughly two hours of remaining sailing and cruising, with possible stops in passing bays for swimming. This is not wasted time. The movement between islands is when you get the broadest views of the coast and the chance to relax without a schedule in front of you.

The skipper may explain basic sailing lines and let you take the helm. Free sailing lessons are included, so the trip can be more hands-on than a standard boat transfer. You should not expect a full sailing course, but learning what the ropes do and briefly steering can make the journey more memorable.

The small group helps here. With no more than eight people, you have a better chance to move around the boat, chat with others, and find a comfortable place under the shade. It also allows the skipper to respond to different interests. One person can use the SUP while another swims, and someone else can stay aboard with a coffee.

That flexibility is valuable, but it means the day is not rigidly timed. If you prefer a tour that guarantees every stop to the minute, this may feel loose. If you prefer a day that adjusts to the group and the sea, it is a strong fit.

What is included, and what you should bring

At $170.43 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the islands. The price makes more sense when you consider the duration, the small group, the sailing instruction, and the included equipment.

You receive:

• A welcome drink
• Coffee and tea
• Water
• Snorkeling equipment
• A stand-up paddleboard
• An outdoor shower
• Basic sailing instruction
• The boat ride and island stops

You pay separately for lunch, beach-club drinks, monastery admission if charged, and gratuities. Hotel pickup and drop-off are optional rather than part of the standard meeting arrangement.

Bring swimwear, sunscreen, a towel, a hat, and a small bag for dry clothing. Add snacks and any specific drinks you want. One useful lesson from the experience is that the included refreshments are basic, not a full onboard bar or meal service.

A waterproof phone pouch would also make sense, though it is not listed as provided. Keep your belongings compact, since this is a small boat rather than a large ferry with extensive storage.

Weather can change the whole experience

This is an outdoor sailing trip, so weather is more than a minor detail. Rain can affect the comfort of the day, and poor conditions can lead to cancellation. If that happens, you are offered another date or a full refund.

A good-weather day can be superb, with calm swimming stops and long periods under sail. A wet day is less predictable. One booking took place during heavy rain that flooded Dubrovnik’s old town, and the skipper allowed the passenger to stay aboard and wait it out with coffee after returning to port. That shows a considerate approach, but it does not remove the basic weather risk.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off uses Dubrovnik local time.

Who will enjoy this sailing trip most

I would choose this tour if you want a full day outside and enjoy making your own rhythm. It suits couples, friends, solo visitors, and families whose children are comfortable with swimming and an eight-hour boat outing.

It is especially good for you if you value:

• Several swimming opportunities
• A small group rather than a packed excursion boat
• A flexible schedule
• Time for lunch and a short island walk
• Simple sailing instruction
• Snorkeling and SUP access
• A friendly, informal skipper

It is less suitable if you want a food-inclusive package, a guaranteed Blue Cave visit, or a tightly fixed sightseeing schedule. It may also disappoint you if you want to spend most of the day exploring villages on foot. This is first and foremost a sailing and swimming experience, with island visits added along the route.

The 4.8 rating from 23 published ratings and the 96 percent recommendation rate suggest a strong level of satisfaction, though the sample is not huge. The most consistent praise centers on the boat, the skipper, the swimming stops, the Lopud lunch, and the sense that the day can be adjusted to suit the group.

Should you book the Elaphiti Islands tour?

Book it if you want to see more of the Dubrovnik area without joining a large boat crowd. The best value comes from the combination of a small group, eight hours on the water, included snorkeling equipment and SUP use, and a skipper who may let you steer or explain the basics of sailing.

Go in with clear expectations. Bring lunch money, pack your own extra drinks and snacks, and treat the Blue Cave and Šipan as possibilities rather than promises. If the forecast is good and you would rather swim in clear island bays than spend another day in town, this is a very appealing use of $170.43.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

The tour starts and ends at Lapadska obala 4, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia. The listed start time is 9:30 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The sailing trip lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the boat?

The maximum group size is eight people.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is planned at a seaside restaurant on Lopud, but the meal is not included in the tour price.

Is the Blue Cave visit guaranteed?

No. A Blue Cave visit may be possible from Koločep, depending on the group’s wishes and the available time.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.