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

Clear water, quiet islands, and one full day afloat. This private boat tour from Dubrovnik visits Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan, with time for sea caves, swimming, snorkeling, beaches, villages, and a long stop on Lopud. I like the small-group freedom and the fact that fuel, drinks, snorkel gear, lifejackets, and pickup are included. I also like the skipper’s flexibility, with Bruno, Kiko, and Pasko receiving especially warm praise for helpful service and personal attention.

The main drawback is the weather. A windy day can leave you quite wet during the boat ride, and the tour requires good conditions to operate. Lunch is not included, so you will need to arrange a restaurant stop, though the crew can recommend a place, reserve a table, and take you there by boat.

Key things to know before booking

• Three Elaphiti islands in one day: Visit Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan without joining a large group.
• Several places to swim: The Blue Cave, Kolocep’s green caves, Sunj Beach, and Sikirica Cove each offer a different setting.
• Private boat for up to six people: Your group can spend more time at the places that suit you best.
• Drinks and equipment included: Water, soda, alcoholic drinks, snorkels, lifejackets, fuel, and private transport are covered.
• Three hours on Lopud: This is the longest island stop, giving you time for the village, monasteries, beaches, or a golf cart tour at your own cost.
• Hotel or home pickup offered: A skipper can collect and return you by road, which saves you from arranging a separate transfer.

What the private Dubrovnik boat day is really like

This is an eight-hour-and-20-minute outing built around the sea. It is not simply a sightseeing cruise where you look at islands from the rail. You will have repeated chances to get into the water, walk through small settlements, sit on a beach, or stop for food.

The private format matters here. A group of six can decide how much time to spend swimming and how much time to spend ashore. The route includes planned highlights, but the crew can adjust the day to suit your group. That flexibility was a major reason the service received such strong praise, especially from people who wanted a relaxed honeymoon day or a trip shaped around their own interests.

The boat includes air conditioning and private transportation, as well as fuel. Pickup and return from your accommodation make the day easier, particularly if you do not want to find a marina early in the morning. The exact boat details are not provided, so if boat size or seating matters to you, ask the operator before booking.

Expect a proper sea day, not a gentle city tour. Wind can spray the boat, and you should plan your clothing accordingly. Bring a swimsuit, towel, sun protection, and something dry for the ride back. The supplied information confirms snorkel equipment and lifejackets, but it does not list towels.

Entering the Blue Cave near Dubrovnik

The first stop is the Blue Cave, reached only by boat. You can enter the water and swim into the cave, where clear water and the enclosed rock setting make an exciting opening to the day.

You receive snorkels, so you do not need to bring your own equipment. The stop lasts about 30 minutes, which is enough for a swim and a look around, but not a long beach session. If you are not comfortable in open water, tell the skipper before getting in. Lifejackets are included, and you can decide how active you want to be.

The Blue Cave works best as a first taste of what this excursion offers: short boat rides between islands, quick access to swimming spots, and scenery you cannot reach by road. The trade-off is that the water stop depends on conditions. Wind, waves, or a crowded entrance could affect how long you want to stay in the water, although this is a private outing rather than a fixed large-group operation.

Kolocep’s three green caves and small village

Kolocep follows with three additional green caves, located a very short boat ride from the Blue Cave. The first is described as large and easy to enter, making it a good warm-up before the darker and more interesting cave sections.

You will swim rather than walk into the caves. The second cave is darker, and the third adds another short water-based exploration stop. This part of the trip is best for confident swimmers who enjoy a little adventure without needing a formal guided activity. The caves are included in the tour price, and snorkels are available.

After the caves, you have about 45 minutes in a small fishing village on Kolocep. The stop is modest, which is part of its appeal. You can walk around, visit the small shop, or sit at the coffee bar by the sea. Do not expect a major town or a long list of attractions. This is a short taste of island life, with time to slow down between swims.

I would use this stop to get a coffee, stretch your legs, and see how different the island feels from Dubrovnik. It also gives anyone in your group who does not want to spend every minute in the water a simple alternative.

Sunj Beach on Lopud, the family-friendly swim stop

Sunj Beach is described as Dubrovnik’s best-known sandy beach, and it offers a change from the rocky coves and cave entrances earlier in the day. Its large shallow area makes it particularly useful for families with children or anyone who prefers an easy wade rather than immediate deep water.

You have about one hour here. Bars, restaurants, sunbeds, and umbrellas are available, though the supplied information does not state that loungers or umbrellas are included in the tour price. Plan to pay separately if you want to use them.

Sunj is a practical beach stop, not an untouched cove. Its appeal is comfort and sand. You can swim, sit down, buy a drink, or let children play in shallow water. If your ideal boat tour means quiet rocky bays with no facilities, this may feel less special than Sikirica Cove later in the day. If you want a proper beach break, it is likely to be one of the most useful stops.

Three hours to explore Lopud at your own pace

Lopud receives the longest stop, with three hours available. That extra time makes this island more than a quick photo stop. You can return to the village harbor, visit the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries, see the Đorđić-Majneri estate, or spend more time enjoying the island.

A golf cart tour is another possible activity, but it is not included. If you choose not to take that optional tour, the boat docks at the village harbor, where you can explore on foot. The information provided does not give a separate price or exact route for the golf cart option, so ask before committing if you want to add it.

Three hours also gives you time to arrange lunch on Lopud. Lunch is not part of the tour, but the crew can recommend restaurants, call ahead, reserve a table, and take you there by boat. One especially well-praised outing included a skipper calling in a lunch reservation, which is the sort of small service that can save you from wasting valuable island time.

This is the most flexible part of the day. You can split your time between sights, food, and swimming instead of racing from one landmark to another. The downside is that three hours can feel long if your group only wants to swim and return to the boat. Talk with the skipper about your priorities at the start.

Sipan and the village of Sudurad

Sipan is the largest of the Elaphiti islands, and the tour stops at the small fishing village of Sudurad for about 45 minutes. This is another chance to walk around, see the harbor, and enjoy a quieter island settlement.

The crew can also take you to Bowa restaurant, located in one of Sipan’s many bays. Since lunch is not included, this can be a useful food option, but you should confirm the plan and restaurant arrangements with the operator. A meal at a bay restaurant changes the rhythm of the day. You will spend less time wandering Sudurad, but you may gain a memorable setting for lunch.

Sipan is a good counterpoint to Lopud. Lopud offers the long exploration stop, while Sipan gives you a short look at a larger island and another chance to choose between village time and a restaurant bay.

Sikirica Cove, the final swim

The final stop is Sikirica Cove, with about one hour for swimming and snorkeling. The cove has clear blue water, shallow sections, and plentiful sea vegetation, making it one of the strongest swim stops on the route.

This is the kind of place where the private arrangement pays off. If the water is calm and your group is enjoying the swim, you can make the most of the hour rather than rushing to a bus or following a large crowd. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, and the shallow water makes the cove approachable for a range of swimming abilities, though every swimmer should still use sensible caution.

The stop comes near the end of a long day, so bring water and do not underestimate the sun. Bottled water, soda, and alcoholic beverages are included, but you should still pace yourself. Alcohol and swimming do not mix well, especially after several hours outside.

How much value do you get for $429.22?

The listed price is $429.22 per group of up to six people, not per person. With six people, that works out to roughly $72 per person before any separate meal or optional activity costs. For a smaller group, the per-person price rises, but you still receive a private boat day rather than a shared excursion.

The value comes from the combination of distance, time, and flexibility. You cover three islands and several swimming areas in one day, with private transportation, fuel, equipment, drinks, and pickup included. You also avoid paying separately for fuel or arranging your own transfer to the boat.

Lunch is the main extra cost. Sunj Beach has places to eat, and the crew can recommend or reserve a restaurant on Lopud or Sipan. Golf cart touring on Lopud is also outside the package. Ask about both before departure so you know what your final budget will be.

For six people, I think the price is attractive if you want an active day on the water. For two people, it becomes a more expensive private experience, but the freedom to shape the route may justify it for a special occasion. Honeymooners, families, and close friends are the clearest match.

The skipper can shape the whole day

The strongest personal praise centers on the crew. Bruno is singled out as accommodating and able to shape the day around the group’s wishes. Kiko receives praise for hotel pickup, personal service, and useful recommendations. Pasko, the owner, is described as helpful with arrangements, while another account calls Bruno a fantastic skipper.

That matters because this route has many choices. You can spend more time at a cave, stay longer at a beach, eat lunch at a recommended restaurant, or explore a village. A good skipper does more than drive the boat. The crew helps turn a long list of stops into a day that fits your group.

The service is not perfect in every condition. One account specifically warns that a windy day can leave you quite wet, even though pickup and the captain were praised. Take that seriously. Wear a swimsuit under your clothes, protect electronics, and bring a dry layer.

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you receive the choice of another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded.

Who should book this private island tour?

I would choose this trip if you want swimming to be a central part of your Dubrovnik holiday. It suits people who like variety: caves in the morning, a coffee in a fishing village, sand at Sunj Beach, historic sites on Lopud, a possible restaurant stop, and a final cove for snorkeling.

It is also a strong choice for a group of up to six. The fixed group price becomes easier to justify when shared, and you can set the pace without strangers on board. Families may like Sunj’s shallow water, while couples may appreciate the private setting and the option to arrange lunch.

I would hesitate if you want a quiet sightseeing cruise with no chance of spray, swimming, or changing clothes. The day is long and water-focused. You should also think twice if anyone in your group dislikes boats or is uncomfortable entering sea caves. The crew supplies safety equipment, but the activity still involves open-water swimming.

Should you book the Islands and Caves Private Tour?

Book it if you want the most freedom possible in a full-day Dubrovnik boat outing, especially with four to six people. The route offers real variety, and the included drinks, fuel, snorkels, lifejackets, private transport, and pickup keep the extra costs under control.

Before booking, confirm the pickup point, boat details, lunch plan, and any golf cart costs. Then watch the forecast. In calm weather, this has the ingredients of a superb island day. In strong wind, the ride may be wet and less comfortable, even if the skipper and service remain excellent.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 8 hours and 20 minutes.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers one private group of up to six people.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The tour visits Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan, all part of the Elaphiti Islands near Dubrovnik.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and the private transportation includes an air-conditioned vehicle.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Bottled water, soda, and alcoholic beverages are included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and lifejackets are provided.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is not included. The crew can recommend restaurants, reserve a table, and take you there by boat.

Can I cancel the tour for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations inside 24 hours are not refunded.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you will be offered another date or a full refund.