Medulin: Private Glass Bottom Boat Tour to Levan Island

The best part is the freedom to linger. This private Medulin boat trip combines a glass-bottom view of the sea with swimming at Kamenjak, a stop near the Porer lighthouse, and a long break on sandy Levan Island. I like the mix of active and easygoing moments, especially the chance to swim beneath the cliffs toward Golumbera cave and later stretch out on one of the few sandy beaches in the Medulin area. I also like that the boat carries drinks, music, a toilet, fuel, and a private skipper, so you are not paying extra for every basic comfort.

The main consideration is the price: $752.44 per group of up to 15 people. That can be a sensible deal for a large family or group of friends, but it is a costly outing for only two or three people. The trip also depends on calm weather, and the captain can change the route or cancel if sea conditions are unsafe.

• Golumbera cave: Swim beneath the cliffs of Cape Kamenjak to see a secluded cave from the water.
• Porer lighthouse: Sail close to the 35-meter tower, built in 1846, but do not expect to dock.
• Levan Island: Spend about two hours on the northernmost and only sandy island in this group.
• Glass-bottom boat: Watch the water below as you cruise and feed fish from the boat.
• Private format: Your group has its own skipper and boat, with space for up to 15 people.
• Afternoon timing: Meet at Medulin’s Riva at 1 p.m. and return after roughly six hours.

Leaving Medulin Riva at 1 p.m.

Your boat departs from Tajana & Zlatni Rat Excursions on the Medulin waterfront, at Riva, 52203 Medulin. The start time is 1 p.m., and the outing lasts about six hours, returning to the same meeting point.

That afternoon departure suits people who want a slower morning. You can have breakfast, visit nearby sights, or simply avoid the rush of an early start. The tradeoff is that you lose the cooler first hours of the day, and the trip finishes in the evening. Bring swimwear, sun protection, and a towel, since the program centers on swimming and beach time.

The private setup changes the feel of the day. You are not following a large crowd from one stop to the next. Your own group shares the boat, and the skipper can manage the pace within the limits of the route and sea conditions. For a family, that means less worry about keeping children quiet on a packed excursion. For friends, it means you can enjoy the music and conversation without fitting into a stranger’s schedule.

The boat includes drinks, music, and a toilet. Food is not part of the stated inclusions, so plan to eat beforehand or bring a sensible backup if permitted. One account describes fish served on board and unlimited drinks, but that detail does not match the listed food exclusion, so I would confirm it directly before booking on the assumption that lunch is provided.

Seeing the Seabed Through the Glass Bottom

A glass-bottom boat gives this trip a useful extra feature. As you move between islands and coves, you can look down into the clear water instead of seeing only the surface. The exact amount you see will depend on sunlight, water conditions, and where the boat stops, but the design adds interest for children and anyone who prefers observing fish from above.

At one point, you can feed fish from the boat. That makes the glass panel more than a decorative feature. It gives you something to watch during the slower stretches between swimming stops, especially for anyone who would rather remain on board.

The boat carries up to 15 people, but the price is charged per group rather than per seat. That is an important value point. A full group pays about $50 per person before any food or other personal costs, while a couple would carry the full $752.44 cost between them. This is best viewed as a private charter, not a cheap sightseeing cruise.

The tour includes fuel, so you do not need to worry about a surprise gasoline charge. Drinks are also included, although the available information does not specify the exact selection. If you care about a particular beverage, ask before setting out.

Swimming Beneath Cape Kamenjak

The first major stop is Cape Kamenjak National Park, where you get about an hour for swimming and exploring. The boat takes you toward the cliffs and the Golumbera cave, a secluded opening reached from the water.

This is the most active section of the trip. You can swim beneath the cliffs toward the cave, jump from the boat, explore the water, or remain on deck and feed fish. That range makes the stop workable for a mixed group. Strong swimmers can make the most of the cave, while others can enjoy the water from the boat or sit out entirely.

The cave is not presented as a land visit with a walking path. You reach it from the sea, so your comfort in the water matters. The information provided does not state the depth, entrance size, or whether flotation equipment is supplied. If you are booking with children or anyone who is not a confident swimmer, ask the operator what safety equipment is available and how close the boat gets to the cave.

The one-hour stop is long enough for a proper swim, but it is not an all-day beach visit. Keep your belongings secure on board and listen carefully to the skipper’s instructions around the cliffs. The captain has the final say on the route, particularly when wind or waves make a planned approach unsafe.

Kamenjak is valuable here because you see it from a different angle. A land visit shows paths and headlands. This boat stop shows the rock walls at water level, where the cave and clear sea become the focus.

Passing the Porer Lighthouse

After Kamenjak, the boat sails toward Porer lighthouse, southwest of Istria’s southernmost cape. The lighthouse was built in 1846 during the Austro-Hungarian period, and its 35-meter tower rises from an islet formed by an 80-meter cliff.

Porer sits about 2.5 kilometers from the mainland and near Premantura. The site is small and isolated, with three berths and a stone building containing two four-bed apartments. You will not dock there on this excursion. Instead, the boat moves slowly and approaches as close to the cliffs as conditions allow, giving you time for photographs.

That limitation is worth knowing in advance. If you want to walk around the lighthouse or visit its apartments, this is not the right outing. The attraction is the view from the water, with the tower framed against the sea and the rocky islet below it.

The slow pass is also a welcome change from the swimming stop. You can stay dry, take photographs, and watch the coastline go by. The trip does not rush from one postcard view to another, although the exact distance and viewing time depend on the captain and sea conditions.

Island-Hopping Past Bodulaš, Ceja, and Finera

Between Porer and Levan, the boat moves slowly past smaller islands, coves, and rocky shorelines. Bodulaš, Ceja, and Finera are named as part of this route, and you may also spot dolphins along the way.

Dolphin sightings are never guaranteed, so treat them as a welcome possibility rather than a promised feature. Keep your eyes on the water during the open stretches, especially when the boat slows. The glass bottom is useful here too, since the journey itself becomes part of the experience rather than simply transport to the next stop.

This section should appeal to you if you like unhurried sightseeing. It is not built around a long commentary program, and one piece of feedback specifically suggests that more explanation in different languages would have helped. The staff has been described as helpful and courteous, with Tini receiving particular praise, but the amount of spoken information may vary.

If you want a detailed lecture about every island, ask questions as you go. If you prefer music, drinks, photographs, and open water, the quieter approach may suit you well.

Two Hours on Sandy Levan Island

Levan is the main destination and the longest stop. It is described as the northernmost island in this group and the only sandy island, giving you a softer beach experience after the rocky shores around Kamenjak and Porer.

You get about two hours here to swim, sunbathe, and enjoy the clear sea. That is enough time to settle in rather than glance at the beach and hurry back to the boat. You can split the stop between the water and the sand, or simply use it as a rest period after the morning’s activity.

Levan also has practical facilities. Three beach bars and restaurants offer food and cocktails, and you can rent beach umbrellas with lounge chairs. These extras are not included in the tour price, so carry money for anything you want to buy or rent. The island’s services make the stop easier for people who do not want to pack every beach item.

The beach setting may be the strongest reason to choose this particular route. Many coastal excursions focus only on rocky swimming shelves or quick photo stops. Levan gives you a proper sand break, which can be especially useful if your group includes children or anyone who prefers not to spend the whole day climbing on and off a boat.

Still, the island may feel busier than the remote cave stop because it has bars, restaurants, and rental facilities. You are choosing convenience along with the sand. The two-hour pause is relaxing, but it is not a private island experience.

What the Private Price Really Buys

At $752.44 for up to 15 people, the tour makes the most financial sense when the boat is well filled. A group of 10 pays roughly $75 per person, while 15 people bring the rough share down to about $50 each. For a small party, a shared boat would usually be easier on the wallet, but this experience offers privacy and control that a standard cruise cannot.

The cost covers the private skipper, fuel, drinks, music, and toilet. It also includes the boat ride and the listed stops, including the Kamenjak admission. You are mainly paying for exclusive use of the boat, not for a long guided walking tour or a meal.

I would book this for a family reunion, a group of friends, or a larger party that wants one boat for the day. I would hesitate if you are traveling alone or as a couple unless privacy is more important than price.

Food deserves special attention. The official details say food is not included, while one account describes a fish lunch on board. Since those details conflict, confirm the current arrangement before you pay. Levan has restaurants, but relying on an island restaurant means giving up some beach time and possibly spending more.

Weather, Safety, and Flexibility

Good weather is required, and the captain can alter the route or cancel when the sea is rough or conditions are unsafe. That is sensible for a six-hour trip that includes cave access and open-water sailing, but it means you should avoid scheduling this on the last possible afternoon of your holiday.

If poor weather cancels the experience, you are offered another date or a full refund. If the minimum number of participants is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

The private format does not mean the captain will follow every preferred request. Sea conditions control the day, and the captain has final authority to change the route. That is particularly relevant near the cave, cliffs, and Porer islet.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The activity is near public transportation. The available details do not provide specific information about wheelchair access, child seats, or the type of boat ladder, so ask the operator if those points matter for your group.

Who Will Enjoy This Boat Trip Most?

You should consider this tour if you want several kinds of scenery in one outing: cliffs, a cave, a lighthouse, small islands, coves, and a sandy beach. It works well for people who enjoy swimming but still want plenty of time to sit, take pictures, and enjoy a drink.

Families may like the flexible choices at Kamenjak. Children can watch fish through the glass bottom, swim when conditions allow, and later play on Levan’s sand. Parents should still ask about water safety equipment, since the supplied details do not spell out the facilities on board.

This is also a good fit for a group that values privacy. You can share the day with your own party, rather than adjusting to a large mixed crowd. The skipper and staff have received praise for being helpful and courteous, and Tini was singled out for a friendly manner.

You may want a different excursion if your priority is a full meal, a long historical talk, or a lighthouse visit ashore. Porer is viewed from the boat, food is not officially included, and the commentary may not satisfy someone looking for detailed explanations in several languages.

Should You Book the Levan Island Charter?

Book it if you have a group large enough to spread the price, want a private boat, and like a day that alternates between swimming and easy sightseeing. The hour at Kamenjak, the slow view of Porer, and the two-hour sandy break at Levan create a well-rounded route without forcing you to spend every minute in the water.

Think twice if you are a small party watching costs, need a guaranteed meal, or want to step ashore at the lighthouse. Confirm the food arrangement, ask about swimming equipment, and leave room in your schedule in case weather changes the plan.

For the right group, this is a pleasant way to see the Medulin archipelago from the sea, with enough variety to keep a six-hour outing from feeling repetitive.

FAQ

Where does the boat tour begin?

The tour begins at Tajana & Zlatni Rat Excursions on Riva in Medulin, Croatia.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 1 p.m.

How long does the experience last?

The boat trip lasts approximately six hours and returns to the original meeting point.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, with a maximum group size of 15 people.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a private skipper, fuel, drinks, music, a toilet, and admission for the listed stops.

Is food included?

Food is listed as not included. Restaurants and beach bars are available on Levan Island.

Can I visit the Porer lighthouse?

You cannot dock at Porer lighthouse on this trip. The boat sails slowly near the cliffs so you can view and photograph the lighthouse from the water.

How long is the stop at Kamenjak National Park?

The swimming and exploration stop at Kamenjak lasts about one hour.

How long do I stay on Levan Island?

The Levan Island stop lasts about two hours, with time for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying the sandy beach.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The captain may change the route or cancel the trip for safety. If the experience is canceled due to poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.