Dubrovnik: Full Day Private Sail Boat tour to Elaphiti&Blue Cave

The best Dubrovnik escape may be offshore. This private eight-hour sailing trip takes you from the city to Koločep, Lopud, Šipan, and nearby coves, with time for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and a relaxed island lunch. I especially like the private boat for up to eight people and the chance to learn basic sailing from skipper Dragan. A possible drawback is that lunch, drinks, pickup, and the optional dinghy cost extra.

You begin at 9:30 a.m. on Lapadska obala and return there in the afternoon. The pace is flexible enough for families, couples, and small groups, though you should confirm the exact route if seeing the Blue Cave is essential, since the supplied details name the Elaphiti Islands but do not list a separate Blue Cave stop.

Key Points at a Glance

• A private boat for up to eight: Your group has the sailboat to itself, making it easier to adjust swimming, sailing, and shore time.
• Four island stops: Koločep, Lopud, Šipan, and sandy Šunj Beach each offer a different reason to leave Dubrovnik for the day.
• Dragan gets personal: The skipper teaches basic sailing and has been praised for his friendly manner, clear English, and ability to adapt the route for children.
• Useful equipment included: Snorkeling gear, a stand-up paddleboard, coffee, tea, an outdoor shower, and fuel are included.
• Lunch is your choice and your cost: You stop at an island restaurant, but food and alcoholic drinks are not part of the price.
• Good value for a full group: At $744.61 for up to eight people, the cost works out to about $93 per person if everyone joins.

Why Leave Dubrovnik for the Elaphiti Islands?

Dubrovnik’s old town can fill your day with stone streets, walls, and crowds. This excursion gives you the opposite rhythm: open water, unhurried stops, and small island communities reached by sailboat rather than a packed excursion vessel.

The Elaphiti Islands lie close enough to Dubrovnik for a full-day trip, yet the change in mood is immediate. You spend much of the day outside, moving between coves and villages instead of checking off monuments. The boat itself becomes part of the experience. You can sit in the rest area, try the stand-up paddleboard, rinse off under the outdoor shower, or help with simple sailing under Dragan’s direction.

This is a private activity, so you are not sharing the boat with unrelated groups. That matters most if your party includes children, older family members, or people who want different amounts of swimming and shore time. One family with two children arranged a more comfortable route with Dragan, which suggests that the day can be adjusted rather than run as a rigid sequence.

The price is high for two people, but far more reasonable for a full group. At the listed group rate, eight people pay roughly $93 each before lunch and tips. Fuel, sailing instruction, coffee, tea, and snorkeling equipment are already covered. For a couple, a small private charter is a luxury purchase, not a budget excursion.

Starting at 9:30 on Lapadska Obala

The meeting point is Lapadska obala 4 in Dubrovnik. The tour begins at 9:30 a.m. and ends back at the same place after about eight hours. The location is near public transportation, but pickup and drop-off are not included unless arranged separately.

I would arrive with your swimwear already on, sunscreen applied, and anything you want during the day packed in a small soft bag. You can bring your own nonalcoholic drinks, and you may bring alcohol as long as you respect Croatia’s drinking age of 18. Alcoholic beverages are not supplied.

The boat has a fully equipped kitchen, but that does not mean lunch is prepared for you. The plan is to stop at one of the islands for a meal, with lunch paid separately. If your party has strong food preferences, ask Dragan about the lunch stop before departure. The island restaurant is part of the day’s local feel, but it also means you should budget for the meal.

Koločep: Your First Hour for Swimming and Snorkeling

Koločep is the first stop, with about an hour set aside for a bay and beach break. This is your chance to settle into the day with a swim, snorkeling, or simple sunbathing.

The stop works well at the beginning because you are not asked to rush straight into a long village visit. You get water time almost immediately, and the included snorkeling equipment saves you from packing your own mask and fins. The water is described as clear, and the appeal here is less about a formal attraction than the pleasure of being in a quiet island bay.

One hour passes quickly. If you want a serious snorkeling session, you may need to choose between exploring the water and lying on the beach. The private format helps, since you can discuss the timing with your skipper instead of waiting for a large group.

Šunj Beach: Lopud’s Sandy Break

Next comes Šunj Beach on Lopud, one of the better-known sandy beaches in the Dubrovnik area. The schedule allows about an hour here, enough for a swim, sunbathing, or snorkeling near the rocks.

The sandy shore gives this stop a different feel from a rocky Croatian swimming cove. You can swim toward the beach, stay near the boat, or walk up for a drink at the beach club. That flexibility is useful for a mixed group. Children may prefer the sand, while stronger swimmers can spend time in the water.

The main limitation is time. Šunj is the kind of place where you could easily spend a whole afternoon, but this trip has three islands and several activities to fit in. Think of it as a well-placed beach stop, not a full beach holiday.

Lopud Village: Two Hours for Food, History, and a Longer Swim

Lopud receives the longest scheduled stop, about two hours. Here you can walk through the village, visit a 14th-century monastery, swim again, or sit down at one of the local restaurants.

This is where the day gains some cultural texture. The islands are not just a series of swimming spots. Lopud gives you a chance to step ashore and see village life, historic buildings, and a slower pace away from Dubrovnik’s busy center.

The timing also makes Lopud the natural lunch stop. Lunch is not included, so bring a payment method and expect to pay restaurant prices separately. One of the strongest details from the feedback about this excursion was the quality of the seafood at a small beach village. I would leave enough time to enjoy the meal rather than treating it as a hurried refueling break.

If you are traveling with children, two hours gives everyone a little freedom. One person can eat, another can walk, and the rest can swim. If your group prefers sailing over sightseeing, ask whether the balance can be adjusted.

Šipan: A Quieter Final Island Stop

The final island is Šipan, where you have about an hour. If you already ate on Lopud, the plan is to spend this time walking around the town, swimming in clear water, enjoying nature, or having a cold drink at a restaurant.

Šipan works as a gentle final stop because it is not overloaded with scheduled activity. After a morning of swimming and a village lunch, you can choose your own pace. A short walk gives you a look at the settlement, while the water offers one more chance to cool off before sailing back.

The wording of the route allows the exact use of this hour to depend on what you have already done. That flexibility is helpful, but it also means the experience is not fully fixed in advance. If you have a must-see place on Šipan, mention it early.

Two Hours Under Sail Across the Elaphiti Islands

About two hours of the day are reserved for sailing and cruising among the Elaphiti Islands. This is not filler between stops. It is the part of the trip that makes a sailboat worthwhile.

Dragan offers free sailing lessons, so you can learn the basics rather than simply sit back while someone else handles the boat. The feedback about him is unusually consistent: he is described as kind, conversational, helpful, and able to communicate well in English. One family also found him willing to shape the day around two children.

You should not expect a formal sailing course with a certificate. Think of it as practical participation, simple instruction, and a chance to understand how the boat moves. If the wind cooperates, sailing under natural power can feel calmer and more connected to the sea than a fast motorboat ride.

The route is weather-dependent. Poor conditions can lead to a cancellation, with a new date or full refund offered. This is sensible for a sailing trip, but it means you should avoid booking it on the one day when your schedule has no room to change.

What Is Included on the Boat?

The inclusions are useful rather than decorative. Fuel is included, so you are not watching the meter climb as the boat moves between islands. Coffee and tea are free, and snorkeling equipment is available for your swim stops.

You also get use of a stand-up paddleboard. That gives you another way to spend time in a calm bay, though the schedule may not allow long sessions at every stop. The outdoor shower is handy after swimming, especially before lunch or the return trip.

A rest area makes the boat more comfortable during the two hours of cruising. The fully equipped kitchen suggests the boat is set up for a full day aboard, but remember that the kitchen does not include a catered meal.

A dinghy with an outboard motor is available on request for €40 per day. Since it is not included, ask what it is needed for before paying. It may be useful for certain shore access arrangements, but the listed stops are already part of the planned route.

The Main Costs to Plan For

The listed price is $744.61 per group of up to eight people. That flat rate is the clearest value point. A full group gets a private day on the water for about $93 per person, before lunch and tips.

For four people, the effective price is about $186 per person. For two, it is about $372 each, which makes this much better suited to a family, friend group, or larger party than to a solo visitor or couple watching every kuna and dollar.

Lunch is not included, and neither are alcoholic drinks. You can bring your own drinks, which helps control the budget. Tips are also separate. Pickup and drop-off can be arranged optionally, but they are not included in the base price.

The price makes sense if you value privacy, flexible timing, and direct contact with a skipper. If your priority is simply reaching one island as cheaply as possible, a public ferry or group boat may cost less. You are paying here for the boat to yourself and the chance to shape the day.

Who Will Enjoy This Sailing Day Most?

I would recommend it most for small groups that want a private day outside Dubrovnik. Families benefit from the flexible pace, the swimming breaks, and the ability to adjust the route. Couples can enjoy the boat and islands, but the fixed group price is easier to justify with additional friends.

It also suits people who want more than a speedboat transfer. You have time to sail, learn a little from Dragan, stop for a proper meal, and spend time ashore. The slower style is part of the appeal.

This may not suit you if you dislike open-water travel, need a guaranteed Blue Cave visit, or want lunch and drinks included. The supplied route details do not identify a separate Blue Cave stop, so confirm that point before booking if it is central to your plans.

The experience is offered in English, and confirmation arrives at booking. Most people can participate, but the data does not give detailed accessibility information. If you have mobility concerns, ask about boarding and shore access before reserving.

Should You Book the Elaphiti Sailing Tour?

Book it if your group wants a private, flexible day on the water and is happy to pay separately for lunch. Koločep offers an early swim, Šunj brings sand, Lopud adds village time and a 14th-century monastery, and Šipan finishes the route at a gentler pace.

I would be especially comfortable recommending it to families and groups of friends who can fill most of the eight-person capacity. Dragan’s sailing instruction and accommodating approach add something personal that a standard boat transfer cannot provide.

Before you commit, confirm the Blue Cave route, ask about the lunch location, and decide if you need the optional dinghy or pickup. If the weather is good and your group values time, space, and island variety over the lowest possible price, this is a strong Dubrovnik day trip.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Lapadska obala 4, 20000 Dubrovnik, at 9:30 a.m. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The sailing day lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

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

Is lunch included?

No. The tour includes a lunch stop on one of the islands, but the cost of lunch is not included.

Is fuel included?

Yes. Fuel is included in the tour price.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is available for use during the swimming stops.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

Because the experience requires good weather, a weather cancellation gives you the choice of another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time.