4h / 6h / 8h Elaphite Islands Tour with 7.5m/24FT SunDeck Boat

The best part of this Dubrovnik boat trip is control over the day. You can spend more time swimming at Kolocep, stop for lunch on Lopud, or shorten the sightseeing and simply enjoy the ride. Skippers such as Ivan and Dragan help shape the route rather than forcing you through a fixed schedule.

I like the small private group, capped at six, and the free transfer from your Dubrovnik accommodation to the harbor. The main catch is price: at $784.53 per group, this makes the most sense when shared by four to six people. Shorter four-hour trips also leave less time for every island stop.

Key points to know before booking

• A private 7.5-meter SunDeck boat gives your group space and a more personal day on the water.
• The itinerary is flexible, so you can choose how long to spend swimming, walking, eating, or cruising.
• Kolocep’s Blue Cave and Green Caves provide the main swimming and snorkeling stops.
• Sunj Beach on Lopud offers sand, beach bars, and a chance to try the Croatian game of picigin.
• Free car transfer connects your Dubrovnik hotel or apartment with the Old Town or Gruz harbor.
• The six-hour option is the sweet spot for combining swimming, Lopud lunch, and a relaxed return.

Why this private Elaphite Islands trip works well

Dubrovnik’s old city can feel crowded in the middle of the day. Out on the water, the pace changes at once. You get open views, short cruises between islands, and the freedom to stop when the setting suits you.

The Elaphite Islands sit just north of Dubrovnik and make a natural day trip by boat. This outing visits Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan, though the precise balance is yours to set with the skipper before departure.

That flexibility matters. A fixed group excursion may give you a tidy schedule, but it also means leaving a beach when you are ready to stay or moving on from a cave before you have had enough. Here, you can tell the skipper what kind of day you want.

You also avoid the hassle of reaching the harbor on your own. A car transfer is included from any location in Dubrovnik city, with boat pickup available at the Old Town harbor, Gruz harbor, and some hotels.

The boat, skipper, and group size

The boat is a 7.5-meter, or 24-foot, SunDeck model. It is sized for a private group of up to six, which gives you a more relaxed setup than a large shared excursion.

The day begins with a meeting between your group and the skipper. Before leaving, the skipper goes over the route, explains the options, and offers suggestions for the time available. That briefing is useful because the four-hour, six-hour, and eight-hour versions cannot cover the islands in exactly the same way.

Ivan and Dragan are among the skippers associated with this experience. Both are praised for allowing the group to choose its route and for giving it plenty of time at preferred stops. Dragan also recommended Lopud as a good place for a late lunch, which is a practical suggestion if you choose the six-hour afternoon departure.

Drinks were included on one booking, and you can bring your own drinks as well. Since inclusions can vary, confirm the drink arrangement before departure if that matters to you.

Kolocep’s Blue Cave, your first swim

After leaving the port, the boat reaches Kolocep in about 20 minutes of active cruising. The first stop is the Blue Cave, where you have roughly 45 minutes for swimming, snorkeling, or resting on the boat.

This is a good opening stop because it gets you into the water early. If your group is keen to swim, use this first pause well. If not, you can remain on deck and enjoy the setting without feeling pushed into the water.

The cave stop is not a formal museum-style visit. It is a nature stop built around water, light, and a short period of leisure. Bring swimwear, a towel, and anything you need for a comfortable time on deck.

The main limitation is time. Forty-five minutes passes quickly once you account for getting ready and returning to the boat. The flexible format helps, since you can discuss the pace with your skipper, but the full route still requires sensible timing.

Green Caves and a slower Kolocep cruise

From the Blue Cave, the boat continues at a slower pace toward Kolocep’s Green Caves. The planned stop lasts about 30 minutes and is another chance to snorkel, swim, or simply have a cold drink in the sun.

I like the change of pace here. The first cave provides an early splash and the second gives you another chance to settle into the day. The boat ride between them also lets you see more of Kolocep from the water instead of treating the island as a single quick stop.

This is one reason the four-hour option needs careful planning. The two cave stops can use a large share of a short trip before you reach Lopud or Sipan. If your priority is swimming and a beach, you may need to ask the skipper to reduce time elsewhere.

Sunj Beach on Lopud, sand and picigin

Sunj Beach is one of the best reasons to include Lopud. It is known for its sandy shore, a welcome change from the rocky edges found in many parts of the Croatian coast.

You get about an hour here. Walk on the sand, swim, sit at one of the beach bars, or try picigin, a Croatian beach game played in shallow water. The game was developed on sandy Croatian beaches and is part of the local coastal culture.

Sunj is a better fit for you if you want a proper beach stop rather than only swimming from the boat. It is also useful for groups with different interests. Some people can sit on the sand while others explore the water or stop at a beach bar.

The trade-off is that this is a popular beach, so it may not feel private or quiet. The boat itself is your private space, but Sunj Beach is a public stop. If you prefer a peaceful anchorage, tell your skipper before settling on a long beach visit.

Lopud village, the monastery, and lunch

The tour then gives you about 90 minutes on Lopud. This is the most rounded stop on the route because you can combine a little culture, a walk, and a meal.

You can visit the Franciscan monastery and the Church of St. Mary, dating from the 15th century. You can also walk around the small settlement or sit down for authentic Dalmatian food.

I would use this stop as your main meal break, especially on the six-hour tour. One itinerary worked particularly well with a 2 p.m. departure, allowing time for a late lunch on Lopud and sunset views on the return toward Dubrovnik.

The 90-minute stop calls for a little discipline. A sit-down meal can take much of the available time, leaving less room for exploring. If lunch is important, tell the skipper early so the day is paced around it.

Lopud is also where the six-hour version begins to earn its value. You have enough time to enjoy the beach and still make room for the village, monastery, or lunch, though you may not fit every option into one stop.

Sipan and Skocibuha Castle

The final listed island stop is Sipan, also called Shipan. The boat continues there after Lopud, with about 45 minutes to visit Skocibuha Castle.

Sipan adds a different note to the day. Kolocep is about caves and swimming, while Lopud gives you sand, food, and a small settlement. Sipan brings a short cultural visit connected to one of the island’s notable buildings.

Admission to Skocibuha Castle is not included, so account for that if you want to enter. The tour information does not specify the admission cost or the castle’s opening arrangements, so ask before setting your plan around an interior visit.

Sipan can be difficult to include fully on a four-hour booking. The route includes cruising time, two Kolocep stops, Sunj Beach, Lopud, and Sipan. If seeing all three islands matters to you, the eight-hour version gives the skipper much more room to keep the day relaxed.

Choosing four, six, or eight hours

The duration changes the character of the outing.

Four hours: Choose this if you mainly want a private ride, one or two swimming stops, and a taste of the nearby islands. It suits a tight schedule, but you should not expect to enjoy every stop at length.

Six hours: This is the most balanced choice for most groups. You can swim at Kolocep, visit Sunj Beach, stop for lunch on Lopud, and still have time for a pleasant cruise. A mid-afternoon start can also bring sunset views on the way back.

Eight hours: Choose this if you want the full island-hopping day without watching the clock. It is the best option for including Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan while keeping room for longer swims, lunch, and unhurried cruising.

The longer options also make better use of the private format. You are paying for the boat and skipper as a group, not per person. With six people aboard, the $784.53 price works out to about $131 per person before any optional costs. With only two people, the same boat becomes a much more expensive day.

Price, value, and what is included

The listed price is $784.53 for a group of up to six. That covers the private boat experience and the included transfer from your Dubrovnik accommodation to the port. The Old Town harbor and Gruz harbor are available pickup points, with some hotel pickups also offered.

The value depends heavily on group size. Six people sharing the cost get a private boat, a skipper, flexible stops, and transport to the harbor for a reasonable per-person total compared with booking separate private services. A couple paying the full group price should be comfortable with the extra privacy and control.

The price does not include admission to Skocibuha Castle. Food at Lopud’s restaurants and purchases at beach bars are also personal expenses. Ask about drinks before departure, since one booking included drinks and allowed the group to bring its own.

You also get the benefit of a private plan rather than a rigid timetable. For me, that is the main value. You are not simply buying transport between islands. You are paying to set the rhythm of the day.

Practical details for a smoother day

Pickup is offered from your accommodation in Dubrovnik, with transfer to the meeting point included. The activity returns to the same general meeting point at the end.

Confirmation is provided when you book, and a mobile ticket is accepted. The tour is offered in English. Public transportation is nearby, though the included car transfer makes that less important for most bookings.

Most people can participate, but this is still a boat day with swimming, boarding, walking, and beach time. If someone in your group has a mobility concern, ask the provider before booking rather than assuming every stop will be easy to reach.

Good weather is required. If poor weather cancels the outing, you can choose another date or receive 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, and the cut-off follows local time.

Who should book this private boat day

I would recommend this for a group of friends, a family, or a small celebration that values privacy and choice. It is especially useful when people in the group want different things: swimming, a sandy beach, lunch, a short cultural visit, or simply time on a boat.

The tour also suits you if you want to avoid a full-day commitment. The four-hour version offers a shorter escape, while the six-hour trip gives you a fuller taste of the islands without taking the entire day.

I would think twice if your budget is tight or if you are traveling alone. The price is per group, so the value improves as your party approaches six people. I would also avoid the four-hour option if visiting all three islands is your main goal.

Should you book the Elaphite Islands tour?

Book it if you want a private, adjustable day on the water and have enough people to share the cost. The six-hour trip is the safest pick for most groups, with time for Kolocep’s caves, Sunj Beach, Lopud lunch, and a relaxed ride back.

Choose eight hours if Sipan and Skocibuha Castle matter to you, or if you dislike rushing. Choose four hours only when your schedule is short and your priorities are clear.

The strongest reason to book is not one individual stop. It is the freedom to let the skipper, the weather, and your group decide how the day unfolds.

FAQ

Where does the Elaphite Islands boat tour depart from?

Pickup is possible at Dubrovnik’s Old Town city harbor or Gruz harbor. Some hotels are also served, and free car transfer is provided from any location in Dubrovnik city to the meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

You can choose an approximately four-hour, six-hour, or eight-hour private tour.

How many people can join the private boat tour?

The tour is priced for a private group of up to six people.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The planned route includes Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan, also known as Shipan.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. A private transfer from your Dubrovnik apartment or hotel to the port is included in the price.

What can I do at Kolocep?

The tour stops at the Blue Cave for about 45 minutes and the Green Caves for about 30 minutes. You can swim, snorkel, relax on the boat, or enjoy a drink.

Is admission to Skocibuha Castle included?

No. Admission to Skocibuha Castle on Sipan is not included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. Free cancellation is also available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.