Dubrovnik:Full day Private Boat Tour to Elaphiti & Blue Cave

The best part of this Dubrovnik day is the boat itself. Instead of riding a packed motorboat, you travel aboard the Bavaria 40 yacht ZaraBella, with the sound of wind and water around you. I like the private format, which lets your skipper adjust the pace, and the chance to combine the Blue Cave, Sunj Beach, and Lopud without rushing from one public tour group to another.

I also like the useful extras: a SUP board, snorkeling gear, Wi-Fi, a restroom, an outdoor shower, and free sailing lessons on request. The main consideration is time. A long lunch in Lopud can shorten the swimming stops, so tell the skipper early if sea time matters more to you than a leisurely meal.

Key points to know before you book

• A real sailing boat: ZaraBella is a fully equipped Bavaria 40 yacht, not a large excursion boat.
• Three different island experiences: You get the Blue Cave at Kolocep, sandy Sunj Beach, and Lopud village.
• Private group up to eight: Your party has the boat to itself, with room to shape the day.
• Dragan can adjust the schedule: Previous bookings describe the skipper as calm, attentive, and flexible with timing.
• Lunch is separate: A table is reserved at a seaside restaurant, but food and drinks are not included.
• Sailing depends on weather: The crew uses the sails when wind direction and strength allow it.

Why a private sailing day works well from Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is easy to admire from land, but its coast makes more sense from the water. The old city walls are only part of the story. Just offshore, the Elaphiti Islands offer small bays, clear water, quiet stretches of coast, and villages where the pace drops several gears.

This eight-hour outing gives you a full day on the Adriatic without putting you on a crowded sightseeing boat. The group limit is eight people, so it suits a family, two couples, or a small group of friends who want shared costs without giving up privacy.

At the listed price of $736 per group, the value depends on your head count. Eight people bring the cost to $92 each before lunch and drinks. For two people, it becomes a much more expensive day, though you are paying for a private yacht, a flexible schedule, and the use of the boat’s equipment.

That flexibility matters. You can spend more time in the water, ask for a slower sail, or shorten the restaurant stop if your group prefers the sea. The skipper makes the final call on safety and weather, but you are not locked into the rigid timetable of a large group cruise.

Meeting the crew at Dubrovnik City Marina

The meeting point is the operational pontoon at Dubrovnik City Marina, near the University. It is about 100 meters before the entrance to Marina Frapa. Look for ZaraBella and a skipper wearing a white shirt with the company logo.

Allow enough time to find the pontoon without a last-minute dash. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, though they can be arranged as an optional extra. Once aboard, you receive safety instructions and a welcome drink before setting out.

The boat includes bottled water, coffee or tea, a restroom, Wi-Fi, an outdoor shower, and an open deck for sitting or sunbathing. Bring a towel and beachwear. You will want both from the first swimming stop onward.

Sailing toward Kolocep and the Blue Cave

The first trip across the Elaphiti Islands takes about 50 minutes. This is when the character of the day begins to show. If the wind is suitable, the crew can raise the sails and give you a taste of proper sailing. If the wind is weak or blowing from the wrong direction, the yacht may rely more on its engine.

That point is worth understanding before booking. This is sold as a sailing tour, but sail use is controlled by nature, not by a promise printed on a schedule. You might get a quiet, wind-powered run with only the water and rigging for company, or a more practical motor-assisted crossing.

The first stop is the Blue Cave near Kolocep. You have about 20 minutes for swimming and snorkeling. The clear water and cave setting provide a memorable opening to the day, but do not expect a long visit. Twenty minutes goes quickly once you swim, look around, and get back aboard.

The crew supplies snorkeling and underwater gear, so you do not need to pack your own equipment unless you prefer to use it. The boat also has an outdoor shower, which is handy after saltwater stops.

One hour at Sunj Beach on Lopud

After another sailing stretch of about 45 minutes, ZaraBella reaches Sunj Beach on Lopud. The planned stop lasts one hour, giving you time to swim, snorkel, use the SUP board, or simply lie back on the sand.

Sunj is one of the more appealing beach stops around Dubrovnik because it offers a different setting from the rocky coves found elsewhere along the coast. The hour is long enough to enjoy the water without turning the stop into an entire beach day.

I would use the time with a little discipline. If you want to swim and paddle, do that first. The warm, clear water is the reason you came, and an hour can disappear while you are deciding where to sit.

Families should note that the tour is not recommended for people with back problems. A yacht, boarding steps, beach transfers, and repeated movement between deck and water can be uncomfortable. The private format helps with pace, but it does not remove the physical demands of a full day at sea.

Lopud village, lunch, and time ashore

From Sunj Beach, the boat sails for roughly 45 minutes to Lopud village. This is the longest stop, with about two hours set aside for lunch, a walk, photographs, and more swimming.

A reserved table awaits at a restaurant beside the sea. Lunch is not included, so budget separately for your meal and drinks. The skipper’s lunch is covered by the company, which means you are not expected to pay for it or arrange it yourself.

The food stop gives the day a useful change of pace. Eight hours of swimming and sailing can become tiring, especially for children, and sitting down for a proper meal helps break up the day. You can also walk through the village, visit the medieval monastery, try homemade ice cream, or swim from the local beach.

The tradeoff is clear: a long restaurant visit reduces time at the water. One booking specifically found the lunch break too long, with the swimming stops feeling short as a result. If your group would rather have a quick meal and more sea time, discuss that with the skipper before ordering.

Lopud is also the point where the private nature of the excursion proves most useful. You are not required to follow a guide through every lane or return to the boat at the exact same moment as a large group. You can make the stop about food, the village, the monastery, or a final swim.

The return route through quiet bays

After Lopud, the yacht begins the return journey, usually allowing about an hour of sailing before another stop. Depending on weather, available time, and the skipper’s judgment, you may pause in one or two attractive bays for a final swim.

The planned stop at Kolocep lasts around 20 minutes and includes swimming and snorkeling. It is a short finish, but it gives you one more chance to get into the water before the final 50-minute run back to Lapadska obala 4.

The return can feel different from the morning. You have already seen the main sights, eaten lunch, and spent time in the water. That makes this part less about checking off another attraction and more about sitting on deck, watching the coast, and enjoying the boat.

Keep your expectations flexible. The exact bay stops, stay lengths, and order of activities can change because of wind, rain, sea conditions, or the skipper’s safety assessment. In very bad weather, especially strong rain, the company plans to reschedule the tour for the first available time.

Skipper Dragan and the value of a flexible itinerary

The strongest praise for this outing centers on the skipper. Dragan is described as calm, attentive, gracious, and willing to offer choices about timing and route. Those qualities matter more on a private boat than a long list of facilities.

A good skipper has to balance several needs at once. One person may want to swim, another may want lunch, and someone else may prefer to sail slowly along the coast. The private setup gives Dragan room to shape the day around your group rather than forcing everyone into a fixed program.

You can also request free sailing lessons. This is a nice touch for anyone curious about how the yacht works. It will not turn you into a sailor in one afternoon, but it gives the crossing more purpose than simply sitting in transit.

The languages listed for the tour are English, Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, and Bulgarian. Confirm your preferred language when booking if that matters to your group.

What is included and what you still pay for

The boat comes well prepared for a full day:

• Bavaria 40 sailing yacht
• Welcome drink
• Bottled water
• Coffee or tea
• Restroom
• Wi-Fi
• Outdoor shower
• SUP board
• Snorkeling and underwater equipment
• Sailing lessons on request

Lunch is the main extra cost. Drinks at the restaurant are also separate. Hotel transportation is not part of the standard price, though pickup and drop-off may be available for an added fee.

The lack of hidden activity charges is helpful. You do not pay extra to use the SUP board, snorkeling equipment, or sailing instruction. Still, the headline price is not the complete spending figure because you need to add the meal, restaurant drinks, and possibly transport to the marina.

For a full private boat day, the price is reasonable when divided among six to eight people. For a couple, it is a premium experience. Compare it with the value you place on privacy, a flexible route, and a proper yacht rather than simply choosing the cheapest way to reach the islands.

Who will enjoy this day most

This tour fits people who want a relaxed day at sea with a few well-chosen stops. It is especially good for:

• Families or friends sharing the cost of a private boat
• Couples who prefer a quiet yacht to a crowded cruise
• Swimmers and snorkelers who want several water breaks
• People who enjoy sailing and may want basic instruction
• Visitors who want both beach time and a village stop
• Anyone who prefers flexible timing over a fixed group schedule

It is less suitable if you want a fast sightseeing circuit with long hours on land. It is also a poor fit for anyone with back problems or for groups that dislike changing plans around weather and wind.

The boat can carry up to eight people, but group comfort depends on how much gear, food, and personal space your party needs. Four adults and four children have used the boat comfortably, though the day still includes several hours aboard and repeated boarding for swims.

Booking advice for the best day

Start early with one conversation about priorities. Tell the skipper if your group cares most about sailing, swimming, the Blue Cave, lunch, Lopud village, or the SUP board. That makes it easier to protect the activities you value when time or weather forces a choice.

Pack a towel, swimwear, sunscreen, and something dry to wear after the final swim. The boat has water, coffee, and tea, but lunch is purchased on Lopud. You may also want a small amount of flexibility in your plans before and after the tour, since the schedule can shift with conditions.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Dubrovnik schedule is still moving, though they do not change the need to check the forecast and confirm the meeting point.

Should you book the ZaraBella sailing tour?

Book it if you want a private, unhurried day on the water and your group can share the cost. The Blue Cave, Sunj Beach, and Lopud provide enough variety to keep the day from feeling repetitive, while Dragan’s flexible approach lets you adjust the balance between lunch, swimming, and sailing.

Think twice if you want every minute planned, dislike paying separately for lunch, or need guaranteed sail-powered travel. The weather controls the route and the sails, and an overlong meal can take time from the beach stops.

For six to eight people, this is one of the more sensible ways to turn a Dubrovnik island day into a personal outing rather than a crowded transfer. For a small party, the price requires more thought, but the privacy, equipment, and flexible schedule make it a strong choice for a special day at sea.

FAQ

How long does the private boat tour last?

The tour lasts eight hours, including sailing between Dubrovnik, Kolocep, Sunj Beach, Lopud, and the return meeting point.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins and ends at the operational pontoon at Dubrovnik City Marina near the University, about 100 meters before the entrance to Marina Frapa. The listed address is Lapadska obala 4.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

No. The tour includes a reserved restaurant table on Lopud, but your lunch and drinks are paid separately. The company pays for the skipper’s lunch.

Can I use the sails during the whole tour?

Sail use depends on the strength and direction of the wind. The skipper decides whether conditions allow sailing, so some sections may use the engine.

What equipment is provided on the yacht?

The yacht has a SUP board, snorkeling and underwater equipment, an outdoor shower, restroom, Wi-Fi, bottled water, coffee or tea, and a welcome drink. Sailing lessons are available on request.

What happens if the weather is very bad?

In cases of very bad weather, particularly strong rain, the tour is rescheduled for the first available time. The itinerary and length of stops may also change because of weather and the skipper’s safety assessment.