Elaphite Islands & Mljet – Private Boat Excursion from Dubrovnik

The best part of this private boat day is the freedom to trade Dubrovnik’s stone streets for open water, quiet coves, and long swimming stops. You can spend the day at your own pace, with a skipper adjusting the plan to your comfort rather than moving a large group from one fixed stop to the next.

I like the small-group format, limited to your party, and the useful mix of comforts on the Beneteau Flyer 850: shade, a toilet, freshwater shower, refrigerator, swim ladder, and USB power. I also like that drinks, snorkel equipment, and a paddleboard are supplied. The main catch is the extra €300 fuel charge, paid in cash to the skipper, plus the cost of lunch.

Key points

• Private boat for up to seven people: You get the boat and skipper for your own group, with room for flexible timing.
• Blue Cave at Kolocep: The first stop combines a memorable cave visit with swimming and snorkeling.
• Three hours at Mljet’s Lemuni Lagoon: This is the longest stop and the main swim-and-relax portion of the day.
• Sipan and Jakljan: You have time to stroll around Sipanska Luka, visit Prijezba, and swim near the western Elaphites.
• Comfortable onboard setup: The 29-foot Beneteau has a sunshade, cabin, toilet, shower, refrigerator, stereo, and charging points.
• Plan for the real cost: The listed group price does not include €300 for fuel or lunch.

Leaving Dubrovnik for the Western Islands

This is an eight-hour private excursion built for people who want more sea time and fewer fixed sightseeing routines. Hotel or port pickup and drop-off are offered, so your day can begin without arranging a separate taxi to the marina.

The boat is a Beneteau Flyer 850 Sun Deck Cruiser, about 29 feet long, with a cruising speed of 22 knots. That size is large enough to provide a cabin, toilet, shaded deck, refrigerator, and freshwater shower, yet small enough to reach coves and swimming spots that would not suit a large excursion vessel.

The boat is rated for up to eight people plus one crew member, while the advertised booking price covers a private group of up to seven. That is a sensible size for a full day on the water. You can move around, sit in the shade, and use the swim ladder without feeling packed in.

Your skipper is an important part of the day. Past bookings have been handled by skippers named Iso, Peter, and Esso, and the strongest praise has focused on their friendly service, hospitality, and ability to shape the route around the group. That flexibility matters here because the best use of the day depends on sea conditions, heat, and how long you want to swim.

Kolocep’s Blue Cave Comes First

The first planned stop is Kolocep Island, one of the western Elaphite Islands. The focus is the Blue Cave, followed by swimming and snorkeling. The scheduled time is about 45 minutes, but the timing is described as flexible.

This is a good opening stop because it gets you into the water early. You can look around the cave, use the supplied snorkeling equipment, and cool off before the longer run to Mljet. The boat also carries a paddleboard, giving you another way to enjoy the water if you prefer floating and paddling to snorkeling.

Do not expect a long land visit here. The point is the cave and the sea, not a full island tour. Forty-five minutes can pass quickly once you have allowed time to get into the water, swim, and return to the boat. If your group is keen on snorkeling, tell the skipper early so the stop works for you.

The supplied gear is a practical benefit. You need to bring a swimsuit, towel, camera, and sun protection, but you do not need to arrange your own mask and snorkel. Water, fruit juices, sodas, and beer are also included, which helps keep the day simple once you are on board.

Three Hours at Mljet’s Lemuni Lagoon

Mljet receives the biggest block of time, about three hours, at Lemuni Lagoon on the island’s southern side. This is the heart of the excursion. You can swim, explore the lagoon, spend time on the shore, or arrange an optional lunch on the island.

A three-hour stop gives you breathing room. You are not forced to grab a quick swim and rush back to the boat. You can settle into the pace of the day, make use of the paddleboard, rinse off with the freshwater shower, and take advantage of the boat’s shaded area when the sun gets strong.

Lunch is not included, so you should budget for it separately if you want to eat ashore. One past honeymoon itinerary included lunch at Bowa Restaurant, but that should not be treated as a guaranteed part of this booking. Ask your skipper what is possible for your date and how much time lunch would leave for swimming.

The long Mljet stop is valuable for couples, families, and small groups with different ideas about a perfect boat day. One person can swim, another can sit under the Bimini top, and someone else can explore the shoreline. The skipper can help match the pace to the group, but the exact balance depends on your preferences and the conditions on the day.

Time for Sipan and Jakljan

After Mljet, the route turns to the western Elaphite Islands, including Jakljan and Sipan. The listed stop lasts about two hours and includes Sipanska Luka, Prijezba, time to stroll, swimming, and general exploration.

Sipanska Luka gives the day a change of rhythm. You are not only moving from one swim stop to another. You can step ashore, walk around, and see a little of island life before returning to the water.

This stop is also useful if your group needs a break from the boat. Eight hours afloat can be tiring, especially in strong summer sun. A short walk can help you reset before the final swimming stop.

The exact route remains flexible. You may spend more time in Sipanska Luka, stop at Prijezba, or adjust the balance between walking and swimming. Make your preferences clear to the skipper. A private tour works best when you treat the route as a shared plan rather than waiting for a rigid timetable.

A Final Hour in the Elaphite Coves

The final planned hour is set aside for swimming and snorkeling in the coves of the Elaphite Islands. This is a simple finish, but a good one. After the sightseeing and shore stop, you get one last chance to swim before returning to Dubrovnik.

The word cove matters here. This part of the day is about finding a suitable place to stop, rather than visiting a named attraction with a fixed program. Your skipper can adjust the location and length of the stop to suit the sea and your group.

If you want a relaxed day, this final hour can be the best part. You already know how the boat works, you have your swim gear ready, and you can spend the remaining time in the water instead of hurrying through another landmark.

What You Get on the Beneteau Flyer

The boat’s equipment makes a real difference over eight hours. The Bimini top provides shade, and the deck, salon, cabin, and toilet give you places to retreat when the sun or wind becomes too much.

You also have a swim ladder, freshwater shower, refrigerator, Bluetooth stereo, 220-volt power, and USB outlets. These are not flashy extras. They are the details that make a full day on a small boat easier, especially when you want to keep phones charged, rinse off salt water, or store drinks.

The listed refreshments include water, fruit juices, sodas, and beer. You should still bring personal snacks if you know you will get hungry between stops, since lunch is not included and no broader meal service is promised.

Snorkeling equipment and a paddleboard are included. Towels are not listed among the supplies, so bring your own. Sun block is essential, as much of the day will be exposed to direct sun even with the shade available.

Is the Private Price Good Value?

The advertised price is $1,403.97 per group of up to seven. That comes to roughly $200 per person if seven people share the cost, before the €300 fuel charge and any lunch. A smaller group pays more per person, so the value depends heavily on how many people are in your party.

The €300 fuel payment is the most important pricing detail. It is paid directly to the skipper in cash and is not part of the displayed tour price. For a private eight-hour boat with hotel or port pickup, a skipper, drinks, equipment, and a flexible route, the total can make sense for a full group that values privacy and control.

It is less attractive if you are traveling alone or as a couple and mainly want a low-cost boat ride. In that case, a shared excursion may be cheaper, though it would not offer the same control over swimming time, lunch, or the order of stops.

I would compare the price against what matters to you. If your priority is a quiet day built around swimming, a private skipper, and room to change the plan, the cost buys more than transport. If your priority is simply reaching Mljet at the lowest price, you may find a scheduled boat option more practical.

Who Will Enjoy This Day Most?

This trip suits a group of friends, a family, or a couple celebrating a special occasion. The honeymoon booking shows how well the format can work for a private celebration, especially if you want sun, swimming, and lunch without sharing the boat with strangers.

It also suits people who dislike crowded group tours. You can ask for more time in the water, shorten a stop, or spend longer walking around Sipanska Luka. The route is designed around comfort and preference, within the limits of weather and travel time.

Active swimmers and snorkelers will get the most from the day. The Blue Cave, Lemuni Lagoon, and the Elaphite coves all provide chances to get into the water, while the paddleboard adds another activity.

This is less suitable if you want a detailed cultural tour of every island. The main attractions are the sea, caves, beaches, coves, and relaxed island stops. The skipper provides local guidance, but the day is not built around museums, formal commentary, or a long list of monuments.

Weather, Flexibility, and Practical Limits

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. That protection is useful, but the experience is otherwise non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason after booking.

The flexible timing is a strength, but it is not a promise that every stop will last exactly as listed. The schedule depends on your comfort, the skipper, and conditions at sea. Discuss your priorities at the start, especially if you care most about the Blue Cave, lunch, or the full three hours at Mljet.

Most people can take part, and the pickup service is offered from a hotel or port. The experience is near public transportation, though the important point is that your transfer to and from the boat can be arranged as part of the booking.

Bring a swimsuit, towel, camera, and sun block. I would also bring a small personal bag rather than bulky luggage. Keep valuables secure, and remember that the fuel payment must be made in cash.

The Skipper Makes the Difference

The best part of a private boat day is not only the boat. It is the skipper’s judgment. Iso, Peter, and Esso are names associated with past departures, and the personal service has been especially praised, including punctual pickup, a pleasant transfer to the boat, and help shaping a day that suited the group.

That matters because the route has several possible moods. You might want a quiet swim at Kolocep, a long lunch at Mljet, a walk in Sipanska Luka, or several short stops in coves. A good skipper can help you balance those choices without making the day feel rushed.

You should still speak up. Tell the skipper how much swimming you want, if anyone gets tired in the sun, and how important lunch is to your group. The more clearly you explain your priorities, the more useful the flexible format becomes.

Should You Book This Elaphite and Mljet Boat Trip?

Book it if you have a group of up to seven, want a full day on the water, and value privacy more than the lowest possible price. The route offers a strong mix: Kolocep’s Blue Cave, a long stop at Mljet’s Lemuni Lagoon, time around Sipan and Jakljan, and a final swim in the Elaphite coves.

I especially recommend it for confident swimmers, honeymooners, families comfortable around the sea, and friends who want to set their own pace. The Beneteau’s shade, toilet, shower, refrigerator, charging points, and included drinks make the long day more comfortable than a basic speedboat outing.

Think twice if the €300 fuel charge will strain your budget, if you want lunch included, or if you prefer a history-focused island tour. For the right group, though, this is a flexible and well-equipped escape from Dubrovnik, with enough time to swim properly instead of merely stopping for a photograph.

FAQ

How long is the private boat excursion?

The excursion lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the private booking?

The advertised price covers a private group of up to seven people.

Is hotel or port pickup available?

Yes. Hotel or port pickup and drop-off are included.

What boat is used for the excursion?

The tour uses a Beneteau Flyer 850 Sun Deck Cruiser Boat, approximately 8.7 meters long, with a 22-knot cruising speed.

Is fuel included in the listed price?

No. Fuel costs €300 per booking and are payable directly to the skipper in cash.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, though lunch on Mljet is optional.

What equipment is provided?

Snorkeling equipment and a paddleboard are provided. The boat also has a Bimini sunshade, swim ladder, freshwater shower, refrigerator, stereo, toilet, and USB and 220-volt outlets.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel, swimsuit, camera, and sun block cream.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.