Dubrovnik: Private Elaphiti Islands Sailing Tour

The best part of this private sailing trip is the freedom to make the day your own. You can cruise past Dubrovnik’s massive sea walls, swim in a quiet Elaphiti cove, or spend more time under sail with a skipper such as Mirko, Andy, Dragan, or Peter. I like the chance to learn basic sailing at the helm, and I like that a group of up to eight can share one boat rather than split up. The main drawback is that the boat offers sun, sea, and soft drinks, but no meal, so you need to plan food yourself.

I also like the Blue Cave stop, where sunlight gives the water a striking sapphire color, and the easy mix of sightseeing and swimming. The trip can last four to eight hours, so you have a useful choice between a shorter morning or afternoon outing and a fuller day on the water. Just remember that the meeting point can change with the option you book, and the boat is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

Key points to know before you sail

• A genuinely private boat: Your group has the sailboat and skipper to itself, with room for up to eight people.
• A flexible route: You may focus on Dubrovnik’s walls, Lokrum, the Elaphiti Islands, swimming spots, or a blend of all four.
• Hands-on sailing: Your skipper can give you a basic lesson and let you try steering the boat.
• A memorable cave stop: The Blue Cave offers glowing blue water and a chance to swim and snorkel.
• Strong skipper service: Mirko, Andy, Dragan, Peter, and other skippers are praised for patience, friendliness, sailing ability, and adapting the route.
• Bring your own lunch: Soft drinks and snorkeling gear are included, but food is not.

Leaving Lapad Bay by dinghy

The outing begins in the Bay of Lapad, though your exact meeting point depends on the booking option. You first travel by dinghy to the sailboat, an arrangement worth knowing if you prefer simple, step-free access from a dock.

Once aboard, the pace is pleasantly unhurried. This is not a speedboat circuit that rushes from one photo stop to the next. The sailing boat gives you time to feel the wind, watch the coast, and settle into the rhythm of the sea.

Your skipper handles the practical work, but this is also an active experience. You can ask questions about sailing, take part in a short lesson, and try steering under instruction. Peter, Dragan, and the other skippers are praised for making beginners feel comfortable, while still giving experienced sailors room to enjoy the boat.

The private format matters here. If you want a quiet morning, your group can keep the mood relaxed. If children want to learn how the boat moves, the skipper can include them. One family with children aged six and nine found that the sailing lesson gave the day an extra focus beyond swimming.

Seeing Dubrovnik from the water

The first major view is Dubrovnik from offshore. From a sailboat, the city walls look less like a crowded walking route and more like a long line of stone fortifications guarding the water.

You get a different view of the old city than you do from the streets. The boat lets you look back toward the walls, towers, and rocky shoreline without dealing with summer heat in narrow lanes. This is especially useful if you have already spent time inside the old town and want a slower change of pace.

The route can also include Lokrum, the island just off Dubrovnik. One four-hour morning trip went first around the old town and then toward Lokrum, where the group anchored for a swim before the wind improved and the boat returned under sail.

That detail points to an important truth about the outing: sailing depends on the weather. If the wind is light, the boat may use its motor for part of the route. When the wind picks up, you may get the quiet, smooth sailing experience that makes this trip special.

You should also expect the route to change slightly according to the skipper’s judgment. Andy, Desmond, Peter, Dragan, and Mirko are noted for listening to what each group wants, then suggesting stops that fit the conditions. You may spend more time around the old city, head toward an island, or concentrate on swimming and snorkeling.

Choosing your Elaphiti Island stops

The Elaphiti Islands are the main reason to book the longer version of the trip. This small archipelago near Dubrovnik offers a welcome break from the city, with clear water, rocky coves, and beaches that feel more secluded than the mainland shore.

The exact island stop is not fixed in the information provided, which is useful rather than a problem. It means your skipper can adjust the day instead of forcing every group through the same checklist. You may stop at a quiet cove, visit a sandy beach, or spend more time swimming near a lagoon.

The islands are best enjoyed from the water. You can swim straight from the boat, use the supplied snorkeling equipment, and look for marine life in the clear shallows. Some groups chose to spend much of the day in the water, while others preferred to sail and stop only when a particular cove caught their eye.

If you want lunch on an island, you need to budget for it separately. Food is not included, though one group of eight stopped at an island for lunch during a four-hour outing. Ask about the plan before departure so you know if you should bring food or buy it during the stop.

The shorter four-hour option gives you enough time for a swim and a look at the coast. The eight-hour version makes more sense if you want several swimming stops, a longer island visit, and plenty of time under sail without watching the clock.

The Blue Cave and the swimming stops

The Blue Cave is the most unusual natural stop on the advertised route. Light enters the cave and reflects through the water, giving the interior a sapphire glow. It is a visual moment rather than a long sightseeing visit, so manage your expectations: the pleasure comes from seeing the color, entering the cave area, and getting into the water.

Swimming is a major part of the experience. The water may be refreshing, and you should bring swimwear and a towel. Snorkeling gear is supplied, so you can look below the surface without packing your own mask and fins.

The route may include other small caves and grottoes as well. One family swam together into a small cave, while another group chose the Green Grotto and spent much of the trip swimming and snorkeling. These stops show why a private boat is useful: your skipper can respond to the group’s interests when conditions allow.

Still, this is not a dedicated marine-life expedition. The description promises a chance to search for colorful marine life, but sightings will depend on the water and the day. Think of snorkeling as a pleasant extra attached to a sailing trip, not the sole purpose of the outing.

What the sailing lesson is really like

You do not need sailing experience to enjoy this tour. The skipper remains responsible for the boat, and the lesson gives you a controlled taste of how sailing works rather than turning you into the captain for the day.

You might learn how to steer, feel the boat respond, and understand how the wind affects its direction. Children and first-time sailors can take part when the skipper considers it suitable. Several skippers are praised for patience, which is important when a group has mixed ages and no sailing background.

The lesson also helps you appreciate the journey between stops. On a typical boat trip, transport is simply the means of getting from one place to another. Here, the movement of the boat is part of the attraction. You notice the change from motor power to wind, the quiet when the sails fill, and the view of Dubrovnik opening behind you.

Keep the lesson in proportion. This is not a professional sailing course, and the amount of instruction may vary with the wind, route, and time available. If you want a full day of hands-on sailing, tell the skipper early. If your group mainly wants swimming, the lesson can be brief.

Price, group size, and what you receive

The price is $353 per group of up to eight people. For a full boat, that works out to about $44 per person, which is strong value for a private day on the water. A smaller group pays more per person, but you still gain privacy, a flexible route, a skipper, sailing instruction, snorkeling equipment, and soft drinks.

That value depends on how you use the boat. If you want only a quick ride past Dubrovnik, a shared cruise may cost less. If you want a private setting where the skipper can adapt the day to your family or friends, the group price becomes more appealing.

The four-hour version suits people who want a half-day activity alongside old town sightseeing. The eight-hour option is the better buy for a group that wants several stops and a relaxed island day. You will spend much of the time outdoors, so the boat itself is the main setting, not just transport.

Food is the clearest extra expense. Soft drinks are included, but lunch is not. Bring food if permitted by your booking arrangements, or plan to buy lunch during an island stop. Also bring plenty of sunscreen. Several people found the sun strong on deck, and one useful tip is to pack a long-sleeved shirt as well.

Skippers who shape the day

The skipper can make or break a private boating trip, and this experience receives especially strong praise for that part of the service. Mirko is described as friendly and skilled at teaching sailing. Andy is praised for patience and for helping groups choose between island visits, sandy beaches, and snorkeling stops.

Dragan is singled out as a strong tutor and guide, with a smooth approach to sailing and a welcoming manner. Peter is praised for being capable, fun, and willing to adjust the plan. Desmond is also noted for offering route choices around the old town, islands, and nearby lagoons.

You should not book based on one particular skipper name, since assignments can change. The useful pattern is that the experience depends heavily on the person at the helm. The supplied information points to skippers who explain the boat, listen to requests, and make safety and comfort part of the day.

The route remains weather dependent. In poor weather, the trip is rescheduled or refunded. That policy protects you from spending a day at sea in unsafe conditions, but it also means you should keep some flexibility in your Dubrovnik plans.

Who should book this private sailing trip

I would choose this tour for a family, two couples, or a group of friends who want a private day with a mix of scenery and swimming. It works particularly well for people who do not want to choose between a sightseeing cruise and an active beach outing.

It also suits first-time sailors. You can enjoy the boat without prior experience, then try the helm under supervision. Children may enjoy the lesson and short swims, though the adults in your group remain responsible for judging what is comfortable and safe for them.

The tour is less suitable if you need guaranteed wheelchair access, have serious mobility limitations, or want a fully planned food-inclusive day. The dinghy transfer and boat setting require practical movement, and meals are not supplied.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and perhaps a long-sleeved shirt. Have a clear idea of your priorities before leaving: old town views, island time, snorkeling, the Blue Cave, or sailing practice. The more plainly you explain those priorities, the easier it is for the skipper to shape the route.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if you value privacy, flexible routing, and time in the water more than a fixed sightseeing schedule. The strongest reasons are the view of Dubrovnik from offshore, the chance to visit the Elaphiti Islands and Blue Cave, and the hands-on sailing lesson.

For a full group of eight, the $353 price is appealing. A four-hour trip gives you a smart half-day taste of the coast, while eight hours lets the experience breathe. I would choose the longer option if island swimming is your main goal.

Skip it if you need accessible transport, want lunch included, or prefer a guaranteed itinerary with no weather changes. For everyone else, this is a relaxed and personal way to see the Dubrovnik coast, with enough freedom to make the day feel like your own.

FAQ

How long is the private sailing tour?

You can choose an outing lasting four to eight hours. Starting times depend on availability and the option you book.

How many people can join the private boat tour?

The private group price covers up to eight people.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes the boat, skipper, sailing lessons, snorkeling equipment, and soft drinks.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included, so you need to plan separately for lunch or other meals.

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point can vary depending on the option you book. The boat departs from the Bay of Lapad, and you travel by dinghy to the sailboat.

Can I swim and snorkel during the tour?

Yes. The route includes opportunities to swim at beaches, coves, lagoons, and caves, and snorkeling equipment is provided.

Will I visit the Blue Cave?

The advertised route includes a visit to the Blue Cave, where you can see the blue color of the water and swim.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear and a towel. Sunscreen is also practical because you spend time on deck in the sun.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour is rescheduled or refunded if bad weather prevents the trip from running.