Private Full Day Sailing Tour To Elafiti Islands

The best part of this private Elafiti Islands boat tour is the freedom to spend the day at quiet swimming spots rather than follow a crowded group schedule. Skipper Filip takes you from Dubrovnik to Koločep, sandy Šunj Beach, and Šipan, with time for swimming, snorkeling, a village walk, and lunch.

I like the small-group setup, which keeps the boat personal and works well for families. I also like Filip’s practical help, including arranging a table at a popular fish restaurant on Šipan and sharing lesser-known swimming spots. The main consideration is the price: $692.36 for up to six people is fair for a private boat, but costly for one or two passengers.

Key points to know before booking

• Three different island experiences: Swim around rocky Koločep, visit sandy Šunj Beach on Lopud, then explore Šipan.
• A private boat for up to six: Your group has the boat and skipper to itself, with no large tour crowd.
• Filip handles the day’s details: He can help with restaurant reservations and adjusts the pace to suit your group.
• About four hours are spent cruising: This is a sailing day as much as an island-hopping tour.
• Swimming equipment is included: You also get an outdoor shower and restroom on board.
• Lunch and marina transport cost extra: Bring money for food and arrange your own way to Lapadska obala 21.

What this eight-hour Elafiti Islands tour feels like

This is best understood as a relaxed day on the water, not a race to collect islands. You leave Dubrovnik at 9:00 a.m. and spend the day moving between swimming stops, small island settlements, and open-water cruising.

The private format changes the mood. You can settle into the pace that suits your group, spend more time in the water, or linger on Šipan for lunch and a walk. The boat is designed for a maximum of six people, so families and small groups get room to talk, stretch out, and avoid the packed feel of larger excursion boats.

Skipper Filip is a major part of the experience. He stays in touch before the trip through WhatsApp, answers questions, and helps shape the day. He has also arranged lunch reservations on Šipan, a useful service when a small restaurant has limited tables.

The schedule allows about one hour at Koločep, one hour at Šunj Beach, and two hours around Šipan. The remaining time is spent sailing or cruising between the islands. That matters because the time between stops is not dead time. You are out on the Adriatic, watching the coast and islands pass, with the option of sailing when the wind cooperates.

Do keep expectations sensible. This is called a sailing tour, but the boat may use its motor for much of the day if the wind is light. One outing had only enough wind for some sailing in the afternoon. If you want nonstop wind-powered sailing, conditions may disappoint. If you mainly want a private day at sea with swimming and island stops, the motor is a practical trade-off.

Leaving Dubrovnik from Lapadska obala 21

The meeting point is Lapadska obala 21 in Dubrovnik, and the tour returns to the same place. The listed start time is 9:00 a.m., so plan your morning around reaching the marina before departure.

Getting to the marina is not included. The operator gives an approximate Uber cost of €40 if you are staying outside Dubrovnik, but that is only an estimate. Your actual fare depends on where you stay and the traffic. One useful detail is that bus 6 can reach the marina, making public transport an option for some visitors.

This is worth sorting out in advance. The tour itself is private, but the transfer to the boat is not part of the package. Ask Smooth Sailing for current directions if you are unsure how to reach Lapadska obala 21.

Once aboard, you have a restroom, an outdoor shower, and snorkeling equipment. Bring your own towels, drinking water, and snacks. Water and snacks were especially useful during the long day at sea, and lunch is not included.

Koločep: your first hour for swimming and snorkeling

Koločep is the first stop, with about an hour set aside for swimming, snorkeling, or sunbathing. The appeal here is simple: get into the water early, before the day feels hot and before you have spent hours sitting on the boat.

The stop focuses on bays and clear water rather than sightseeing. You may swim from the boat, use the provided snorkeling gear, or stay aboard and enjoy the view. This is a good first pause because it breaks up the morning cruise and gives children or cautious swimmers a chance to get comfortable with the boat.

The one-hour limit keeps the day moving, but it also means you should not expect a long beach visit here. The emphasis is on a quick swim and time in the water. If your group wants to linger, ask Filip how the timing can be adjusted, though the schedule needs to allow for Šunj, Šipan, and the return cruise.

Families should note that high-quality buoyancy vests have been provided for young children on this tour. Still, parents remain responsible for watching children around the boat and in the water.

Šunj Beach: Lopud’s sandy break

The next stop is Šunj Beach on Lopud, one of the few sandy beaches in the area and a pleasant change from the usual rocky Adriatic shore. You can swim and snorkel from the boat, sunbathe, or swim to shore for a drink at one of the restaurants.

The sand is the reason to include Šunj. If you have spent time on Croatian beaches, you know that a soft sandy bottom is not always easy to find. This stop gives you a different setting from Koločep, with the option of going ashore rather than staying beside the boat.

You have about one hour here, so decide early how you want to use it. A swim from the boat is the most efficient choice. Going to shore for a drink adds a little time and effort, but it may suit you if you want a short break from the boat.

The tour description allows swimming to the beach, but it does not promise a long beach stay or reserve restaurant seating here. For a proper meal, Šipan is the better stop. Treat Šunj as a short swim, sun, and drink break.

Šipan: lunch, a village walk, and local history

Šipan receives the longest stop, about two hours, and this is where the day gains a stronger sense of place. You can walk through the town, visit Skocibuha Castle, swim from the beach, or eat at a local restaurant.

I like this part because it gives you more than a string of swimming stops. Šipan lets you leave the boat and see a small island settlement at walking pace. A visit to Skocibuha Castle adds a cultural note, while the restaurants provide a chance to eat local seafood.

Filip can make a reservation, which is useful because the smaller restaurants may fill up. One group was able to have seafood at a small harbor restaurant after Filip arranged the table. There are other choices and a small shop selling drinks and ice cream, so you are not limited to a single meal plan.

Lunch is extra. Ask about the restaurant before the day begins, especially if someone in your group has dietary needs or wants a particular kind of meal. The supplied details do not set a fixed menu or restaurant, so the exact food and cost will depend on where you stop.

Two hours is enough for a meal and a short walk, but not for a long island hike. If you want to spend most of the day ashore, this is not the right tour. The value lies in combining a small taste of Šipan with swimming and a private cruise.

Four hours of cruising between the islands

The itinerary allocates about four hours to sailing or cruising. That is a large share of an eight-hour day, and you should consider it carefully before booking.

I see this as a benefit if you enjoy being on the water. The route gives you time to watch the coast, talk with your group, rest between swims, and enjoy the boat without a guide rushing you from one stop to the next. It also creates room for short unscheduled swims when conditions and timing allow.

It is less appealing if you want constant sightseeing. The tour does not list a long series of towns, monuments, or organized activities. Instead, it gives you three main island stops and plenty of open-water travel.

The word sailing also needs a little context. Wind is never guaranteed. When the air is still, the boat uses its motor, as it must to keep the schedule. When the wind picks up, you may get some genuine sailing time. I would book this for the whole day at sea, not only for the promise of sails overhead.

What is included, and what you should bring

The boat includes snorkeling equipment, an outdoor shower, a restroom, and the fuel surcharge. These are useful details on a full-day trip. The shower lets you rinse off salt after swimming, and the restroom avoids an urgent search for facilities between islands.

Lunch is not included. Soda and alcoholic drinks are also excluded. Bring water and snacks, then budget separately for lunch and any drinks bought on the islands.

I would bring:

• Towels
• Drinking water
• Snacks
• Sun protection
• Swimwear
• Money or a payment method for lunch and drinks

The tour has a mobile ticket and is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. The boat has been used by families with young children, with buoyancy vests available for them.

The available information does not give a boat model, cabin layout, or exact seating plan. If someone in your group has specific mobility needs, contact Smooth Sailing before booking rather than assuming the boat will suit you.

Is $692.36 good value for six people?

The listed price is $692.36 per group of up to six people. At the full six-person capacity, that works out to about $115 per person before lunch and transport. For a private eight-hour boat day, that is a reasonable group price, especially when you value privacy and a flexible pace.

For two people, the same price works out to about $346 per person. That is a much bigger commitment. Couples should compare this with shared boat tours before booking. You are paying for privacy, a dedicated skipper, a small boat, and the ability to shape the day, not simply for transport between islands.

The strongest value comes when your group fills most of the six seats. Families and friends can split the cost while keeping the boat to themselves. The private setup also avoids the large boats seen around popular stops, which can matter during the busy summer season.

Do not forget the extra costs. You need to reach the marina yourself, and the approximate €40 Uber figure applies only as a rough guide for people staying outside Dubrovnik. Lunch, soft drinks, and alcohol are also separate.

Who will enjoy this private boat day?

I would recommend it to a group that wants a calm day outdoors, especially:

• Families who want a private boat and a flexible pace
• Couples willing to pay more for privacy
• Friends who enjoy swimming and relaxed cruising
• People who prefer small island towns to a packed sightseeing schedule
• Visitors who want a local restaurant stop rather than a boxed lunch

It is a weaker fit if you dislike spending several hours on a boat or want a full program of museums and historic sites. Šipan offers a walk and Skocibuha Castle, but the tour is built around sea time.

It also may not suit someone looking for guaranteed traditional sailing. Wind conditions decide how much sailing you get. The most accurate expectation is a private motor-and-sail cruise with island stops.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

You receive confirmation at booking, and the tour is offered in English. It is a private activity, so only your group participates.

Free cancellation applies if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start time. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and the payment is not refunded for a late cancellation.

Good weather is required. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. The same choice applies if the minimum number of participants is not met.

Because the tour is often booked well ahead, with bookings averaging about 85 days in advance, reserve early if you need a particular date. Then confirm the marina route, lunch plan, and any child or accessibility questions before departure.

Should you book this Elafiti Islands tour?

Book it if you want a private day with swimming, snorkeling, a sandy beach, a small island town, and plenty of time on the Adriatic. The three stops offer a good mix: Koločep for clear-water swimming, Šunj for sand, and Šipan for lunch and a walk.

The best reason to choose this tour is the combination of privacy and personal help from Filip. He can arrange lunch, suggest places to swim, and keep the pace comfortable for your group. The main drawbacks are the high total cost for small parties, extra charges for food and transport, and the fact that light wind can turn a sailing day into a motor cruise.

For six people who want to escape crowded excursions, I think the price makes sense. For two people on a tight budget, compare carefully. If your ideal Dubrovnik day includes open water, easy swimming stops, and a leisurely lunch on Šipan, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

How long is the private Elafiti Islands tour?

The tour lasts about eight hours. It starts at 9:00 a.m. and returns to the meeting point at Lapadska obala 21 in Dubrovnik.

How many people can join the private tour?

The boat accommodates up to six people per group. Only your group participates in the activity.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route includes Koločep, Šunj Beach on Lopud, and Šipan. The rest of the day is spent sailing or cruising between the islands.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the tour price. You stop at one of the islands for a meal, and Filip can help arrange a restaurant reservation.

Is transportation to the marina included?

No. Transport to and from the marina is not included. The meeting point is Lapadska obala 21, and the approximate Uber cost for people staying outside Dubrovnik is €40, though the actual fare may differ.

What equipment is provided on the boat?

Snorkeling equipment, an outdoor shower, and a restroom are included. Towels, water, snacks, and drinks are not listed as included, so bring or buy them separately.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.