Bespoke private boat tour from Split & Trogir with a local expert

The best part of this private boat tour is the freedom to shape your day on the Adriatic. You can spend an hour walking Hvar, swim from the boat at a quiet Brač cove, stop for lunch at Terasa Ciccio, or ask your skipper to change course when the sea and mood call for it. Guides such as Marko, Duje, Toma, Luka, and Antonio are praised for being friendly, safe, and flexible.

I like the choice of boats, from a 22-foot craft for small groups to a 33-foot Saxdor yacht for a more polished ride. I also like the practical touches: snorkeling gear, bottled water, and skippers who can arrange a fish lunch or point you toward places such as the Blue Lagoon, Trogir, and quiet swimming coves. The catch is clear but important: fuel and the skipper’s fee are extra, and the final fuel bill can be substantial.

Key points to know before you book

• Three boat choices: Pick a 22-foot boat for up to six people, a 24 to 27-foot speedboat for up to 11, or a 33-foot Saxdor yacht for up to 10.
• Your route is flexible: Build a day around Hvar, Brač, Šolta, Trogir, swimming coves, lunch, and snorkeling rather than following a fixed sightseeing script.
• Fuel is not included: Expect approximately €100 to €160 for the medium boat, €150 to €250 for the large speedboat, or €200 to €400 for the Saxdor.
• The skipper costs extra: Add €100 for the medium or large boat, or €150 for the Saxdor yacht, paid in cash on board.
• The Blue Cave is excluded: The operator avoids it because of distance and crowds, so choose this trip for freedom and quieter stops instead.
• Plan around the 9 a.m. start: A long route to Vis or Hvar can eat up much of the day in transit.

A private day on the Adriatic, built around your group

This is not a standard ferry ride or a sightseeing cruise with a loud schedule. You hire a boat and skipper for your own group, then decide how much time to give beaches, villages, lunch, swimming, and open water.

The listed price is $482.72 per group, for up to six people. That figure is attractive for a private outing, but it does not tell the full cost. Add the skipper’s fee and fuel, and the final amount can rise sharply, especially on a larger twin-engine boat or a long island route.

That pricing structure rewards careful planning. Ask for an estimated fuel cost before you leave, based on the route and boat you want. The operator has given estimates of €100 to €160 for the medium boat, €150 to €250 for the large speedboat, and €200 to €400 for the Saxdor yacht. Actual fuel use depends on distance, speed, sea conditions, and how much you move between islands.

I would also confirm the exact boat category in writing. The three choices are a mid-sized 22-foot boat, a 24 to 27-foot speedboat, and the 33-foot Saxdor yacht. The cover image and boat names matter here. One unhappy booking experience involved confusion about which boat had been selected, so do not assume the most luxurious photograph represents every reservation option.

Choosing between the 22-foot boat, speedboat, and Saxdor

The 22-foot boat carries up to six people. For a couple, family, or small group, this may be the sensible choice. It should keep the fuel bill lower than the larger boats, and one account puts a full day’s fuel at around €100 on a medium boat. You still get a private skipper, snorkeling equipment, and freedom to stop where you like.

The larger 24 to 27-foot speedboat carries up to 11 people. This is useful for a big family or friend group, but do the arithmetic before booking. More people can make the per-person cost reasonable, yet a larger boat burns more fuel. One estimate says the large boat can use 50 to 60 liters per hour, so a long route can become expensive.

The 33-foot Saxdor yacht carries up to 10 people and offers the most upscale setting. It is suited to longer trips around the central Dalmatian islands, but the fuel estimate is also the highest, at roughly €200 to €400. A group that wants a faster, more comfortable boat may find the price worthwhile. A group focused on swimming and short hops may get better value from the medium option.

The boat choice also affects comfort in rougher conditions. One skipper handled a windy day well in a smaller speedboat, while another family cut a trip short when the water became uncomfortable for a young child. Good skippers can adjust the route, but no boat can turn unsettled weather into calm water.

Hvar for a short taste of island life

The sample route gives Hvar about one hour. That is enough for a quick walk through the old town, a drink near the harbor, or a look at the stone lanes, but not enough for a full island visit.

Hvar works well as a brief cultural break between swims. Its harbor has a polished feel, and its old streets give you something different from a day spent only on beaches. The tradeoff is travel time. If you are leaving from Split and also want Brač or Šolta, every extra island crossing reduces time in the water.

This is where the private format helps. You can tell the skipper that Hvar matters most to you, or skip it for more swimming. Marko, Toma, Luka, and other captains are described as helping groups decide how to use their day rather than simply following a rigid schedule.

Murvica Beach and the quiet side of Brač

The sample itinerary allows two hours at Murvica Beach, described as Robinson Beach on Brač. This is the kind of stop that makes a private boat worthwhile. The setting is peaceful, with pine trees, clear water, and a shore suited to a long swim and an unhurried break.

The beach is presented as family-friendly, with shallow water and a softer shoreline than many rocky Adriatic coves. Still, conditions can vary, and you should ask the skipper what the sea is like that day. The main value is time. Two hours lets you swim, use the included masks and snorkels, and actually relax instead of making a quick photo stop.

Bring sun protection and a dry change of clothes. Bottled water is included, but the quantity may not feel generous for a full group on a hot day. The boats have refrigerators, and some outings have had space for additional drinks, but I would confirm how much water is supplied and bring extra if allowed.

Lunch at Terasa Ciccio on Brač

The sample plan gives Terasa Ciccio two hours. That turns lunch into part of the outing, not a rushed meal between attractions. The terrace has sea views and focuses on fresh local food, making it a natural place to pause after a morning swim.

Several skippers have arranged lunch at seafood restaurants, sometimes allowing the group to moor close to the restaurant. That arrival by boat is one of the more memorable details of this type of tour. You avoid searching for a table in an unfamiliar port, and the skipper can suggest a place that fits your schedule.

Lunch is not included in the tour price, so budget for it separately. Ask about the restaurant before departure if you have dietary needs or a strict budget. A private itinerary gives you choice, but it does not mean every meal is covered.

Gornja Krušica and Šolta’s slower pace

The final sample stop is Gornja Krušica Beach on Šolta, with about an hour for swimming or sunbathing. Compared with Hvar, Šolta feels quieter and less formal. Rugged rocks, Mediterranean plants, and clear water provide the setting, while the lack of a packed sightseeing agenda gives you room to slow down.

This stop is a good example of the tour’s real strength. You are not trying to collect every major sight in central Dalmatia. You are choosing a cove, stepping into the water, and letting the skipper manage the navigation.

Other possible routes have included Trogir, the Blue Lagoon, Labadusa, Milna, Vis, small harbors, shipwreck snorkeling sites, and secluded swimming spots. You cannot fit all of these into one normal day. If you want Vis and Hvar from Split, allow for long crossings. One group covered 115 nautical miles and still found the fuel bill surprising, so distance matters more than the headline tour price.

What the skippers add to the day

The skipper can make or break a private boat charter. The strongest names connected with this experience include Marko, Duje, Toma, Luka, Marin, Antonio, Ivan, Jakov, and Andro.

The praise is consistent in a few useful areas. Marko has been described as informative and good at planning island stops. Duje has been singled out for looking after both adults and children, while Toma has helped first-time visitors decide how long to spend in Trogir and the coves. Antonio has been credited with adjusting a route in rougher water and arranging lunch in advance.

That does not mean every skipper will plan the same day. You should tell the captain what matters most at the start: swimming, village walks, snorkeling, lunch, or the fastest possible route to a particular island. A group with a 90-year-old family member managed the boat with little help getting on and off, but the experience is still built around boarding from a boat and swimming from rocky coastal areas.

The skipper’s fee is separate from the advertised group price. It is €100 for the medium and large boats, or €150 for the Saxdor. Have cash ready.

Fuel, timing, and the real value

The tour starts at 9 a.m. and returns to the meeting point. The experience can last about three to nine hours, depending on the booking and route. In practice, a full day from Split may provide less than eight hours on the water once departure, return, and island crossings are counted.

That timing matters if you are trying to include Vis, Hvar, Brač, and Šolta in one outing. You may spend much of the day moving at speed rather than swimming or walking. The operator does not visit the Blue Cave because it is far away and often crowded, which is a sensible choice for a flexible local route. If the Blue Cave is your main goal, this is the wrong excursion.

The value is strongest for groups that want privacy and control. Six people sharing a medium boat can split the base cost, skipper’s fee, and fuel. Larger groups can spread the expense of the speedboat or yacht, but they should request a route-specific fuel estimate before committing.

Fuel complaints have centered on surprise rather than the existence of the charge. The charge is listed as an extra, but the final number can still feel painful when you have already paid for the booking. Ask three direct questions: Which boat is confirmed? What route is realistic within the time? What fuel range do you expect for that route?

Who should book this boat tour?

I would recommend it to families, couples traveling with friends, and groups that care more about quiet coves than checking off a fixed list of sights. It is also a good fit if you want a skipper to arrange lunch, find a sheltered swimming place, or change the plan when the wind rises.

It suits confident swimmers and people who enjoy being on a moving boat. Snorkeling gear is included, and the water around the islands can be clear enough to see fish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, starfish, and underwater wrecks. You should still be comfortable with boat ladders, rocky beaches, sun, and changing sea conditions.

I would be more cautious if you have a strict budget, a very young child, or a cruise departure later the same day. Rough water can affect comfort, and a long island route can run close to your return time. The experience allows service animals and is near public transportation, but the information does not promise full accessibility for every boat or shore stop.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted, and poor weather may lead to a new date or a full refund.

Should you book Tamaris Charter?

Book it if you want a private day where the route belongs to your group. The skippers have shown strong ability to plan swimming stops, local meals, village visits, and snorkeling around central Dalmatia. The medium boat is likely the best value for up to six people who want a relaxed day without chasing distant islands.

Book the larger boat or Saxdor when comfort, space, and group size matter more than keeping costs low. Before paying, confirm the exact boat, ask for a fuel estimate, and agree on the islands you can realistically reach from your departure point.

Skip it if the Blue Cave is essential, if you want one all-inclusive price, or if your schedule cannot absorb delays and rough water. For everyone else, this is a strong way to see the coast on your own terms, provided you treat the advertised price as a starting point rather than the final bill.

FAQ

Where does the private boat tour start?

The tour can start from Split or Trogir. The stated start time is 9:00 a.m., and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

How many people can each boat carry?

The 22-foot mid-sized boat carries up to six people. The 24 to 27-foot speedboat carries up to 11, and the 33-foot Saxdor yacht carries up to 10.

Is the itinerary fixed?

No. The itinerary is fully customizable. Example stops include Hvar, Murvica Beach on Brač, Terasa Ciccio, Gornja Krušica on Šolta, Trogir, the Blue Lagoon, and other coastal spots.

Are fuel and the skipper included?

No. The skipper costs €100 for the medium or large boat and €150 for the Saxdor yacht. Estimated fuel costs are €100 to €160 for the medium boat, €150 to €250 for the large boat, and €200 to €400 for the luxury yacht.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and bottled water are included.

Does the tour visit the Blue Cave?

No. The operator does not visit the Blue Cave because of the distance and crowds.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.