Islands & Caves Private Tour with pickup, drinks & fuel included

Dubrovnik’s best escape from city streets is out on the water, where you can swim through the Blue Cave, poke into three green caves, and spend a full day among the Elaphiti Islands. This private boat tour covers Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan without putting you in a large group.

I like the flexible pace. Skippers such as Bruno and Kiko adjust the day to suit your group, and the boat can pause longer for swimming or move on when you have had enough. I also like the practical inclusions: fuel, drinks, snorkeling gear, lifejackets, and pickup are covered. The main drawback is weather. A windy day can leave you quite wet, and rough conditions may force a cancellation or change of date.

Key points to know before you book

• Three islands in one day: Visit Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan, with time for beaches, villages, caves, and swimming.
• Private boat for up to six: Your group has the boat to itself, which makes the schedule easier to adjust.
• Seven water and island stops: The route includes Dubrovnik’s Blue Cave, Kolocep’s green caves, Sunj Beach, Lopud village, Suđurađ on Sipan, and Sjekirica Cove.
• Drinks and fuel included: Bottled water, soda, alcoholic drinks, fuel, snorkeling equipment, and lifejackets are part of the price.
• Lunch is separate: The skipper can recommend a restaurant, arrange a reservation, and take you there by boat.
• Strong skipper praise: Bruno is repeatedly singled out for being accommodating, while Kiko is praised for hotel pickup and personal service.

A full day among Dubrovnik’s three Elaphiti Islands

This is not a quick harbor cruise. At roughly eight hours and 20 minutes, it gives you a proper day on the sea, with a mix of active stops and easy beach time.

The three islands each offer a different feel. Kolocep is the place for caves and a small fishing village. Lopud combines the famous sandy Sunj Beach with a longer village stop and historic buildings. Sipan, the largest of the three, brings a quieter final island stop before one more swim at Sjekirica Cove.

The route works best for a group that wants variety. You are not spending the entire day at one beach, but you are also not being rushed from one photo stop to the next. Since the boat is private, you can tell the skipper what matters most to you. If your group loves swimming, ask for more water time. If you want to walk around Lopud, keep the longer island visit.

Pickup is offered, and the private transportation makes this easier than arranging your own way to the marina. One guest specifically described being picked up and dropped off at a hotel, while another appreciated pickup at a private home. The exact pickup details should be confirmed when you book.

Swimming through Dubrovnik’s Blue Cave

The first stop is Dubrovnik’s Blue Cave, reached only by boat. You swim underwater through the entrance and into the cave, where the clear water creates the blue effect that gives the place its name.

You receive snorkeling equipment, so you do not need to bring your own mask and snorkel. Lifejackets are also included. The listed visit lasts about 30 minutes, which is enough time to swim in the cave without turning the first stop into a long wait.

This stop is weather-dependent in a very real way. You need to be comfortable getting into the sea, and the water may feel less inviting if the wind picks up. If your group includes children or anyone who is not a strong swimmer, use the supplied lifejackets and follow the skipper’s instructions.

The Blue Cave is a strong opening because it gets you into the water quickly. It also gives you a clear sense of what this day is about: small sea spaces, clear water, and places that are difficult to reach without a boat.

Kolocep’s three green caves and fishing village

Kolocep is only a short ride from the Blue Cave, yet it adds a different set of water stops. Here you visit three green caves.

The first cave is described as large and easy to enter by swimming, making it a useful warm-up. The second is darker and more interesting, while the third adds another cave stop to the sequence. The listed cave visit lasts around 45 minutes.

The caves are not simply look-from-the-boat stops. You get into the water and swim inside, so bring a swimsuit and expect to get wet. On a windy day, spray can reach the boat too. This is one reason the tour is best for people who are happy with an active sea day rather than a dry sightseeing cruise.

After the caves, the boat stops at a small fishing village on Kolocep for about 45 minutes. You can walk around, visit the small shop, or sit at the coffee bar beside the sea. This brief pause gives the day some local texture. It is also a good time to dry off, have a drink, and enjoy a slower pace before the next island.

Do not expect a large town or a long list of attractions here. The appeal is modest: a small village, a coffee by the water, and a break from the boat.

Sunj Beach on Lopud is the family-friendly pause

Sunj Beach is the most famous sandy beach in Dubrovnik’s island group, and it provides a welcome change from the rocky coves and cave entrances earlier in the day.

The beach has a broad shallow area, which makes it especially useful for families with children. You can swim without immediately moving into deep water, although you should still supervise children and use the supplied safety equipment as needed.

You will find bars and restaurants, along with sun beds and umbrellas. That makes Sunj easier than a completely undeveloped cove, but it also means it can feel less secluded. The tradeoff is simple: you get sand, food and drink options, and comfortable beach facilities, but not total isolation.

The planned stop lasts about an hour. That is enough for a swim and some sun, though it may feel short if your group wants a long beach afternoon. If Sunj is your top priority, tell the skipper early. The private format gives you some room to shape the day, but the tour also has several other scheduled stops.

Three hours to explore Lopud village

The longest stop is on Lopud, with about three hours to explore the island’s other side and its village. This is where the tour moves beyond swimming and gives you time to walk.

You can visit the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries and explore the village area. If you choose a golf cart tour, that may alter how you use this stop, but the boat itinerary can also leave you at the small harbor in the village for independent exploring.

Three hours is valuable here because you do not have to choose between a quick walk and a relaxed meal or coffee. You can set your own rhythm. Some groups will want to see the religious buildings and village streets. Others will prefer a long lunch and a quiet stroll.

This is also the stop where lunch planning matters. Lunch is not included in the tour price. The crew can recommend restaurants, book a table, and take you there by boat, which is useful in a small island setting where arriving without a plan may limit your choices.

One of the strongest practical points from the service is this willingness to help with lunch. Bruno is specifically praised for calling in a reservation, and that kind of assistance can save you time on a full day when you do not want to search for a table yourself.

Sipan and the village of Suđurađ

Sipan is the largest of the Elaphiti Islands, and the tour gives you about 45 minutes there. The usual stop is Suđurađ, another small fishing village.

You can walk around the village and get a different view of island life after the busier beach stop on Lopud. The short timing means you should keep your plans simple. This is a good place for a brief stroll and a look around, not a major island expedition.

Another option is Bowa restaurant, set in one of Sipan’s bays. The tour information presents it as an alternative destination, so ask about this option when arranging your day. Since lunch is not included, Bowa may suit a group that wants to make its meal part of the sea outing, but confirm the plan and restaurant arrangements in advance.

Sipan helps keep the tour from becoming only a cave-and-beach trip. You get a small village, a possible restaurant stop, and a sense of the island group’s quieter side.

Sjekirica Cove finishes the day in the water

Before returning, the boat stops at Sjekirica Cove for about an hour. This is a swimming and snorkeling stop with clear water, shallow sections, and plenty of sea vegetation.

The shallow water makes it a comfortable place to snorkel at the end of the day, when you may prefer an easy final swim rather than another long walk. The snorkeling equipment is included, so you can use the boat’s gear without packing your own.

Sjekirica is a good final stop because it leaves room for one more swim after the villages and beach. It also gives you a calmer way to finish than ending directly after a long transfer.

As with the other water stops, conditions matter. Wind can make the ride and swimming less pleasant, and one guest specifically warned that you can get quite wet on a windy day. Pack with that in mind, even though the vehicle is air-conditioned and the tour provides drinks.

What the private format is really worth

The price is $429.22 per group of up to six people. With six people, that works out to about $71.54 per person for more than eight hours. For a couple or a smaller group, the per-person cost rises, but you still get a private boat rather than a shared excursion.

The value comes from what is bundled into the day. Fuel is included, which removes a common extra cost on a boat trip. You also get bottled water, soda, alcoholic drinks, snorkeling equipment, lifejackets, private transportation, and an air-conditioned vehicle.

Lunch is the main additional expense. You can ask the crew to recommend a restaurant and arrange a reservation, but you pay for the meal yourself. If you compare this with building your own day through separate transport, boat hire, equipment, and restaurant planning, the private package is easier to justify for a full group.

The private setup matters most when people in your group want different things. You can spend longer swimming, adjust your time in the village, or ask about a restaurant option. That flexibility is one of the main reasons to choose this over a lower-cost shared boat.

Skippers who shape the day

The service is provided by AdriaWave Dubrovnik, and several skipper names come up in the feedback. Bruno is praised for accommodating the group’s preferred style of day and for helping with a lunch reservation. Kiko is praised for hotel pickup, personal service, and recommendations. Pasko, the owner, is described as helpful with arrangements.

You should not assume you will get a specific skipper unless the company confirms it. Still, these details show what to ask for when booking: explain whether your group cares most about swimming, beaches, village walks, or lunch, and ask how the skipper will structure the stops.

The boat is for your group alone, up to six people. That gives you a more personal setting and avoids having strangers determine every stop. It does not mean the day is fully unstructured, since the route includes several planned places and the total time is fixed.

Weather, comfort, and practical limits

This tour requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

The water activities require a reasonable level of comfort in the sea. Most people can participate, but the day includes swimming into caves, snorkeling, and getting on and off the boat at beaches and coves. Lifejackets are provided.

Expect a wet day. Wind can make spray reach the boat, and one person specifically found the ride wet when conditions were poor. Wear swim clothes from the start, protect anything that should stay dry, and use the included drinks as a reason to take regular breaks.

Pickup is available, and the experience includes private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the tour is near public transportation. Those details make the outing easier to arrange around a Dubrovnik stay, though your exact pickup point should be settled before the day.

Who should book this island tour?

I would choose this tour for a group of up to six that wants a full day of sea time without planning every boat detail alone. It suits families because of Sunj Beach’s shallow water, couples who want a private outing, and friends who want caves, swimming, drinks, and village stops in one package.

I would think twice if you dislike getting wet, prefer a short sightseeing cruise, or want lunch included in the upfront price. The route is active, and the weather can change the feel of the day.

For a full group, the price is strong because it includes fuel, equipment, drinks, pickup, and a private skipper. Ask about your preferred guide, tell the company how much swimming you want, and plan your lunch before departure. If that sounds like your kind of Dubrovnik day, this is a practical and varied way to reach the Elaphiti Islands.

FAQ

How long does the private island tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 8 hours and 20 minutes.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route visits Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan, three of the Elaphiti Islands near Dubrovnik.

Is pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and the experience includes private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. The crew can recommend restaurants, book a table, and take you there by boat.

Are drinks and snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Bottled water, soda, alcoholic beverages, snorkeling equipment, fuel, and lifejackets are included.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers one private group of up to six people.

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.