Medulin: Private Glass Bottom Boat Tour to Levan Island

Sea time with a private boat. This six-hour outing from Medulin combines swimming at Cape Kamenjak, a look into Golumbera cave, a slow cruise past Porer lighthouse, and a long beach break on Levan Island. I especially like the private boat for groups of up to 15 and the chance to reach several islands and coves in one afternoon without following a large group.

The glass-bottom boat adds a simple but useful touch, letting you watch fish near the boat while you rest onboard. I also like that drinks, music, fuel, a toilet, and a private skipper are included. The main point to consider is the price: at $752.44 per group, it is good value for a full group, but costly for only two or three people. Food is not included, so plan carefully if you expect lunch.

Key Points to Know Before You Book

• Cape Kamenjak includes a one-hour swim stop, with time to swim under the cliffs toward Golumbera cave, jump from the boat, watch fish, or stay dry onboard.
• Porer lighthouse is a photo stop only. The boat cannot dock, but the captain sails close enough for clear views of the 35-meter tower and rocky islet.
• Levan Island provides the longest break, about three hours, with sandy beach, clear water, beach bars, restaurants, umbrellas, and lounge chairs available for rent.
• The tour begins at 1:00 pm in Medulin and returns to the same meeting point after roughly six hours.
• Drinks, music, a toilet, and a private skipper are included, while food is not officially included.
• The route depends on the sea. The captain may change or cancel the trip if weather or sea conditions make the planned route unsafe.

Setting Out From Medulin at 1:00 pm

The meeting point is Tajana & Zlatni Rat Excursions on Riva in Medulin. You meet there at 1:00 pm, and the tour ends back at the same spot. Since the boat returns to its starting point, you do not need to arrange a second pickup or find your way home from another harbor.

The private format is the central advantage. Your group alone takes part, with capacity for as many as 15 people. That makes the boat practical for a family, a group of friends, or a small celebration. It also gives you more breathing room than a standard shared excursion, although the exact amount of personal space depends on how many people are in your party.

The boat has a glass-bottom section, which is handy during slower stretches and while anchored for swimming. You should not expect a full underwater tour through glass. Think of it as an extra way to watch the water and fish while you are seated or taking a break from swimming.

Drinks are included, along with music and a toilet. Those details matter on a six-hour trip, especially when the afternoon is warm and you are spending long periods away from land. Food is not included in the stated package. One account praised a fish lunch served onboard and unlimited drinks, but the formal details list food as excluded, so I would confirm the current food arrangement before relying on lunch being provided.

Cape Kamenjak and the One-Hour Golumbera Stop

The first major stop is Cape Kamenjak, part of Kamenjak National Park. The boat pauses for about an hour, giving you a chance to swim in clear water near the cliffs and explore the area around Golumbera cave.

The cave is reached from the water beneath the cliffs. If sea conditions and your swimming ability allow, you can swim toward its opening and see the darker interior. This is the most active part of the trip, so bring a swimsuit and be ready to spend time in the water rather than simply looking at the coast from the boat.

You also have choices. You can jump from the boat, swim around, watch fish through the glass bottom, or remain onboard. That flexibility makes the stop work well for mixed groups, since confident swimmers do not have to wait for everyone else, and anyone who prefers not to enter the water can still enjoy the setting.

The one-hour limit is worth noting. It is enough for a refreshing swim and a look toward the cave, but it is not a long visit to Kamenjak. You will not have time for an extended exploration of the park on foot. This is a boat-based view of the cape, not a land tour.

The water and cliffs are the real attraction here. The stop gives you a change of pace early in the afternoon, before the longer cruise toward Levan. If you have children in your group, the option to stay onboard is useful, and one account specifically found the outing suitable for a family with kids.

Porer Lighthouse From the Water

After the Kamenjak stop, the boat heads toward Porer lighthouse, southwest of Istria’s southernmost cape. The lighthouse was built in 1846 during the Austro-Hungarian period and occupies a small rocky islet about 2.5 kilometers from the mainland.

The islet is an exposed 80-meter-wide cliff, with a 35-meter lighthouse tower rising above the stone building. The site also has three small berths and a ground-floor building with two four-bed apartments. These details help explain why the lighthouse looks more like a remote outpost than a normal seaside attraction.

You cannot dock at Porer during this tour. Instead, the boat sails slowly and as close to the cliffs as possible, allowing time for photographs. That is the right way to approach this landmark. The lighthouse is best appreciated from the water, where you can see its isolation and the rough rock around it.

If you are expecting to step ashore, this will feel limited. If you want a striking photograph and a short look at an unusual piece of maritime architecture, the stop does its job. Keep your camera ready, since the boat does not remain docked for a long visit.

The Slow Cruise Past Bodulaš, Ceja, and Finera

The journey toward Levan is not just transportation between two stops. The boat moves slowly past islands including Bodulaš, Ceja, and Finera, along with smaller coves that are difficult to appreciate from a road or busy resort waterfront.

This part of the trip suits you if you enjoy being on the water without needing constant activity. Music is included, drinks are available, and the private skipper can guide the boat through the archipelago. The pace leaves room for photographs and for simply watching the shoreline change.

There is also a chance of seeing dolphins. The tour description presents this as something to watch for, not a guaranteed sighting. I would treat dolphins as a pleasant bonus rather than a promise. The same goes for sea conditions, which can affect both the route and the quality of the ride.

The glass bottom is most useful during these slower sections. You may spot fish beneath the boat, particularly when the boat is paused or moving at a gentle speed. It will not replace snorkeling, but it gives non-swimmers a way to stay connected to the water.

This cruise also shows why a private trip can be worth considering. You are not simply being taken to one beach and returned. The route links several natural and historic sights, with time to stop, swim, photograph, and rest.

Three Hours on Levan Island

Levan is the main destination and the longest stop of the day. It is the northernmost island in this group and the only sandy island on the route, which gives it a different feel from the rocky coast and cliff edges seen earlier.

The planned break lasts about three hours. That is enough time to swim, sunbathe, walk along the sand, and have a drink without feeling hurried. The clear water is the main reason to come ashore, while the sand makes Levan a more comfortable place to spend an afternoon than a rough rocky inlet.

You will find three beach bars, restaurants, and the option to rent beach umbrellas and lounge chairs. This makes Levan easy to use as a proper beach stop rather than a quick photo visit. You can keep things simple with a swim and sun, or buy something cold and settle in for a longer rest.

Because food is not included in the formal tour details, budget separately for anything you eat or drink on the island. Drinks are included on the boat, but the island’s bars and restaurants are separate businesses. The existence of food there is convenient, though it does not mean your meal is part of the tour price.

A three-hour stop can be a strength or a weakness. If you want a relaxed beach afternoon, it is ideal. If you prefer constant sightseeing, you may find the final section slow. The tour gives you a full hour at Kamenjak and then a long stay at Levan, so it is designed for swimming and downtime, not for collecting as many landmarks as possible.

What the $752.44 Group Price Really Buys

The listed cost is $752.44 for the whole group, with up to 15 people allowed. At the full capacity, that works out to about $50.16 per person for approximately six hours. That is a reasonable figure for a private boat, skipper, fuel, drinks, and a route covering Kamenjak, Porer, several islands, and Levan.

The value changes quickly with group size. For six people, the cost is about $125 per person. For two people, it is roughly $376 each. I would recommend this tour most strongly when several people can share the boat.

A private trip also gives you something a standard low-cost boat ride may not: your group has the entire outing together, with no unrelated passengers setting the pace. You still follow the captain’s safety decisions and planned route, but the format is more personal and less anonymous.

The included toilet is a practical benefit on a six-hour boat trip. Music and drinks help make the long cruise comfortable, while the skipper handles navigation and the route. Food being excluded keeps the package from being fully all-inclusive, so factor in a meal on Levan or bring whatever the operator allows.

The Captain, Safety, and Sea Conditions

The captain has the final say if weather or sea conditions are poor. The route may be changed, or the entire excursion may be canceled, for the safety of everyone onboard. That matters here because the plan includes open-water travel, cliffside swimming, and a small offshore lighthouse.

A route change is not necessarily a failure. It may mean less time at one stop or a different course through the archipelago. The captain’s decision should take priority over a fixed sightseeing plan, particularly when swimming near cliffs and traveling between islands.

The tour requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather cancels the trip, you can receive a different date or a full refund. If the minimum number is not reached, the alternatives are a different date, another experience, or a full refund.

For normal cancellations, you need to cancel at least 24 hours before the 1:00 pm start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.

Who Will Enjoy This Medulin Boat Trip Most?

I would choose this outing for a group that wants a private day on the water with a mix of activity and rest. Families benefit from the choice between swimming and staying onboard, while friends can divide their time between the cave, boat deck, beach, and bars.

It also suits people who want to see more than one part of the Medulin archipelago without arranging several separate outings. You get a natural park, a cave, a historic lighthouse, island views, and a sandy beach in one afternoon.

You may want a different tour if your main goal is a long guided visit on land, a serious snorkeling program, or a guaranteed dolphin sighting. The cave stop is short, the lighthouse is viewed from the boat, and the dolphin encounter is only a possibility.

Language may also matter. One account praised the staff member Tini for being kind and courteous, but also noted that more explanation in the chosen language would have helped. If detailed commentary is important to you, ask about available language support before booking.

Should You Book It?

Book this private Medulin trip if you can fill much of the boat and want a relaxed mix of swimming, island scenery, and beach time. The strongest parts are the one-hour Kamenjak stop, the slow approach to Porer lighthouse, and the generous three-hour stay on sandy Levan Island.

The tour is less compelling for a small party on a tight budget, or for anyone expecting food, a lighthouse landing, or a highly structured guided talk. Check the meal arrangement, bring swimwear, and keep your schedule flexible in case the captain changes the route.

For a family or group of friends, this is a practical way to turn one afternoon in Medulin into a proper Adriatic outing, with enough free time to enjoy the water instead of rushing from stop to stop.

FAQ

Where does the boat tour start and finish?

The tour starts at Tajana & Zlatni Rat Excursions on Riva in Medulin, Croatia. It ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 1:00 pm. The trip lasts approximately six hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and the boat can accommodate up to 15 people.

Is food included?

Food is not included in the stated tour inclusions. Restaurants and beach bars are available on Levan Island, and one account mentioned fish served onboard, so confirm the current food arrangement before departure.

Can the boat dock at Porer lighthouse?

No. The boat cannot dock at the lighthouse, but it sails slowly and close to the cliffs so you can take photographs.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The captain may change the route or cancel the excursion if weather or sea conditions are unsafe. If the tour is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered another date or a full refund.