Private Speedboat Tour | Caves Beaches Islands and more

See Dubrovnik from the water. This private speedboat trip gives you your own skipper, flexible stops, and a close look at the Elaphiti Islands, caves, beaches, and swimming bays. I especially like the chance to shape the day around your interests and the included snorkeling gear, drinks, and towels. The main drawback is that visiting all four islands in six hours is unrealistic once boat travel and time ashore are counted.

The tour is run by local brothers through Nono Travel, with Vincenzo receiving especially warm praise for his friendly manner, boat handling, and island knowledge. I also like the small-group setup, which works well for families and friends. Just remember that lunch, sunscreen, swimwear, and the Lokrum admission fee cost extra, and the tour depends on good weather.

Key points at a glance

• Kolocep is the local highlight: The skipper’s home island offers swimming bays, cliffs, caves, and a more personal introduction to the area.
• The schedule is yours to shape: You can focus on beaches, snorkeling, caves, historic sights, food, or fast boat rides.
• Sunj Beach gives Lopud a classic beach stop: Lopud also offers a botanical garden, monastery, and places to eat.
• Caves are best approached with realistic expectations: The Blue Cave can be spectacular, but it may be crowded with boats and swimmers.
• The price works best for a full group: At $302.34 for up to six people, the per-person cost drops sharply when shared.
• Lokrum may deserve a separate visit: Its entry fee includes the ferry, so using the ferry later can save valuable private boat time.

What this private Dubrovnik boat trip is really like

This is not a fixed sightseeing cruise where everyone follows the same script. It is a private boat hire with a skipper who takes your group around the islands and adjusts the day as you go.

That distinction matters. You can ask for more swimming, spend longer at a beach, stop for lunch, visit historic sites, or skip a crowded cave. If your group has mixed interests, such as parents who want scenery and teenagers who want speed and swimming, the flexible format is a real advantage.

The boat departs from Lapadska obala 4 in Dubrovnik and returns there at the end of the hire. Some arrangements include pickup from a hotel or cruise-port area, but confirm this with Nono Travel before you go. One group was collected near its hotel and taken to the new port, while another was picked up near a cruise port.

The advertised duration ranges from two to eight hours. A six-hour booking is enough for a rewarding day on the water, but not for a thorough visit to Kolocep, Lopud, Sipan, and Lokrum. Boat time between islands takes a meaningful part of the day. You will get more from the tour by choosing a few priorities rather than trying to collect four island names.

Why Kolocep makes the best first stop

Kolocep is the southernmost inhabited island in Croatia, and it is also the skipper Vincenzo’s home island. That local connection gives the stop more character than a simple photo pause. You can ask about the island while seeing its natural attractions from someone who knows the coast well.

The planned stop lasts about an hour. Depending on your preference, that can mean a short walk, a cliff viewpoint, a swim, or a visit to one of the island’s caves and bays.

One useful example comes from a six-hour outing. The group walked toward the top of the cliffs to see a beautiful bay, then chose to return to the boat and swim instead. The skipper suggested a good snorkeling spot, where they swam through rocky arches and saw fish.

That is the strength of this tour. A rigid schedule might have forced the group to continue walking, but here they could change plans without wasting the day.

Kolocep is also connected with the Blue Cave and Three Green Caves. These names sound like the main event, but conditions can change quickly. The Blue Cave may have ten or more boats outside, with many people waiting or swimming inside. If you dislike crowds or are not a confident swimmer, ask Vincenzo about quieter caves and bays.

The boat includes snorkeling equipment, though you can bring your own if you prefer. Towels and drinks are also supplied. Bring sunscreen and your own swimsuit, since neither is included.

Lopud combines Sunj Beach with old Dubrovnik Republic history

Lopud offers the broadest mix of activities. Its Sunj Beach is the obvious draw for anyone who wants sand and a swim, while the island also has historic and garden sights.

You can walk through a small botanical garden and continue toward a monastery. The monastery may be undergoing renovation, so do not expect every interior area to be open. Even so, the walk gives you a break from the boat and adds some cultural interest to a day that could otherwise become one long swim stop.

Lopud is also a sensible place for lunch. Vincenzo can recommend a restaurant, and one group enjoyed fresh sea bass baked in a salt crust with Swiss chard, potatoes, and salad. Lunch is not included in the tour price, so ask about menu prices before ordering.

The practical issue is time. If you spend an hour at Kolocep, travel to Lopud, walk to the garden and monastery, eat lunch, and enjoy Sunj Beach, you may have little time left for Sipan or Lokrum. That is not a flaw in Lopud. It simply means you need to decide if you prefer a relaxed island day or a rapid tour of several places.

Sipan is best for food and a quieter bay

Sipan is the largest of the Elaphiti Islands included in the route. The suggested stop lasts about 90 minutes, giving you time to explore a little and perhaps eat local food.

The island’s Luka area is described as a secluded bay with views and swimming spots. If your group wants a calmer setting after the more familiar beach and cave stops, this may be the right choice.

Sipan is not the easiest stop to squeeze into a short booking. You need travel time, time to get off the boat, and enough time to make the visit feel worthwhile. If Sipan matters to you, tell the skipper before departure and make it one of the day’s main goals.

The tour’s greatest asset is that you can make this call based on the weather, sea conditions, and your mood. You might begin with a plan for all four islands and later decide that a long swim or a good lunch matters more.

Lokrum offers ruins, peacocks, and Game of Thrones sights

Lokrum sits just offshore from Dubrovnik’s Old Town, making it easy to recognize from the water. Its attractions include the remains of an old monastery, a botanical garden, peacocks, swimming areas, the Fort Royal viewpoint, and props connected with Game of Thrones.

Admission is not included. The entry fee includes the ferry, even if you reach Lokrum by private boat. That detail can shape your planning.

One smart option is to skip Lokrum during the private hire and visit it separately by ferry. You can then spend as long as you like on the island without using the boat’s paid time. A six-hour group did exactly this, taking the ferry back to the Old Town after seeing the garden, Game of Thrones chair, fort, and swimming area.

This makes Lokrum slightly different from the other stops. It is close enough to Dubrovnik for a separate half-day visit, while Kolocep and Sipan are better suited to a boat excursion.

If you do include Lokrum in the private trip, make sure you understand how much time remains. One group spent about an hour traveling there from Lopud, which used up the rest of its six-hour hire. The island was still worth visiting, but Sipan had to be dropped from the plan.

The Blue Cave is striking, but crowds can change the mood

The caves are a major reason to book this excursion, but you should picture them as natural sites rather than private discoveries. The Blue Cave can attract many boats, especially when several excursions arrive at once.

Crowding can mean swimmers waiting in the water, people using pool noodles, noise echoing inside the cave, and limited room to move. A person who is not comfortable in the water may find the entrance stressful.

The skipper’s local judgment helps here. He can point out other caves, including places where sailors once sheltered boats during storms and a cave associated with spear fishing. Ask what conditions are like on the day instead of assuming the most famous cave will be the best stop.

The Three Green Caves may also have a narrow entrance and heavy boat traffic. You can look first and decide. Since this is a private trip, your group does not have to force itself into a crowded spot simply because it appeared in the plan.

A skipper can make or break the day

The strongest part of this experience is the skipper. Vincenzo is repeatedly praised for his English, calm boat handling, local pride, and willingness to adjust the route.

That flexibility is not just pleasant. It helps with practical decisions. He can suggest where to eat, identify a better swimming bay, explain the islands, and steer you away from a cave when conditions or crowds make it less appealing.

Families with teenagers may appreciate the speedboat itself. One family with four teenage boys found the fast rides and swimming stops to be the best part of its holiday. At the same time, the boat can be handled carefully when the sea is choppy. One outing had rougher water, but the skipper took care of the group.

Tell him clearly what you want. Say if you prefer history, swimming, snorkeling, food, beaches, or speed. Also speak up if someone in your group gets uncomfortable on choppy water or does not swim confidently.

How much value do you get for $302.34?

The listed price is $302.34 per group of up to six people. For six, that works out to roughly $50 per person before lunch and any Lokrum admission. For four people, it is about $76 each. For two, it becomes about $151 each.

That makes the tour particularly good value for a full family or friend group. You are paying for a private boat, fuel, skipper, towels, drinks, and snorkeling equipment rather than six separate seats on a shared cruise.

The value also comes from control. You are not locked into a group schedule or forced to spend the same amount of time at every island. If the weather is good and your group enjoys swimming, you can make the day active and personal.

The price is harder to justify for two people who mainly want transport to one beach. In that case, compare the cost with a shorter booking or another local boat option. The experience earns its price when you use the boat for several hours and take advantage of the skipper’s local suggestions.

Lunch is extra, as are sunscreen, swimwear, and Lokrum admission. Drinks are included, but the provided information does not specify the full selection, so do not plan on a particular beverage.

What to bring and how to plan your time

Wear swimwear under easy clothing and bring sunscreen. Towels and snorkeling equipment are supplied, though you can bring personal gear if you have it.

Before the boat leaves, agree on two or three priorities. A practical six-hour plan might be:

• Kolocep for a short walk and swim
• Lopud for Sunj Beach, a garden, monastery walk, and lunch
• A choice between Sipan and Lokrum

You can replace any of these with cave visits if conditions are good. Trying to fit in every named island may leave you rushing from one stop to the next.

Ask about hotel or port pickup in advance if that matters to you. The stated meeting point is Lapadska obala 4, and the activity ends there, but pickup arrangements may vary.

The tour is offered in English. Confirmation arrives at booking, service animals are allowed, and the activity is near public transportation. Most people can take part, but remember that swimming into caves and moving around a speedboat require comfort with the conditions on the day.

Who will enjoy this boat tour most?

This is a strong choice for families, couples, and groups of friends who want a private day with room to change plans. It suits people who would rather swim in a small bay than listen to a fixed commentary from a large boat.

It is also good for groups with different tastes. One person can enjoy island history, another can snorkel, and another can simply sit on the boat and watch Dubrovnik from offshore.

You should think twice if you want a slow, detailed visit to every island. You should also be cautious about booking a tight schedule if anyone in your group is a weak swimmer, dislikes choppy water, or needs frequent breaks.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel it, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Should you book it?

Book this private speedboat tour if you want flexibility, swimming, caves, and local guidance more than a strict sightseeing checklist. Vincenzo’s role is central to the experience, and his ability to tailor the route can turn a standard boat outing into a day that fits your group.

For the best value, bring five or six people, book at least six hours, and decide in advance which two or three stops matter most. Give Lokrum its own ferry visit if you want time for the fort, garden, peacocks, and swimming areas.

Skip it if your main goal is to see every island briefly or if you need a guaranteed cave experience without crowds. For most groups who want to see Dubrovnik from the sea and set their own pace, this is one of the more useful ways to spend a day on the coast.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is Lapadska obala 4, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the tour last?

The tour can last from approximately two to eight hours. A six-hour booking is commonly used, but the exact duration depends on the option you select.

How many people can join the private tour?

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

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with towels and drinks.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so you should budget separately if you plan to eat on an island.

Is Lokrum admission included?

No. Entry to Lokrum is not included in the tour price.

Can I choose which islands to visit?

The tour is private and can be adjusted to your group’s preferences. You should discuss your priorities with the skipper, since visiting all four listed islands in a short booking may not be practical.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.