Split: Hvar, Pakleni, Brač & Šolta All-inclusive Tour

The best thing about this 10-hour catamaran day is the mix: you get a short, useful introduction to Hvar, then plenty of time for the Adriatic itself. Brač, Pakleni and Šolta provide swim stops, so this is more than a town visit with a quick boat ride attached.

I like the all-inclusive setup, especially when beer, wine, soft drinks, water, coffee, lunch, fruit and cake are covered. I also like the crew’s flexible mood, with hosts such as Mia and Manuela shifting from calm sightseeing to music and dancing on the way back. The main drawback is simple: this is a full day on a boat, and the swimming stops may feel brief if you would rather spend more time ashore.

Key points at a glance

• Three Adriatic swim stops: Swim from the catamaran near Brač, the Pakleni Islands and Šolta, with snorkeling possible at Šolta.
• Hvar gets real attention: A short guided walk is followed by about an hour to explore on your own.
• Food and drinks are covered: Expect a morning pastry, chicken salad and sandwich lunch, fruit, cake, water, soft drinks, coffee, beer and wine.
• A social boat, not a silent cruise: The mood builds from relaxed music to a small dance party on the return to Split.
• A spacious catamaran: The boat can carry up to 78 people, yet the layout gives you places to sit, sunbathe or move around.
• Good value at $116: The price makes more sense if you plan to eat and drink on board instead of buying those extras separately.

A full day from Split with three kinds of island time

This excursion works because it does not ask you to choose between culture and swimming. You begin at Obala Lazareta 1 in Split, board the Summer Blues mega catamaran, and spend the day moving through the islands west of the city.

The schedule includes roughly an hour at Brač for swimming, an hour of cruising toward Hvar, two hours around Hvar for the guided walk and free time, an hour at the Pakleni Islands, another transfer, a 45-minute stop near Šolta, and the return to Split. The exact rhythm can shift with weather and conditions, so do not treat every swim stop as a guaranteed 60 minutes.

You need to arrive 30 minutes before departure. That matters because the boat has a maximum capacity of 78 people, and the best shaded or table seating can go early. I would arrive ready for sun, with your swimsuit already under your clothes if convenient.

The catamaran is designed for a sociable day. You can sit, stretch out, walk around, or join the music later. It is not a private sailing trip and it is not a quiet yacht charter. You will share the day with a mixed crowd that can include couples, families, solo visitors and younger groups.

Brač begins the swimming day

The first major stop is Brač, where you have about an hour to swim. This is a smart opening to the day. You get into the water early, before the long middle stretch of sightseeing and cruising, and the stop helps you settle into the boat’s rhythm.

Swimming directly from the catamaran gives the stop a different feel from a beach visit. You do not need to find a patch of sand or carry beach gear ashore. You simply take a ladder into the sea, float near the boat and climb back aboard when you are ready.

Bring your own towel, sunscreen, hat and sunglasses. Pool noodles and goggles may be available, but I would not count on enough equipment for everyone. One useful practical detail: alcoholic drinks are served only after this first swimming stop. Water, soft drinks and coffee are part of the service from the start.

The water is the star here, not a long visit to Brač itself. You will not have time to explore an inland village or see the island’s famous stonework. If you want a proper Brač sightseeing day, book a different excursion. If you want to start with a swim, this stop does the job well.

Hvar gives the day its cultural center

After the first cruise, you arrive at Hvar, the one stop where you leave the boat for a proper look around. An English-speaking guide leads a short walking tour through the old town and points out the main sights.

The guided portion is brief, but that is part of the design. You get enough context to understand the town’s layout and important places without spending your whole day following a flag through narrow streets. Guides including Manuela have been praised for keeping the walk friendly and clear.

You then have about an hour of free time. Use it to wander the old lanes, take photographs, browse shops, or find a café if you want a pause from the group. The free hour is valuable because a guided walk alone can leave you knowing the facts but not feeling the place.

Do not expect a full Hvar Island tour. You are visiting Hvar Town, not crossing the island to see every beach and village. The walking tour can also be harder to hear if the town is noisy or the group spreads out. Stay close to the guide, especially if you want the historical explanation rather than just directions.

Some people may prefer less time in Hvar and more time swimming. That is a fair criticism if you are primarily booking for the sea. For first-time visitors to Croatia, though, Hvar is the useful middle piece of the day. It breaks up the swimming and gives the trip a sense of place.

Pakleni brings the quieter swim stop

The Pakleni Islands are the scenic pause after Hvar. The catamaran stops in a secluded bay, and you swim from the boat rather than touring the islands on foot.

This is the sort of stop where you will want to leave your phone in a dry bag and pay attention to the water. The appeal is the setting: a sheltered bay, clear sea and fewer demands on your time. There is no guided lecture and no list of sights to rush through.

The crew may serve lunch around this part of the day. The standard meal includes a chicken salad and sandwich, with a cheese alternative available if you pre-order a vegetarian meal. The food is practical rather than restaurant dining, but it is fresh, filling enough for a day in the sun, and included in the price.

The menu is not especially broad. If you have a strong appetite, want a hot meal, or need a special diet beyond the stated vegetarian option, ask about it before booking. Fresh fruit and cake are served as well, and snacks appear during the cruise back.

The boat’s unlimited drinks are a real part of the value. You can have water, soft drinks, coffee, beer and wine, though alcohol begins only after the first swim. The beer and wine are complimentary boat drinks, not a tasting experience, so keep expectations sensible.

Šolta finishes the water time

The final stop is near Šolta, with around 45 minutes for swimming and snorkeling. By this point, the day has already included Hvar and another island swim, so Šolta works as a last chance to get back into the water before the return to Split.

A 45-minute stop can feel just right if you want a final swim without spending the entire afternoon wet and tired. It can feel short if you need time to snorkel, sunbathe and climb back aboard without rushing. The schedule has to keep the catamaran on course, so watch the crew’s instructions and return promptly.

The swimming locations are beautiful, but they are not all radically different. If you are an enthusiastic swimmer, three stops make the price and long day easier to justify. If swimming is only a small part of your holiday, the repeated stops may eventually feel similar.

That is the key choice with this excursion. You are paying for variety in the day, not three completely different island excursions. The islands provide changing views and different bays, but the main activity at Brač, Pakleni and Šolta is still swimming from the boat.

What the all-inclusive price really covers

At $116 per person, this is not the cheapest boat outing from Split. It can still be good value because the cost covers much more than transport.

You receive:

• An English-speaking guide and a short tour of Hvar Town
• Unlimited water, soft drinks, beer and wine
• Coffee
• A morning pastry, including a cheese option
• Chicken salad and sandwich lunch
• Fresh fruit and cake
• Musical entertainment
• Three water stops
• A full day on the catamaran

The food is best viewed as generous boat catering, not a Croatian food tour. The chicken salad and sandwich provide lunch, while fruit, cake and pastry keep the day moving. Some people may want a more substantial meal or more meat, so consider bringing a small extra snack if you usually eat heavily after swimming.

The drink allowance makes a bigger difference than it first appears. On a long summer day, buying water, soft drinks, lunch and a few beers separately can quickly narrow the price gap between this tour and a basic boat trip. You are also paying for the larger catamaran, crew, Hvar guide and organized schedule.

I would not choose this tour solely because of the word all-inclusive. Choose it because you want the convenience of having the day’s basic food and drinks handled for you. That is where the value sits.

Life aboard the Summer Blues catamaran

The boat is one of the stronger parts of the experience. It is described as clean, spacious and smooth, with room to sit, lie down or walk around. Toilets are available and the crew makes an effort to clean them during the day, though one bathroom criticism noted that upkeep can slip after repeated use.

There is no shower listed among the facilities, so plan to towel off rather than rinse properly after each swim. Bring a towel and a change of dry clothing if that will make the return trip more comfortable.

The mood changes as the day goes on. The music can start quietly, then become more party-focused after the swimming and sightseeing are finished. On the return to Split, the crew may clear an area for dancing and turn the boat into a casual sunset party.

This is not nonstop club music, which is good news if you want to talk, read or watch the islands. It is also not a silent cruise. If you dislike amplified music, especially electronic or techno-style tracks, the last part of the journey may not suit you. You can usually remain in a quieter seating area, but music is part of the experience.

The hosts are important here. Mia is frequently singled out for energy and crowd awareness, while Manuela is praised for being helpful and professional. The crew’s job is not just to pour drinks. They keep the schedule moving, explain what is happening and set the tone without forcing everyone to dance.

Timing, comfort and who should book

The day begins and ends at Obala Lazareta 1 in Split. The advertised duration is 10 hours, with departure and return timing set by the day’s schedule. You spend long stretches cruising, so this is best for someone who enjoys being on the water rather than someone who wants constant land exploration.

Families can make it work, and the tour is recommended for children older than two. A family with a seven-month-old reportedly managed the day, but that does not mean the boat will feel easy for every infant. Shade, seating and the repeated boarding and swimming schedule can make a full day demanding with very young children.

Solo visitors can also fit in easily because the hosts create a social atmosphere. Couples and friends will have room to relax together, while the group format gives solo visitors natural company. Groups larger than 10 are not allowed on the daily tours, so a big reunion group will need another arrangement.

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. You should also be comfortable getting into the sea from a boat ladder and moving around a catamaran during stops.

Pack:

• Swimwear and a towel
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses and a sun hat
• Dry clothing for the ride back
• A waterproof pouch for valuables
• A little patience with a full day schedule

The free cancellation policy allows cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Weather matters on an island cruise, so that flexibility is useful. One party was helped to move its booking when the forecast looked poor, though you should still check the provider’s current terms before purchase.

Should you book this Split island tour?

Book it if you want one easy day that combines Hvar, swimming, food, drinks and music. It is especially strong for first-time visitors who want a broad taste of the Dalmatian islands without arranging ferries, restaurants and separate swim trips.

The best fit is an active couple, solo visitor, family with older children, or small group that enjoys a friendly boat atmosphere. You should be happy with a shared excursion, a fixed schedule and swimming stops that may last roughly 30 to 60 minutes depending on the day.

Skip it if you want a quiet private boat, a serious food experience, long hours exploring Hvar, or a wheelchair-accessible activity. Also skip it if you are not interested in swimming, since three water stops shape much of the day.

For $116, I see this as a solid convenience purchase rather than a bargain-basement cruise. Arrive early for a better choice of seating, pre-order the vegetarian meal if needed, and bring proper sun protection. If those details suit you, the Summer Blues catamaran offers a lively and practical way to see a lot of the Adriatic in one long day.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

Meet the guide at Obala Lazareta 1, 21000 Split, Croatia. You should arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

How long does the excursion last?

The tour lasts 10 hours. Starting times can vary, so check availability when booking.

Which islands and stops are included?

The route includes a swimming stop near Brač, a guided visit and free time in Hvar Town, a swimming stop in the Pakleni Islands, and a swimming and snorkeling stop near Šolta.

What food and drinks are included?

The tour includes a pastry with cheese, a chicken salad and sandwich lunch, fruit, cake, coffee, water, soft drinks, beer and wine. Alcoholic drinks are served after the first swimming stop.

Can I request a vegetarian meal?

Yes. You can pre-order a vegetarian cheese meal instead of the chicken option.

Is the tour suitable for children and wheelchair users?

The activity is recommended for children over two years old, but it is not suitable for wheelchair users.