Three Island Boat Tour With Lunch

The best part of this eight-hour boat day is the change of pace. You leave Dubrovnik’s stone streets behind and spend the day moving between the Elaphiti Islands, with enough free time to swim, walk, eat, and simply sit in the shade. I especially like the roomy boat, clear views from the seats, and the steady supply of drinks. The main catch is that you need to watch the departure times at each island, since the boat will not wait indefinitely.

I also like the practical setup: lunch is included, three island stops give the day some variety, and hotel pickup can remove much of the morning fuss. The trip is not a quiet private cruise, and the schedule gives you only about an hour on Sipan and Kolocep, so this suits you best if you want a pleasant overview rather than a slow, in-depth visit.

Key points at a glance

• Three very different island stops: Lopud receives the longest visit, while Sipan and Kolocep offer shorter breaks for walks, photos, and swimming.
• Sunj Beach option on Lopud: This sandy beach is a major reason to bring swimwear and allow time for a proper swim.
• Food and drinks are part of the day: Lunch, bottled water, soft drinks, white wine, and brandy are included.
• A comfortable boat for a full day: The boat has shade, clean toilets, and seating with broad views.
• Helpful English-speaking service: Guide Emily is specifically praised for staying attentive throughout the trip.
• Simple meeting point: Meet at 8:45 at the bus stop across from the University building and look for the large blue boat named Emili.

Why this boat trip works as a Dubrovnik break

Dubrovnik can be intense. The old center is beautiful, but its stone lanes and busy visitor flow are not where you want to spend every hour of a summer day. This cruise gives you a full day outside the city without asking you to plan ferries, restaurants, beach transfers, or separate island visits.

The appeal is not just the scenery from the water. You get three chances to step ashore, plus time to swim and snorkel. The pace feels forgiving because the boat itself becomes part of the experience. You can sit in the shade, watch the coast slide past, and accept a drink without keeping an eye on a complicated transport plan.

At $76 per person, the price is reasonable for a full-day outing that includes lunch, drinks, a guide, and activities. A private boat would cost far more, while arranging separate island transport and meals could quickly add up. You are paying for convenience as much as for sightseeing.

Still, be clear about what this is. It is a shared boat tour with a planned route, not a custom sailing day. You will not have unlimited time on each island, and pickup is not available throughout the wider Dubrovnik-Neretva County. It is limited to the Dubrovnik city area when you select that option.

Meeting the blue boat Emili at 8:45

The stated meeting time is 8:45 at the bus stop across from the University building. Look for the large blue boat named Emili. The boat is not expected to arrive before 8:45, so arriving much earlier will not necessarily help.

Pickup from accommodation in the City of Dubrovnik area is available only if you choose the pickup option. Pickup is not provided for locations outside the Dubrovnik city area, and the service does not cover a pickup point less than 1,000 meters from the starting point. Check the exact option carefully when booking.

That small bit of planning matters. This is a long day, and a rushed start can sour the mood before you even reach the islands. Keep your meeting details handy, and listen closely to the guide’s instructions about return times at every stop.

One important practical lesson comes from the schedule itself: the boat departs on time from the islands. Do not wander far from the quay unless you know exactly when and where to return. If you are prone to losing track of time on a beach, set an alarm on your phone.

The 45-minute cruise out from Dubrovnik

The first cruise lasts about 45 minutes. It gives you time to settle into the boat, look back toward Dubrovnik, and enjoy the change from city walls to open water.

The boat is described as spacious, clean, and well shaded, with clean toilets and good views from all seats. That is important on a full-day excursion. A cramped boat can make eight hours feel long, while shade and a reliable place to sit make the ride much easier.

This is also when you can get familiar with the day’s rhythm. Drinks are available throughout the trip, and lunch is included later. The guide provides information about each island as you visit it, so you receive some orientation without having to prepare a detailed route yourself.

If you want the best views, move around when it is practical, but do not forget that shade becomes valuable once the sun is high. Bring sunscreen and a hat. Those items are not listed as included, and you will be outside for much of the day.

Lopud and the sandy sweep of Sunj Beach

Lopud receives roughly three hours, making it the main stop. You have time for a guided visit, a walk, photos, swimming, snorkeling, and general free time. This longer pause gives the day its most useful balance: you can choose activity instead of being pushed from one sight to the next.

The big draw is Sunj sandy beach. Sandy beaches are not always easy to find along the rocky Adriatic coast, so this stop is especially appealing if you want a classic beach break rather than only a swim from the boat. Bring a swimsuit, since a swimsuit is not included, and pack any personal beach items you need.

You can treat Lopud in several ways. If you want movement, take a walk and see more of the island. If the weather is warm, use the time for swimming and snorkeling. If you have had enough sightseeing, stay near the beach or return to the boat and enjoy the shade.

The tradeoff is choice. Three hours sounds generous, but it can pass quickly if you want both a full walk and a long swim. Decide early what matters most to you. I would put Sunj Beach first if sand and swimming are your priorities, then use the remaining time for a short walk or scenic stop.

The island also gives you the best chance to slow down. Sipan and Kolocep are attractive, but their shorter visits feel more like quick samples. Lopud is where you can settle into the island mood instead of simply stepping ashore, taking a photo, and leaving.

Sipan in one hour

Sipan receives about one hour. The stop includes free time, photos, walking, sightseeing, swimming, snorkeling, and a self-guided visit. That mix lets you choose your own pace, but it also means you should not expect a long island tour.

Use this stop for a focused plan. You might take a short walk, look around, and return to the water. Or you can treat Sipan as a quiet pause between boat rides. The scenic views on the way are part of the experience, so you do not need to fill every minute on land.

The short duration is the main limitation. You will need to keep an eye on the clock, especially if you walk away from the landing area. This is not the place for a long, unhurried exploration. It works better as a brief taste of another island and a chance to stretch your legs.

The guide provides information about the islands during the visit, but Sipan is also a self-guided stop. That gives you freedom, though you should not expect a continuous guided walk for the whole hour.

Kolocep and the final swim

Kolocep is the last island stop and lasts about one hour. As at Sipan, you have time for photos, a walk, swimming, snorkeling, and free exploration.

The stop gives the itinerary a pleasant final pause before returning to Dubrovnik. You can use it for one last swim or simply enjoy the calm views. If you have spent most of the day on Lopud’s beach, Kolocep is a chance to see another stretch of the island chain without committing to a long walk.

A useful tip is to consider the golf buggy taxis across the final stop if you want to reach a larger beach in a calm bay with bars. This costs extra and is not part of the listed inclusions, so treat it as an optional add-on rather than a guaranteed part of the tour. It can make sense if your main goal is more beach time, but it will reduce the time available for walking or relaxing near the boat.

As with Sipan, keep the return time firmly in mind. The most common way to make a pleasant boat day stressful is to misjudge the distance back to the quay. The boat’s schedule is shared, so your freedom on land comes with responsibility.

Lunch, wine, and what is actually included

Lunch is included, and you choose between three options when booking. The exact menus are not specified, but a grilled vegetable and potato salad option is available. The fish option can contain bones, so take your time if you choose it.

The portions are described as generous, which matters after swimming and walking. This is not a trip where you need to organize a separate midday restaurant stop. You can eat on the boat and return to the day’s views without losing time searching for a table.

Drinks include bottled water, Coca-Cola, Fanta, white wine, and brandy. The tour is generous with refreshments, but the inclusion does not mean every alcoholic drink is covered. Alcoholic drinks other than wine and brandy are excluded, as are personal expenses.

The food and drink package adds real value to the $76 price. You are not simply buying transport between islands. You are also covering a meal, nonalcoholic drinks, selected alcohol, guiding, and the convenience of an organized route.

A boat built for a long day

Comfort matters more than people often expect on an eight-hour cruise. This boat has shade, spacious seating, clean toilets, and views from all seats. Those details make it easier to enjoy the ride even if you are not swimming at every stop.

The shaded areas are useful during the hottest part of the day, while the open views help you appreciate the coast as you travel. The crew also responds to changing weather. When rain arrived on one outing, the sides of the boat were lowered and blankets were brought out quickly.

That does not make the trip weatherproof. You should still check the forecast and bring a light layer if conditions look uncertain. The crew can improve comfort, but a boat day remains dependent on the sea and weather.

The service is one of the strongest parts of the experience. Emily, the guide, is specifically praised for looking after people throughout the day. The crew also helped one late passenger rejoin the boat at the next stop after a departure-time mix-up. That was an unusually generous recovery, but do not count on missing the boat and receiving the same solution. Your safest plan is to return early.

Swimming and snorkeling without pressure

Swimming and snorkeling opportunities appear at the island stops, so you can choose how active you want the day to be. You do not have to swim at every island. The schedule also allows for walking, photos, views, and time on board.

This flexibility makes the outing work for mixed groups. One person can swim while another stays in the shade or takes a short walk. Families and friends with different energy levels do not need to follow one single activity all day.

Bring your own swimsuit and personal swimming items. The tour information specifically notes that a swimsuit is not included. Personal expenses are also excluded, so plan to pay for anything extra on land, including optional golf buggy transport.

Snorkeling is best viewed as an added opportunity, not the sole reason to book. The strongest parts of the day are the island variety, beach time, boat comfort, and included food and drinks. If your main goal is a dedicated snorkeling excursion, you may prefer a trip designed around longer water sessions.

Who should book this island day

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a simple escape from Dubrovnik and like having several choices built into one day. It suits people who enjoy swimming, short walks, scenic boat rides, and a relaxed lunch without planning every detail.

It is also a good fit for first-time visitors who want to see the Elaphiti Islands but do not want to study ferry schedules. The guide gives information about each island, and the included meal and drinks keep the day easy.

You may want something else if you prefer private travel, long hikes, or hours on a single island. The shared schedule limits your time on Sipan and Kolocep, and the route is fixed. It is also not ideal if you dislike organizing yourself around firm boat departure times.

The tour has a perfect rating from 31 reviews, with repeated praise for the crew, food, drinks, boat comfort, and island stops. The most useful takeaway is not the score itself. It is that the practical pieces of the day tend to work well together: a comfortable boat, attentive service, solid portions, and enough freedom to choose between swimming and sightseeing.

Should you book the Three Island Boat Tour?

Book it if you want one organized day away from Dubrovnik with three islands, a sandy beach, lunch, drinks, and time in the water. The $76 price is fair for the amount included, especially if you value convenience and do not want to arrange separate transport and meals.

Skip it if you want a private boat, a slow visit to each island, or a serious snorkeling program. For everyone else, the mix of Lopud’s three-hour stop, shorter visits to Sipan and Kolocep, and a comfortable shaded boat makes this a strong way to see more of the coast without turning the day into a logistics project.

FAQ

How long does the Three Island Boat Tour last?

The tour lasts eight hours, including the boat ride, island visits, lunch, swimming, snorkeling, and return to Dubrovnik.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route visits Lopud, Sipan, and Kolocep. Lopud receives about three hours, while Sipan and Kolocep each receive about one hour.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, and you can choose between three lunch options when booking. A grilled vegetable and potato salad option is available, and the fish option may contain bones.

What drinks are included?

Included drinks are bottled water, Coca-Cola, Fanta, white wine, and brandy. Other alcoholic drinks are not included.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at 8:45 at the bus stop across from the University building. Look for the large blue boat named Emili. The boat will not arrive before 8:45.

Is hotel pickup available?

Pickup and drop-off are available from accommodation in the City of Dubrovnik area if you select that option. Pickup is not available outside the Dubrovnik city area or for locations less than 1,000 meters from the starting point.