Private tours to Elaphite Islands by UFO BOAT

Dubrovnik’s UFO boat is built for a day when the boat itself is part of the fun. Its futuristic shape, private setting, music, and open-water stops turn a standard island trip into a floating party or a relaxed family outing. You can swim through caves around Koločep Island, stretch out on Šunj Beach, and finish among the quiet stone buildings of Šipan.

I like the freedom here. You are not sharing the boat with a large crowd, and the crew can adjust the pace, suggest swimming spots, help with snorkeling, or arrange a restaurant for lunch. I also like the practical inclusions: fuel, drinks, snorkeling gear, life jackets, and bottled water are covered.

The main drawback is the price. At $2,601.99 for up to 14 people, this makes the most sense for a full group. It is a poor value for two or three people unless you place a high value on privacy, a custom route, and a boat day built around your own plans.

Key points to know before booking

• Koločep brings the best swimming start: Expect caves, canyons, snorkeling, and the famous Blue Cave area.
• Lopud gives you the classic beach stop: Šunj is the main draw, with a seaside promenade and places to eat.
• Šipan slows the day down: Sudurad offers a quieter port, old summer residences, beaches, bays, and local seafood.
• The boat is private for your group: The capacity is up to 14 people, making the cost easier to justify for families, parties, or team outings.
• Drinks are included, but food is not: Wine, beer, grappa, soft drinks, and water are provided. Plan separately for lunch.
• The crew shapes the day: You choose the music, and the staff can advise on stops, swimming, snorkeling, and restaurants.

A private boat day from Dubrovnik

This is an eight-hour private outing around the Elaphite Islands, a chain just off the Dubrovnik coast. The stated operating hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., which gives you a full day on the water rather than a rushed morning excursion.

The private format matters. You are not following a fixed sightseeing script with dozens of people around you. Your group can use the boat as a sun deck, swimming platform, party space, or moving base for exploring the islands.

The boat holds up to 14 people. That number is important when you look at the cost. The total price is $2,601.99, which works out to about $186 per person if the boat is full. For a couple, the same total is a major expense. For a birthday group, bachelor or bachelorette party, family reunion, or company outing, the math looks much better.

You can bring your own drinks, too. A refrigerator is available on the boat, though the tour already includes wine, beer, grappa, Coca-Cola, iced tea, and bottled water. Alcohol is permitted only for people aged 18 and over.

The boat is supplied with snorkeling equipment and adult and child life jackets. Towels are not included, so bring your own. Food is also not supplied on board. You can ask the crew to reserve lunch at a restaurant on Lopud, but you should budget for that meal separately.

Koločep and the Blue Cave area

Koločep is usually the first stop, with about two hours set aside. This is the active part of the morning, and it is where the boat’s speed and access to small coastal spots matter most.

The island is known for caves and narrow coastal formations, including the Blue Cave. The boat carries snorkeling equipment, so you can get into the water rather than simply look at the coast from the deck. The crew can guide you toward suitable places to swim and can advise you if you want to jump from rocks.

That last point deserves some care. Rock jumping can be fun, but it is not something to treat casually. Listen to the crew, check the water, and do not assume every attractive ledge is safe. The included life jackets are useful for children and anyone who is not a confident swimmer.

Two hours is enough to give Koločep a proper look without letting one stop take over the whole day. You can swim, snorkel, take photographs, and return to the boat without feeling that you have spent the entire outing in one cove.

Bring a waterproof phone pouch or a secure camera strap. The combination of caves, clear water, the unusual boat, and swimmers in the foreground should give you some of the best photographs of the day. Just protect your equipment before you move around the boat.

Lopud and the long stop at Šunj Beach

The second stop is Lopud, the second-largest of the Elaphite Islands. The planned stay is about three hours, making this the main beach and lunch break.

Šunj Beach is the island’s best-known sandy beach. It sits in a bay on the southeast side of Lopud and offers a change from the rocky coves around Koločep. If your group wants a proper sand-and-sea stop, this is likely to be the favorite part of the route.

The long stop also gives you choices. You can swim, sit by the beach, walk toward the settlement of Lopud, or find a restaurant or coffee bar along the seaside promenade. The tour team can make a lunch reservation at one of the island’s restaurants if you request it.

Do not assume lunch is included. The boat supplies drinks, but food is listed separately. Some people may choose to eat on Lopud, while others may prefer to keep the day focused on swimming and use the boat’s refrigerator for their own drinks.

Lopud is car-free and green, which makes a walk here pleasant after time on the water. If you want more than a beach visit, the ruins of Fortress Sutvrac are about 15 to 20 minutes on foot from Lopud. The fortress offers a view over Lopud Bay, though you will need to give up some beach time to make the walk worthwhile.

Several small churches add interest around the island. You do not need to turn this into a serious history outing, but Lopud works well because it combines a sandy beach, places to eat, a walkable settlement, and a little old stone architecture.

The tradeoff is time. Three hours sounds generous, but a swim, lunch, promenade walk, and fortress visit can fill it quickly. Decide before arrival what matters most to your group. If children want the beach and adults want the fortress, split up for part of the stop rather than trying to force everyone into one plan.

Sudurad on Šipan, the quiet final stop

The final stop is Sudurad, a small settlement on Šipan. The planned stay is about three hours, so this is not just a quick photo stop before returning to Dubrovnik.

Sudurad is quieter than Lopud and has a slower island feel. The shoreline includes beaches and small bays, and the water is described as clear. The area is also known for seafood, olive oil, and local wine, making it another possible place for a meal if you prefer a calmer setting.

Šipan has long been linked with Dubrovnik’s wealthy families, who built summer residences and palaces here. In Sudurad’s central square, you can see two notable fortified buildings. Their defensive design gives the settlement a stronger sense of the past than a simple beach stop would provide.

The appeal of Sudurad is that it does not ask much of you. You can walk, swim, eat, or sit quietly near the water. After the livelier beach stop on Lopud, this slower finish can be welcome.

The drawback is that the day covers three islands, so the amount of time spent exploring on foot at each one is limited. If you want a serious visit to Šipan, you may find three hours too short. If you want a taste of several islands without arranging separate ferries, the schedule works well.

What the crew adds to the day

The staff’s role is more than steering the boat. You choose the music, and the crew advises you on where to go and what to do. That flexibility is valuable because sea conditions, group energy, and swimming ability can change the ideal plan.

You can ask for a more active day with caves, snorkeling, and rock jumps. You can also make it gentler, with more time at the beach, a restaurant stop, and a slow cruise between islands.

Names associated with the provider’s boat crews include Nikola, Niko, and Suzana. Do not assume a particular person will be assigned to your departure, but the available feedback points to a friendly, hands-on approach from the staff.

The service also includes private transportation, fuel, and all fees and taxes. Pickup is offered, although the exact pickup arrangement should be confirmed when you book. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

A few accounts also describe help with transfers and clear communication before departure. That matters in Dubrovnik, where a day on the water involves more than simply reaching a dock. Confirm the pickup time, meeting point, and return plan before the morning of your trip.

Drinks, music, and the party factor

The UFO boat is not only an island transfer. It is designed for social groups. Bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthdays, team outings, families, and groups of friends can all use the private setting in different ways.

You can bring your own drinks and keep them cold in the refrigerator. The included wine, beer, grappa, soft drinks, and water reduce the need to organize a full drinks supply. Still, the terms say food is not provided, so bring snacks if your group needs something between stops or arrange lunch on an island.

The music choice is yours. That small detail can shape the whole day, especially for a birthday or party group. Families may prefer a quieter ride, while friends may want a more energetic soundtrack.

The boat’s design supplies the visual novelty. It is meant to look futuristic, and that unusual shape gives the trip a playful edge. You are paying for the private boat, but also for the setting: the coastline, open water, swimming stops, and a day that does not feel like ordinary transport.

Who gets the best value

I would consider this tour for a group that wants control over the day and is willing to pay for it. With 10 to 14 people, the per-person cost becomes easier to accept, especially since fuel, drinks, equipment, life jackets, private transport, and taxes are included.

It suits groups with mixed interests. Some people can swim and snorkel at Koločep, others can relax on the boat, and everyone can meet again for Lopud and Šipan. Parents may appreciate the child life jackets, while confident swimmers can ask about caves and rock jumps.

It is also a good fit for a celebration. The boat provides privacy, music, drinks, and enough room for a group outing without strangers sharing the day.

I would be more cautious if your main goal is historic sightseeing, serious hiking, or a low-cost island visit. You will see old buildings and a fortress, but this is first a sea day. You are paying for movement between islands, swimming, private space, and service, not a detailed guided history tour.

Timing, comfort, and what to pack

The day runs for about eight hours, generally from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. That is a long time in the sun, so pack sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a swimsuit, and a towel. Towels are specifically not included.

Wear shoes that are easy to remove and suitable for walking on island paths. You may want to walk from Lopud toward Fortress Sutvrac or explore Sudurad’s stone buildings, so do not plan to spend the whole day barefoot.

Bring a secure case for your phone and camera. The caves, beach, boat, and clear water invite photographs, but wet decks and swimming stops create obvious risks for loose electronics.

If anyone in your group is uneasy in the water, tell the crew early. Life jackets are available for adults and children, and the staff can advise on swimming and rock-jump areas. The tour is suitable for most people, but your group should still choose activities that match its comfort level.

The provider offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability.

Should you book the UFO boat?

Book it if you have a sizeable group, want privacy, and see the boat as part of the attraction. Koločep supplies caves and snorkeling, Lopud offers the strongest beach stop, and Šipan provides a quieter close to the day. The crew’s flexibility, included drinks, and private format make the outing easy to shape around your group.

Think twice if you are traveling alone, as a couple, or on a tight budget. The fixed group price is hard to justify with only a few people. Also remember to budget for lunch and bring towels.

For the right group, this is a polished way to sample three Elaphite Islands without handling several ferry connections. You get a full day on the sea, room for your own music and plans, and enough structure to keep the day moving without making it feel rigid.

FAQ

How long does the private UFO boat tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours. The stated operating window is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

How many people can join the private boat?

The boat accommodates up to 14 people, and only your group participates in the private activity.

What islands are included?

The planned route includes Koločep Island, Lopud Island, and Sudurad on Šipan.

Is pickup available?

Pickup is offered, and the activity ends back at the meeting point. Confirm the exact pickup and meeting details when booking.

Is lunch included?

No. Food is not provided on board. You can ask the crew to reserve lunch at a restaurant on Lopud, but you pay for lunch separately.

What drinks are included?

The tour includes wine, beer, grappa, bottled water, Coca-Cola, and iced tea. You may also bring your own drinks, which can be kept in the boat’s refrigerator.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with life jackets for adults and children.

Are towels provided?

No. You need to bring your own towel.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted or refunded.