Elaphite Islands: Private boat tour (Cap Camarat 7.5wa)

The best part of this Elaphite Islands tour is control. You get a private Cap Camarat 7.5wa speedboat and can shape the day around swimming, caves, beaches, island walks, or lunch. Skipper Simon handles the driving and guiding, leaving you free to enjoy the coast without a fixed group schedule.

I like the included hotel pickup and drop-off, which removes a bit of Dubrovnik planning, and I like the practical extras: water, soft drinks, beer, white wine, towels, snorkeling gear, and a GoPro. The main consideration is that food is not included, and the four-hour option will feel rushed if you want to see all three islands properly.

Key points

• Private boat for up to seven: Your group has the whole boat, with no strangers setting the pace.
• Three cave stops at Koločep: Green Cave, Blue Cave, and Three Caves give the outing its most distinctive stops.
• Šunj Beach on Lopud: This is the main sandy-beach break, useful for swimming and relaxing.
• Flexible four- or eight-hour format: Choose a shorter coastal outing or allow time for all three islands.
• Simon as skipper and guide: He is known for being punctual, polite, adaptable, and happy to adjust the route.
• Useful extras included: Fuel, drinks, towels, snorkeling equipment, a GoPro, and pickup are part of the price.

A private speedboat day from Dubrovnik

The Elaphite Islands sit just off Dubrovnik, but they feel far removed from the city’s stone streets and cruise-ship crowds. This trip gives you a simple way to reach them by water, with a route that can include Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan.

You are collected at your specified address about 20 minutes before the tour begins. The transfer is by car or van, and pickup is included in the price. That matters in Dubrovnik, where getting from a hotel to the boat can otherwise add another small transport puzzle to your morning.

The boat is a new Cap Camarat 7.5wa, a modern speedboat suited to a small private party. Up to seven people can travel together. The boat has enough flexibility for a relaxed family outing, a couples’ day with friends, or a small group that wants more privacy than a standard excursion allows.

Your skipper is also your English-speaking guide. Simon is the named skipper connected with this experience, and the strongest practical detail about his style is his willingness to adjust the day. He has been described as early and timely, careful with the boat, and good at reading what a group wants. If you want conversation and island information, he can provide it. If you mainly want quiet swimming time, the route can be adjusted in that direction.

Grebeni and the first stretch of coast

The cruise begins with a look at Grebeni before continuing toward the Elaphite Islands. This opening section gives you time to settle into the boat and see the coast from the water.

A speedboat changes your sense of distance. Instead of spending the day waiting for public ferry connections, you move directly between the stops that interest you. That is the real value here. The boat is not simply transport between two fixed points. It lets you spend more time at a favorite swimming place and less time at a stop that does not suit your group.

Still, speed is not the same as unlimited time. If you select four hours, the route needs discipline. You may see several highlights, but you will not have the same freedom to linger at Koločep, walk on Lopud, eat lunch, and continue to Šipan. The eight-hour version makes more sense if your goal is to visit all three islands rather than simply enjoy a short private cruise.

Koločep’s Green Cave, Blue Cave, and Three Caves

Koločep is the first major island stop and the most cave-focused part of the trip. The route includes Green Cave, Blue Cave, and Three Caves. These are the kind of stops that make a private boat useful, since you can pause for photos, swimming, or a look around without needing to stay on a large boat’s timetable.

The cave names suggest different visual settings, but the experience depends on natural light, sea conditions, and the timing of your visit. You should expect the color and atmosphere to vary rather than assume each cave will look exactly like a photograph. The supplied snorkeling equipment gives you the option to look into the clear water around the stops, and the GoPro can help you record the day.

Bring swimwear, as the tour is built around access to the sea. Towels are supplied, which is one less item to pack. You may also want sun protection, though that is not listed as an included item.

Koločep is a good place to ask Simon about the route and decide how much time you want to spend in the water. Some groups will prefer to move between all three caves. Others will find one favorite spot and stay longer. This is where the private format earns its keep.

Lopud and the sand at Šunj Beach

After Koločep, the boat continues to Lopud. The first planned stop is Šunj Beach, a sandy beach that gives the day a different feel from the rocky coast and caves.

A sandy beach is especially useful if your group includes children or anyone who prefers an easy swim rather than stepping from a boat into open water. It is also a natural pause in the schedule. You can swim, dry off, and decide if you want more time by the sea or a walk in the populated part of Lopud.

The word sandy is important here because sandy beaches are not the default along much of the Croatian coast. Šunj gives you a chance to change scenery without giving up your private boat. Depending on how long you stay, this can be the most relaxed part of the outing.

The trip then continues to the inhabited area of Lopud. You have the opportunity to walk around, which gives the day a little more variety than a sequence of swimming stops. I like this part for travelers who want some time on land but do not want a full guided town tour. You can stretch your legs, look around, and return to the boat when your group is ready.

Lunch is not included, but restaurants are available on Lopud. That makes Lopud the most convenient place to plan a meal if you choose the longer option. If you want lunch, remember that it will be an extra cost and will use part of your time. With only four hours, a restaurant stop may leave little room for Šipan.

Šipan, the third island on the route

Šipan is the third Elaphite Island included in the route. The tour description gives less detail about a specific stop on Šipan, so you should think of it as a flexible part of the day rather than a promised checklist of sights.

That flexibility is useful. Your group can decide how Šipan fits the day after seeing how much time remains. You might prefer a quieter swim, a stop at an available restaurant, or a short look around before returning to Dubrovnik. The skipper can help set the pace, but the final shape depends on your chosen duration and interests.

Restaurants are available on Šipan as well. Since food is not included, you can either budget for lunch there or on Lopud. It is wise to discuss this early with Simon, especially if the group has strong preferences about eating. A private tour gives you choices, but you still need to make those choices.

If you book eight hours, Šipan becomes a more realistic part of the day. The longer option allows room for the crossing, several stops, a meal, and time to enjoy the water without watching the clock every few minutes.

What the private format is really worth

The price is $530 for the entire group, up to seven people. That is not a cheap solo excursion, but the calculation changes when you divide it among a full party. At seven people, the cost works out to about $76 per person before any meal costs. At four people, it is about $133 per person. A couple would pay the full group price unless the booking arrangement says otherwise, so this tour makes the strongest financial sense for families or friends sharing the boat.

The price includes fuel, skipper, guide service, drinks, towels, snorkeling equipment, a GoPro, and pickup. Fuel is worth noting because boat tours can become more expensive when it is added later. Here, it is already part of the stated price.

The drinks are basic but useful: water, cola, white wine, and beer. They are enough to keep the boat comfortable between stops, though you should not expect a full bar or meal service. Food remains your responsibility.

The private boat also gives you something a shared tour cannot: the ability to favor swimming over sightseeing, or caves over lunch, without having to persuade a busload of strangers. One group specifically wanted more privacy and quieter swimming areas, and Simon adjusted the plan to help provide that. That is a meaningful benefit for couples, families, and anyone who finds crowded stops tiring.

Four hours or eight hours?

Choose four hours if you want a compact trip with a few strong stops. It can work well for a short swimming outing, a taste of Koločep and Lopud, or a group with limited time in Dubrovnik. You should not expect to linger everywhere.

Choose eight hours if you want the full rhythm of the islands. The longer tour gives you time for Koločep’s caves, Šunj Beach, a walk on Lopud, a meal, and some time around Šipan. It also gives the skipper more room to adjust the route if your group finds a favorite place.

The longer day is especially useful if your group is divided about what to do. One person can enjoy a swim, another can take photos, and the group can still make time for a meal or island walk. The private format works best when you treat the itinerary as a menu rather than a race to collect stops.

Simon’s guiding style and the boat experience

Simon’s strongest qualities are practical ones. He has been described as friendly, respectful, polite, and attentive to the group’s wishes. He was also early and timely, which is valuable when you want to get out before the busiest period.

He is not only there to steer. He acts as the guide, helps with timing, and can suggest adjustments. You can ask for more social interaction or more quiet time. That may sound like a small detail, but it can shape the whole day on a private boat.

The Cap Camarat 7.5wa is described as clean, nice, and functional. It is a speedboat, so the ride is part of the appeal, but anyone who prefers a slow, still boat should keep that in mind. Conditions at sea can affect comfort, and the exact feel of the ride will vary.

The included GoPro is a nice touch, particularly for cave and snorkeling stops. You can use it to capture the water and marine life around the boat, rather than relying only on phone photos from the deck.

Who should book this tour?

I would point this tour toward a group that values privacy and control more than the lowest possible price. It is a strong fit for up to seven friends, a family, or a small celebration where everyone wants to share one boat.

It also suits people who dislike rigid schedules. You can choose how long to stay in places, ask for quieter swimming areas, and decide if a walk or lunch matters more than another stop. The arrangement is less suitable for someone who wants a fixed, fully narrated program with every minute planned in advance.

Swimmers and beach fans will get the most from it. The route includes caves, clear water, snorkeling equipment, and Šunj Beach, while the island towns and restaurants add options for non-swimmers. Bring swimwear and expect the day to revolve around the sea.

Practical details before you reserve

Tours last four or eight hours, and starting times depend on availability. The group is private, with only your party on the boat.

Pickup is included from the address you provide in Dubrovnik, with a car or van scheduled about 20 minutes before the boat tour begins. Fuel, the skipper, drinks, towels, snorkeling equipment, and a GoPro are included. Food is not.

You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold the plan without paying at once. Check the starting time carefully, since the duration and daylight available will affect how much of the route you can enjoy.

Should you book the Elaphite Islands boat tour?

Book it if you can share the cost with a group and want a flexible day on the water rather than a standard island transfer. The private boat, included pickup, useful swimming equipment, and Simon’s adaptable approach give the tour real value, especially in the eight-hour format.

Think twice if you are traveling alone, watching every euro, or mainly want one quick beach stop. For a group of four to seven, though, this is an appealing way to see Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan at your own pace, with enough freedom to turn a busy sightseeing plan into a genuinely relaxing day.

FAQ

How much does the private boat tour cost?

The price is $530 for a private group of up to seven people.

How long does the tour last?

You can choose a four-hour or eight-hour tour, depending on availability and your preferred starting time.

Where does the tour begin?

Pickup is provided in Dubrovnik from the address you specify. A car or van collects you about 20 minutes before the boat tour starts.

Which islands does the route visit?

The route includes Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan. The cruise also begins with a view of Grebeni.

What are the main stops on Koločep?

The planned cave stops are Green Cave, Blue Cave, and Three Caves.

Does the tour stop at a sandy beach?

Yes. The route includes Šunj Beach on Lopud.

Is lunch included?

No. Food is not included, but restaurants are available on Lopud and Šipan.

What is included in the price?

Fuel, the skipper and English-speaking guide, water, cola, white wine, beer, towels, snorkeling equipment, a GoPro, and pickup are included.

Can the tour route be changed?

Yes. This is a private tour, so your group can decide how long to stay at different places and which stops to prioritize.