The Elaphiti Islands boat tour is a private, skippered full-day charter from Dubrovnik to Koločep, Lopud and Šipan — from €1,200 per boat for up to 12 guests aboard the Fairline Phantom 40, with skipper, insurance and safety equipment included. The Elaphiti are a car-free archipelago strung northwest of the city: pine forests, sea caves, one genuinely sandy beach and harbour villages that empty out by dusk.
Ferries connect the islands, but slowly, and on a fixed clock. A private boat does in one unhurried day what island-hopping by ferry takes two to do — and it anchors in the coves the ferries pass by. The name comes from the Greek for deer, and the mood matches it: no cars on Koločep or Lopud, footpaths instead of roads, and a pace set by swim stops rather than timetables.
Three islands, one day
Koločep comes first, twenty minutes out. Its southern cliffs hide the blue cave: you slip off the swim platform and snorkel in while the yacht waits outside, the water inside lit electric blue by late-morning sun. Lopud is the middle island — a curved harbour front of palms and stone monasteries, and on its far side Šunj, a rare sandy crescent with shallows that stay waist-deep for fifty metres. Šipan, the largest and quietest, is for lunch: a konoba table by the water in Šipanska Luka or Suđurađ, ordered over the sound of halyards rather than traffic.
The full-day itinerary
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Board at Gruž Harbour; briefing, coffee if you’ve brought it |
| 09:25 | Cross the channel past Daksa towards Koločep |
| 09:50 | Blue cave — snorkel in, or hold position at the mouth for photos |
| 11:00 | Round Lopud; anchor in Šunj bay for a long swim stop |
| 13:00 | Short hop to Šipan; tie up for a long konoba lunch |
| 15:00 | Cruise Šipan’s olive-terraced coastline; final swim in a chosen cove |
| 16:15 | Set course for home along the Koločep channel |
| 17:00 | Alongside at Gruž |
The order is the skipper’s suggestion, not a rule. A northwest maestral in the afternoon might flip the route; a group that falls in love with Šunj might simply stay longer and trade away the last stop. That is the point of a private boat.
What’s included
- Licensed skipper (Croatian Maritime Licence)
- Full insurance — passenger and third-party liability cover
- Full safety equipment and a pre-departure safety briefing
- Bluetooth sound system
Not included: your lunch bill on Šipan and any premium drinks. There are no landing fees on the Elaphiti — unlike Lokrum or Mljet National Park, the islands are free to visit.
Prices
| Yacht | Duration | Price (per boat) | Max guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairline Phantom 40 | day charter | from €1,200 | 12 |
| Malavi 55 | 8 h | from €2,550 | 12 |
| Catamaran X — half-day taster | 4 h | from €730 | 12 |
All prices include a licensed skipper, insurance and safety equipment. The proven Elaphiti day boat is the Fairline Phantom 40 — a 13-metre motor yacht with two cabins and room for 12 guests; with a full boat that is €100 per person for a private, all-day island route. The Malavi 55 flagship, from €2,550 for 8 hours, does the same day with 17 metres of yacht under you. Short on time? A 4-hour half-day charter on the Catamaran X, from €730, reaches Koločep — or Lopud on a calm day — and back comfortably. The complete fleet, including per-person maths, lives on the prices page.
Good to know
- Best light in the cave. The blue cave glows brightest between roughly 10:00 and 13:00 — another reason the 09:00 start earns its keep.
- Šunj is the sandy one. Most beaches on this coast are pebble; Šunj is sand from the shore to well past the anchor line. Small children get an easy day here.
- Sea conditions. The channels are sheltered by the islands themselves, so the run is calm on most summer days. If the harbour master closes the sea, you rebook or take a full refund.
- What to bring. Swimwear, towels, sunscreen, and cash or card for lunch. Our island-hopping guide has the deeper history and a stop-by-stop breakdown.
- Planning the wider trip? The local tourist board and croatia.hr cover ferries, festivals and everything ashore.
Twelve seats, one boat, one day — August Saturdays go weeks in advance. Check your date and book online; confirmation is instant and cancellation free up to 24 hours before departure.
