Elaphiti Islands boat tour from Dubrovnik: swim & free time

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/35

Duration8h–10h

GroupUp to 144

LanguagesEN · FR +1

PickupAt your hotel

Three islands, three hours on Lopud alone, and the boat waits while you decide what the day becomes.

A full-day boat tour from Dubrovnik's Port of Gruž island-hops across the Elaphiti Islands—Lopud, Šipan and Koločep—with a multilingual guide, included drinks onboard and substantial free time at each stop to swim, walk village streets or simply sit by the sea. You choose how to spend each island visit instead of following a fixed itinerary, and the boat includes water, wine, soda and WiFi between stops. Pickup from your Dubrovnik hotel is available on some options; all tours are wheelchair accessible and suit families, couples and solo travelers.

8h–10h

Step-by-step itinerary

Elaphiti Islands boat tour and exploration

Board boat at Port of Gruž
Cruise along Dalmatian coast
Explore Lopud Island and beaches
Visit Šipan Island and Suđurađ village
Enjoy nature and swimming on Koločep Island
Return to Port of Gruž

The Experience

The boat leaves Port of Gruž in the morning with a guide who speaks English, Spanish and French, and the first hours are spent cruising the Dalmatian coast while you settle into the rhythm of the day. Lopud comes first—about three hours of free time to walk the car-free island village, find Šunj Beach (reachable on foot or by optional golf-cart transfer), swim in the Adriatic or simply watch the water from a quiet spot. The point is that you are not herded; you move at the pace that suits you, whether that means a long beach day or a slow walk through Mediterranean stone buildings and local life.

Šipan's Suđurađ village is the next stop, a smaller and quieter pause of roughly 45 minutes to stroll the waterfront, photograph the sheltered harbor or grab a coffee while you take in traditional Dalmatian island atmosphere. Then Koločep, about an hour on one of the most peaceful islands in the archipelago, where you can swim when conditions allow, walk the lush vegetation and small coves, or simply sit and let the day slow down. Between islands the boat keeps you comfortable with sun loungers, and the crew brings around included wine, water and soda so you are not hunting for refreshment.

The tour runs eight to ten hours total, which sounds long until you realize most of that is your own time on the islands, not time spent moving. You return to Port of Gruž by late afternoon. Pickup from your hotel is included on some booking options; all tours are wheelchair accessible, and the boat has a restroom onboard and WiFi if you need it. Families with infants can bring prams or strollers, and the boat suits all fitness levels because the pace is entirely yours.

What’s included

Multilingual guide in English, Spanish and French.
bottled water, soda and white wine onboard.
WiFi on the boat.
restroom access.
hotel pickup on select options.
free time at Lopud (approximately three hours), Šipan's Suđurađ (approximately 45 minutes) and Koločep (approximately one hour).
lunch on options that include it.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Boats Tours Dubrovnik

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to swim and explore beaches without a fixed schedule dictating when you move to the next island—the three-hour stop on Lopud alone means you can actually spend a morning or afternoon on the water instead of watching the clock. If you prefer a guide-led itinerary with set timings at each stop, a structured shore excursion would suit you better.