Private sailing Hvar to Pakleni Islands: Swim and snorkel

Eight hours sailing, swimming and snorkeling from one private yacht

A full-day private sailing tour from Hvar on a 36-foot yacht for up to eight travelers, visiting the Pakleni Islands and Red Rocks with stops for swimming, snorkeling and stand-up paddleboarding. The boat carries only your group, and you choose your own drinks to bring aboard. Lunch at a local tavern on the island is at your own cost. A live English-speaking guide leads the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day sailing and island exploration

• Meet at Hvar port
• Sail to Bay Lučišća
• Visit The Red Rocks (pass by)
• Visit The Red Rocks (stop)
• Swim and lunch at Notos restaurant
• Stop at Pakleni Islands Bay Stipanska
• Visit Mlini beach on Pakleni Islands
• Return to Hvar port

The experience

You meet at Hvar port ten minutes before departure and sail south toward Bay Lučišća, a pebble beach backed by pine forest where the water sits still and clear. From there the route heads to the Red Rocks, rust-colored limestone cliffs that rise from the Adriatic along Hvar's southern coast: a place where the boat slows so you can swim in front of them or watch the stone face change color as the sun moves. The Pakleni Islands come next, a cluster of about twenty small islands off the southwestern tip of Hvar, each one ringed by turquoise water and dense pine. You stop in Bay Stipanska and later at Mlini, a narrow beach known for its turquoise bay and the vegetation that crowds the shore.

Swimming and snorkeling happen at each stop. The boat carries snorkeling gear and a stand-up paddleboard for anyone who wants to use them. Lunch falls at midday in a small tavern on the island: local domestic food at low cost, eaten at a table overlooking the water. The yacht has a fridge so you can keep your own drinks cold throughout the day, a restroom on board, and WiFi if you need it. You finish back at Hvar port where you started.

What’s included

• Private yacht for your group only.
• snorkeling equipment and stand-up paddleboard.
• WiFi on board.
• restroom on board.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• all fees and taxes.
• you bring your own drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and keep them cold in the fridge.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Jun 2027

Book up to1h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by The Day Sail

Is this one for you?An English-speaking guide leads the whole day, so anyone in your group who speaks English can follow the commentary and the route. The private boat means you set the pace at each stop (stay longer at a beach you love, or move on if you want to see more) without waiting for a big group to board.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between this and the big group boat tours from Hvar?

This yacht holds only your group, up to eight people maximum, instead of a shared boat with dozens of strangers. The smaller size lets the boat reach quieter anchorages and move at a pace that suits your group.

Can I bring my own food and drinks on the boat?

Drinks are yours to bring. The boat has a fridge to keep them cold and a restroom on board. Lunch happens at a tavern on the island and costs extra, so you'll want to bring cash or check what payment methods the restaurant takes.

What water activities can I do at each stop?

You can swim at every stop. Snorkeling gear is provided, and there's a stand-up paddleboard on board if you want to try that. The Red Rocks are a popular spot for cliff diving if you're comfortable with it.

Is there a guide on the boat, and what language does he speak?

A live guide in English leads the tour and navigates the route, explaining the islands and the sites as you sail.

How long does the whole day take, and when do we get back?

The tour runs eight hours from the time you leave Hvar port, so you're back at the port in the late afternoon. Arrive ten minutes early to find the yacht and get settled.