Private Luxury Boat tour for 12 from Split, Brac, Trogir, Hvar

The draw here is a full day on the water with your own group, moving from the Blue Cave and Vis to a turquoise swimming stop, the Pakleni Islands, and Hvar. The route is customizable, so you can discuss what matters most to your party rather than follow a fixed group schedule.

I like the private format, especially for families or friends who want to swim, linger, or adjust the day to suit the group. I also like that a guide and skipper can shape the outing around your interests. One family’s trip with guide Tonka and skipper Emil included children aged 7 to 17, and the family highlighted how well the day fit their different ages.

The main consideration is the price and what it leaves out. The group rate is $1,991.26 for up to 12, but fuel, lunch, and the Blue Cave entrance fee are extra. Ask for a clear estimate of those added costs before you book.

At a glance

• Blue Cave is best in the morning: Sunlight and calm sea conditions bring out the cave’s blue glow, so timing and weather matter.
• You have the boat to yourselves: The tour is private for your group of up to 12, with pickup arranged at an agreed location.
• The route covers several islands: Expect stops around Biševo, Vis, Budikovac, the Pakleni Islands, and Hvar.
• Swimming is part of the plan: Budikovac offers a lagoon stop, and snorkel masks are included.
• The listed price is not the full cost: Budget separately for fuel, lunch, and the Blue Cave ticket.
• It is a long day: The tour lasts about 10 hours, with roughly five hours and 40 minutes assigned to stops.

A long island day, planned around your group

This is an ambitious itinerary for a single day. The boat links several different places: a sea cave, a working harbour town, a protected cove, a swimming lagoon, a garden setting, and Hvar’s town beach. You get a varied day, but the boat journey between stops is part of the experience and takes time too.

That variety is the point of booking a private boat. You are not joining a large group with a single pace and a fixed set of interests. The route can be customized, and the skipper and guide can help you decide what deserves more time. Still, ask how much flexibility you can expect on your chosen date. The listed schedule names six stops, and fitting them all into 10 hours leaves less room for extended stops.

Pickup can be arranged at a location agreed with the operator, and the tour ends back at the meeting point. That can simplify the day if your group is staying in or near Split, though you should confirm the exact pickup details when arranging the booking. The experience is offered in English, and bottled water and snorkelling masks are included.

Blue Cave: a morning light show

The first stop is the Blue Cave on Biševo, near the island’s eastern side. Sunlight enters through a submerged opening and reflects from the pale cave floor, creating the blue light that makes the stop famous. The effect is strongest when the sea is calm and the sun is at a helpful angle, which is why morning visits are recommended.

You have about 20 minutes at the cave. That is a short visit, and the entrance ticket is not included in the tour price. Factor both the extra fee and the limited time into your expectations: this is a brief natural spectacle, not a long cave outing.

Conditions matter here. Rough or unsettled water can affect the visit, and the schedule may need to change if the weather is poor. The overall tour requires good weather; if the operator cancels for that reason, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. Ask how the cave stop is handled if conditions are unsuitable on the day.

Komiža: a harbour shaped by fishing

After the cave, the itinerary allows an hour in Komiža, a town on the western side of Vis. Its harbour setting and traditional houses offer a change of pace from the open water and swimming stops. The town’s seafaring and fishing background is central to its character, shaped in part by the island’s limited farmland and the local reliance on the sea.

The Fishermen’s Museum is a useful option if you want to put that past in context. It is described as one of a kind in Croatia, though the tour information does not say that admission or a guided museum visit is part of the stop. With an hour ashore, you will need to choose between a museum visit, a walk around the harbour, or a relaxed break.

This is one of the itinerary’s more grounded stops. The scenery is not the only reason to come here; Komiža gives you a glimpse of island life shaped by fishing and boats. If your group would rather spend the whole day swimming, tell the guide that before departure and ask whether this stop can be shortened or adjusted.

Stiniva Cove: cliffs and a narrow entrance

Stiniva, on Vis, is a small protected bay hemmed in by high rock cliffs. Its entrance is about 100 metres wide, and the cove stretches roughly 600 metres inland. Several old fishing houses sit at the far end, and they too are protected.

The planned stop is 20 minutes, so think of it as a short look at the cove rather than a long beach visit. The tour does not specify whether you will go ashore here or view it from the boat, so ask the operator what to expect. Its steep sides and narrow mouth are part of its appeal, but they also mean the stop is more about the setting than a broad, easy beach.

Budikovac: time to swim

Budikovac is the clearest swim-focused stop on the route. The boat pauses for about an hour in the turquoise lagoon in front of the uninhabited island, where you can swim from the boat. The island’s natural shelter from wind makes the lagoon a popular anchorage for sailors.

Snorkel masks are included, giving you the option to look below the surface rather than simply cool off. The details do not promise any particular marine life or underwater conditions, so treat the masks as useful gear, not a guarantee of a specific snorkelling experience. Bring swimwear and anything else your group needs for an hour in the water.

For families, this kind of stop can be a welcome break from sightseeing. The private format may also help if some people want to swim while others would rather stay aboard. The skipper can advise what works on the day, but the tour description does not spell out boat facilities, so confirm any practical needs before booking.

Palmižana: a gentler island pause

The next listed stop is Palmižana, on St. Clement in the Pakleni Islands. The area is known for its botanical garden, plant life, birds, crickets, and sandy beach. Compared with the cave and cliff-lined cove, it offers a slower, greener pause in the day.

The scheduled hour gives you time to visit the garden or spend some time by the beach. The itinerary calls the location a small, uninhabited village, but it does not specify what is open during your visit or whether any garden admission applies. If the garden is a priority, check the details with the operator rather than assuming a particular visit is included.

This stop broadens the day beyond swimming and dramatic rock formations. It is a good fit if your group enjoys a quiet walk or wants a break from the boat, though the hour goes quickly when the schedule includes several more stops.

Hvar: two hours ashore

The final listed stop is Hvar, with two hours set aside. The town is known for its architecture, cultural heritage, natural setting, and mild climate. It is also a high-profile destination visited by celebrities, which gives it a more polished, fashionable feel than Komiža.

Two hours is enough for a brief look around, a meal, or a relaxed pause, but probably not all three at an unhurried pace. Lunch is not included, so plan to pay for it separately or ask whether bringing food aboard is allowed. The information provided does not identify a restaurant or specify where the boat will leave you, so confirm the meeting point and return time before heading off.

Hvar is a fitting finish if your group wants a town stop after the quieter islands. It can also feel like a change of mood: after small coves and swimming water, you arrive at a more famous and visited destination. The private boat gives you control over the day’s priorities, but the time ashore remains limited by the overall schedule.

What the price covers, and what it does not

The group price is $1,991.26 for up to 12 people. At full capacity, that works out to about $166 per person before extra expenses. For a smaller group, the per-person cost rises, so the value depends on how many people share the boat and how much you prize privacy and route flexibility.

The listed inclusions are bottled water and snorkelling masks. Pickup is available from an agreed location, and your group will not be joined by other passengers. Those features matter most if you are travelling with family or friends who want to spend the day together and make choices as a group.

Fuel, lunch, and the Blue Cave entrance fee are not included. Since fuel can be a significant part of a full-day boat trip, ask how it is calculated and request the expected total before committing. The tour information does not give a fuel amount or cave-ticket price, so do not assume the advertised group rate is the final bill.

Who will get the most from this trip

This tour makes the most sense for a group that wants a full day on the water and is happy to pay for a private boat. It is especially appealing for families with a mix of ages: the stops vary between swimming, town time, scenery, and a garden visit. A family with children from 7 to 17 enjoyed the combination of swimming and jumping from the speed boat, and appreciated that Tonka and Emil adjusted the day to their interests.

The private setup is also useful for friends with different ideas of a good holiday day. Some may want to swim at Budikovac, others may prefer more time ashore in Komiža or Hvar. The key is to discuss those preferences before setting off, since the published plan includes many stops and the day lasts about 10 hours.

This may be less suitable if you want a slow, single-destination day or need to keep costs tightly controlled. Added fuel, food, and the cave fee make the actual total higher than the base price. And because the Blue Cave depends on conditions, you should book for the range of experiences rather than for that one stop alone.

The tour operates from March 1 to November 30, 2026, with listed hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday. Confirmation is normally provided at booking; bookings made within 12 hours of departure are subject to availability. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is described as suitable for most participants, but ask the provider about any specific access or mobility needs.

Should you book this private boat tour?

Book it if you have a group of up to 12, want a flexible island-hopping day, and will make good use of the swimming stops and time ashore. The strongest reasons to choose it are the private boat, the broad mix of places, and the chance to shape the outing with the guide and skipper.

Before paying, get the full expected cost including fuel and the Blue Cave ticket, then decide whether the itinerary’s pace suits your group. If you want an easy, low-cost day or a guaranteed Blue Cave visit, this is not the safest choice. If you want a shared day on the water with family or friends and value control over the route, it is a compelling way to see several sides of the Split islands.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about 10 hours. The listed stops add up to roughly five hours and 40 minutes, with the rest of the day allowing for travel between locations.

How many people can join?

The tour is private for your group, with a maximum of 12 people.

Where can pickup take place?

Pickup can be arranged at a location agreed with the operator. The tour ends back at the meeting point.

Is the Blue Cave entrance fee included?

No. The Blue Cave entrance fee is not included in the tour price.

Are fuel and lunch included?

No. Fuel and lunch are listed as extra costs. Bottled water and snorkelling masks are included.

What stops are on the route?

The listed stops are the Blue Cave, Komiža harbour, Stiniva Cove, Budikovac Island, Palmižana Botanical Garden, and Hvar. The route can be customized to your group’s interests.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If the tour is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.