Explore Hvar, Brac and Solta on the Private Boat Trip – Unique Experience

Hvar, Brac, and Solta fit into one long, sea-splashed day on this private cruise from Split. You get a taste of island life, a quiet beach, a former Yugoslav submarine hideout, and a final swim over a sunken ship. It is a busy route, but the boat keeps the day moving.

I like the private format, since your group of up to seven can set the pace without sharing the boat with strangers. I also like the mix of stops: Hvar gives you a handsome old town, while Murvica and Necujam bring the clear water and swimming time.

The main drawback is the length. Ten hours on a boat, with an early start and several stops, asks a lot from you. Lunch is not included, and the schedule leaves limited time to explore each place in depth.

Key points at a glance

• A full island circuit: Visit Hvar, Brac, and Solta in one approximately 10-hour day from Split.
• Private boat for up to seven: Your party has the vessel, skipper, and route to itself.
• Fortica views in Hvar: Use your free time to climb above Hvar Town for a wide view over the harbor and sea.
• Quiet swimming at Murvica: Spend 90 minutes at a sandy Robinson-style beach away from the main town crowds.
• Unusual wartime history: Stop at Uvala Smrka, a former Yugoslav submarine hideout.
• Sunken ship snorkeling: Finish in Necujam Bay, where the underwater wreck makes a memorable last swim.

One day, three islands, and plenty of open water

This trip works best as a sampler. You are not settling into one island for a slow afternoon. Instead, you move between Hvar, Brac, and Solta, seeing how different each stop feels.

The first cruise takes about an hour across the Adriatic. That travel time is part of the experience, not dead time. You get open views, fresh air, and the simple pleasure of approaching the islands from the water. Still, bring sunscreen and a towel, because much of the day is spent outside.

The boat is private for your group, with a limit of seven people. That matters more than it might at first seem. You can talk with the skipper, keep your own group together, and avoid the usual crowding of a large excursion boat. Safety equipment, insurance, water, and snorkeling gear are included.

The tour begins at 8:00 a.m. and lasts about 10 hours. That gives you a full day, but not a leisurely one. I would treat this as a highlights trip for people who want variety. If you prefer long museum visits, extended meals, or hours in one beach cove, the schedule may feel rushed.

Hvar Town and the climb to Fortica

After roughly an hour on the water, you reach Hvar Town. You have about two hours to explore, which is enough for a walk through the center, a coffee beside the Riva, and a look at the town’s historic stone streets.

Hvar Town is the most urban stop of the day. It gives you a change from the boat and beaches, with cafes, waterfront views, and an easy place to stretch your legs. The free time is flexible, so you can choose between sitting by the harbor and walking uphill.

My advice is to make Fortica fortress your priority. The climb takes effort, but the view is the payoff: Hvar Town, the harbor, and the surrounding water spread below you. The tour does not include an admission charge for the stop, but you should allow enough time for the climb and return. Do not spend the entire two hours over coffee if the fortress view is one of your reasons for booking.

There is a tradeoff here. Two hours sounds generous, but Hvar Town has more to offer than this schedule allows. You will get an attractive introduction, not a full visit. The private boat makes it possible to see Hvar along with other islands, but it also means you give up the slower pace of an entire Hvar day.

Murvica Beach on Brac

The next stop is Murvica Beach on Brac, with about 90 minutes for swimming and relaxing. It is described as a quiet Robinson-style beach, with sand and clear water. That makes it a useful counterpoint to Hvar Town.

This is the stop for doing very little. Swim, sit on the beach, take photos, or simply enjoy the fact that no sightseeing checklist is required. After the walking and boat ride, the pause helps break up the day.

The word quiet is important. This is not presented as a resort beach with a long list of services. You should arrive prepared with sun protection, a towel, and water. Bottled water is provided on the boat, but personal supplies and expenses are your responsibility.

Murvica also shows why a private trip can be worthwhile. Your group can enjoy the beach together without waiting for a large party to finish at another stop. At the same time, 90 minutes passes quickly. You get a swim and a rest, not a full beach afternoon.

Uvala Smrka and the submarine hideout

The 15-minute stop at Uvala Smrka is short, but it adds a piece of modern Croatian history to a day otherwise centered on scenery and swimming. The site was used during Yugoslav times as a hideout for powerful submarines.

You should think of this as a look from the boat rather than a full historical visit. The stop is designed to show you the remains and explain their role. There is no long land exploration built into the schedule.

That brevity is both strength and weakness. Fifteen minutes keeps the day moving and prevents the route from becoming too heavy. But if military history is your main interest, you may want more time and context than this stop provides.

The unusual setting makes it worthwhile. A concealed submarine base is not the standard postcard stop, and it gives you something to remember beyond beaches and harbor cafes. Bring your camera, but keep your expectations realistic: this is a brief introduction to a relic, not a museum tour.

Stomorska lunch beside the water

Stomorska on Solta is the main meal break, with about 90 minutes ashore. The boat docks directly in front of a small waterside restaurant, so you can step off and reach your table almost immediately.

Lunch is optional. The suggested choice is local fish, and the setting beside the water makes this one of the more appealing meal breaks on the route. You pay for lunch yourself, so the final price depends on what you order.

I like the choice here because it keeps the meal tied to the island rather than turning lunch into a generic stop at a distant restaurant. You can sit near the sea, eat local food, and watch the harbor at an unhurried pace.

If you are not hungry, Stomorska still gives you options. Walk through the village or swim at a nearby beach. That flexibility helps, especially for a group with different appetites.

The limitation is that lunch is not part of the tour price. The listed cost covers the boat and core equipment, not your meal or other personal spending. Bring a payment method and allow room in your budget for food. If you want the fish, do not assume it is included simply because the restaurant is part of the planned stop.

Necujam Bay and the sunken ship

The final swim takes place at Necujam, where the boat anchors in the bay near a sunken ship. You get about one hour here, with snorkeling equipment provided.

This is a strong way to finish the day. You have already had a town, a beach, a history stop, and lunch. Now the pace drops again. The ship gives you something to look at below the surface, rather than just swimming in open water.

One account of the outing also described exceptionally clear water, underwater sea life, and a memorable cave stop referred to as a bat cave. The stated route specifically places the snorkeling at Necujam and the military site at Uvala Smrka, so you should ask the skipper about the exact swimming locations on your departure day rather than count on an extra cave visit.

You should also note that snorkeling conditions depend on weather and water conditions. The tour requires good weather, and poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund. That policy is practical for a boat trip, but it means your schedule remains weather-sensitive.

After Necujam, the boat heads back toward the meeting point in Split or Trogir, as stated for the route. The exact return location should be clear when you book, especially if you have evening plans.

What the private price really buys you

The price is $1,128.23 per group of up to seven. For one or two people, that is a major expense. For a full group of seven, the cost works out to about $161 per person before lunch and personal spending.

That comparison is the key to judging value. You are not paying for a single attraction. You are paying for a private boat, a skipper, a 10-hour route, fuel and boat operation as part of the hire, safety equipment, insurance, water, and snorkeling gear. You also avoid arranging separate ferries, beach transfers, and island connections yourself.

For a small party, the value is less clear. A couple may prefer public ferries and independent visits if keeping costs low matters most. A family or group of friends can make better use of the fixed group price, especially if everyone wants a full day on the water.

The private arrangement also has a comfort value. You do not need to fit into a large group’s conversation or wait through a long loading process at every stop. The skipper handles navigation, including the crossings between islands. One named skipper, Hrvoje, has been singled out for smooth handling of the boat and for getting the group between stops efficiently.

The price does not include lunch, personal expenses, or anything beyond the listed equipment and water. That is normal for this type of trip, but it is worth adding to your calculation before booking.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most

I would recommend this outing to an active group that wants to see several islands in one day. It suits friends, couples traveling together, and families who enjoy swimming as much as sightseeing.

It is especially useful if you have limited time in Split. Rather than choosing just Hvar or just Brac, you get short introductions to three islands and several different settings. The route also works well for people who like a little history mixed into an outdoor day.

You should be comfortable with a long day outside. The itinerary includes one hour of cruising each way, island stops, swimming, a fortress climb if you choose it, and time in the sun. The boat has water and safety equipment, but you need to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a towel, and a camera.

I would hesitate to recommend it to anyone seeking a slow, quiet holiday day. The schedule is full, and each stop has a clear time limit. Hvar alone could fill a day, and the beaches could easily tempt you to stay longer.

Service animals are allowed, the experience is near public transportation, and most people can participate. The activity is private, but the available details do not specify a particular boat design or special accessibility features, so ask the operator if those points matter to you.

Practical details before you reserve

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity starts at 8:00 a.m. It ends back at the meeting point. Since the trip averages being booked 41 days ahead, planning early is sensible if your Croatia schedule is fixed.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off follows local time.

Weather deserves attention. This is an outdoor boat trip, and poor conditions can cancel the departure. If that happens, you are offered another date or a full refund. Keep a little flexibility in your itinerary if possible.

The tour is offered in English. Since lunch is optional and not included, decide in advance whether you want a restaurant meal or prefer to walk and swim at Stomorska.

Should you book this private island tour?

Book it if your group can fill much of the seven-person capacity and you want a big, varied day without organizing ferries and connections. The best features are the private boat, Fortica’s view, the quiet Murvica swim, and the unusual submarine base. The final snorkeling stop at Necujam adds a memorable finish.

Think twice if you are traveling alone or as a couple on a tight budget. The fixed group price can be hard to justify for a small party, and the 10-hour schedule may feel tiring. You also need to pay separately for lunch.

For the right group, this is a strong Split day trip. It gives you Hvar’s character, Brac’s beach time, and Solta’s quieter harbor and swimming bays, all in one well-packed route.

FAQ

Where does the private boat trip take place?

The trip operates from Split, Croatia, and ends back at the meeting point. The route visits Hvar, Brac, and Solta.

What time does the tour start?

The activity starts at 8:00 a.m.

How long does the boat trip last?

The experience lasts approximately 10 hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The private boat is for one group of up to seven people.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is optional and is not included. You can eat at the waterside restaurant in Stomorska or walk through the village and swim nearby.

What equipment is included?

The tour includes the boat, skipper, safety equipment, insurance, water on board, bottled water, and snorkeling equipment.

How much does the private tour cost?

The listed price is $1,128.23 per group of up to seven people.

What should I bring?

Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, towels, water, and a camera. Bottled water is also provided on board.

Is swimming part of the itinerary?

Yes. You have swimming time at Murvica Beach and Necujam, where you can snorkel near a sunken ship.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.