Pakleni Islands Sailing Tour

The best part of this outing is the chance to see the Pakleni Islands from a proper 42-foot sailing boat, not a crowded speedboat. You get open deck space for sunbathing, a real sailing experience, and time in clear bays around St. Klement and Hvar. I especially like the included SUP and snorkeling gear, plus the simple pleasure of wine, water, and snacks while you are offshore.

I also like the way the skipper can adjust the route to the weather and anchorage conditions. That makes the day more comfortable and gives you a better shot at a good swim stop. The catch is that the pace may feel slow if you want constant action, and lunch is not included in the $141 price.

Key points to know

• A roomy 42-foot regatta-style boat: There is space to sit, stretch out, and sunbathe rather than being packed onto a small craft.
• Flexible Pakleni Islands route: Possible stops include bays on St. Klement, Zdrilca, the passage, and Vela Garska Bay on Hvar.
• Swimming comes with useful equipment: Snorkel gear and a stand-up paddleboard are included for time off the boat.
• Lunch is a separate expense: You stop at a seaside restaurant, but you pay for your own Dalmatian meal.
• A small-group format makes sense here: Private and small-group options are available, giving you more room and a calmer feel.
• The six-hour pace is unhurried: That suits you if you want sailing time, but it may frustrate you if you prefer several fast stops.

Sailing the Pakleni Islands on a 42-foot boat

The Pakleni Islands are a chain of low, rocky islands off the Dalmatian coast, known for sheltered coves and clear water. This tour uses a large sailing boat with a regatta-style design, so the ride is part of the attraction rather than just transportation between stops.

I like that distinction. On a typical motorboat outing, the journey can feel like a noisy transfer. Here, you are meant to enjoy the boat itself. The 42-foot size gives you room to find a sunny patch, sit with a drink, or move around without feeling boxed in.

The boat also makes the outing a better choice for people who want a taste of sailing without committing to a full sailing holiday. You will spend a good part of the six hours underway, with stops arranged around the weather, sea conditions, and the skipper’s choice of anchorage.

That flexibility is practical, but it also means the route is not fixed in stone. You should think of this as a sailing day with possible bays, not a checklist of guaranteed stops. The exact sequence can change, and the skipper may choose the safest or most pleasant location available that day.

The possible bays around St. Klement and Hvar

The route can include several bays on St. Klement, as well as the passage and Bay Zdrilca. Another possible stop is Vela Garska Bay on the island of Hvar. Each location offers the basic appeal of the area: clear water, quiet anchorage, and a chance to get off the boat for a swim.

St. Klement is particularly suited to this kind of outing because the island has sheltered coves where a boat can pause away from the open sea. A bay stop lets you see the islands at a slower pace, with time to swim, use the snorkel equipment, or paddle the SUP.

Zdrilca and Vela Garska Bay give the skipper alternate choices. That matters because conditions at sea can change, and not every anchorage works equally well for lunch or swimming. The tour description specifically leaves room for the skipper to choose the best suitable location, which is a sensible approach on a sailing trip.

You should not expect a full island tour with time ashore at every possible location. Six hours sounds generous, but sailing time, anchoring, swimming, and lunch all compete for the clock. One German booking reported that the day included only two swim stops, so set your expectations accordingly. The value comes from the whole sailing experience, not from collecting as many coves as possible.

Swimming, snorkeling, and time on the water

The water around the Pakleni Islands is the main reason to book this outing. The bays are described as clear and suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and underwater photography. You can bring your own camera or phone housing if that is part of your holiday kit, though no special photography service is included.

Snorkeling gear is provided, which saves you from packing another item or renting equipment separately. The SUP is another useful inclusion. You can paddle around the boat after anchoring, assuming conditions allow and the equipment is available for use at that stop.

A swim stop on a sailing tour is usually more relaxed than a quick swim from a busy excursion boat. You have the boat as your base, and the large deck gives you somewhere to dry off and rest afterward. Pack a towel, swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. A jacket also belongs in your bag because conditions can feel cooler once the boat is moving, even on a warm day.

The activity is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or pregnant women. That is important to consider before booking, since getting around a sailing boat and entering the water can require a reasonable level of ease and balance.

What the six-hour schedule feels like

The day is long enough to include meaningful sailing time, a swim stop, and a restaurant stop. That is good news if you want more than a short boat ride. You are not simply rushing from one bay to the next.

The trade-off is pace. One booking from Brazil described the sailing as unusually slow and found the long stretch on the boat monotonous. You may feel the same if you expect an energetic excursion with constant movement. A sailing boat is not a speedboat, and the route depends on wind, weather, and the skipper’s choices.

Another practical point comes from a German booking that noted only one drink was offered during the trip. The listed inclusions are wine, water, crackers, and chocolate wafers, but you should not expect a full drinks service or a broad selection of refreshments. Bring any extra drink or snack you may need, provided the operator allows it.

For the right person, the unhurried pace is a benefit. You can sit in the sun, watch the islands pass, and enjoy the motion of a real sailing boat. If your ideal day means maximum swimming time and rapid sightseeing, a shorter motorboat tour may suit you better.

Lunch by the sea, with the cost kept separate

After the swim stop, the skipper aims to take you to a restaurant in one of the bays. The goal is a proper Dalmatian lunch beside the water, and that can be one of the most enjoyable parts of the day. You get a chance to step away from the boat, eat a full meal, and experience a more local style of seaside dining.

Lunch is not included in the $141 cost. That is worth planning for, especially if you are traveling with several people. The final price depends on what you order at the restaurant, so you should allow extra money for the meal and any drinks beyond the included water and wine.

The lunch stop is also dependent on anchorage capability and weather. A restaurant may be available, but the boat still needs a suitable and safe place to anchor or approach. The skipper decides which location works best on the day.

One Italian booking described the restaurant as a very typical place and praised the fish meal. That gives you a useful clue about what to look for: this is better suited to someone who wants a simple Dalmatian seafood lunch than someone expecting a fixed, prepaid menu.

How much value you get for $141

At $141 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the Pakleni Islands. You are paying for six hours, a large sailing boat, a skipper-guide, and a small-group or private format rather than a basic short transfer.

The boat size is a major part of the value. A 42-foot vessel gives you more room than a small craft, and it makes the sailing itself feel like an activity. Wine, water, snacks, snorkeling gear, and a SUP are also included, so you are not starting with a bare-bones boat ride.

The price makes the most sense when you value comfort and time. Six hours gives you a full half-day on the water, and the private or small-group option can make the experience feel less crowded. If you are comparing it with a quick island cruise, you should not compare only the number of stops. Compare the boat, the amount of time, and the quality of the sailing experience.

The price is less convincing if you mainly want transport to a beach. Lunch costs extra, the exact bays are not guaranteed, and some people may find the sailing portions too slow. In that case, a shorter trip with a faster boat could deliver better value for your priorities.

The skipper makes a real difference

The skipper is both your guide and the person responsible for choosing the route. The language offered is Croatian or English. The skipper also decides where conditions are best for swimming and where the boat can stop for lunch.

One particularly useful strength is local knowledge of the Hvar area. A skipper from Hvar was praised for being friendly and able to explain the area, which can add context to what you see without turning the day into a formal lecture.

At the same time, the experience depends heavily on the skipper’s pace and style. One booking described the skipper as very kind and helpful, while another found the day too slow. That contrast is a reminder that sailing is partly about mood and expectations.

If you want a relaxed day, tell the skipper early that you would like enough time to swim and use the SUP. If you are more interested in sailing, say so as well. The route can be adjusted within the limits of weather, anchorage, and the six-hour schedule.

Who will enjoy this sailing day most

I would recommend this tour to you if you like being on the water as much as reaching the next stop. It suits couples, friends, and small groups who want room to sit in the sun and do not mind an unhurried pace.

It is also a good match if you want a balanced day: some genuine sailing, one or more swims, light snacks, and a proper lunch by the sea. The equipment is already supplied, so you can enjoy the water without organizing every detail yourself.

Families should consider the boat setting and the mobility restriction carefully. The tour is not suitable for pregnant women or people with mobility impairments. The available information does not specify a child age policy, so families should confirm that point before booking.

You may want to skip it if you dislike spending long stretches seated on a boat, need a fixed itinerary, or want lunch included in the upfront price. The experience is flexible, and that is helpful in changing weather, but it also means less certainty about the exact bays and timing.

What to pack for the boat

Keep your bag light and practical. You should bring:

• Swimwear and a towel
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat
• A jacket for the sailing portions
• Any extra snacks or drinks you may want
• A waterproof way to protect your phone or camera

Wine, water, crackers, chocolate wafers, snorkeling gear, and a SUP are included. Lunch is not, so plan for that separately. The boat has space for sunbathing, but you should still protect yourself from the sun because a full day on the water can feel intense.

Booking flexibility and group choices

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful if your Dalmatian schedule is still shifting.

Private and small-group options are available. A private trip gives you more control over the mood and pace, but the cost may be harder to justify for one or two people. A small group can offer the best balance, since you share the expense while keeping the outing more personal than a large boat cruise.

The overall rating is 4.7 from eight ratings, with especially strong praise for the beautiful sailing day, friendly skippers, good swim and lunch combination, and the local feel of the restaurant stop. The lower scores focus on a slow pace and limited drink or swimming-stop expectations. Both sides are useful: the tour can be excellent, but only if you want a calm sailing day rather than a high-speed activity.

Should you book the Pakleni Islands Sailing Tour?

Book it if you want six hours on a spacious sailing boat, clear-water swimming, a little snorkeling and paddleboarding, and lunch at a seaside restaurant. The large boat, flexible route, included equipment, and local skipper make the $141 price reasonable for someone who values comfort and sailing time.

Think twice if you want a packed itinerary, several guaranteed swim stops, or an all-inclusive price. Bring extra money for lunch, expect the route to change with conditions, and accept that the boat may move at a leisurely pace. For a relaxed day around the Pakleni Islands, it is a solid choice. For speed and constant action, choose another kind of boat trip.

FAQ

How long is the Pakleni Islands Sailing Tour?

The tour lasts six hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $141 per person.

What type of boat is used?

The tour uses a large 42-foot, regatta-style sailing boat with plenty of space for sunbathing.

Which islands and bays may the tour visit?

Possible locations include bays on St. Klement, the passage, Bay Zdrilca, and Vela Garska Bay on Hvar. The exact route depends on weather and anchorage conditions.

Is lunch included?

No. The tour includes a stop at a restaurant in one of the bays, but lunch is not included in the price.

What food and drinks are included?

Wine, water, crackers, and chocolate wafers are included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear and a stand-up paddleboard are included.

Can I cancel the booking or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available.