If you have a full day and want to see as much of the central Dalmatian islands as possible, the Premium Hvar Tour is the one to book. It’s our longest and most complete tour: 10 hours, four major stops, and an onboard picnic with local wine and Dalmatian food between destinations.
Zlatni Rat, the beach that changes shape
The first stop is Zlatni Rat on the island of Brač, one of the most photographed beaches in Europe. The long white pebble tongue stretches into the sea and shifts direction with the wind and currents. From the water, you get a perspective that most visitors never see. There’s time to swim and wade in the shallow turquoise water before the tour continues.
The Cold War submarine tunnel
This is the stop that surprises people the most. Near the village of Lozišće on Brač, a tunnel was carved deep into the coastal rock during the Cold War. It was built to shelter military submarines from aerial detection. You can enter the tunnel by boat, and the scale of it is striking. Massive rock walls rise on both sides as you glide through the darkness. It’s a piece of history you won’t find in most guidebooks.
Pakleni Islands
After the tunnel, the boat heads to the Pakleni Islands, a small archipelago just off the coast of Hvar. Two stops here: Palmižana and Marinkovac. These are the kind of places that make you wonder why you ever swim in a pool. Turquoise lagoons, pine forests that grow right down to the waterline, and beaches with almost no one on them.
The water around Palmižana is especially clear. You can see the bottom at 10 metres without effort. Snorkeling here is effortless, with small fish, sea urchins, and rocky formations just below the surface.
An afternoon in Hvar Town
The final stop is Hvar Town, and you get 3 or more hours to explore on your own. That’s enough time to walk the marble streets of the old town, sit down for a proper lunch at a harbour restaurant, and still climb up to the Fortica Fortress for panoramic views over the town, the harbour, and the Pakleni Islands you just swam in.
Hvar is one of Croatia’s most famous destinations for a reason. The architecture is beautiful, the food is excellent, and the atmosphere is hard to describe until you’ve been there. Having several hours instead of a rushed 45-minute stop makes all the difference.
The onboard picnic
Between stops, you’ll eat on the boat. The picnic includes local Croatian wine and traditional Dalmatian food. It’s a simple spread, but the ingredients are local and the setting is hard to beat. Eating fresh food on the open sea with islands on the horizon is one of those holiday moments that sticks with you.
Why speedboat matters
Ten hours sounds like a long day, and it is. But a speedboat means less time in transit and more time at each stop. You’re not spending half the day watching the horizon from the deck of a slow catamaran. The boat gets you there quickly, and you spend your time swimming, exploring, and eating instead.
The ride itself is part of the experience. Cruising at speed with the wind in your hair and islands appearing on the horizon, that feeling of freedom on the water is something you don’t get on a ferry or a sailing boat.
This tour combines landmarks, history, nature, and culture into a single day. If you can only do one big thing during your holiday on the Makarska Riviera, this is a strong contender.
Want to know more or check availability? Get in touch and we’ll sort out the details.