REVIEW · BLUE LAGOON TOURS
Private Blue Lagoon and island Solta speedboat tour – FULL DAY
Book on Viator →Operated by Absolut Charter · Bookable on Viator
A private speedboat day beats the tour buses. You trade crowds for a slow, captain-led pace, with an intimate feel and real snorkeling time. I like that the day mixes sightseeing (including UNESCO Trogir) with long stretches in the water, so you’re not rushing from one stop to another.
Main drawback: the route and timing depend on weather, so the sea decides the schedule. And lunch at the sea-front restaurant is optional and on your own cost, so budget a bit extra if you want to eat there.
In This Review
- Key highlights you’ll feel from minute one
- Private speedboat from Split: what a full day really feels like
- Meeting point in Split: Trumbićeva obala vs. Matejuška pier
- Split stop (quick and easy): a fast start, not a long lecture
- Trogir in UNESCO mode: cathedral doors and Kamerlengo
- Blue Lagoon and Krknjaši: the swim-and-snorkel centerpiece
- Maslinica on Šolta: beaches, coffee breaks, and sea views
- Necujam snorkeling: the shipping-rack stop
- Stomorska and Restoran Turanj: sea-front time, and lunch options
- Included on board: what saves you money (and what to plan for)
- Price and value: how $878.89 per group can make sense
- Guides and captains: what people consistently praise
- Weather and timing: the sea runs the show
- Who should book this private Blue Lagoon and Šolta tour?
- Should you book it?
- FAQ
- How long is the private Blue Lagoon and Šolta speedboat tour?
- What’s the group size limit for this private tour?
- Where do we meet in Split?
- Which stops are included during the day?
- Do we get snorkeling gear and is lunch included?
- What’s included on board besides snorkeling equipment?
- Is the tour dependent on weather?
- Is there a ticket cost for the main stops?
- What if I need to cancel last minute?
Key highlights you’ll feel from minute one
- Private group up to 11: you’re not sharing the boat with strangers.
- Captain storytelling: you get the historical facts straight from the skipper, not just from a sign.
- Blue Lagoon + Krknjaši area: built for swimming and snorkeling with provided gear.
- Šolta beaches and coves: Maslinica and Stomorska give you classic Adriatic downtime.
- Snorkeling at Necujam: a more specific underwater spot with a shipping-rack setup.
- SUP board included: another way to enjoy the calm water between swims.
Private speedboat from Split: what a full day really feels like
This is the kind of day trip that’s hard to recreate with public transport. Instead of sprinting around Split’s sights, you’re on the water early, then you spend the hours doing exactly what you came for: cruising, stopping, and hanging out where the sea looks good enough to test your phone’s camera.
The private part matters more than you’d think. With a group of up to 11, you can actually match the rhythm of the day to your crew. Some families travel with kids who need more breaks, and some groups just want maximum water time. One reason this trip gets such strong praise is that the skipper is paying attention to what your group wants, not running a rigid script.
You’ll also notice the tour leans practical. You get bottled water, soda, and fruit. Alcoholic drinks are included as well (including a bottle of wine), so this isn’t only a sightseeing outing. It’s a “day on the Adriatic” experience, with the boat acting like your moving base.
You can also read our reviews of more private tours in Split
Meeting point in Split: Trumbićeva obala vs. Matejuška pier
You’ll see two references in the details: Trumbićeva obala 1 in Split, and departure from Matejuška pier in the center of town (under the Croatian flag). In practice, plan to arrive early enough to find the right dock area without stress.
If you’re staying near the old center, this is good news. You’re not hauling luggage across town. And because the meeting point is listed as near public transportation, you can avoid turning the morning into a logistics puzzle.
Split stop (quick and easy): a fast start, not a long lecture
The day begins with a short stop in Split itself—about 10 minutes, with admission ticket marked as free. Think of this as an “on-ramp” moment: you’re at the pier, the group is together, and then you’re off.
That short Split portion is also a nice psychological trick. You don’t spend the whole morning in transit. You start moving early, and the real time investment goes into the day’s standout locations.
Trogir in UNESCO mode: cathedral doors and Kamerlengo
Your first real sightseeing stop is Trogir, a UNESCO-listed historic city. You get about an hour for coffee and sightseeing—enough time to get your bearings and see a few big hits without turning it into a walking marathon.
Here’s what you should plan to prioritize in that hour:
- The Cathedral of St. Lovre, especially its impressive Romanesque doors carved by Master Radovan in the 13th century.
- Fortress Kamerlengo, which helps you understand why Trogir looks the way it does.
- The promenade for an easy stroll and photos where you can actually see the waterfront.
A practical note: an hour sounds short, but Trogir’s best feature is that it’s compact. If you choose your route—cathedral/doors first, then Kamerlengo, then a stroll on the promenade—you’ll come away feeling like you covered the core.
And since this is private, you can ask the skipper questions about what you’re seeing as you walk. Several guides on this service are praised for being friendly and for giving clear local context—so you’ll often understand the place while you’re in it, not after you leave.
Blue Lagoon and Krknjaši: the swim-and-snorkel centerpiece
After Trogir, the pace shifts from walking to water. You head to the Blue Lagoon area around Krknjaši Bay, a crystal-blue spot between the islands of large Krknjaši, small Krknjaši, and Drvenik Veli. You’ll have about an hour here.
This is where the tour earns its “do this” reputation. You’re given snorkeling equipment, and the bay setup makes it easy to switch between activities. You can simply swim and sunbathe, or you can go snorkeling and look for underwater life along the shoreline and nearby spots.
One small detail that helps: the shoreline is described as pebbled, not sandy. That’s normal for this part of the Adriatic. If you hate barefoot pebble approaches, you might want to bring water shoes. If you’re comfortable, you’ll probably just adapt quickly once you’re in.
And yes, this is also where weather matters. Calm conditions make the day feel effortless; choppier conditions can change how long you comfortably spend at each location. The good part is that a good skipper adapts so you still get worthwhile water time.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Split
Maslinica on Šolta: beaches, coffee breaks, and sea views
Next you go to Maslinica on the island of Šolta for about an hour. Maslinica is known for its archipelago setting—surrounded by seven small islands—which creates a postcard feel without needing a special filter.
You’ll also notice why this stop is popular with families and mixed groups: it’s easy to enjoy. You can grab a coffee, wander, and then focus on swimming.
Two things worth knowing before you arrive:
- There’s a pebble beach that’s described as the most popular one in Maslinica, with a wooden bar nearby.
- The Marchi baroque castle has been restored into a hotel area, and there’s also a new nautical marina. In other words, this village has grown, but it still feels like a real place, not a theme park.
The main tradeoff here is the same pebble reality as the Blue Lagoon. Plan for it, and you’ll be fine. Then you can enjoy the real win: time to relax without rushing.
Necujam snorkeling: the shipping-rack stop
After Maslinica, you’ll head to Necujam for about 45 minutes, with snorkeling above a shipping rack on the north side of Šolta. This is a more specific underwater destination than the open-bay swim time earlier in the day.
This kind of stop often works best if you treat it like a “focus session.” Spend a few minutes getting comfortable in the water, put the snorkeling gear on, and then slow down to really look. If you’re the type who only does quick surface glances, you’ll still see plenty—but you’ll get more from the stop if you give it a little attention.
Since the tour provides snorkeling equipment and you’re in a private setting, you can usually take your time at a comfortable pace rather than getting swept along by a schedule.
Stomorska and Restoran Turanj: sea-front time, and lunch options
Your final major stop is Stomorska, where you finish with time at Restoran Turanj. You get about two hours here, and lunch is optional and on your own cost.
If you do want lunch, this is a nice payoff: sea-front dining is exactly what it sounds like—eat, then linger. If you’d rather skip lunch, you’re not trapped. The plan is flexible: you can walk or swim and sunbathe a little longer.
This is also one of the easier points to handle with kids, because the pace can slow down. Several people mention that the skipper is accommodating for families, including groups traveling with infants, and that the experience can be tailored to avoid turning the day into constant hustle.
Included on board: what saves you money (and what to plan for)
Here’s what’s included for you on the boat:
- Bottled water
- Soda/pop
- Alcoholic beverages, including a bottle of wine
- Fruit
- Snorkeling equipment
- SUP board
The practical value is that you’re not paying for every drink or snack mid-day. In a standard group tour, those costs add up fast. Here, you’re basically set up for a long day on the water.
What’s not included: lunch.
That’s it. There’s no mystery-charge vibe built into the core offering based on the provided info, but I’ll add one smart travel tip: if you book through a third-party platform, double-check what’s included versus what’s extra. One past booking mentioned that on a specific platform, boat and fuel were covered but the skipper cost was separate. So it’s worth verifying line items before you finalize.
Price and value: how $878.89 per group can make sense
The price listed is $878.89 per group, for up to 11 people, for about 8 hours. That sounds like a lot until you do the math for your situation.
If you have a small group (say 2 to 4 people), the cost per person is higher than a standard shared tour. But you’re paying for privacy: no crowd pressure, no rigid schedule imposed by dozens of other people, and the freedom to spend more time swimming when the sea conditions are good.
If you’re traveling as friends or a family unit and can fill most of the capacity, the per-person value improves quickly. You’re essentially buying a private day out on the water with a skipper, gear, and drinks built in.
One more angle: the itinerary includes multiple swimming-focused stops plus a UNESCO city stop. So you’re getting both “walk around” time and “in the water” time, which is not always true for either pure boat tours or pure city tours.
Guides and captains: what people consistently praise
A big theme in the praise is the skipper as host and storyteller. You’ll see names like Dino, Toni, Luca, Marsel/Marcel, and Borna tied to excellent days.
Common strengths show up in the feedback pattern:
- Friendly, cooperative hosting
- Good local explanations during the day (history facts during the sightseeing moments)
- Adjusting the route or pace based on the group, including families with kids and even an infant
- Extra thoughtfulness, like adding small treats for children or handling celebrations (one review described a cake stop and extra help for a birthday)
It’s not just that they’re nice. It’s that they help you get more out of each stop while staying relaxed.
Weather and timing: the sea runs the show
This tour requires good weather, and the route depends on sea conditions. That means you should treat the day like a flexible plan, not a clockwork factory schedule.
If the water is calm, you’ll feel the day run smoothly: longer comfortable stops, easy snorkeling, and better overall mood. If conditions are rougher, the skipper may adjust the plan so you still get meaningful time at the locations you chose.
My practical advice: pack like you’re going out to sea for the day, not like you’re just strolling. Bring sun protection, and plan for wet moments. If you’re prone to seasickness, consider what usually works for you before you board—don’t wait for symptoms to start.
Who should book this private Blue Lagoon and Šolta tour?
This is a great fit if you want:
- A private speedboat day with minimal hassle
- Multiple swimming and snorkeling opportunities
- A mix of city sights (Trogir) and sea time (Blue Lagoon, Šolta)
- Included snorkel gear, drinks, and even a SUP board
- A skipper who can talk and adapt to your group’s needs
It’s especially attractive for families. The combination of short structured sightseeing (like Trogir) plus long, flexible water time works well when you have different energy levels in one group.
Should you book it?
Yes, if you’re the type who wants your Croatia time to feel like a day you remember for the water, not just photos of buildings. The strongest reason to book is the match between what you get and what you actually want: private pace, snorkeling gear, included drinks, and real time at the best-feeling bays and beaches.
I’d think twice only if you’re set on a strict, no-change schedule. Because weather matters here, you need a little flexibility. Also, if you don’t plan to spend money on optional lunch or you prefer no alcohol at all, you might not feel the full value of the inclusions.
If that flexibility works for you, this is the kind of tour that turns Split’s coastline into your whole day.
FAQ
How long is the private Blue Lagoon and Šolta speedboat tour?
The duration is about 8 hours.
What’s the group size limit for this private tour?
It’s priced per group for up to 11 people.
Where do we meet in Split?
The meeting point is listed as Trumbićeva obala 1, 21000, Split, and departures are described from Matejuška pier in central Split (under the Croatian flag).
Which stops are included during the day?
The day includes Split (brief stop), the historic city of Trogir, Blue Lagoon/Krknjaši Bay, Maslinica on Šolta, Necujam for snorkeling, and finishing in Stomorska at Restoran Turanj.
Do we get snorkeling gear and is lunch included?
Snorkeling equipment is included, along with a SUP board. Lunch is not included and is optional at your cost.
What’s included on board besides snorkeling equipment?
Bottled water, soda/pop, alcoholic beverages (including a bottle of wine), fruit, and use of snorkeling equipment are included.
Is the tour dependent on weather?
Yes. The experience requires good weather, and cancellations due to poor weather lead to a different date or a full refund.
Is there a ticket cost for the main stops?
Admission tickets are marked as free for the stops listed (including the city and swim areas). The tour still includes time for sightseeing.
What if I need to cancel last minute?
Free cancellation is offered up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.
