SWIM & SNORKELBRIJUNI TOUR

ENJOY BRIJUNI ISLANDS

Five hours, two ways to enjoy the Brijuni National Park. First we cruise along the coastline of the islands and show you the places most visitors only read about. Then we moor at the island of Sv. Jerolim, hand you a mask and snorkel, and give you about two and a half hours to swim, snorkel and explore at your own pace.

Before we cast off, we welcome you aboard with a glass of our homemade brandy.

THE CRUISE

We leave from the Pula harbour, past the Uljanik shipyard, founded in 1856 when Pula became the main naval port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. On the way we share the stories behind the places we pass, from Roman Pula to the life of the sea below us.

Crossing the Fažana Channel, we sail close to the harbour of Veli Brijun, where elegant yachts, old hotels and a golf course recall the days when Brijuni was a fashionable retreat for Europe’s elite. On the northern side of the island lies the Safari Park, and with a little luck you will spot some of its animals near the shore.

In the strait between Veli and Mali Brijun, seagulls follow the boat, and you can feed them straight from your hand.

Next comes the islet of Vanga, once strictly off limits, where Marshal Tito’s glass villa hides behind a curtain of bamboo. Today it is the summer residence of the Croatian president. Further south, past the Peneda lighthouse that has guided sailors since 1877, we point out three more of Tito’s villas: Jadranka, Bijela and Brijunka.

Along the way, Chef Vedran serves lunch freshly prepared on board (fish, meat or veggie) with salad and bread, while soft drinks and wine keep flowing.

SWIM & SNORKEL ON SV. JEROLIM

Then we moor at the small pier on Sv. Jerolim, the swimming island of the Brijuni archipelago, and the next two and a half hours are yours. Before you step ashore, our crew hands out masks and snorkels, shows you a map of the island and explains how to snorkel safely.

Families and beginners can stay in the calm, shallow bays close to the beach. Confident swimmers can follow the rocky coastline further around the island, where the water is deeper and the underwater world gets more interesting: fish, sea urchins and rocks shaped by the sea.

Not in the mood for snorkeling? Stretch out on the pebble beach, find a spot in the shade of the pine trees or grab a coffee at the beach bar.

A walking trail circles the island through pine woods and old stone quarries now taken back by nature, with views over the Brijuni islands and the Fažana Channel. Keep an eye out for peacocks, cormorants drying their wings on the rocks and lizards warming up in the sun.

Late in the afternoon, it is time to say goodbye to this oasis of peace and head back to the busy summer of Pula, with salty hair and a few new stories to tell.

SAVE YOUR SEAT ON BOARD

This is the trip our guests talk about long after their holiday in Pula: a family crew, a day on the islands and a swim they will not forget. In July and August the boat fills up fast, so book a few days ahead to be sure of your place.

You can join us in two ways: choose LUNCH & DRINKS and sail aboard our wooden boat “Lucija”, or pick DRINKS-ONLY and enjoy the same beautiful route aboard “Emilio”.

Curious what others say? Read our guests’ reviews.