Pirate Boat Trip From Mali Losinj in Croatia To Nearby Islands

There are many options for boat trips from Mali Losinj in Croatia, including trips to nearby islands. These tend to be day trips or shorter and include dolphin spotting, island hopping, party tours and a pirate ship.

Visitors to Mali Losinj can book a variety of boat tours from vendors along Riva. We enjoyed a few day trips aboard a pirate ship that included visits to the small islands of Ilovik and Susak. The excursion then stops at a secluded bay for some fun in the calm waters. Our boat trip was all-inclusive and included a meal, wine, and soft drinks. All of this was delicious and served before departing from Ilovik.

Booking a Boat Trip in Mali Losinj, Croatia

We found the easiest way to book our boat trip was to chat to the vendors at Riva in Mali Losinj. We confirmed details with them and chose the trip that best suited us and was dog-friendly. The Pirate Ship run by Pirati Excursions appealed most, and they allowed dogs of all sizes on board without restrictions. No prepayment was required. We just left our name and phone number and selected our food option.

Are They Dog Friendly?

Pirat Excursions are very dog friendly and made Henry very welcome. They apparently often have canine passengers enjoying the trip. Henry had full access to all areas of the ship and was given water while onboard.

The boat’s parrot may upset some dogs, so be aware before booking. Henry also got lots of fuss from passing crew members and other passengers.

Pirate Excursions Departure & Payment

The boat was scheduled to leave Mali Losinj at 10 am, and they advised us to arrive slightly early. When we arrived, they informed us of a change of itinerary. The epic storm the night before made landing in Susak unsafe; thus, they switched the destination to Ilovik. I had been in the sea during the storm and had seen how rough it was while on a mission to get supplies from Rijeka by ferry. The ferry captain had to abort landing in Susak, which was quite the epic moment.

On boarding, we paid the fee in cash, confirmed our meal choice and then chose our seats. We opted for the top deck, which was covered to give Henry some shade while out in the Adriatic Sea.

Pirati Excursions Itinerary

Mali Losinj Departure

The first step of the journey was to depart the port of Mali Losinj. This part gave us some excellent views of the town and an opportunity to spot things to see later in our trip. The town is beautiful from the sea, including the old town and the seafront. Departing the port, the crew got out a bottle of schnapps to give out shots to anyone who wanted one. Obviously we obliged and toasted a safe trip, and down the hatch it went.

Once out of the lagoon, the boat headed south past Cikat Forest and some lovely rugged coastline. The sea was still choppy from the previous night’s storm, and the wind took the edge off the summer heat. They sold cans of Croatian beer onboard for passengers who wanted a drink other than the free soft drinks on offer.

Visit the Island of Ilovik

The Island of Ilovik in the Adriatic Sea is a small place just south of Losinj Island, and it took just over an hour to reach by boat. Ilovik has a small harbour and a few sights to see. We had just under two hours to explore the small village.

We opted to give Henry a walk to the beach and had a quick swim before enjoying a beer in the harbour, then returned to the boat for lunch. Ilovik is a small, cute place and ideal for those who want a quiet island getaway.

Meal Onboard

As the trip was all-inclusive, they scheduled lunch before departure from Ilovik. The views over the harbour were a lovely setting for a meal by the sea. First, they brought each table a big 2-litre bottle of wine and sparkling water too. The wine was from South Macedonia and rather tasty. However, 2 litres was far too much for the two of us at lunchtime, so it made for a nice souvenir for the fridge later in the day.

For food, we opted for the fish menu rather than the meat. They cooked both on a barbecue onboard while we explored the island. The food was delicious, including small blue fish, courgette, mushrooms, and a delicious cabbage salad. There was a lot of bread floating around, too, which made the meal very filling.

As a bonus, they brought extra fish around, which we obliged. Henry enjoyed some of the fish too once I’d removed the bones, making it dog-friendly. Once the meal was over, the boat departed from Ilovik to head north towards Losinj Island.

Swimming at Plaža Balvanida

Part of the day out was spent swimming in a remote cove off Losinj Island called Plaža Balvanida. Plaža Balvanida is a beautiful cove sheltered from the sea and a fantastic place for a dip. The coastline is beautiful, and the water was calm; thus, it was a great place to stop. After dropping anchor, the crew lowered some swimming-pool-like steps into the Adriatic Sea so we could get in. They also supplied some stand-up paddleboards for us to use too.

The coast also had a small cave for swimming, which was gorgeous to see from both afar and up close. They parked up for over an hour here; however, Henry is a water dodger, so he stayed safe on the boat.

Along The Coast, Back Via Cikat Bay

The boat followed the coast north towards Mali Losinj, including a circle of the beautiful Cikat Bay. The bay looked fantastic from the water, and I got to see some interesting buildings, including Viennese villas and a church. After this, they dropped us off in Mali Losinj. Everyone seemed to have had a good day.

Review Of Pirate Boat Trip From Mali Losinj

We thoroughly enjoyed the day out, despite the enforced change of plans. Sisak does look lovely. The crew was very hospitable and supplied great food and wine. Henry enjoyed the dog-friendly nature of the trip. After bumping into their excursions on the way, we realised we had dodged being stuck on a small party boat doing something similar rather than on the spacious pirate ship. It was well worth the money, and we highly recommend it. You can find out more from their website.

We enjoyed the trip so much we joined them again for a different adventure. This time we got to Susak and the nearby Vele Srakane, a tiny remote island which was beautiful. The tour was great, and the food and drink were satisfying.