Hiring a private boat in Himara turns a fixed group cruise into your own day on the water — you pick the stops, the timing, and who's on board. For families with small kids, groups of friends who'd rather not share a deck with strangers, or anyone who wants to linger an extra hour at a quiet cove, a private charter is the flexible alternative to the scheduled tour. This guide explains what a private hire actually gets you, which Himara operators run them, and how to book one without overpaying.
Prefer a fixed-price seat instead? Compare the scheduled departures on our Himara boat tours hub before deciding whether private is worth it.
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Why Hire a Private Boat
A scheduled tour runs a set route on a set clock with whoever else booked that seat. A private charter flips all three: the boat is yours, so you set the itinerary and the pace. That matters most in a few situations.
- Groups and celebrations. A family of six or a group of friends often fills a small boat anyway — booking it privately means no strangers, your own music, and a route built around your swimmers and your lunch stop.
- Families with young children. You control the swim stops, the shade breaks, and when to head back if a nap is brewing. No pressure to keep up with a fixed schedule.
- A specific stop you care about. Want two hours at one cove instead of fifteen minutes each at six? A private hire lets you skip the highlight reel and dig into the parts you actually want.
- A relaxed pace. No early-morning muster, no waiting for the last group seat to fill. You leave when you're ready.
What a Private Charter Includes
Private hire in Himara is usually priced for the whole boat rather than per person, and the captain comes with it — you're chartering a skippered boat, not renting one to drive yourself. Beyond that, the details vary by operator, so confirm them when you book. A typical private charter covers:
- The boat and a captain for an agreed number of hours (half-day and full-day are the common blocks).
- A flexible route you shape with the skipper — caves, beaches, snorkeling spots, or a drop-and-collect at a beach you can't otherwise reach.
- Basic gear such as life jackets, and often snorkels or a swim ladder.
- Fuel on most charters, though some quote it separately — ask.
Food, drinks, and any beach-bar stops are normally on you unless the operator says otherwise. Always confirm the maximum passenger count, the hours, and exactly what the quote includes before you commit.
Operators That Offer Private Hire
These are the Himara operators that run private charters. We've noted each one's verified rating and how it takes bookings — and you can compare them against the wider fleet in our ranked boat tour operator list.
Himara Seas The Day
The most-reviewed operator in town, with a 4.9 rating from 378 TripAdvisor reviews. Alongside its scheduled group tours it runs private charters, so it's a strong default if you want an established outfit with a long track record. Read more in our Himara Seas The Day review, or book through their site at himaraboattrips.com.
Himara Watertaxi
A water-taxi service rated 4.9 from 363 reviews, bookable online — handy if you want a private run to a specific spot like Gjipe rather than a full circuit. Because it's set up as a taxi, it's well suited to point-to-point drops and collections. See our Himara Watertaxi review, or book at himara-watertaxi.com.
Bayamar Adventures
A newer operator that's quickly built a 5.0 rating from 66 TripAdvisor reviews, with guests singling out its private and small-group trips and an attentive captain. A good pick if you want a more personal, hands-on charter rather than a big-operator feel.
Boat Tours VIP
Built specifically around private charters, built for larger groups and parties. Booking is handled over WhatsApp, and the operator's site is boattoursvip.al. It doesn't carry an independent review score, so judge it on the quote and how clearly it answers your questions when you message.
Himara Nautica One
A family-run operator with an Italian skipper of more than 20 years' experience, offering boat tours alongside car rental — useful if you're arranging both at once. Its site is himaranauticaone.com. There's no independent review score to point to, so rely on direct contact to confirm the boat, capacity, and what's included.
How to Choose and Book
- Match the boat to your group. For up to a handful of people, any of the operators above works; for a larger party, Boat Tours VIP's up-to-22 capacity is the clear fit.
- Decide circuit vs point-to-point. If you want a full day touring caves and coves, go with Himara Seas The Day or Bayamar. If you mainly want a private drop at one beach, Himara Watertaxi's taxi model is built for it.
- Get the quote in writing. Confirm hours, maximum passengers, route flexibility, and whether fuel and gear are included before you pay anything.
- Book on the operator's channel. Himara Watertaxi takes online bookings; Boat Tours VIP works over WhatsApp; Himara Seas The Day and Himara Nautica One book through their own sites.
- Book ahead in peak season. Private boats are limited and July–August fills fast — reach out a few days in advance.
Best For
Private hire isn't the cheapest way onto the water, but it's the right choice when flexibility outweighs price.
- Groups of four or more who'd fill a small boat anyway.
- Families who want to set their own swim and rest stops.
- Special occasions — birthdays, proposals, a milestone trip.
- Travelers chasing one specific spot rather than the standard highlight loop.
If you're a couple or a pair happy with a fixed route, a scheduled group seat is usually better value — see how the costs compare in our Himara boat tour prices guide and the routes in our Himara boat tours overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you hire a private boat in Himara?
Contact one of the operators that runs private charters and request the whole boat for a half-day or full-day. Himara Watertaxi takes bookings online, Boat Tours VIP books over WhatsApp, and Himara Seas The Day and Himara Nautica One book through their own websites. Confirm the hours, passenger limit, route, and what's included before you pay.
How much is a private boat tour in Himara?
Private charters are priced for the whole boat and vary widely with the length of the trip, the size of the boat, and the season. Because there's no single fixed rate, the best approach is to message two or three operators with your group size and the hours you want, then compare the quotes side by side.
Which operators do private tours in Himara?
Himara Seas The Day, Himara Watertaxi, Bayamar Adventures, Boat Tours VIP, and Himara Nautica One all offer private charters. Himara Seas The Day (4.9 from 378 reviews) and Himara Watertaxi (4.9 from 363) are the most-reviewed; Bayamar Adventures (5.0 from 66) is the standout newer option; Boat Tours VIP handles larger group charters.
Can a private boat drop you at Gjipe?
Yes. A private hire — particularly a water-taxi run with Himara Watertaxi — can take you straight to Gjipe Beach, which is otherwise a hike from the road, and collect you later. Agree the drop and pickup times with the skipper when you book.
