Zadar
via Kornati & Krka.
Sail a 7-day yacht charter from Zadar through Kornati National Park and Krka. Enjoy Telaščica, hidden bays, waterfalls & Adriatic island serenity.
Day-by-day route
Click any pin on the map or any day in the Route summary below to see the daily stop, narrative, and photos.
Zadar → Božava Bay (Dugi Otok)
Depart Zadar's Sea Organ for a 15 NM sail to Dugi Otok. Anchor in tranquil Božava Bay, framed by limestone cliffs. Enjoy a sunset swim in crystalline waters before a simple, delicious grilled fish dinner at a local konoba.
Distance
11 NM
Sailing
~2.2h at 5 kn
Route at a glance
Best season
May – mid-October (peak Jun & Sep)
Duration
7 days · Sat – Sat
Departure
Zadar
Sailing area
Zadar
Route summary
Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.
Day-by-day journey
Named anchorages, restaurants, and route notes for every leg of the week — written by sailors who've actually run this passage.
Zadar → Božava Bay (Dugi Otok)
Depart Zadar mid-morning, the ethereal notes of the Sea Organ fading behind as you set course southwest for Dugi Otok, a 15-nautical-mile passage across the Zadar channel. Pass the fertile slopes of Ugljan island, known for its ancient olive groves. Your destination is Božava Bay on Dugi Otok's sheltered northern coast, a deep inlet protected by dramatic limestone cliffs. Drop anchor in the clear, turquoise water; the seabed here is a mix of sand and rock, offering good holding in 5-7 metres. Enjoy a final swim of the day before dinghying ashore to the small village of Božava. Konoba Fabrika, nestled by the water, offers freshly grilled local fish and regional wine, enjoyed as the cicadas begin their evening chorus.
Things to do
Swim in the clear waters of Božava Bay
Explore the village of Božava
Enjoy grilled fish at Konoba Fabrika
Hike to the viewpoint above the bay
Mooring tip
Anchor in Božava Bay on sand and rock, holding is good in 5-7 metres; dinghy ashore to the village.
Božava → Telaščica Bay
Depart Božava after breakfast for the 15-nautical-mile run south to Telaščica Nature Park, a stunning natural harbour on Dugi Otok’s southeastern coast. The park entrance is marked by dramatic 160-metre high cliffs, known as Stene, plunging into the deep blue Adriatic. Anchor in the sheltered southern arm of Telaščica Bay, perhaps near the small settlement of Knežina, where the seabed offers good holding in sand and Posidonia meadows. Take the dinghy ashore to visit Mir Lake, a unique saltwater lagoon connected to the sea by a narrow channel, its waters noticeably warmer than the surrounding bay. Later, hike the well-trodden path up to the Stene viewpoint for panoramic vistas and a chance to see the park’s famous wild donkeys grazing among the Aleppo pines. The scent of pine resin hangs heavy in the air as the sun dips below the horizon.
Things to do
Swim in the warm, saline waters of Mir Lake
Hike the Stene cliffs for panoramic views
Observe wild donkeys grazing near Knežina
Anchor in the sheltered southern arm of Telaščica Bay
Mooring tip
Anchor in sand and Posidonia meadows on the southern side of the bay; holding is excellent. No moorings available.
Telaščica Bay → Kornati National Park (Levrnaka, Piškera)
Make the 15-nautical-mile passage into the Kornati National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its stark beauty and 89 treeless islands. Today's destination is the western side, beginning with a stop in Vrulje Bay on Levrnaka island. Drop anchor in the clear turquoise water over sand and weed, ideal for a late afternoon snorkel amongst the seagrass meadows. As the sun dips, make the short hop north to the vicinity of Piškera island. Find a sheltered spot away from the marina, perhaps near the abandoned fisherman's stone huts, and enjoy a peaceful evening. The scent of pine from the sparse island vegetation drifts on the breeze as the sky fills with an astonishing density of stars.
Things to do
Snorkel the seagrass meadows in Vrulje Bay
Explore the abandoned fisherman's huts near Piškera
Observe the constellations in the unpolluted night sky
Enjoy a quiet dinner aboard anchored in peaceful waters
Mooring tip
Anchor in Vrulje Bay, Levrnaka, in 5-10m sand/weed; holding is fair. Alternatively, moor stern-to at ACI Piškera if facilities are open.
Kornati → Zlarin
Departing ACI Marina Piškera, a 15-nautical-mile sail north brings you to Zlarin, known locally as the Coral Island. Generations of divers have explored these waters, seeking the precious red coral that adorns the island's workshops and jewellery shops. Anchor in the sheltered bay, dropping the hook in 5 metres of sand, and take the dinghy ashore. Zlarin's car-free pathways invite exploration, leading past ancient stone houses and artisan studios. As dusk approaches, find a harbourside bench with a glass of local loza rakija, watching the light change on the distant fortresses of Šibenik, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The scent of pine from the surrounding hills will fill the air as the day concludes.
Things to do
Anchor in Zlarin bay and dinghy ashore
Explore car-free paths and coral workshops
Visit the Coral Heritage Museum
Enjoy sunset views towards Šibenik
Mooring tip
Anchor in Zlarin bay, 5m sand, excellent holding. Dinghy ashore; no marina facilities available.
Zlarin → Skradin (Krka National Park)
A 25-mile reach southeast brings you out of the open Adriatic and into the green-blue funnel of the Krka river. Šibenik bay is the gateway — pass under the towering St. Anthony bridge, then follow the marked Park channel upriver (no anchoring inside the boundary). ACI Marina Skradin sits at the river mouth with laid lines, full services, and a fuel pier; tie up and the medieval town is two minutes on foot. From the marina, board the Park's electric shuttle (€30–40 per person, included with day-pass) for the final leg to Skradinski Buk, the seven-tiered cascade that empties into pools the colour of green tea. The wooden boardwalk loops 1.5 km over the falls; allow two hours to walk slowly and photograph. Back in town, Konoba Toni serves a proper Dalmatian prosciutto-and-cheese board — pair it with Skradin Rakija and you'll understand why locals consider the distillery something close to a religion.
Things to do
Take the NP electric shuttle from Skradin to Skradinski Buk
Walk the 1.5 km boardwalk over the cascades and side falls
Dinner at Konoba Toni — prosciutto board with Skradin Rakija
Mooring tip
ACI Marina Skradin at the river mouth — laid lines, full services, fuel pier. Approach via marked channel from Šibenik bay; no anchoring inside the NP.
Skradin → Vrgada
Cast off Skradin in the morning and motor back down the Krka river — the still water mirrors the limestone walls, and you'll often share the channel with white herons. Once back on open sea, set sail north for Vrgada, a small wooded island just south of Pakoštane that most charterers sail past without stopping. That's their loss. The island's southern bay holds in 4-6 metres of bright sand, with a gently shelving turquoise foreshore that's a favourite swimming hole for Dalmatian families in August. Ashore, walk the well-marked 30-minute coastal path to the lighthouse at the eastern tip, then back through pines toward the village square — 200 inhabitants year-round, no cars. Konoba Stari Mlin sits in an old stone mill at the head of the harbour and serves a quiet, perfect brudet that has been on the same wood-fired stove for three generations. By dusk the bay is cricket-song and a single string of harbour lights — the contrast with bustling Šibenik 24 hours earlier is the whole point of the day.
Things to do
Walk the 30-min coastal path to the eastern lighthouse
Swim off the village beach — bright shallow sand, gentle slope
Dinner at Konoba Stari Mlin — wood-fired brudet in an old grain mill
Mooring tip
Anchor in 4–6 m sand off the village beach, holding excellent. Town quay holds 4–5 boats stern-to but exposed in jugo; Marina Pakoštane (3 NM north) is the safer alternative.
Vrgada → Zadar
The last leg is a slow Saturday-morning sail north up the Pašman channel — protected water, glassy on most weeks, the kind of passage where the engine stays off for hours and the crew quietly retraces the week in fragments. Slip into the narrow gap at Ždrelac if you want one final swim stop, or anchor briefly off tiny Ošljak — the smallest inhabited island in Croatia, just minutes from Zadar. Aim to be tied up at your home base (Marina Tankerkomerc, ACI Marina Zadar, or Marina Dalmacija in Sukošan) by 17:00 latest for hand-over checkout; refuel on the way in if your contract requires it. Once secured, walk the Zadar Riva for a final sundowner. Two installations bookend this stretch of waterfront — Nikola Bašić's Sea Organ, which plays harmonics with each passing wave, and Greeting to the Sun, a 22-metre solar-powered glass disc that comes alive at dusk. End the week with grilled bluefin tuna and a chilled glass of Pošip at one of the konobas in the old town. Hitchcock once called Zadar's sunset "the most beautiful in the world" — you'll see why.
Things to do
Brief anchor stop at Ošljak — Croatia's smallest inhabited island
Walk the Riva past the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun
Last dinner of grilled bluefin and Pošip at a konoba in the old town
Mooring tip
Hand-over at base is typically Marina Tankerkomerc, ACI Marina Zadar, or Marina Dalmacija in Sukošan — confirm with your charter contract. Refuel on approach if required.
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