Zadar
& the Kornati.
A 100-island national park within a half-day sail. Zadar is the right city to begin and end the week in.
A yacht charter from Zadar gives you immediate access to the Kornati National Park — 89 uninhabited islands, reefs and cliffs over a 35-mile stretch with virtually no light pollution. Three charter bases serve the region: Marina Dalmacija Sukošan (the largest), ACI Marina Šimuni (Pag) and Marina Kornati in Biograd. Šibenik (40 NM south) is an alternative base for groups combining Kornati with Krka waterfalls.
The week here is quieter and more nature-focused than Split or Dubrovnik — less nightlife, more solitary anchorages, and the only Croatian region where Mario rule "dark-sky island" still applies (Lastovo aside).
Where to base — Sukošan, Biograd or Šibenik
Marina Dalmacija Sukošan is the biggest charter fleet on the central coast — 1,200 berths, all charter operators, supermarket and restaurants on site. 30 minutes by taxi from Zadar airport. Marina Kornati Biograd is smaller (closer to the Kornati islands) and feeds the BiH (Biograd Boat Show) fleet. Šibenik (Marina Mandalina or Marina Frapa Rogoznica) opens up Krka waterfalls and a calmer Kornati approach.
For 7-day weeks we usually recommend Sukošan or Biograd — both put you in the Kornati on Sunday and back at base by Friday. For 10-day weeks Šibenik is the call — adds 1.5 days of Krka and lower-Kornati exploration.
The Kornati week
Saturday — board after 17:00 in Sukošan / Biograd / Šibenik. Sunday — hop into the Kornati national park, anchor or pick a mooring buoy at Levrnaka, Lavsa or Žakan. Monday — long morning sail through the centre of the park (Mana, Kornat island east coast), lunch anchorage at Telašćica nature park on Dugi Otok. Tuesday — Sali (Dugi Otok) for a town night and dinner ashore. Wednesday — Iž or Olib for the quietest anchorage of the week. Thursday — Pag island (the lunar landscape on the east coast and the cheese caves at Kolan). Friday — Vrgada or Pašman for the last night. Saturday — return base by 09:00.
On 10-day routes add Krka national park (5 km up the Krka river from Skradin to the waterfalls) — anchor the boat at Skradin marina, tender or walk to the cascades. The Krka transit is regulated; we book it.
Best months to charter from Zadar
June and September match the Split / Dubrovnik pattern — sea 22–25 °C, settled winds, lighter crowds at the Sali and Pag harbours. The Kornati national park caps daily visitors in peak season (15 July – 20 August); pre-buy your park ticket through our office before the week starts.
The Bora is the main weather story here — northerly katabatic wind 25–45 knots that builds along the Velebit channel and runs west across the Kornati. Bora events last 24–48 hours; your skipper or hostess will radio our office in the morning so we adjust the day.
What's included with a Zadar yacht charter
Same base inclusions as Split (yacht, sails, dinghy, electronics, linens, first-day cleaning). Kornati national park fee is separate: ~€60 per yacht per day inside the protected zone, pre-bookable through our office. Krka transit pass (~€40 / yacht) is separate if you push north to the waterfalls.
Optional add-ons: hired skipper (€220 / day, recommended for first-time Kornati crews — the navigation between unmarked reefs needs local knowledge), hostess (€180 / day), provisioning. We arrange supermarket delivery to Sukošan or Biograd so the boat is loaded by the time you arrive Saturday afternoon.
The Kornati nights and Pag culture
The Kornati anchorages are the best dark-sky reserve in Croatia — no light pollution, no road, no road traffic. Plan one evening around dinner on a konoba mooring buoy (Konoba Stiniva, Konoba Piškera, Konoba Šipnate) — the host owns the buoy, you eat at long communal tables for €25–€35 per person, fish caught that morning. Reserve the buoy 24 hours ahead by VHF.
Pag island stops worth a half-day: the lace-making traditions in Pag town, the Paški sir cheese caves at Kolan, and the moonscape east coast that contrasts with the green Kornati. The cheese paired with a glass of Žutica is a quiet meal in itself.
Zadar & Kornati — questions answered.
How much does a yacht charter in Zadar Croatia cost?
For a 4-cabin Bavaria 46 sailing yacht in shoulder season: €3,600–€5,200 per week bareboat. Peak season (15 July – 20 August): €6,200–€8,800. A 4-cabin Lagoon 42 catamaran: €6,800–€9,800 shoulder, €11,500–€15,000 peak. Zadar typically prices ~5 % below Split because the marina volume is higher. Kornati park fees (~€60/yacht/day inside the zone) are added separately.
Are Kornati national park fees included in the charter?
No — Kornati park fees (~€60 per yacht per day inside the protected zone, scaling with yacht length) are separate from the charter rate. Pre-bookable through our office before the week starts (recommended in peak season — the park caps daily visitors). The pass covers mooring at the park-managed buoys and tender access to the islands.
Can I sail Kornati without a skipper?
Bareboat is possible with a recognised licence + VHF + recent open-water experience, but the Kornati has unmarked reefs between several islands and the Mana channel needs careful pilotage. For first-time Croatia crews we strongly recommend a hired skipper (€220/day) — the local knowledge alone saves 30 minutes of doubt at every approach.
When is the best month to charter from Zadar?
June and September. June for warm water (22–24 °C), settled NE Maestral winds, smaller crowds at the konoba moorings. September for the warmest sea (~25 °C), quietest harbours, and the most reliable Bora-free week (the autumn Bora cycle usually starts late October). Avoid early May and mid-October — the Bora cycle is active and the konoba restaurants on the smaller islands are still or already closed.
Is a Zadar yacht charter family-friendly with kids?
Yes — the Kornati anchorages are shallow, sheltered and the swimming bays have hard sand bottoms. Distances between anchorages are short (most hops under 2 hours). The downside for very young children is the limited shore-side: most Kornati anchorages have no village, no shop, no playground — bring the entertainment from the boat. For multi-generation weeks we recommend a Sukošan / Sali / Pag rotation with two night-stops in towns and three in solitary anchorages.
Can I combine Zadar with Krka waterfalls?
Yes — Krka national park is 35 NM south of Zadar, accessible by anchoring at Skradin marina (5 km up the Krka river) and walking or tendering to the cascades. The Krka transit pass is €40/yacht and we file it. For a 7-day week we usually pick one (Kornati OR Krka); for 10 days we comfortably do both with a Šibenik halfway stop.
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