The Kornati are the densest archipelago in Europe: 89 islands and islets of white limestone, almost treeless and uninhabited, set on a pale green sea. In a week from Biograd you cross the national park by its inner channel, run along the outer cliffs, sleep in the enclosed bay of Telašćica and finish in the lanes of Zadar. Around 100 miles, no leg longer than 18. Full details below.
In brief
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Departure base | Biograd na Moru (Kornati or Šangulin marina) |
| Access | Flight to Zadar (ZAD), marina 30 min away; Split (SPU) 1 h 30 |
| Total distance | ~100 NM (loop) |
| Sailing time | ~20 h over 7 days |
| Duration | 7 days / 6 nights |
| Level | Beginner to intermediate |
| Recommended boat | 36-45 ft monohull or 38-42 ft catamaran |
| Best period | Mid-May to late September |
| Winds | NW maestral 10-18 kt in the afternoon; NE bura possible, violent in the Zadar channel |
| Indicative budget | ~€900 to €1,400 per person, park tickets included (see Sailing Croatia: Dalmatia or the Kornati?) |
Explore the stops
Approximate destination locations for trip planning. Use current nautical charts and local information for navigation.
Biograd na Moru · Murter · Žut · Piškera · Levrnaka, Lojena · Telašćica, Mir · Sali · Veli Iž · Zadar
Weather month by month
| Month | Wind | Air | Sea | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | Light maestral, bura possible | 21-24° | 17-19° | Empty park, cool water |
| June | NW maestral 10-15 kt | 26-28° | 21-23° | Optimal |
| July-Aug | Maestral 12-18 kt, storms (nevera) | 29-32° | 24-25° | Peak season, buoys taken early |
| September | Easing maestral | 25-27° | 23-24° | Excellent |
| October | Bura and jugo more frequent | 19-22° | 19-21° | End of season, konobas closed |
Day by day
Day 1, Biograd to Murter, 10 NM, ~2 h
Sailing: out through the Pašman channel, then south to the island of Murter. A swim at Vrgada on the way is possible.
Anchorage: Hramina marina in Murter or the Betina quay, a village of traditional boatyards.
Ashore: Murter is the gateway to the Kornati: buy the park tickets here (cheaper than at the entrance) and fill the lockers, there is no grocery before Sali.
Photo: Murter · Mikolas Voborsky / Unsplash
Day 2, Murter to Žut, 12 NM, ~2 h 30
Sailing: across the Murter channel to Žut, the big island before the park. In the afternoon the maestral comes on the beam.
Anchorage: konoba buoys in Žut bay (the buoy is free if you dine) or ACI Marina Žut.
Ashore: nothing but konobas reached by sea, lamb under the peka and grilled fish, booked in the morning by VHF.
Warning: Žut is outside the park, no ticket needed that day.
Day 3, Žut to Piškera through the Kornati channel, 16 NM, ~3 h 30
Sailing: into the national park from the north, down the inner channel between Kornat and the western islets, bare slopes passing by like a lunar landscape. Swim stop in Vrulje bay, a fishing hamlet.
Anchorage: ACI Marina Piškera, the only marina in the park, or a buoy at Lavsa next door.
Ashore: Piškera is water and sky; dinner on board or at the Lavsa konoba.
Warning: park ticket compulsory from here, frequent checks.
Photo: Kornati · Mark Pisek / Unsplash
Day 4, Piškera to Telašćica along the outer face, 18 NM, ~4 h
Sailing: out to the south-west, then up along the outer cliffs (the "crowns") of Mana and Levrnaka, the highest in the archipelago. Swim on the sandy beach of Lojena, on Levrnaka.
Anchorage: buoys in Mir bay, at the head of Telašćica, the nature park of Dugi Otok.
Ashore: the salt lake of Mir ten minutes on foot, then the viewpoint over the 160 m cliffs dropping into the sea.
Warning: the outer face is exposed to a settled maestral; in strong wind, stay on the channel side.
Day 5, Telašćica to Veli Iž via Sali, 18 NM, ~4 h
Sailing: out of Telašćica, north-east to Sali, the harbour of Dugi Otok, then across to the island of Iž.
Anchorage: Veli Iž marina or anchor in the bay.
Ashore: Sali for supplies and a coffee on the harbour; Veli Iž, a village of potters and fishermen, for the quietest night of the week.
Day 6, Veli Iž to Zadar, 12 NM, ~2 h 30
Sailing: across the Zadar channel, arriving in front of the old town peninsula.
Anchorage: Zadar marina (Tankerkomerc) at the foot of the walls, or Borik marina.
Ashore: the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun at the tip of the peninsula, St Donatus' church, the market. The urban evening of the week.
Warning: with bura forecast, the Zadar channel is the worst place on the route; shift the leg.
Photo: Zadar · Nazrin Babashova / Unsplash
Day 7, Zadar to Biograd, 15 NM, ~3 h
Sailing: back through the Pašman channel, a last swim at Ugljan or off Pašman before the base.
Ashore: Biograd if your flight is late in the day, or Vransko Lake nature park by bike.
Summary table
| Day | Leg | NM | Time (~5 kn) | Mooring | Shelter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1 | Biograd to Murter | 10 | ~2 h | Hramina marina / Betina | Very good |
| D2 | Murter to Žut | 12 | ~2 h 30 | Žut buoys / ACI Žut | Good |
| D3 | Žut to Piškera | 16 | ~3 h 30 | ACI Piškera / Lavsa | Good |
| D4 | Piškera to Telašćica | 18 | ~4 h | Mir buoys | Very good |
| D5 | Telašćica to Veli Iž | 18 | ~4 h | Veli Iž marina | Good |
| D6 | Veli Iž to Zadar | 12 | ~2 h 30 | Zadar marina | Good |
| D7 | Zadar to Biograd | 15 | ~3 h | Base | n/a |
| Total | ~101 | ~21 h |
Practical checklist
- Licences: coastal skipper licence or ICC plus VHF radio certificate.
- Park tickets: buy in Murter or online the day before, per boat and per day; Telašćica has its own ticket.
- Supplies: water and fuel in Biograd, Murter and Zadar; nothing in the park apart from Piškera.
- Konobas: book in the morning by VHF or phone, the buoy comes free with the meal.
Booking and preparation
- Compare the yachts and catamarans available from Biograd or Zadar.
- Charter insurance recommended.
- Flights: to Zadar (ZAD) in season, or Split (SPU) with 1 h 30 by road.
- Activities: Mir lake and the Telašćica cliffs, Lojena beach, the Zadar Sea Organ.
See also: the guide Sailing Croatia: Dalmatia or the Kornati? and the page Boat rental in Split.
Nautical data: distances estimated on direct routes between harbours, ACI marinas and the Biograd port authority. Weather: DHMZ (Croatian meteorological service). Kornati National Park and Telašćica Nature Park fees and rules to be checked before departure.
Page type: Itinerary (schema.org TouristTrip).
A word from the crew
Logbook. Running down the Kornati channel on a windless morning: the water is so clear you can see the anchor in ten metres, and not a house on the horizon. You wonder where all the other boats went.
The mistake to avoid. Entering the park without a ticket "just to look". Rangers patrol, and the fine is far more than the ticket bought in Murter.
Our favourite, and what we skip. Favourite: the Mir buoy in Telašćica at sunset, after the walk to the cliffs. Skip: the Sakarun anchorage in August, packed with excursion boats; we keep Lojena.
Our verdict. Beauty 5/5. Anchorages 4/5. Ease 4/5. Crowds 2/5. Verdict: the wildest week in the Adriatic, without ever being far from shelter.