Nautilus Yachting > Yacht Charter > Croatia Yacht Charter > Kornati
Search & Book - Check live availability and book online.
Explore the Kornati archipelago off the central Croatian coastline, a protected National Park with 89 islands and islets.
Start your Croatia yacht charter from Biograd or Zadar in the centre of the Croatian coastline to experience the 'nautical paradise' of the Kornati National Park. Sailing from island to island, you will be blown away by the natural beauty and the crystal clear waters.
The Kornati islands are mostly rocky and there are no permanent settlements on the islands, just a few houses which are inhabited only during the summer months by fishermen and farmers. Dugi, Pasman, Kornat and Zut Otoks are four of the largest islands and all offer safe sheltered harbours for your sailing holiday. On each island there are many small coves which are ideal for lunchtime anchorages and offer outstanding snorkelling and swimming.
Many delicious Croatian products are produced on the islands, such as olive oil, honey and wine. Some of the farms are open to visitors and make for an interesting trip ashore. Of course, sampling these products in the local restaurants is the real treat so be sure to enjoy these when sailing in Croatia.
A sailing holiday in the Kornati Islands is ideal for getting away from it all and getting back to nature. The crystal clear water makes swimming off your yacht a delight and the protected coves offer a tranquil night on anchor. Come and experience first-hand all the reasons why the Kornati Islands are known as a 'nautical paradise' and are one of the top places for your yacht charter in Croatia.
Yacht Charters from:
7 nights / 1 cabins
Winds Force 2-5 with easy distances Find out more...
Modern marina in this ancient city dating from Roman times.
The Kornati Islands are now designated as a National Park and there are over 100 islands and islets offering idyllic anchorages with clear water for swimming. Ravni Zakan is one of our favourites. Moor in the small harbour or anchor in the bay. Visit Restaurant Konoba Larus, recommended for delicious food and very warm welcome.
Going north to Kornati Island, there are several overnight anchorages. At the small bay of Lopatica there is a restaurant ashore.
Sail along the west coast of Dugi Otok to the cliffs and then turn back to the good shelter on the eastern side. Anchor in the small village of Sali with a small shop for provisioning.
Anchor in the small harbour or in one of the bays nearby. Provisions and restaurant in the village.
A nice bay with only one restaurant.
Before returning to Zadar make a swim stop in one of the nice bays nearby.
Croatia has ideal conditions for a sailing holiday with reliable afternoon winds. During the summer months there are steady afternoon breezes from the north-west averaging Force 2–5 dying down at night. Summer temperatures average 26-30ºC.
We have rated this destination a 'Level 1-2' and you will need RYA Day Skipper or ICC qualification as well as VHF licence for bareboat charters in Croatia.
If you are at all unsure about a destination then please get in touch and our sales team will be more than happy to make their recommendations for you.
The transfer time from Split airport to Zadar is around 75 minutes and to Biograd 60 minutes. From Zadar airport the transfer to the marina is 15 minutes and to Biograd 40 minutes.
For more information on things to see and do in the Kornati archipelago on your yacht charter please click HERE
The best time for a sailing holiday in Croatia is from April to October. July and August are the busiest months of the year and also the warmest with temperatures averaging 26-32 degrees. At this time of year, the main Croatian hotspots are a hive of activity with tourists visiting via land and sea. Steady afternoon breezes make for great sailing.
For those who appreciate milder temperatures April, May, September and October see cooler mornings and evenings and a chance of rain but still have very comfortable daytime temperatures. The shoulder seasons can be the ideal time for exploring in more moderate temperatures and if visiting at the end of the season you will still have very pleasant sea temperatures.
For more information on the best time to sail in the Mediterranean, take a look at our article 'When is the best time of year to sail in the Mediterranean?'
The coastal destinations in Croatia have a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and relatively mild and sometimes wet winters. Average temperatures during the summer months are 26-32 degrees with very little rain, other than the odd thunderstorm. Steady afternoon breezes make for great sailing. In the shoulder seasons of April, May, September and October you will find moderate temperatures averaging 17-25 degrees, occasional rainfall and good sailing winds.
Croatian is the official language spoken in Croatia. In addition, English is widely spoken in the main tourist destinations.
Some basic Croatian phrases:
Since 2023 the official currency in Croatia has been the Euro (EUR). Prior to this, the official currency was the Croatian Kuna (HRK). Cash machines (ATMs) are available in most of the main tourist destinations in Croatia but may not be available in some smaller destinations. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Whilst on a sailing holiday in Croatia, it is a good idea to have a small amount of cash (Euros) with you to cover expenses when cash machines may not be available.
Whilst on your yacht charter in Croatia, you will find many modern marinas with excellent facilities. These marinas will typically cost €3-4/foot/night. When sailing the Croatian islands you will find great anchorages and restaurant moorings which will enable you to save on mooring fees.
You can see all of the bases we offer in Croatia along with the level ratings here so that you can find the most suitable destination for you. If you are at all unsure about a destination then please get in touch and our sales team will be more than happy to make their recommendations for you.
There are several National Parks in Croatia with varying fees to enter. Below you will find links to the main National Parks and details on pricing and purchasing tickets.
Kornati National Park - https://www.np-kornati.hr/index.php?lang=en
Krka National Park - https://shop.np-krka.hr/en
Latovo Islands Nature Park - https://pp-lastovo.hr/?lang=en
For bareboat charters and flotilla holidays in Croatia you will need RYA Day Skipper or ICC qualification as well as VHF licence in order to skipper the yacht yourself.
For charters from Split and Trogir - Croatia Airlines, easyJet and Jet2 all have direct flights to Split on Saturdays.
For charters in the Kornati - Croatia Airlines, easyJet and Jet2 all have direct flights to Split on Saturdays. Ryanair have flights from Stansted to Zadar on Saturdays. Easyjet fly from Gatwick to Zadar from June to August.
For charters from Pula - Ryanair have flights from Stansted to Pula and Trieste on Saturdays. Tui have flights from Gatwick to Pula on Saturdays.
For charters from Dubrovnik - British Airways and EasyJet have daily flights from Gatwick to Dubrovnik. Jet2 have flights from Newcastle on Saturdays.
For charters in Montenegro - British Airways and easyJet have daily flights from Gatwick to Dubrovnik. Jet2 have flights from Manchester on Saturdays.
Return transfers can be arranged in most of our Croatia sailing destinations from the airport to the base. Please ask a member of our team for details.
You can experience the best of sailing in Croatia on a 1 - 2 week yacht charter.The good news is, whether you choose 1 week or 2, you will be able to take in the magic of Croatia with ease. To help you on your way, we have various suggested sailing itineraries which have been personally tried and tested by our staff:
The cost of your yacht charter depends on several factors:
The type and size of the yacht you book will dictate the price. A 1 week charter on a 2 - 3 cabin monohull starts around £1200 in low season whereas 1 week on a luxury catamaran with a skipper in high season could be upwards of £10,000. These are the 2 extremes of the scale for a 1 week yacht charter in Croatia and we offer plenty of choices in between.
1 week is a popular choice amongst our sailors and makes the perfect getaway however, a longer charter will give you more time to explore all Croatia has to offer. We have a range of 1 and 2 week flotillas, as well as custom bareboat bookings which can be tailored to your timescale.
Lower-priced yacht charters are available in the off-season of April, May, September and October with prices starting to rise in June before peaking in July and August.
Don't have any sailing experience? No problem! We offer several skippered and crewed options so you can enjoy the yachting lifestyle without the stress. From a simple skippered yacht to fully crewed options, we can arrange a charter to suit your needs.
Flotilla yacht charters are more expensive than a bareboat charter, but for the extra cost, you are getting the assistance of a lead boat with an experienced crew who are ready to help if you need assistance on your voyage. The flotilla lead crew also arrange social activities and lead you on a carefully curated itinerary. Flotillas are great if you enjoy the social aspects of sailing and are perfect for families, especially during school holidays. Children enjoy making new friends, while adults can unwind and connect with like-minded sailors. Read 'Dalmatian Flotilla In Croatia - Everything You Need To Know' to get a glimpse into life on a flotilla sailing holiday in Croatia.
If you are experienced and prefer to discover the islands at your own pace then a bareboat charter is the perfect choice for a relaxing holiday in The Med.
For more infomation take a look at our article 'Money-saving Guide to Yacht Charters in Croatia'.
In recent years, the number of Nautilus clients who are choosing to sail in the Kornati has soared and as the saying goes, "if you can't beat them, join them"!
So as a man on a mission, I went onto the Nautilus Yachting website and searched for bareboat charters in the Kornati via the "Search & Book" page and ten minutes later I was lured in by a brand new Lagoon 40 catamaran sailing from Biograd, at just £1600 for the week.
30 WhatsApp messages later, I had a crew organised and 24 hours later we had flights to Croatia booked!
Split Airport is now a familiar destination for me and whilst leaving the airport to search for the hire car, it crosses my mind that this airport may well be blessed with one of the best views from the arrivals lounge...open water and islands dot the horizon and yachts sail in the distance, not a bad view for the start of your holiday!
This time around however, we are not sailing from Split, it is merely the arrival airport and so we head off to pick up our hire car for the 65 mile drive to our starting point in Biograd.
Since we arrived into Biograd after dark, our boat was left open for us to board and we soon settled in. Two more crew members arrived who were joining us from Dubai and together we sought out the nearest Taverna for a long overdue catch up, a delicious meal and a celebratory glass of fizz.
On our first morning on board, we awoke to the sound of rain on the coachroof. However, by the time we had completed the boat orientation and the crew had readied themselves for the day, blue skies had taken over and the dread of sailing 15nm in the rain had completely vanished.
Tentatively we set off out of the marina, testing the catamaran for the first time. At 40' long, the cat wasn't very big and the twin engines made the boat easy to shuffle and maneuver in the marina. Once we were out into open water the sailing was very much familiar territory and the three newbies onboard declared that the cat was a lot less "tippy" than they expected.
A few hours later, we arrived at Murter Hramina. It seemed we timed things perfectly and arrived just as a 40-yacht regatta was leaving. With all the time in the world, we came to a stop, rang the marina to check for mooring spaces and happily watched boat after boat race past.
Arriving into Murter without any prior knowledge, we were impressed by how pretty town the town was with winding streets and a central square lined with restaurants and bars. Our crew took it upon themselves to explore every one of said bars and en route bumped into the sailing club that organised the regatta. Cue a night filled with stories of the regatta and a 3am return to our boat!
Today's itinerary suggested a sail back to Pakostane for our first official wine tasting. With 25 °C, bright sunshine, and winds of 5-9 kts, the bulk of the journey to the marina was spent motoring up the coast under glorious blue skies. We pootled up to Pakostane at 1300 rpm and some of the crew prepped a stunning lunch, while others took advantage of the sunbathing spots around the boat.
Arriving at Pakostane we could see the marina was very small and very shallow, which put a bit of a spanner in the works. We checked 'Windy' and it seemed that we would need a secure marina with lots of protection since the winds were due to get up. As skipper, I made the executive decision to head home to Biograd for 24 hours. Not only did that mean free mooring but with tomorrow's strong winds we could also receive the security and support of the base and support staff.
Once we were moored safely in Biograd we took a taxi to Karaba Vineyard where Antonio, our superb sommelier for the afternoon guided us through several red and white wines. After a very enjoyable afternoon, we returned to the boat for a light bite, games of UNO, and a chance to test a 'few' additional samples of the wines purchased earlier.
We had no set plans for today but were very happy knowing that we made the right decision in returning to base. There were 30-40 kts of wind during the day and the remnants of Storm Kirk in the morning meant that today was a shore-based day.
Exploring the town, Biograd seemed to have an amazing bakery on every corner and the day was spent exploring the winding streets that surrounded the Venetian tower before enjoying a meal on the small back streets of Biograd Old Town.
Following yesterday's time as a landlubber we were keen to get out into open water. The inclement weather had long gone and the October Croatian weather that we know and love had returned. 26 °C and 10 kts of wind meant we could sail north towards Kali, my namesake town.
Following another stunning lunch, we spotted a small sheltered bay on the way to Kali where we could drop anchor and spend some time in the water (Kostanj Pjescana). The afternoon was spent with the dinghy out, jumping off the boat and swimming to shore. Minutes turned to hours and the next thing we knew it was almost 4pm and we had run out of time. We needed to replenish the "fridge" and get to our anchor point for the night. Unfortunately, this meant we had to forgo a stop at Kali but for the day we had and memories we made, it was certainly a day well spent.
After a quick pit-stop in Poljana for "food", we sped onto Sutomiscica and arrived just at sunset into a well-protected bay with only one other cat moored next door. Sutomiscica provided a stunning backdrop for the evening's alfresco Shepherds Pie, enjoyed alongside a few bottles of Peljesac red wine.
We awoke bright and early ready for our second vineyard on our "Bacchic" tour of Croatia. In terms of peace and tranquility, not a lot of things can beat a night on anchor and we all woke up feeling well rested and keen to get under sail.
'Windy' highlighted some strong winds today and a chance to REALLY sail. Zadar was only an hour or so away but bolstered by 20-30 kts of wind we just popped up the foresail and cruised to Zadar on a beam reach. For the three sailors on board this was a fantastic morning nipping across to Zadar but in the words of our non-sailors "Is it okay if we don't do that again?".
We radioed Marina Zadar and they confirmed a space for us. Arriving into Zadar we felt very much under dressed in our little cat moored next to our Superyacht neighbours!
We took the sensible option and headed for a hearty lunch before our vineyard visit. Degarra vineyard seemed to match the clientele of Zadar Marina and was a marked step up from our first vineyard. Of course it would have been rude to visit and not sample the wares so we ordered a glass or two in the vineyard and organised some take-home boxes for the boat.
Back in Zadar for our penultimate night out we dressed for the occasion and explored Zadar's stunning old town at night and returned to the boat in the wee hours of the morning.
With Zadar certainly ringing in our heads and our ears, we started the long journey home. Sailing south east back down to Biograd, we experienced 10 knots of headwind so after an hour of tacking and virtually going nowhere we popped on the engine to motor back to Biograd instead.
En route, the crew demanded another anchor stop for some fun and we found a gorgeous wide open anchorage between Muntana and Mali Duzac. With the life jackets as floats and beer holders, we spent another afternoon lazing around, pinging around in the dinghy, and loving life on the water. All too soon, time caught up with us and we set off to refuel and head back to base.
Another week on the water completed and it is safe to say that our three crew members who were new to sailing have been well and truly converted and will no doubt be signing up again next year!
If you have your next bareboat yacht charter or flotilla holiday booked, your thoughts may now be turning to what to pack! Whether you are heading to the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean or jetting off to sail in the warm breezes of the Caribbean, we have a few suggestions for you for useful items to pack for your next sailing holiday.
Today we talk to Matija Bogadi, professional skipper based in Croatia. He gives us details on his background, his role as a skipper and what he loves most about sailing in Croatia.
Sailing holidays and Croatia...a match made in heaven! With its countless off-shore islands, striking national parks and over 1000 miles of beautiful coastline, a sailing holiday is the ideal way to experience Croatia. Enjoy our money-saving guide and top tips for enjoying a sailing holiday in Croatia without breaking the bank!
Call our knowledgeable sailing specialists for the latest advice and recommendations on the sailing areas most suited to you.
Arrange a call back from one of our specialists (Mon-Fri: 0900-1730).
