Yachting with children: 7-day itinerary across the Croatian islands

Are you going on a yacht vacation with your kids? It's simple and fun! For such a case, we have prepared recommendations for a sailing yacht cruise to Croatia, with a detailed daily itinerary and suggestions for parking and rest.

The trail is designed specifically for children, so there are many options for parking and short crossings. In the surrounding area, you will find many interesting places to visit and, of course, ideal locations for swimming and diving.

The route is approximately 100 nautical miles. As a rough starting point, we will consider Biograd na Moru, although you can similarly go from Sukoshar or Zadar.

Day 1 - Saturday (2 miles)

After you board in Biograd na Moru and complete the yacht check-in, you can spend the night at the local marina. If you and your kids are anxious to set out on an adventure, hoist the sails and walk 2 miles to Pashman Island in the beautiful Zaklopitsa Bay. There is an excellent restaurant and clear water, which will set a good mood for the entire upcoming trip.

If you want to sail longer, you can walk around the most famous heart-shaped island - Galshnyak, which is located north of Pasman.

Where to anchor?

In the Zaklopitsa Bay, at the southern end of the eastern side of Pashman Island. There are mooring buoys and anchorages, and there is a long pontoon bridge in front of the restaurant.

Day 2 - Sunday (11-15.5 miles)

Head to the sandy beaches in the morning Vrgada islandswhere about 2 miles go. It is possible to moor at the mooring buoys or, if they are busy, anchor in the western bay. There is a picturesque beach with warm, shallow water, ideal for young children. And parents will surely love the cuisine of the beach restaurant.

The northeastern part of the island is covered with forests, and its only settlement is located in the harbor of Luka. There are many small islands around where native farmers graze their sheep freely. In addition, the pre-Romanesque village Church of St. Andrew (Sveti Andrija)built in the 9th century.

At noon, head to Kornati National Park... You can reach Ravni Chakan Island in 9 miles, if busy here you can walk another 4.5 miles to the Marina on Pishker Island.

We recommend buying tickets to Kornati online in advance, so you will pay 50 % cheaper from their cost, and if you dock in the Pishker Marina, you will get a one-day ticket to the national park for free. Isn't there a reason to stay overnight in this beautiful harbor? The ticket will be valid for the next 24 hours.

Where to anchor?

On the island Ravni Chakan you can moor or anchor near Žakan, the largest and most modern restaurant in Kornati. This is a very convenient pier with water and electricity, just check the depth first, as the bottom is strewn with debris. Another restaurant with anchorage is Larus. Both restaurants boast excellent cuisine.
Opat Bay in the south of Kornati, the marina is designed for 27 yachts, there are also several mooring buoys. True, the local restaurant is a little expensive, and the quality of the cuisine sometimes leaves much to be desired.
On Lavsa island there is a beautiful, deep and well protected bay with mooring buoys and the more prestigious Idro restaurant. At the end of the bay there is a dirty sandy beach where you can play with children in the shallow water, although it is not very beautiful here.
In the picturesque marina of Pishker on the island of the same name. But keep in mind that strong bora winds create powerful lateral currents that can lead to tangling of the masts.

Day 3 - Monday (16 miles)

Walk 6 miles to Levrnaca islands... In the southwest there is a beautiful sandy Loena Bay, which is best visited either in the morning before 10 o'clock, or after 5 pm, when there are fewer people. The place is very popular, many yachts with tourists come here during the day.

Another option is to stay in a deep bay in the north of the island, where there are usually mooring buoys (although they are not always installed). As a last resort, you can anchor. There are also concrete blocks at the bottom, and if it's not a problem for you to dive 10 meters, you can tie the end to one of them.

The sandy beach is only a few minutes walk from here, the path goes along the isthmus past a nice restaurant. Enjoy a wonderful day here and in the evening sail to the port of Sali on Dugi Otok, 10 miles from Levrnak.

Dugi Otok - an island full of colors and contrasts. The coastline facing the open sea is renowned for its rugged disposition. In the south of the island, there are abandoned coves and mesmerizing steep cliffs. If you decide to stay on the island, you should visit Mir Bay in Telaščica Nature Park and swim in the salt lake. The water here is saltier and warmer than in the sea, and is also relatively shallow, so it is great for swimming with children.

Since this is a natural park area, you will need to buy a ticket. Again, it's cheaper to buy it online. If you plan to spend 3 days in Kornati and Telaščice, you should buy a joint ticket to both parks.

Where to anchor?

The port of Sali on Dugi Otok has docks with electricity and water, as well as a supermarket, showers, toilets and restaurants. When the south blows, the anchor should be dropped from the southwest side of the breakwater.

Day 4 - Tuesday (26 miles)

Anchor in the morning and walk 11 miles to Brbin Baywhere there are several mooring buoys. In the southwest corner of the bay, you can comfortably anchor and enjoy excellent snorkelling by the cliffs. When you are swimming enough, go further north along the Dugi Otok.

This path leads through several abandoned submarine shelters (for example, in Bokashin and Dragov bays) that are well worth a visit. It is enough to see one of them - the landing ship is still standing in the southernmost one. Little sailors will surely be delighted! You can even anchor here for the night, as the shelters are well protected.

Off the northern edge of Vele Lagna Island, just 12 miles from Brbin, are the remains of an Italian merchant ship that sank in 1984. A good time for everyone is guaranteed, the snorkeling here is fantastic. You can drop anchor closer to the boat and sail towards it. We recommend doing this in the morning, when the sea is calm.

Where to anchor?

You can spend the night in Soline Bay, it is 3 miles southwest of the shipwreck. There is a nice campsite here with mooring buoys, good food, draft beer, public amenities, showers and friendly service. There is a small sandy beach in front of the campsite, which is clearly visible from the restaurant. That is, you can have a quiet dinner without losing sight of the children while they have fun on the beach. It is quiet here at night, nothing will interfere with a calm rest. By the way, there are also sunken wrecks here, only a meter under water, where you can swim with a mask.
V Sarakun Bay, 4 miles from the shipwreck, there are mooring buoys. You will surely enjoy the turquoise sea and the authentic Caribbean beach bar. Unfortunately, it is quite busy during the high season, especially during the day.

Day 5 - Wednesday (17-20 miles)

In the morning, return north from Dugi Otok to Sati rat... There is an isthmus, and in the inner island part the sea is shallow and wonderfully warm, like in a bathtub. You can anchor from the open sea, or moor to the buoys on the inside. Also on Veli Rat there is a marina and several nice restaurants.

After lunch you can walk another 6 miles to the beautiful the port of Bozhava to Dugi Otok. It is a very picturesque place surrounded by pine forests. It is here that one of the most beautiful beaches is located. Covered with pebbles, in places with sand, it gently descends into the crystal-clear surface of the sea.

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