BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
Northern Croatia: Kornati, Zadar, Šibenik — the other Dalmatia
Away from the Split crowds: the Kornati national park, the Krka falls and the Zadar archipelago — Croatia's wilder, cheaper northern itinerary.
Everyone boards in Split. The regulars go 80 kilometres north: out of Zadar or Šibenik, northern Dalmatia lines up the largest archipelago in the Adriatic — with fleets often 10-15% cheaper for the same boat.
The Kornati, a lunar archipelago
89 islands and islets of white stone on ink-blue water: the Kornati national park looks like nothing else in the Mediterranean. You sail between the ridges, anchor in deserted bays (Levrnaka, Lavsa), dine in konobas reachable only by sea. Entry ticket required (cheaper bought online in advance), buoy moorings inside the park.
Krka and Skradin, the freshwater interlude
From Šibenik, sail up the navigable Krka river to Skradin — a marina village at the foot of the national park and its terraced waterfalls. Mooring your sailboat fifteen shuttle-minutes from freshwater cascades: a stop unique in Mediterranean cruising.
The one-week itinerary
Zadar → Dugi Otok (Sakarun beach, the Telašćica cliffs) → Kornati (two nights) → Skradin/Krka → Primošten → back via Murter. Short legs, plenty of shelter — and if the bora rises, the archipelago always offers a leeward plan B.
Budget and season
Saturday to Saturday as everywhere in Croatia: a 40 ft monohull from €1,600 a week in June to €2,800 in August, catamarans from €3,000. May-June and September are superb (22-24 °C water, empty parks). Check that the Kornati ticket and tourist tax appear on the contract — platforms present them differently, so the line-by-line comparison pays.