Mikado Kornati Excursion

Kornati National Park is the real star of this full-day boat trip from Zadar. You spend the day moving through a maze of bare islands, bright coves, and open sea, with time to swim at three separate stops rather than simply viewing the islands from the boat.

I like the small group of about 20 people, which keeps the boat more personal than a large excursion vessel. I also like the practical inclusions: breakfast, lunch, drinks, park admission, snorkeling masks, and swimming aids are all covered. The main drawback is the length. At 9.5 hours, this is a serious day out, and the lunch may feel modest if you expect a generous restaurant meal.

Key points to know before booking

• Three water stops: You get time to swim at Lojena Beach, Tarac Bay, and Suha Punta.
• A scenic national park route: The boat provides panoramic views of the Kornati archipelago rather than a single-island visit.
• Small-group setting: With about 20 people, the experience should feel more manageable and social than a crowded excursion.
• History mixed with swimming: Tarac Bay includes a church visit and a look at Tureta Fort.
• Food and drinks included: Breakfast, lunch, fruit, soft drinks, water, wine, and an aperitif are part of the package.
• Bring proper footwear: Swimwear and a towel are obvious essentials, but hiking shoes are also requested for the stop at Tarac Bay.

Why Kornati makes a worthwhile day from Zadar

Kornati National Park is made up of many islands and islets scattered across the Adriatic. The appeal is not one famous monument or one postcard beach. It is the steady change in view as the boat passes rocky shores, narrow bays, and long island profiles with very little development.

That makes a boat trip especially useful. From Zadar, you can reach parts of the park that would be difficult to visit independently in one day. You are not tied to one beach, and you do not spend your entire outing on a ferry simply crossing open water. The schedule gives you scenery, short walks, history, lunch, and swimming.

The 8 a.m. departure also matters. A full route through the park needs time, and the return to Zadar at about 5:40 p.m. leaves room for the three scheduled breaks. You should think of this as your main activity for the day, not something to fit between other Zadar plans.

The boat carries roughly 20 people. That is a useful middle ground. You still have enough company for a sociable day, but the group is small enough that the stops should not feel like a mass outing. The available languages are English and Croatian, and a live guide accompanies the trip.

Leaving Foša Port at 8 a.m.

The meeting point is Foša port, at Ul. kralja Dmitra Zvonimira 6 in Zadar. You return to the same location in the late afternoon, so there is no need to arrange a separate ride back from another part of town.

The early start is softened by breakfast on board. Coffee, sandwiches, and fruit are served after departure, along with an aperitif. This is a simple but useful touch. You can arrive at the port without hunting for breakfast first, though I would still eat something beforehand if you need a substantial morning meal.

Drinks are available throughout the day. The package includes water, Coca-Cola, Fanta, various juices, and wine. Beer is not included, so do not count on it as part of the onboard selection. Wi-Fi is also available on the boat, though the main reason to bring a phone is to photograph the islands rather than spend the day online.

As you leave Zadar, the trip becomes a sightseeing cruise. The boat follows a scenic route through Kornati National Park, giving you time to see the archipelago from the water before the first swimming stop. This portion is valuable because Kornati is best understood as a group of islands, not just a collection of isolated stops.

Lojena Beach: your first 60-minute swim

The first scheduled break is at Lojena Beach on the island of Levrnaka. You have about 60 minutes here for swimming and snorkeling.

Lojena is the most beach-focused stop of the day. The sandy shore gives you a softer place to enter the water than the rocky edges found around many Adriatic islands. A snorkeling mask is supplied, and the excursion includes swimming and snorkeling with fish, so you do not need to pack your own mask unless you prefer your personal equipment.

One hour is enough for a proper swim and a little time on shore, but it is not a long beach day. You may want to get into the water promptly rather than spending half the stop deciding what to do. Bring your towel from the start, and keep your belongings organized on the boat so you are not searching for them when the group is ready to leave.

The water activities are a strong reason to choose this excursion over a purely scenic cruise. You are not only looking at Kornati from a seat. You get three chances to cool off, and swimming aids are available for anyone who wants extra support in the water.

Tarac Bay brings history into the schedule

The second break takes place at Tarac Bay, where you have about 60 minutes. This stop combines a visit to a church, sightseeing at Tureta Fort, and another chance to swim.

Tureta Fort gives the day a useful change of pace. After the first swim, you can stretch your legs and see one of the park’s historic sites before returning to the sea. The church and fort also help explain why these islands are more than empty rock and water. The stop is brief, so expect an introduction and a look around rather than an extended historical tour.

This is the point where hiking shoes become important. The tour information specifically asks you to bring them, and that advice makes sense for a fort visit. Flip-flops may be fine for the boat and beach, but sturdier footwear will make walking more comfortable and secure.

The 60-minute limit requires a little planning. You cannot spend the whole time swimming and then expect a relaxed fort visit. If the historic site interests you, look around first and swim afterward. If the water is your priority, you may prefer to head straight to the bay. The choice is yours, but the stop works best when you treat it as both a short cultural visit and a swim break.

Lunch and a longer pause at Suha Punta

The third stop is at Suha Punta on the island of Kornat. This is the longest break, lasting about 95 minutes, and it includes lunch and more time in the water.

Lunch consists of grilled fish or meat with a mixed seasonal vegetable salad. The meal is convenient because it is served on the island and included in the price, so you do not need to find a restaurant during the excursion. Wine and other drinks are also available.

Keep your expectations realistic. This is an included excursion meal, not a long meal at a carefully chosen seaside restaurant. The fish may be overcooked, and the salad can be basic. A small side of feta and olives may accompany the meal, but dessert and coffee are not part of the offering. If you are particular about food, bring a small extra snack, although breakfast, lunch, fruit, and drinks should cover most people for the day.

The 95-minute stop gives lunch a more relaxed setting than the earlier breaks. You can eat, take a swim, and enjoy the shoreline without immediately rushing back aboard. For many people, this will be the most comfortable part of the schedule because it combines the practical needs of a midday meal with free time by the sea.

What the day feels like on a small boat

A group of about 20 people changes the mood of the trip. You are not dealing with the scale of a large sightseeing vessel, where every stop can feel like a crowd movement exercise. A smaller group also makes it easier to hear the guide and keep track of departure times.

Still, small-group does not mean private. You share the boat, the swimming stops, and the lunch arrangement with other participants. If you want complete control over where you stop or how long you stay in the water, a private charter would suit you better, but that is a different type of outing and is not what this excursion offers.

The day has a clear rhythm:

• Breakfast and panoramic cruising in the morning
• A 60-minute swim at Lojena Beach
• A 60-minute history and swimming stop at Tarac Bay
• A 95-minute lunch and swim at Suha Punta
• Afternoon cruising back to Zadar

That structure is helpful. You know there will be regular breaks, and you are not left on the boat all day. At the same time, you should be comfortable with a fixed schedule. The boat needs to keep moving to reach all three stops and return to Foša port on time.

What is included for the $91 price

At $91 per person, the cost is easier to judge when you add up what is included. You receive:

• Admission to Kornati National Park
• A live guide in English or Croatian
• Breakfast with coffee, sandwiches, and fruit
• Lunch on Kornat
• Wine, water, soft drinks, and juices
• An aperitif
• A snorkeling mask
• Swimming aids
• Wi-Fi on board

The park admission is important. You are not paying for a boat ride and then discovering that a separate national park ticket is needed. Food and nonalcoholic drinks also reduce the extra spending that can add up on a full-day excursion.

The value is strongest if you intend to swim and want a simple all-in-one day. You would otherwise need to organize transport, park access, boat travel, meals, and equipment yourself. The price is less appealing if you care mainly about a large, high-quality lunch or prefer to spend the entire day on one beach.

I would judge the meal as functional rather than a selling point. The best value comes from the route, the three water stops, the park access, and the small-group boat. The included food keeps the day easy, but it should not be the reason you book.

Who will enjoy this Kornati outing

I would recommend this trip to you if you want to see a broad section of Kornati National Park without arranging several separate services. It suits people who like a mixture of scenery, swimming, snorkeling, and a little history.

It is also a good fit for families and mixed-age groups because swimming aids are available and the day does not depend on one long hike. Active participants can snorkel and walk to the fort, while others can focus on the boat ride, lunch, and shoreline views.

You should be comfortable with a long day at sea. The total duration is 9.5 hours, with an early departure and a late afternoon return. If you get restless on boats, the three stops help, but there is still plenty of cruising between them.

This trip may not suit you if you want a quiet private experience, a flexible timetable, or a gourmet meal. You also need to bring swimwear, a towel, and hiking shoes. The tour provides masks and swimming aids, but it does not provide the personal items you will need for comfort.

Simple tips for making the day better

Arrive ready to board at Foša port before the 8 a.m. departure. Since breakfast is served on board, you do not need to buy a full meal before leaving, but a small snack may help if you wake up hungry.

Wear swimwear under your clothes. With three water breaks, changing into swimwear after departure is less convenient than being prepared. Pack a towel, and bring hiking shoes instead of relying only on sandals.

Use the first stop according to your priorities. Lojena Beach is the clearest chance for a sandy beach swim and snorkeling, while Tarac Bay gives you the best mix of history and water. At Suha Punta, allow enough time for both lunch and a final swim.

Do not forget that beer is not included. Wine, water, Coca-Cola, Fanta, and juices are available, along with an aperitif. The included drinks are generous enough for a normal day, but you may want to confirm the onboard selection when booking if a particular beverage matters to you.

The tour allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those options are useful if your Zadar plans depend on weather or changing travel arrangements.

Should you book Mikado Kornati Excursions?

Book it if your ideal day from Zadar includes broad island views, several swims, a small boat, and a straightforward package with food, drinks, equipment, and national park admission included. The strongest parts are the Kornati scenery, the three well-spaced stops, and the balance between beach time and a short historical visit at Tarac Bay.

Think twice if lunch quality matters greatly to you or if nine and a half hours on a fixed group schedule sounds tiring. The meal is basic, and this is not a private sailing trip. For most people who want an easy, active way to see Kornati National Park, the $91 price is fair, especially because so many practical costs are already covered.

FAQ

Where does the Kornati excursion depart from?

The excursion departs from Foša port in Zadar, at Ul. kralja Dmitra Zvonimira 6.

What time does the boat leave and return?

Departure is scheduled for 8 a.m., and the boat returns to Zadar at about 5:40 p.m. The total activity lasts approximately 9.5 hours.

How many swimming stops are included?

You have three scheduled opportunities to swim. They are at Lojena Beach on Levrnaka, Tarac Bay, and Suha Punta on Kornat.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served on the island of Kornat and includes grilled fish or meat with a mixed seasonal vegetable salad.

Are drinks and snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Water, Coca-Cola, Fanta, various juices, and wine are available throughout the trip. A snorkeling mask and swimming aids are also included. Beer is not included.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, and hiking shoes. Hiking shoes are useful for the visit to Tureta Fort at Tarac Bay.