Dalmatian Highlights: Zadar and Split Region Cruise
Eight days sailing the Adriatic, from ancient Roman cities to pristine island bays
This Dalmatian Coast cruise traces a route between Zadar and Split, connecting UNESCO-listed old towns, national parks, and secluded island anchorages across one of Europe's most celebrated stretches of coastline. The journey is rated very easy, making it accessible to a wide range of travellers seeking both culture and relaxation on the Adriatic Sea.
The cruise moves at a measured pace, allowing passengers to swim in clear bays, walk through medieval streets, and observe landscapes shaped by centuries of Venetian, Roman, and Illyrian influence. Each overnight stop offers a distinct character, from the busy promenades of Vodice to the quiet harbour of Zlarin fishing village.
Kornati National Park and Telascica Nature Park feature prominently in the second half of the itinerary, where the boat navigates among 147 islands, islets, and reefs declared a protected area in 1980. These stretches of the Adriatic provide some of the most dramatic sailing in the Mediterranean region.
The route concludes with a guided tour of Zadar's old town, including the Roman Forum, the circular church of Sveti Donat, the Cathedral of Sveta Stosija, and the celebrated Sea Organ, whose sounds are produced entirely by wave motion channelled through underwater pipes.
Tour Highlights
Split's old town grew directly from Diocletian's Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage complex where Roman walls enclose cafes, churches, and residential courtyards that have been continuously inhabited for 1,700 years.
Krka National Park delivers a visit to Skradinski Buk, a series of 17 cascading waterfalls that descend nearly 46 metres across cascades up to 100 metres wide, reached by smaller boat from the town of Skradin.
The Kornati archipelago, the densest island group in the Adriatic, offers an extended sailing passage through 147 islands and reefs stretching approximately 35 kilometres through protected national park waters.
Trogir's UNESCO-protected old town, set on a small island connected by bridges, preserves Romanesque and Renaissance architecture along narrow cobbled streets that remain largely unchanged since the medieval period.
Zadar's Sea Organ, embedded in stone stairs descending into the Adriatic, generates music solely through the movement of waves, representing one of the most original public installations in coastal Europe.
Telascica Nature Park, a sheltered bay cutting ten kilometres into Dugi Otok island, features cliffs rising to 161 metres and the saltwater lake Mir, reachable on foot from the boat's mooring point.
Sibenik's Cathedral of St. Jacob, the most significant Renaissance monument in Croatia, stands at the heart of a compact fortified old town and offers a striking introduction to Dalmatian ecclesiastical architecture.
Itinerary Overview
Passengers board at Zadar port and are welcomed with a drink before the boat heads to a nearby island for the first swim stop. The evening is spent in Vodice, a lively resort town with local taverns known as konobas.
The boat enters the Krka River estuary and anchors at Skradin, the gateway to the Skradinski Buk waterfall area visited by smaller transfer boat. The afternoon stop in Sibenik allows a walk through the old town and a view of St. Jacob's Cathedral.
A morning call at Primosten, whose old town occupies a former islet connected to the mainland by a 16th-century causeway, precedes a lunch swim stop. The boat arrives in Split for an overnight stay beside Diocletian's Palace.
A swim break opens the day before the boat moors in Trogir, where a guided tour covers the UNESCO old town's medieval archways, courtyards, and cathedral. Dinner options are available at local restaurants along the waterfront.
Swimming in the bays of Drvenik Veli and an overnight at the fishing village of Zlarin lead into a full day sailing the length of the Kornati archipelago, with an extended anchor stop in a clear-water bay. The boat then continues to Telascica Nature Park on Dugi Otok for the overnight.
A final swim stop at Ugljan island precedes the return to Zadar, where a guided tour of the old town covers the Roman Forum, Sveti Donat church, Sveta Stosija cathedral, and the Sea Organ. Disembarkation takes place after breakfast on the final morning.
What Is Included
Included
- 7 nights accommodation on board in standard cabin category
- Welcome drink on embarkation
- Daily breakfast and dinner on board
- Snacks during sailing days
- Guided tour of Trogir old town
- Guided tour of Zadar old town
- Transfer by smaller boat to Krka waterfall area from Skradin
- Sailing through Kornati National Park waters
Not Included
- Krka National Park entrance fee and boat ride (payable on-site)
- Lunches on board or ashore
- Personal travel insurance
- Port taxes and tourist fees where applicable
- Transfers from accommodation to Zadar port at embarkation
- Transfer to next port if arriving after cut-off time
- Gratuities for crew
- Any optional excursions not listed above
Important Information
Reserve Your Place on This Cruise
Cabins on small-group Adriatic cruises fill quickly, particularly during the summer season. Secure your berth early to avoid disappointment and begin planning your Dalmatian Coast journey.
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