The Kornati sailing area offers barren karst landscapes and profound peace. This article covers specific bays, national park fees, and trip details from Trogir.
When sailing the Kornati, you navigate an archipelago of 89 islands, islets, and reefs off the northern Dalmatian coast. From our departure harbor at Marina Trogir, you sail northwest along the coast to reach the southern border of this protected area. The barren karst landscape rises pale and treeless from the Adriatic. Unlike heavily forested southern Dalmatian islands like Korčula or Mljet, bare limestone dominates here. Human history has deeply shaped this scenery. Many of these islets are privately owned by families from the neighboring island of Murter. For centuries, they used the rugged land as grazing grounds for their sheep. To separate their flocks, they built miles of dry stone walls, known as Suhozidi, which trace across the pale rock like delicate veins. The outer islands drop almost vertically into the deep water with sheer cliffs called crowns. You will look in vain for large marinas in this cruising area. Life strips down to the water, the wind, and small, concealed bays.
Planning the journey from Trogir to the Kornati requires looking ahead. After leaving on Saturday afternoon, Primošten makes for a logical stopover along the coastline. The historical core of this town rests on a former island, which a short causeway now connects to the mainland. You can restock fresh groceries here before infrastructure becomes scarce. The next morning, you continue to the southern entrance of the national park near the main island of Kornat. An alternative route leads past Zlarin or Kaprije in northern Dalmatia.
The park administration protects the sensitive seagrass meadows that grow on the seabed and provide an irreplaceable habitat for numerous fish species. Visitors must respect strict local regulations to preserve this environment.
The wide bay of Vrulje forms the largest seasonal settlement within the protected area. During the summer months, fishermen and restaurateurs inhabit the low stone houses right on the shore. Anyone willing to tackle the short climb up the hills behind the houses will look out over vast stretches of the labyrinthine archipelago.
Lojena stands out visually from the other bays in the region. The seabed here consists of pale sand patches and white pebbles, giving the shallow water an intense color. During the day, numerous excursion boats from the mainland call at this inlet.
Right at the southern tip of the elongated main island of Kornat lies the deep bay of Opat. An established local konoba operates right by the water, surrounded by the steep flanks of the bay.
The only marina within the park boundaries operates between the uninhabited island of Piškera and the small islet of Panitula. You can use this spot to top up on fresh water. The power supply only runs for a few hours at a time via local generators, as the mainland grid is far away.
| Bay / Location | Island |
|---|---|
| Vrulje | Kornat |
| Lojena | Levrnaka |
| Opat | Kornat |
| Piškera | Piškera |
Preserving this sensitive marine landscape requires strict regulations and is largely funded through admission fees. Every entering vessel needs a valid ticket, and the price depends exactly on the boat length registered in the ship's papers. If you purchase the ticket directly from the rangers patrolling on the water, the highest rate applies. Buying in advance through official online portals or at authorized marinas on the mainland significantly reduces the costs. These fees are divided transparently into the shared boat kitty.
Within the park boundaries, rangers strictly enforce the following rules of conduct:
The Adriatic features distinct local winds like the bora, the jugo, and the maestral. The bora sweeps across the barren, relatively flat landmasses of the Kornati, while the jugo brings moisture from the open sea. During the summer months, the maestral also frequently appears. No long-term weather guarantees exist, and late summer weeks in September often bring a still-warm sea alongside more distinct weather changes.
Supermarkets, bakeries, or large-scale supply structures simply do not exist in the national park. Before reaching the archipelago, you can extensively stock up on provisions in large harbors like Trogir. Fresh bread and vegetables require careful planning for the days at sea. For dinner, you can head to the small konobas. These rustic taverns often operate without a regular power connection, serving whatever the sea or coastal region provides that very day.
A defining element of Dalmatian cuisine is the peka. Meat, fish, or octopus cooks together with potatoes, garlic, and olive oil under a heavy cast-iron bell enveloped by hot embers. This slow braising process takes several hours, which is why you should always phone in a peka order in the morning. As an appetizer, hosts often serve air-dried pršut, strong paški sir from the nearby island of Pag, or fresh škampi na buzaru. This pairs nicely with local wine pressed on the mainland or the larger Dalmatian islands.
The lack of infrastructure in the Kornati demands a self-sufficient vessel that does not rely on evening mainland connections. Our brand new Lagoon 47 catamaran delivers exactly this independence. A powerful watermaker produces fresh water from the sea, while large solar panels, high battery capacities, and an onboard generator secure the electrical power for refrigerators and air conditioning. The ship features four spacious double cabins with queen-size beds, each featuring its own en-suite bathroom and shower.
You choose between two travel formats when booking. If you select the cabin charter, you secure a single double cabin and share the boat with other guests. This option costs between 2,669 EUR and 6,089 EUR per week for a standard cabin. For groups or families who want to keep to themselves, the private charter is the ideal fit. Exclusive use of the entire yacht ranges from 5,900 EUR in the early season to 16,500 EUR during the high season. Added to this are the mandatory skipper fee of 1,750 EUR and the premium charter package for 610 EUR. You can calculate all parameters bindingly on our detailed Prices and Services page.
The variable boat kitty, which covers food, fuel, and park fees, is divided fairly among all participants. You should budget about 200 EUR per guest per week for groceries and drinks. Special water toys do not fall under the regular charter price. Those wanting to actively explore the cruising area can rent the Seabob F9 for 1,300 EUR or the electric AWAKE Ravik jet board for 1,800 EUR per week as a paid extra. Inside the national park, you must strictly reduce the speed of these devices to the local limit.
Since our 2026 premiere season is completely fully booked, we have opened a waiting list for 2027. You can secure a spot on it via our contact form. If you want to know more about other Dalmatian destinations, you will find further details on our Experience and Cruising Areas page.
You can find additional articles on the topic of cruising areas and bays in our magazine.
The ticket price depends exactly on the length of your boat. Buying the pass in advance through official online portals or at marinas on the mainland saves you a significant amount compared to a direct purchase from rangers on the water. On our catamaran, these incurred national park fees are divided transparently into the shared boat kitty.
The park administration heavily regulates the marine environment to protect sensitive seagrass meadows on the seabed. Visitors must adhere to strict zoning rules. Popular destinations within the park boundaries include the bays of Vrulje or Opat on the main island of Kornat.
The Kornati region experiences typical Adriatic winds, including the maestral, the bora, and the jugo. Because the islands are relatively flat and barren, the weather patterns move across the landscape without much resistance. Visitors should prepare for varying conditions, as no absolute weather guarantees exist in the Mediterranean.
Using stand-up paddleboards or motorized water toys is permitted in the national park, but it remains subject to strict limitations. The allowed maximum speed in the bays is heavily restricted to avoid wake and noise. On MANAIA, you always rent high-performance extras like the electric AWAKE Ravik jet board or the Seabob F9 in advance as a paid add-on.
Most of the islets in the national park are privately owned by families living on the neighboring island of Murter. They utilized the barren landmasses for centuries as pasture for their sheep. To separate their plots from one another, they built miles of dry stone walls out of pale limestone, which continue to define the landscape of the Kornati to this day.