Mikado Kornati Excursion with snorkeling and hiking stops

Kornati rewards a full day at sea. This small-group boat trip combines wide island views, clear swimming spots, and short walks without making you choose between nature and a good lunch. I especially like the sandy cove at Lojena Beach and the viewpoint above Tarac Bay, where the Kornati islands spread out in every direction. The main drawback is simple: with three planned stops, you may wish for more swimming time.

The day is also unusually well supplied. Coffee, sandwiches, fruit, soft drinks, wine, and lunch are included, along with snorkeling gear and the national park entrance. The 20-person limit should make the day feel more personal than a large excursion boat, though the long return ride means you should be happy spending much of the day on the water.

Key details before you book

• Three different stops: Lojena for swimming, Tarac Bay for a church and fort, and Suha Punta for lunch and another swim.
• A proper full-day outing: The boat leaves Foša Port at 8 a.m. and returns around 5:40 p.m., with about two hours of sailing each way.
• Food and drinks are part of the deal: Breakfast, fruit, lunch, coffee, soft drinks, water, and wine are included. Beer costs extra.
• Kornati views from above: The walk near Tarac Bay leads to a fine view over the island chain and the sea.
• Good equipment included: You get a snorkeling mask and swimming aids, so you do not need to pack your own gear.
• Best for active sightseers: Bring swimwear, a towel, and hiking shoes. This is not just a boat ride with a quick photo stop.

Why this Kornati day trip works

The Kornati archipelago is best understood from the water. Its islands are scattered across the Adriatic in a pattern of pale stone, low hills, coves, and open sea. From a boat, you can see how isolated and spare the islands feel. There are no city streets to explore here, and that is the point.

I like the way this excursion mixes three kinds of time: sailing, swimming, and walking. You get long stretches to watch the islands pass, but the day does not become a seven-hour cruise with nothing to do. At each stop, the scenery changes enough to keep the outing fresh.

The price of $101 is fair when you add up what is covered. You are paying for a full day, a guide, the national park admission, breakfast, lunch, drinks, fruit, snorkeling equipment, and a small group. A cheaper boat trip may exist, but it may not include the same amount of food, gear, or access to several stops.

Still, this is not a bargain choice for someone who wants only a short swim and a quick look at the islands. The boat leaves early, returns late, and spends roughly four hours sailing in total. You need to enjoy the ride itself.

Setting out from Foša Port at 8 a.m.

The meeting point is Foša Port in Zadar, at Ul. kralja Dmitra Zvonimira 6. An 8 a.m. departure gives you a full day in Kornati National Park, but it also means an early start. Arrive ready to board, with swimwear already easy to reach and your hiking shoes packed or worn.

Breakfast is served on board. Expect coffee, sandwiches, and fruit, with sandwich fillings including cheese and salami. The food is practical rather than fancy, but it gets the morning started without requiring you to find breakfast before the port.

Drinks remain available during the day. The selection includes water, Coca-Cola, Fanta, various juices, coffee, wine, and fruit. Beer is not included, so do not count on it as part of the open drink supply.

The boat carries up to 20 people. That matters on a long day. A small group makes it easier to hear the guide and move between the boat, shore, and walking stops without the slow shuffle of a very large crowd.

The two-hour cruise into Kornati National Park

The first part of the outing is panoramic sightseeing from the boat. This is where you begin to understand the shape of the Kornati islands. Instead of one dramatic peak or a single famous beach, you see a chain of islands spread across the sea, each with its own bare slopes and small bays.

The ride takes about two hours. I would treat this as a major part of the experience, not dead time. Sit where you can see out, keep your camera ready, and listen to the guide’s comments in English or Croatian.

A long boat ride can be tiring if the sea is rough or if you expect constant activity. The supplied information does not promise a specific boat style, shade arrangement, or sea conditions, so pack accordingly and accept that comfort depends partly on the day. The boat itself is described as clean and comfortable, which helps during the long crossings.

Wi-Fi is available on board, but the best use of the ride is looking outward. The islands are the main show, and a phone signal or onboard connection is a minor bonus.

Lojena Beach: one hour for swimming and snorkeling

The first major stop is Lojena Beach on Levrnaka Island. You have about 60 minutes here for swimming and snorkeling, with the excursion providing masks and swimming aids.

Lojena is a sandy beach, a useful change from the rocky Adriatic entries you often find along the Croatian coast. Clear water and fish make this the natural place to test the snorkeling equipment. If you prefer simply to swim, you can do that too.

An hour sounds generous until you factor in getting off the boat, finding a comfortable spot, swimming, snorkeling, and returning on time. If swimming is your top priority, use the stop efficiently. Do not spend the whole break taking photos from the shore.

This is also the first point where the schedule may feel tight. One assessment of the day wished for more time at the first two stops, and that is a fair concern. Lojena is likely to be the stop where you most want another half-hour, especially in warm weather.

Bring your towel and keep dry clothes protected from splashes. The tour specifically asks you to bring swimwear, a towel, and hiking shoes, so this is not a trip where ordinary sightseeing clothes will carry you through the day.

Tarac Bay: church, Tureta Fort, and the best viewpoint

The second stop takes you to Tarac Bay, also within Kornati National Park. This is the most varied stop because it combines a walk, cultural sights, a high viewpoint, and time for another swim.

You will visit a church and walk toward Tureta Fort. The fort gives the stop a little more depth than a simple beach break. It also gives the guide something meaningful to explain beyond the islands’ natural scenery.

The walk leads to a magnificent view over the Kornati archipelago. This is the place to look back across the islands and see their scale from land rather than from the boat. The view is likely to be the day’s strongest photo opportunity, but it comes with a practical condition: hiking shoes matter.

The walking time is around 50 minutes, while the broader stop is listed at about an hour. That means you should not expect a long archaeological visit or a demanding hike. It is a short, active walk with a payoff at the viewpoint.

There is also time for a swim at Tarac Bay. As at Lojena, the hour can go quickly. If you want both the walk and the water, keep an eye on the guide’s timing. One particularly nice touch is that the guide may arrange an unexpected moment inside the chapel, though the exact surprise is not specified and should not be counted on.

Guide quality matters most here. Aninka received especially warm praise for clear explanations, careful organization, and attentive help throughout the day. Other English-speaking guides lead the trip as well, but the experience depends in part on who is guiding your departure.

Lunch at Suha Punta on Kornat Island

The third stop brings you back to the island of Kornat, where you have about 95 minutes for lunch, a walk, and swimming or snorkeling at Suha Punta.

Lunch is grilled fish or meat with a mixed seasonal vegetable salad. A vegetarian choice is also available according to the meal arrangements described for the day. The fish received particularly strong praise, but the meat option gives you a useful alternative if seafood is not your preference.

Eating near the sea is part of the appeal. After the morning’s swimming and walking, a proper meal gives the day a needed pause. The timing is more generous than at the first two stops, so you can eat without rushing and still leave room for a swim.

Fruit remains available through the day, including examples such as bananas, apricots, grapes, peaches, apples, and blueberries. That may sound like a small detail, but on a hot full-day boat outing, easy snacks are genuinely useful. Coffee and drinks are also available whenever you return to the boat.

The main limitation is that the lunch stop combines several activities. If you spend a leisurely time at the table, your swimming time shrinks. If swimming matters more than food, plan to change quickly and use the water before the group gathers to leave.

The return cruise to Zadar

After Suha Punta, the boat heads back toward Zadar, with the return portion taking about two hours. The scheduled arrival is around 5:40 p.m., making this a long but manageable day.

The return ride is a good time to finish the fruit, have a drink, and let the scenery pass without trying to fit in one more activity. You will probably feel pleasantly tired rather than ready for another major attraction.

This schedule also makes the excursion easy to fit into a Zadar stay. You depart and return at the same port, so there is no need to arrange separate transport between the city and a distant marina. If you have evening plans, leave some breathing room after the stated return time. Boat schedules can be affected by conditions, and the published timing is an estimate for planning purposes.

What is included, and why it affects the value

The strongest part of the package is how much is bundled into the $101 cost:

• Breakfast with coffee, sandwiches, and fruit
• Lunch on Kornat Island
• Water, soft drinks, juices, coffee, wine, and fruit
• National park admission
• English or Croatian guide
• Snorkeling mask and swimming aids
• Wi-Fi on board
• A small group of up to 20 people

The admission ticket matters because Kornati National Park is the central reason for the trip, not an optional side stop. Food and drinks also reduce the small costs that quickly build up during a full-day outing.

You should still bring your own towel and hiking shoes. Beer is the one clearly listed drink exclusion. The outing also does not promise personal hotel pickup, so plan to reach Foša Port yourself.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Zadar schedule depends on weather or changing plans, but check the available departure details when booking.

Who should book the Mikado Kornati excursion?

I would choose this trip if you want to see several sides of the Kornati islands in one day. It suits you especially well if you like a balanced schedule with scenic sailing, two swimming opportunities, a short hike, a historic stop, and a meal included.

Families and couples can both enjoy it, provided everyone is comfortable with a full day on a boat. Strong swimmers will appreciate Lojena and Suha Punta, while less confident swimmers can use the provided aids and stay close to shore. The short walk near Tarac Bay adds activity without turning the day into a serious hike.

You may want a different outing if your main goal is uninterrupted beach time. The schedule is carefully packed, and the first two stops allow only about an hour each. You may also prefer a shorter cruise if two hours of sailing each way sounds like too much.

The small group and attentive guiding are important advantages. Clear English, good organization, and steady access to food and drinks help the day feel easy. Aninka is singled out for especially strong guiding, with interesting comments and careful attention, though guide assignments can vary.

Should you book it?

Yes, if you want a well-fed, well-organized day that shows Kornati by boat, beach, and walking path. At $101, the included meals, drinks, equipment, guide, and park ticket make the price reasonable, especially for a full 570-minute outing.

Book it with realistic expectations. You will not get unlimited time at every beach, and the boat ride is a major part of the day. Bring swimwear, a towel, hiking shoes, and patience with the schedule. If that mix sounds right, Mikado Kornati Excursions offers one of the more complete ways to experience the archipelago from Zadar.

FAQ

Where does the Kornati excursion depart from?

It departs from Foša Port in Zadar, at Ul. kralja Dmitra Zvonimira 6.

What time does the boat leave and return?

Departure is at 8 a.m. The scheduled return to Zadar is around 5:40 p.m.

How long does the experience last?

The total duration is 570 minutes, or about nine and a half hours.

Which islands and stops are included?

The outing visits Lojena Beach on Levrnaka Island, Tarac Bay in Kornati National Park, and Suha Punta on the island of Kornat.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. A snorkeling mask and swimming aids are included, along with opportunities to swim and snorkel with fish.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served on Kornat Island and includes grilled fish or meat with a mixed seasonal vegetable salad. A vegetarian choice is also available.

What drinks are included?

Water, Coca-Cola, Fanta, various juices, coffee, and wine are available. Beer is not included.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, and hiking shoes. These cover the swimming, snorkeling, and walking portions of the day.