Two weeks from Zadar: Lošinj, Istria, the Kvarner and the Velebit Channel
Two weeks are no longer a loop round one archipelago but a passage through three areas: Zadar's outer islands, southern Istria and the Kvarner Gulf with Cres, Krk and Rab, coming back under the Velebit mountains and past Pag. About 280 nm in legs of 15–30 nm, without a single truly long day. The thing to plan around is the bora: under the Velebit and in the Kvarner it blows harder than anywhere else on the Adriatic, so the Velebit Channel days have a fallback.
Day by day
Marina Zadar (Borik)
- Zadar (Borik)44.125, 15.221
Take over the yacht at D-Marin Borik, twenty minutes from Zadar airport. Provision for the first days in town; in the evening, the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun on the waterfront.
Zadar → Veli Rat (Dugi Otok)
- Veli Rat44.144, 14.847
North-west along the Zadar Channel and between the islands to the northern tip of Dugi Otok. Veli Rat marina lies in a deep inlet; on the point stands a lighthouse more than 40 metres tall, one of the highest on the Adriatic.
Veli Rat → Mali Lošinj
- Ilovik44.463, 14.552
- Mali Lošinj44.533, 14.467
Across open water north-west past Premuda and Silba to Ilovik — lunch on the buoys in the channel between Ilovik and Sveti Petar. In the evening, Mali Lošinj at the end of its long inlet: a waterfront of captains' houses and the Museum of Apoxyomenos, an ancient bronze athlete raised from the seabed off Lošinj.
Mali Lošinj → Medulin
- Medulin44.815, 13.929
- Unijemooring buoys44.636, 14.246
- ACI Pomermarina44.822, 13.902
North-west across the Kvarner to the southern tip of Istria. Medulin Bay is screened by islets; berth in the Medulin marina or at ACI Pomer deeper in the bay. Nearby is the protected Kamenjak headland, with coves and dinosaur footprints.
Medulin → Raša Bay
- Raša Bay (Tunarica)44.971, 14.097
Round the point and north along Istria's east coast into Raša Bay, a narrow fjord cutting six miles into the land. The best shelter is the side cove of Tunarica; the village of Trget, with a quay, is four miles from the entrance. There is no water or fuel in the bay.
Raša → Cres
- Cres44.951, 14.413
Across the strait to the island of Cres. Cres town is a Venetian harbour with a loggia on the square; the ACI marina is south of the old town. Griffon vultures nest in the island's hills.
Cres → Opatija
- Opatija (Ičići)45.314, 14.290
North along the west coast of Cres and across the Bay of Rijeka to Opatija, a resort of the Austro-Hungarian Riviera with villas and the twelve-kilometre Lungomare seafront promenade. Spend the night at ACI Marina Opatija in Ičići.
Opatija → Krk
- Krk45.025, 14.574
South across the Bay of Rijeka and through the Srednja Vrata strait to Krk town: walls, a Romanesque cathedral and a town harbour by the old town. If the bora is already blowing at Rijeka, decide on this leg in the morning from the forecast.
Krk → Rab
- Rab44.757, 14.763
- Marina Punatmarina45.030, 14.627
South-east past Punat to the island of Rab. Rab town is recognisable from afar by its four bell towers above the harbour; the ACI marina is right by the old town.
Rab → Karlobag
- Karlobag44.525, 15.071
Round the southern tip of Rab and across the Velebit Channel to the mainland. Karlobag is a small town at the foot of the Velebit with a little harbour behind a mole; opposite lies the bare, bora-bleached coast of Pag. Sail this day only on a settled forecast.
Karlobag → Povljana (Pag)
- Povljana (Pag)44.346, 15.105
South-east down the Velebit Channel, under the arched Pag Bridge (35 metres clearance) through the Ljubačka Vrata strait, and west to Povljana on the south coast of Pag. A quiet bay by the village; moor at the mole or anchor, and try Pag cheese and lamb for dinner.
Povljana → Molat (Lučina)
- Molat (Lučina)44.211, 14.870
Past Vir north-west to the outer islands. Molat is an island with hardly any cars; spend the night in Lučina Bay on its south coast, at anchor or on buoys.
Molat → Sali
- Sali43.936, 15.167
- Brbinjtown quay44.085, 14.996
South-east along the inner channel beside Dugi Otok. Sali is the island's main fishing town, with berths on the town quay; the entrance to Telašćica Nature Park is close by if you have time to spare.
Sali → Zadar
- Zadar (Borik)44.125, 15.221
Across the Srednji Channel, past Iž and Ugljan, back to Zadar: fuel and handover.
Coordinates are approximate, for the harbour or bay. Paste them into Google Maps or a chartplotter, and check the chart and pilot book before you moor or anchor.
Good to know
- Bora: the north-easterly off the Velebit arrives suddenly, gusting over 40–50 knots, most often in autumn and winter but in summer too. Do not sail in the Velebit Channel or the Kvarner on a bora forecast. In that case replace the Rab — Karlobag — Povljana days with a western variant that avoids the channel: Rab — Olib — Molat. Check the Croatian met service (DHMZ) forecast every morning.
- In summer the Kvarner has a north-westerly of 10–18 knots by day. The jugo (southerly) raises a long swell in the open Kvarner — sit out the Veli Rat — Mali Lošinj and Mali Lošinj — Medulin legs if it blows. Best months: June and September.
- Moorings: a marina or town harbour almost every night, with anchorages and buoys at Ilovik, Raša Bay and Molat. Raša and Molat have no water or fuel — fill up in Medulin and Sali. The Pag Bridge gives 35 metres of clearance, plenty for a charter yacht's mast.
- Logistics: Zadar airport is 14 km from Borik marina. The middle of the route — Opatija or Krk — suits a crew change: Rijeka airport, on Krk island, is 30–40 minutes away.
How to get to the marina
- D-Marin Borik, Zadar
- Zadar (ZAD) — 14 km, 20 min by carSplit (SPU) — 150 km, 1.5 h by car
20–30 min · €30–45 per car
Taxi from the terminal through town to the Borik area in north-west Zadar, about 20 minutes.
20–30 min · €30–50 per car
Fixed-price transfer with a meet-and-greet in arrivals; a minivan for up to 8 can usually be booked through the marina.
45–75 min · €6–8 per person
Liburnija airport bus (timed to arrivals) to Zadar bus station, then city bus 5A to the Puntamika (Borik) terminus, a few minutes' walk from the marina.
1.5–2 h · €150–210 per car
Transfer from Split airport via the A1 motorway — if there is no convenient flight to Zadar.
3.5–4.5 h · €25–40 per person
Platanus shuttle to Split bus station, then an intercity bus to Zadar (2.5–3 h) and city bus 5A to Borik.
20–25 min · €25–55 per day
Rent at Zadar airport — 20 minutes to the marina; for the week the car can stay in the marina car park (paid).
Zadar has several marinas — tell the driver “Marina Borik”, not just “Zadar marina”. The airport bus timetable for each month comes out only a few days before.
Prices are autumn 2026 estimates in euros; times are without traffic. Bus and ferry timetables change with the season, so check them before you travel.
When to go and what it costs in Croatia
Median € per berth per week from the agent's latest check, monohulls; each month's page has both boat types, a chart and boats departing that month.
Discounted boats in Croatia
All boats in Croatia
How long is the Zadar — Kvarner route and where do you stay overnight?
14 days and about 282 nautical miles in a loop, starting and finishing in Zadar. Overnight stops in order: Zadar (Borik), Veli Rat, Mali Lošinj, Medulin, Raša Bay (Tunarica), Cres, Opatija (Ičići), Krk, Rab, Karlobag, Povljana (Pag), Molat (Lučina), Sali. The longest leg is day 3, 30 nm.
How do I get to the marina for the Zadar — Kvarner route?
The route starts and finishes at D-Marin Borik, Zadar. The nearest airport is Zadar (ZAD), 14 km away. Fastest: taxi, 20–30 min, €30–45 per car. Cheapest: bus, 45–75 min, €6–8 per person.
When is the best time to sail the Zadar — Kvarner route?
Croatia's season runs May to October. July and August are the peak, with the highest prices; in June and September the sea is warm and boats and berths cost less. May and October are the shoulder months: cooler, with the odd bora or jugo, but the lowest prices of the season. From November to March most of the fleet is out of the water. By the agent's latest checks (monohulls), the cheapest month is March: a median of ≈€149 per berth per week. The most expensive is January, at ≈€205. The most boats with 20% off or more are in October: 70%. The agent checks the current month and the next five; each month has its own page with the numbers.
How much does a yacht for this route cost?
A whole boat in Croatia for a week starts from €627 in the agent's current selection: the cheapest discounted week departing in the next three months. Prices per berth by month are higher up the page; the boats are under “All boats in Croatia”.
Do I need a licence to charter a yacht?
For a bareboat charter (no skipper or crew provided), yes: a skipper's licence and, as a rule, a VHF radio certificate. Without a licence, we add a skipper, paid separately from the boat price.
What's included in the boat price?
Just the boat, for a week. Usually paid separately: transit log and final cleaning, fuel, marina fees, the security deposit (or deposit insurance), a skipper, cook and hostess if you need them, and extras (SUP board, on-board Wi-Fi, coffee machine, child safety netting).
