Kornati Islands - Croatia

The first full day of our trip involves a nice introduction to the area with a swim starting directly in front of our hotel. From here we head west and travel down the coast of Dugi Otok. This swim is an excellent way to follow both the coast and the sea floor which is only a few metres underneath you.

After a break for lunch and some time spent videoing your stroke, we journey by boat out to the island of Tukošcak. From here we carry out our first crossing to Mrtonjak Island. It’s a short crossing and when we hit land, we carry on circumnavigating the island. This finishes the day of both coastal and island hopping. In the evening we will hold a video session with your swim guides where we play back your stroke from earlier in the day and give you pointers to work on for the rest of the trip.

Today we start off with a walk across the southern section of Dugi Otok and into the wonderful Telaščica Bay, an 8km long protected bay which is home to over 25 sub bays and 5 islands. The walk is pleasant and gives some stunning views. We arrive into the isolated hamlet of Magrovica from where we start our first swim of the day around the prominent twin islands of Skolja and Farfariculak and into the tiny fishing hamlet of Jaz.

Once dry, we travel up Telaščica Bay by boat before walking to the famous Lake Mir salt lake (which you can swim in!) and take in the views from the top of the stunning Dugi Otok cliffs. In the afternoon we cross Telašćica Bay by boat and swim from the lighthouse at Vidilica, then cross the National Park boundary to the island of Silo, which lies just off the main island of Kornati.

We head back out to the Kornati National Park and undertake a coastal swim along the coast of Kornati Island itself. While the landscape may be barren, the vista below the waterline as we swim is anything but. The straits between Kornati and the islands of Proversa and Svrsata are narrow and enjoyable to swim through. After returning to the hotel, the afternoon is free to enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Today we travel north as we swim from the uninhabited island of Skala and island hop over 3 islands before we arrive at the narrow island of Sit. The water is shallow at various sections during this swim, so you have a good view of the seabed below.

In the afternoon we head to the nearby island of Žut, the Adriatic's largest uninhabited island. Numerous caves and bays dot the landscape and the swimming here is varied and interesting.

We travel by boat to the famous "Stene" of Dugi Otok, a dramatic series of cliffs (the biggest in the Adriatic) on the open sea side of Telašćica Bay. The cliffs are home to the nesting sites of Peregrine Falcons and Eleonora's Falcons. The swimming here is superb as we can see the cliffs fall to the ocean floor beneath. This is one of the undoubted highlights of the trip.

After lunch on board our boat, there is some time for exploring Dugi Otok’s south-eastern shoreline and the neighbouring island of Katina which acts as a near natural bridge to Kornati. Interesting rock formations and underwater scenery make this an explorer’s delight!

Enjoy a relaxed start to the day, as we swim from in front of the hotel across the bay. It’s a short swim to end a fantastic week of swimming in this land of a myriad of islands!

Equipment to bring along with you

In addition to your daily non-swimming clothes, we also recommend that you bring the following items:

*Try to bring one clear lens and one tinted lens for different light conditions.

Please note that SwimTrek will supply swim hats and provide water and electrolyte drinks in shared water bottles on your safety boat. If you prefer to use your own drink bottle, please feel free to bring one along. If you would like to use a wetsuit, rash vest or fins during your swims, please ensure that you bring these with you.

Swimming Distances

Swimming Conditions

Swimming in the sea is a fantastic experience, however you should be aware that certain marine life such as sea lice, jellyfish, sea urchins and coral could be present during the swims. In all cases we will work on reducing your contact with these creatures, however if you suffer from anaphylaxis, please consult the office prior to booking.

Walking Distances

The walk from Sali to Telašćica Bay is around 4km long but if you don’t wish to do the walk you can travel by boat to the swimming meeting point. This being said, most SwimTrekkers take advantage of the hike. The majority of the walk takes place on recognised paths and tracks, however there may be cases where we walk along trails or other unsealed surfaces and care should be taken in these areas.

Temperatures

*Please note that these temperatures are indicative and should be used as a guide only.

Weather Caveat

For safety reasons, we rely on decent weather conditions when carrying out our swims. As a consequence, open water swimming holidays require a certain degree of on-trip flexibility which can result in changes to the planned itinerary. These changes often add a touch of uniqueness to your trip and will be communicated to you by your SwimTrek guides as quickly as possible.

Group Size and Boat Support

This trip has a maximum group size of 15. The group will be split into a maximum of three groups, based on speed, with each group being accompanied by their own safety vessel/escort.

Boat support on this trip includes one main boat and two support boats to be piloted by your SwimTrek guides and local boat pilot(s). Please note that this boat support is subject to change without notice and cannot be guaranteed.

There are several ways to travel to Sali on the island of Dugi Otok at the start of your trip, all of which will involve you catching a ferry to the island. Please note there are two ports in Zadar, the Old City Port and the new Gazenica Port. For Sali you will need to go to Zadar Old City Port (Zadar Gradska Luka.)

While we have outlined various travel options below, they are subject to change and should be used as a guide only. We suggest that you use the following websites to search for alternative flight, transfer and ferry options for this trip.

• Flights: Skyscanner

• Transfers: Croatia Transfers

• Ferries: GV Zadar

Whichever route you choose to take, we recommend confirming your flights and other travel arrangements as early as possible in order to avoid price rises and availability issues.

To search for available flights into Zadar Airport, please visit Skyscanner.

From Zadar Airport, you can catch a local taxi from outside the arrivals area to the Gradska Luka ferry port. You can also book a transfer in advance via Croatia Transfers. This journey takes approximately 10 minutes and costs around 190 Kuna (€25) for up to three passengers. Larger vehicles are also available to book via the Croatia Transfers website.

Finally, you can also catch public transport from the airport to the port. There is a local bus which departs from in front of the international terminal and takes approximately 20 minutes to reach the port via the main bus terminal and the old town. Once published, timetables for public buses can be viewed at zadar-airport.hr/en. The price for a one way journey from the airport to the Old Town Port is approximately 10 Kuna (€1.40) and tickets can be bought on the bus.

Ferry from Zadar Port to Sali Port

There are three ferry lines that will get you to the Sali Port on the island of Dugi Otok. You have the choice of two national lines, the 405, the 406 and a national high speed line, the 9406. For more information on timetables and where to collect your ferry tickets please visit GV Zadar.

Sali Port to Hotel Sali

When you get off the ferry, turn left and walk straight down the road, past the post office. When you see Kornat Restaurant, walk straight up the narrow foot path to the left of the restaurant. Continue up this hill for around 400m. Once you reach Bocac Restaurant, turn right and the Hotel Sali reception will be 50 metres ahead of you. This walk should take no longer than 10 minutes.

To search for available flights into Split Airport, please visit Skyscanner.

From Split Airport, we recommend that you book a transfer via: Croatia Transfers. This transfer takes approximately 1½ hours and starts from around €125 for up to three passengers. Larger vehicles are also available to book via the Croatia Transfers website.

Alternatively, you can also travel from Split Airport to Zadar Old City Port via public transport. When leaving Split Airport arrivals, you will need to make your way to the far side of the car park and catch the number 37 bus which departs from here every 30 minutes and will take you to the main bus station in Trogir. The journey to Trogir takes approximately 30 minutes costs around 25 Kuna. Once release, the bus timetable can be found at Promet Split. When you reach Trogir Bus Station, there are a number of connecting services to Zadar bus Station. The journey takes approximately two hours and costs around 80 Kuna (€10) Once released, the bus timetable can be found at Bus Croatia. Upon arrival into Zadar, we recommend catching a taxi to the ferry port, which is a 10-minute drive away.

Ferry from Zadar Port to Sali Port

There are three ferry lines that will get you to the Sali Port on the island of Dugi Otok. You have the choice of two national lines, the 405, the 406 and a national high speed line, the 9406. For more information on timetables and where to collect your ferry tickets please visit GV Zadar.

Sali Port to Hotel Sali

When you get off the ferry, turn left and walk straight down the road, past the post office. When you see Kornat Restaurant, walk straight up the narrow foot path to the left of the restaurant. Continue up this hill for around 400m. Once you reach Bocac Restaurant, turn right and the Hotel Sali reception will be 50 metres ahead of you. This walk should take no longer than 10 minutes.

Accommodation

We are based at the Hotel Sali for the duration of the trip. The hotel sits in a tranquil bay with views of the mainland. The accommodation is simple and is ideally placed for our week of open water swimming. Our accommodation is based on twin-share rooms with en suite facilities. There are a limited number of single supplement rooms which can be reserved during the booking process, subject to availability.

If you would like to extend your stay in Sali and need to book additional nights’ accommodation before or after your trip, please contact the hotel directly via: info@hotel-sali.hr.

Meals

All breakfasts and lunches are included in your trip price, except lunch on days 4 and 6 which are at your own expense. This gives you a fantastic opportunity to explore and experience the local cafes and restaurants of your choice over the course of your trip. The average cost of dinner in a local restaurant is around 100-120 Kuna.

Extra Expenses

You should bring extra money with you to cover such items as entertainment, dinner, souvenirs, etc. The local currency is Croatian Kuna (Kn). There is a cash machine on the island but it is advised to draw some local currency out before arriving, just in case. You can also exchange currency at the hotel. Please note that most restaurants and local businesses do not accept credit/debit cards.

Passports and Visas

Croatia is part of the European Union. Non-residents of Croatia require a full passport to enter the country, which should be valid for six months beyond the expected length of stay. Citizens of most countries, including all E.U. member states, U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand do not require a visa to enter Croatia. Please note that visa regulations are subject to change and we advise that you check your own visa requirements prior to travel.

Health Information and Recommended Vaccinations

For comprehensive health information for people travelling to Croatia, including all recommended and required vaccinations, please visit Travel Health Pro. Please note that this information is subject to change and you should re-check this site regularly prior to your trip.

Travel Plugs & Electricity

For a useful source of information on the different electrical outlets, electrical plugs, and electric sockets, please visit ElectricalOutlet.org.