The 13 Sailing Trips in Croatia That Earn Their Price

1.Full-Day Catamaran Cruise to Hvar & Pakleni Islands with Food and free Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 670 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $119Our pick

Join the Summer Blues catamaran from Split for a 10-hour Adriatic day. Swim at three island bays, tour Hvar with a guide such as Mia or Manuela, enjoy lunch and unlimited drinks, then dance back toward Split. The boat holds up to 76 people, with masks and foam noodles available for swimming.

“The funnest thing we could have done. The crew was so entertaining, the food was delicious and drinks were amazing and it was a great size catamaran. We stopped at 3 places for swimming and spend around 2 hours in Hvar. On our way back the crew turned up the music and we danced for almost 2 hours. I highly recommend this excursion.”

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2.Full-Day Sailing Trip to Kornati

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 563 reviews · 9 hours · from $81

Set out from Zadar’s Marina Borik with an English-speaking skipper and no more than six other guests. Cruise toward Kornati and Telašćica, swim and snorkel in clear bays, walk to Lake Mir and the cliffs, and enjoy a relaxed nine-hour day with time to sunbathe or learn a little sailing.

“Amazing trip, totally worth every penny. The skipper was very friendly and relaxed. the journey was scenic and smooth. The island was beautiful and the free time appreciated. We swam in the salt lake and saw the donkeys with time left for lunch. We even managed to see some dolphins with the sails up on the way back to Zadar! The skipper found us a quiet bay to swim and we saw lots of fish. A great trip!!”

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3.Boat Tour to Pakleni Islands on a Comfort Yacht

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 424 reviews · 4 hours · from $94

Spend four hours on a 36-foot sailing yacht from Hvar, visiting two quiet Pakleni Islands bays for swimming, snorkeling, and stand-up paddleboarding. With room for up to eight people, a skipper such as Vitor, Victor, or Alex handles the sailing while you relax, bring your own drinks, and enjoy the Adriatic views.

“Everything about the experience was wonderful. Vitor made our 1/2 day just perfect. He lets us play our music and we couldn't have enjoyed it more. I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to experience HVar.”

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4.Zadar Half Day Sailing Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 413 reviews · 4 hours · from $49

Set out from Marina Borik with an English-speaking skipper and up to eight other people. Sail toward Ugljan, stop to swim and snorkel, then spend time in Preko before returning past Zadar’s Sea Organ. Skippers such as Petar and Ante are happy to explain sailing and may let you help with the ropes when conditions allow.

“Great time ! Our tour guide was a cool guy, definitely would do it again.”

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5.Sunset & dolphin group tours with Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 227 reviews · from $41Best value

Join Massimo and the local crew of Catamaran Bikini from Rovinj’s ACI marina for a relaxed sunset boat ride, dolphin watching, and sea-level views of the old town. Small groups, a cosy front net, and flexible private options make this a more personal choice than a packed sightseeing boat.

“Great tour and great tour guide... nice to have a lokal that actually grew up in the city to tell some stories! Very personal. Not crowded like most other boots we saw! Kids loved the net in the front of the boat (prepare to get wet)! Nice combination of seeing dolphins and a short city tour from the sea!”

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6.Half Day Sailing on a comfort yacht around Hvar and Pakleni islands- small group

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 194 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $90

From Hvar’s Riva, sail with a skipper and up to seven other people toward the Pakleni Islands. You’ll stop in two bays for swimming and snorkeling, with the route adjusted for weather. Bring lunch, snacks, and drinks for the fridge. Guides such as Viktor, Vitor, Alexander, and Peter have earned praise for their friendly approach.

“Alexander was the best! We had so much fun on the boat and were so glad we chose this tour. Highly recommend”

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7.Unique Sailing Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 178 reviews

Spend 3.5 hours sailing from Rovinj with a local couple aboard a handcrafted 10-meter boat. You’ll circle Katerina Island, Figarola, and Sv. Ivan, stop to swim and snorkel, try paddleboarding or sailing, and enjoy homemade tapas with local wine. The hosts’ names appear inconsistently as Romy and Jo or John and Roni, so confirm them when booking.

“We had a great time sailing with Romy and Jo! The food, wine, paddleboarding, and cliff jumping were a highlight of our trip! If you are ever in Rovinj you must do this!”

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8.Catamaran Cruise to Golden Horn & Brač island.

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 175 reviews · from $125

Spend 10 hours sailing from Split to Brač on the Summer Blues catamaran. You’ll ride by bus to Vidova Gora, relax at Golden Horn, visit Bol, swim in Lučice and another bay, and enjoy lunch, fruit, cake, music, and unlimited drinks. English guides lead the day, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free meals available by request.

“Fantastic trip, lovely staff and unbelievable scenes! The boat was amazing, unlimited beer and drinks, food was also provided and really tasty! Me and my friend had the best day! Very chilled vibes and great music. Would highly recommend”

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9.Full day sailing tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 158 reviews · from $65

Spend about eight hours sailing from Zadar through the archipelago with a skipper such as Saša, Dario, Alan, or Philip. Swim from the boat, snorkel in quiet bays, explore Ošljak or Ugljan, and ask for a local lunch recommendation. The advertised group size is six, though you should confirm the number before booking.

“We had an amazing time during this tour. We had three stops each to swim (the 1st swim was amazing!), or have a nice walk around the islands. The highlight of the trip was the return to land by sailing. We never sailed before so it was a truly magical experience for us !”

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10.Romantic Sunset Sailing Experience On A Comfort Yacht

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 119 reviews · 2 hours · from $76

Sail from Hvar’s Riva 27 toward the Pakleni Islands on a two-hour sunset cruise for up to eight people. Skippers such as Victor, Viktor, Alex, and Petar have helped set a relaxed tone, answer sailing questions, and take photos. Choose a shared or private boat, bring snacks and drinks, and expect a weather-dependent outing.

“Had an incredible experience on the sunset sail with our awesome guide Alex!”

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11.Private Sailing Tours in Zadar Archipelago

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 102 reviews · 4 hours (approx.)

Join Laura and Tony of Antares Sailing for a private four-hour cruise from Zadar to Ošljak and Ugljan. You’ll sail past the coast, swim and snorkel in clear water, stop for island sightseeing, and have time for lunch on Ugljan. The boat carries up to seven people, with snorkeling gear, fuel, a skipper, and fees included.

“Laura and Toni were very friendly and great hosts. They made the tour feel very personal for us and met our needs. The home brewed spirit and pots of fresh fruit were lovely little unexpected treats. We loved Laura’s local knowledge, making the most of the places we visited. The sail past the sea organ at the end was so much fun! Thank you both.”

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12.Private Sailing Boat Trip with Swimming and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 65 reviews · 2 - 8 hours

Sail from Hvar with skipper Jura on a private boat for up to six people. Visit clear-water coves around the Pakleni Islands, swim and snorkel, play your music, and relax under the canopy or on deck cushions. Choose a 2 to 8 hour outing, with stops shaped by wind, time, and your wish for lunch ashore.

“Had a brilliant boat trip with Jura for my birthday with my family. Highly recommend!”

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13.Blue & Green cave tour with yacht from town Hvar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 54 reviews · from $251

Spend about eight hours aboard a yacht limited to 12 people, cruising from Hvar to Budikovac Island, the Green Cave, Stiniva Cove, Biševo’s Blue Cave, and the Pakleni Islands. Teddy and the crew provide drinks, swimming gear, paddleboards, towels, and a sea bob. Cave tickets and lunch cost extra.

“Loved the paddle boards. Didn’t love waiting an hour for the blue caves. Would have preferred if they had allowed us to pay a bit extra for the speed line.”

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