Traditional Boat, 3 Wine Stops

Sail from Zadar on a traditional boat for a 4.5-hour tour with 3 stops along the way. Unlimited wine is included on board throughout the trip.

Overview

This half-day trip puts you on a wooden boat that the operator dates back 120 years, one of two vessels used depending on departure time. The tour runs 4.5 hours in the morning or afternoon, leaving from Gostilje Boat Excursions on Obala kralja Petra Krešimira IV in Zadar. White wine, still water and juices are self-service for the whole cruise, and snorkeling gear is provided. A guide travels with the group.

There are three stops. Kukljica comes first on some departures and Kali on others, a deliberate split so the boats do not land at the same place at once. The Kukljica stop lasts 45 minutes, with a beach, a first swim, and the option to buy desserts at a local ice cream shop or lunch nearby. The middle stop is a bay where the boat anchors for 45 minutes of swimming, snorkeling or simply staying on board, weather permitting. Kali, a fishing village, gets the longest stop at one hour, with a beach and an optional seafood snack bar called Srdela.

The return leg takes about half an hour. Many reviewers single out the crew, the pacing at each stop, and the help-yourself drinks, and several describe the day as relaxed rather than rushed. It suits travellers who want swimming, coastline views and wine on a heritage vessel without organising anything themselves. It is not a tour for anyone who needs hotel transfers or wants to stay dry.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at GostiljeCheck in at Gostilje Boat Excursions on Obala kralja Petra Krešimira IV in Zadar. No hotel pickup is included.
2. Welcome and sail outBoard the traditional wooden boat, welcome refreshments and wine are served as the cruise begins. This segment lasts 45 minutes.
3. Kukljica stop45 minutes for the beach, a swim, a walk, or optional ice cream and lunch at your own cost. Note the docking fees apply to this and the other stops.
4. Short cruise15 minutes of sailing to the next stop.
5. Swim stop in a bay45 minutes anchored at a bay for swimming, snorkeling or relaxing on the boat. The captain may skip this stop in bad weather and extend time at the other two.
6. Cruise to KaliAnother 15-minute sailing leg.
7. Kali village stopOne hour in the fishing village of Kali, with a beach, free time and optional food and snacks at the Srdela bar at your own expense.
8. Return to ZadarA 30-minute cruise back with wine and views, ending at Gostilje Boat Excursions.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points, drawn from the listing and from what travellers report back, will help the day go smoothly.

• Bring cash. Docking fees of 10 EUR per adult and 5 EUR per child are collected in cash across all the stops, on top of the tour price. Cash is also handy for ice cream in Kukljica or seafood at the Srdela bar in Kali. Budget for these before you board.
• Pack for swimming. Swimwear, a towel and a sun hat are on the booking page's what-to-bring list, along with biodegradable sunscreen. Snorkeling gear is supplied. Multiple travellers describe swimming straight off the boat at the anchored stop, so come ready to get in the water.
• Help yourself drinks. White wine, still water and juices are unlimited and self-service throughout the cruise. Reviewers often mention the wine and the nibbles included on board. Anything you eat on land is extra.
• Unhurried pacing. Several travellers specifically praise the timing, saying there was enough time at each stop and the day never felt rushed. The schedule is fixed at roughly 45 minutes per beach stop and one hour in Kali.
• Weather flexibility. The bay stop depends on conditions, and if the captain decides against anchoring there, the time is redistributed to the other stops. Bad weather can also push the operator to reschedule to the day before or after, so keep some slack in your plans.
• Crew and language. The tour runs in English with a guide on board. Reviewers repeatedly praise the crew, with several describing the staff as friendly and helpful throughout the trip.

Common issues. The docking fee is the most frequent complaint: one reviewer called the cost information unclear and felt the listing should state it more prominently, so treat the 10 EUR per adult and 5 EUR per child cash payment as a certainty. The middle bay stop is weather-dependent and can be dropped. Trips can also be rescheduled for bad weather or cancelled if too few guests book, in which case the operator contacts you to arrange an alternative. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you make your own way to the departure point.

Common Questions