Private Boat tour with refreshing drinks Zadar

A small boat makes Zadar feel much bigger. This private four-hour cruise combines a traditional 9-meter wooden boat with easy swimming stops, island walks, and cool drinks from the onboard cooler. I like the relaxed pace and the freedom to shape the afternoon around your group. The one tradeoff is that the tour offers only a short amount of formal history, so you should not book it expecting a full sightseeing lecture.

The route takes you from Zadar toward Ugljan, Preko, Galevac, and tiny Ošljak, the smallest permanently inhabited island in the Adriatic. Skipper Franny gets especially warm praise for his friendly manner, good English, and flexible approach to timing. At $64 per person, the tour is strongest value for families, couples, and friends who want a private boat day without the cost of a full-day charter.

Key points to know before you book

• A traditional wooden boat: The 9-meter boat gives the trip a local feel that a large excursion vessel cannot match.
• Private group format: You share the boat only with your own party, making it easier to choose more swimming, walking, or cruising time.
• Three island experiences: You visit Ugljan, Preko, and Ošljak, with a stop near Galevac and its fifteenth-century monastery.
• Swimming gear and drinks included: Fuel, a cooler with ice, food and drinks storage, plus masks and snorkels are provided.
• Flexible afternoon at sea: The skipper can adjust the final bay stop and allow more time at places your group enjoys.
• A short history lesson: You get an introduction to the islands, but the focus is on pleasant cruising rather than detailed guiding.

Leaving Zadar from the INA marina

The meeting point is the INA gas station at the Brodska benzinska pumpa. It is a practical starting place on Obala kneza Branimira, though you will want to check the exact meeting instructions before setting off. The boat returns to the same place after four hours, which keeps the logistics simple.

Once you board, the setting changes quickly. Zadar slips behind you, and the tour becomes a calm ride across the water toward the nearby islands. The first cruise lasts about 35 minutes, long enough to settle into the boat and take in the coast without spending half the tour simply getting somewhere.

The boat is 9 meters long and traditionally built from wood. That matters more than it might sound. You get a more personal feel than on a large shared boat, and the size suits a private group that wants conversation with the skipper and easy access to the water.

Fuel is included, and a cooler with ice is available for food and drinks. You can bring your own refreshments, although the supplied information does not specify exactly which drinks are provided. The cooler is especially useful on a hot Croatian afternoon, when cold water matters as much as a good view.

Ugljan brings the first swimming stop

The first main stop is on Ugljan, in Zadar County. You have about 40 minutes here for swimming, snorkeling, and what is described as scuba diving. Masks and snorkels are available onboard, so you do not need to pack your own snorkeling equipment.

I would treat this as a flexible water stop rather than a formal beach visit. The point is to get into the sea, cool off, and enjoy a quiet patch of coast. If your group has children, this early swim gives them a clear highlight before the island walking begins. Several families particularly enjoyed the attractive swimming spots and the skipper’s calm manner with children.

The exact swimming location can vary with the day’s plan and the group’s wishes. That is part of the appeal of a private outing, but it also means you should not expect a fixed beach facility or a tightly scripted stop. Bring swimwear, sun protection, and anything else you need to feel comfortable outside the boat.

After Ugljan, you cruise for about 20 minutes toward Preko. This shorter crossing breaks the day into manageable sections. You are never asked to sit still for hours at a time, and the route gives you a mix of moving views and time in the water.

Preko offers an hour to wander

Preko is the most substantial stop on the route. You have about one hour for a visit, free time, walking, swimming, snorkeling, and a self-guided look around. That combination gives you room to choose your own pace.

You can use the hour for a simple walk, return to the water, or split the time between both. The stop is not presented as a formal guided tour, so do not expect every street or historic detail to be explained. Instead, you get a pleasant chance to experience an island settlement without being hurried from one point to the next.

This is where the private format earns its keep. A large group often has to move on because the schedule says so. Here, Franny has allowed the timing to remain loose, according to the information provided by past customers. That does not mean the boat can stay all day, but it does mean you are less likely to feel rushed through a swim or short walk.

One useful expectation to set: the tour gives you time in places, not a deep cultural program. If you want a detailed account of local customs, architecture, and island life, you may find the commentary too brief. If you mainly want sea air, a walk, and a refreshing pause, Preko fits the plan well.

Ošljak is the small-island highlight

Ošljak is the most unusual stop. With 29 inhabitants and an area of only 0.39 square kilometers, it is described as the smallest permanently inhabited island in the Adriatic. Those numbers explain why the visit feels different from a stop in a larger coastal town.

The itinerary gives you about an hour around Ošljak, including a photo stop, a visit, cruising, swimming, and snorkeling. You can use the time to look around the island or return to the water. It is a compact place, so the interest comes from its scale and setting rather than from a long list of sights.

Ošljak also gives the trip its strongest sense of place. You are not simply stopping at a generic swimming cove. You are visiting a tiny inhabited island with a distinctive story, then seeing it from the water as well as from land.

The nearby island of Galevac adds another historical detail. It is uninhabited and has a monastery dating from the fifteenth century. The boat docks near the island, giving you a chance to appreciate the setting, although the supplied details do not promise an extended monastery tour or interior visit.

That distinction is worth noting. You can enjoy the monastery as part of the view and the island’s history, but this is not designed as a specialist religious or architectural excursion. The focus remains on the balance between a little history and plenty of time outdoors.

The final bay is where flexibility matters

After Ošljak, the boat heads back toward Zadar, with about 35 minutes of cruising listed for the return. The skipper can also take you to a beautiful bay for one last swim, in agreement with your group.

This final choice is one of the best reasons to book privately. You might prefer a last swim before returning to the city, or you might be ready to stay dry and enjoy the ride. The decision depends on the group, the timing, and the conditions on the day.

The tour is described as a pleasant cruise, and that is the right way to think of the return. It is not dead time between attractions. You can use it to relax, finish a drink, watch the islands recede, and let the afternoon slow down.

The itinerary adds up to roughly four hours, with time allocated to cruising and stops. Because the route has some flexibility, individual stop lengths may not feel exact. That is a benefit if your group likes a natural pace, but less ideal if you want every minute planned in advance.

What the skipper adds to the day

Franny is the skipper named in the available customer comments, and his role appears to be central to the experience. He is praised for being friendly, professional, relaxed, and able to communicate well in English. He also allows the schedule to bend when the group is enjoying a stop.

That style suits this boat trip. You are not hiring a lecturer for four hours. You are choosing someone who can get you safely between the islands, explain the stops, and make the outing feel easy. The best accounts describe a skipper who is informative without being pushy.

Still, the commentary may not satisfy every history enthusiast. One German-speaking customer specifically wanted more explanation about the places visited. You should see the historical information as a useful layer on top of a swimming and cruising day, not as the main event.

The private-group format also lets you speak directly with the skipper about your priorities. If you want more swimming, say so. If your group prefers to walk at Preko or take photos around Ošljak, make that clear early. The tour is most successful when you treat it as a shared plan rather than waiting for a rigid program.

Is $64 per person good value?

At $64 per person, this is a reasonable price for a private four-hour boat outing, especially if your group fills the available space. The value comes from more than the ride itself: fuel is included, snorkeling masks and snorkels are available, and you have access to a cooler with ice.

A private boat can also save you from the compromises of a large group excursion. You are not tied to strangers’ swimming preferences, and you have a better chance of adjusting the day to suit children, older relatives, or friends who want different levels of activity.

The price is less compelling if you want a full meal, a long island visit, or detailed historical guiding. Those are not included in the stated package. You should also check what food and drinks you want to bring, since the information confirms the cooler but does not list a complete beverage menu.

For a half-day on the water, the cost is easiest to justify for four or more people sharing the private experience. Couples may still value it for the privacy, but should compare the total cost with other boat options in Zadar before booking.

Who will enjoy this boat tour most?

I would recommend this outing to families who want swimming without committing to a full day at sea. The short cruises, supplied snorkeling equipment, flexible timing, and friendly skipper create a manageable plan for children and adults.

It also fits couples and small groups of friends who care more about a private setting than a packed sightseeing schedule. You can talk, swim, walk, and enjoy the coast without following a large party from one stop to the next.

The tour is a good match for you if:

• You want a private group rather than a shared excursion.
• You enjoy swimming and snorkeling as much as sightseeing.
• You like traditional boats and a slower pace.
• You want to see several nearby islands in four hours.
• You prefer flexible timing to a strict schedule.
• You are happy with brief historical explanations.

It may not suit you if you want serious scuba facilities, a long guided history tour, or a full day exploring one island. The information confirms masks and snorkels, but it does not describe scuba equipment or a dedicated scuba program, so you should ask before booking if that activity is important to you.

The boat is listed as wheelchair accessible. Since the available details do not explain boarding arrangements or access at each island stop, you should confirm the practical details with Kokolomarine before arrival if anyone in your group uses a wheelchair.

Practical ways to prepare

Wear swimwear under your clothes and bring sun protection. You will have several chances to swim, and the route includes open-air cruising between stops.

Pack any food or drinks your group wants for the afternoon. The cooler with ice is provided, but the supplied information does not give a full list of onboard refreshments. Keeping your own water close at hand is sensible.

Bring a towel and a dry layer for the ride back. Even in warm weather, wet clothing and a moving boat can feel cool after swimming.

Allow room for the schedule to change slightly. The listed route includes Ugljan, Preko, Ošljak, and the area near Galevac, but the final bay stop is agreed with the group. This flexibility is a strength, not a problem, as long as you are not counting on a minute-by-minute plan.

The tour operates in English. If you want detailed explanations about island history, ask Franny questions during the cruise. One of the few criticisms is that some people wanted more information, so a little curiosity from you can help turn a short commentary into a more useful conversation.

My recommendation for this Zadar cruise

Book this tour if you want a relaxed private half-day that mixes island views with real time in the water. Ošljak gives the route a memorable point of difference, Galevac adds a historic touch, and Preko provides enough time to walk without turning the outing into a rushed checklist.

The strongest parts are the traditional wooden boat, flexible skipper, private setting, and included snorkeling gear. The main limitation is the light history content. You get a pleasant introduction to the islands, not a detailed guided study.

For families, couples, and friends who want a simple sea day near Zadar, $64 per person is fair value. Tell the skipper what your group wants, pack for swimming, and think of the tour as a calm coastal outing with a few well-chosen island stops.

FAQ

Where does the boat tour start?

The tour starts at the INA gas station, also listed as Brodska benzinska pumpa INA, on Obala kneza Branimira in Zadar.

How long does the experience last?

The private boat tour lasts four hours, including the cruises and island stops.

What is the price?

The price is $64 per person.

Is the tour private?

Yes. The experience is offered for a private group, so you share the boat with your own party.

Which islands does the route visit?

The route includes Ugljan, Preko, and Ošljak. The boat also docks near Galevac, an uninhabited island with a fifteenth-century monastery.

Is swimming included?

Yes. Swimming is included at stops on Ugljan, Preko, and Ošljak, with a possible final swim in another bay by agreement with your group.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Masks and snorkels for snorkeling are available onboard.

Are fuel and refreshments included?

Fuel is included. A cooler with ice for food and drinks is provided on the boat. The supplied details do not specify a complete drink menu.

What language does the guide speak?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also allows you to reserve now and pay later.