Sailing Croatia: Zadar, Šibenik & Krka Waterfalls (Self-Launched Island Hopping)
5 days · Zadar, Šibenik, Krka National Park & the Zadar Archipelago
Rhythm Travel Experience charges £850
No-markup version: ~£310 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Rhythm Travel Experience's five-day wooden-boat cruise from Zadar through the Zadar archipelago to Šibenik, Krka National Park and back via Ugljan Island. Instead of a crewed charter, you'll link the same stops with Croatia's public ferries, catamarans and buses, spend a night or two in island guesthouses and Šibenik's old town, and book a local boat excursion or the national park's own shuttle into Krka to see Skradinski Buk and walk the waterfall boardwalks. Same bays, same UNESCO towns, same waterfalls — for roughly a third of the tour price. All costs are approximate and based on current budget-traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Zadar Old Town → Vrgada Island
Zadar / Vrgada
Spend the morning exploring Zadar's old town peninsula on foot: the Roman forum, the Sea Organ and Greeting to the Sun installations on the waterfront. Grab a burek and coffee for under £4. Hop on a water taxi or the local ferry from the Liburnska Obala area out to the tiny car-free island of Vrgada (~45-60 min, roughly £6-9 one way) — the mainland harbour is the resort strip, but walk 15 minutes towards the old village to find the low-key island feel. On arrival, swim off the sandy cove and pick up a cold beer and local cheese and wine for a sunset picnic on the rocks, mirroring the onboard cheese-and-wine tasting. Dinner at a family konoba — fresh grilled fish and blitva is £12-15.
🚌Walk to Liburnska Obala in Zadar, then local boat/water taxi to Vrgada (~£8)
🛏Island guesthouse or private room on Vrgada (£18-25 pp)
- →Zadar Sea Organ & Greeting to the Sun
- →Boat transfer to Vrgada
- →Swim in the cove at Vrgada
- →Sunset cheese & wine picnic with local produce
Vrgada → Šibenik via St Nicholas Fortress
Vrgada / Šibenik
Take the morning boat back to the mainland and continue south — either a direct bus or a combination of boat plus bus down the coast to Šibenik (roughly £10-13, 1.5-2.5 hours depending on routing). Drop bags at a guesthouse in the old town, then head to the water to see St Nicholas Fortress, the UNESCO-listed Venetian sea fortress at the mouth of the St Anthony Channel. The cheapest DIY option is a shared excursion boat or kayak tour from Šibenik harbour (~£20-25); alternatively catch the seasonal ferry to the Jadrija area and view it from the shore. Spend late afternoon wandering Šibenik's steep alleys, St James' Cathedral and the four-jet fountain, and book a local walking tour the following morning if you want the guided context (~£15).
🚌Boat back to mainland + local bus to Šibenik (~£12)
🛏Old town guesthouse or hostel private room in Šibenik (£22-30 pp)
- →St Anthony Channel swim stop
- →St Nicholas Fortress (shared boat or kayak tour)
- →Šibenik old town: St James' Cathedral & four-jet fountain
Šibenik → Krka National Park (Skradinski Buk) → Vodice
Krka National Park / Skradin / Vodice
This is the highlight day. Book a park entry ticket in advance (roughly £30-36 in high season, cheaper off-peak) and catch the early bus from Šibenik to Skradin, then the free park boat up the Krka river to Skradinski Buk — the boat ride itself replicates the cruise up the river. Walk the looped wooden boardwalks around the 17-step waterfall cascade, swim in the designated low pool (swimming access varies by season — check on arrival), and allow 3-4 hours in total. In the afternoon, exit toward Vodice, a lively small coastal town 15 minutes north of Šibenik, for a swim, an evening beach bar and waterfront seafood dinner.
🚌Local bus Šibenik–Skradin (~£3), park boat to Skradinski Buk (included in entry), bus to Vodice (~£3)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Vodice (£22-30 pp)
- →Krka National Park entry & boardwalks at Skradinski Buk
- →Free park shuttle boat up the Krka river
- →Swim at the base of the falls
- →Vodice waterfront evening
Vodice → Zadar / Ugljan Island (Tkon)
Vodice / Zadar / Tkon, Ugljan
Bus back north to Zadar (~£9-11, about 1.5 hours). From the Zadar ferry terminal, take the regular car ferry to Tkon on Ugljan Island (about 25 minutes, £3-4 each way, frequent sailings). Tkon is tiny — a handful of konobas, a pebble beach and the 15th-century Sts Cosmas and Damian monastery. Rent a bike for the afternoon (~£10/day) and ride along the island's quiet lanes to a swimming cove, replicating the cruise's casual swim stops. Dinner back in Tkon, then a late ferry to Zadar if you prefer to sleep in the city.
🚌Bus Vodice–Zadar (£10) + return ferry Zadar–Tkon (£7)
🛏Island guesthouse or apartment in Tkon or Zadar old town (£22-30 pp)
- →Ferry to Ugljan Island
- →Bike rental & swim stop around Tkon
- →Sts Cosmas and Damian Monastery
- →Island konoba dinner
Zadar Old Town → departure
Zadar
Wake up on the island or in Zadar and take the morning ferry back to the mainland. Spend a final few hours in Zadar: climb the Cathedral bell tower for the view, browse the morning market in the old town, and have one last coffee on the riva. If you have a late flight, catch a local bus to Nin or the Zadar beaches for a final swim. Note Rhythm Travel's optional three-night Kornati extension isn't easily DIY'd as an add-on — if you want Kornati National Park, pre-book a full-day boat excursion from Zadar (roughly £45-60) or take the ferry to Sali on Dugi Otok for a night instead.
🚌Ferry Tkon–Zadar (£3), local bus/walk within Zadar
- →Zadar Cathedral bell tower
- →Old town market & riva coffee
- →Optional Kornati day boat or Dugi Otok ferry extension
Self-launched vs. Rhythm Travel Experience
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Rhythm Travel Experience | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£310 | £850 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £540 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Rhythm Travel Experience-style trips? Check them out here.~£310
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Sailing Croatia: Zadar, Šibenik & Krka Waterfalls (Self-Launched Island Hopping) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £310 per person for 5 days in Zadar, Šibenik, Krka National Park & the Zadar Archipelago. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Rhythm Travel Experience?+
Yes — Rhythm Travel Experience charges around £850 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £310 — a saving of roughly £540 (64%) per person.
How long is the Zadar, Šibenik, Krka National Park & the Zadar Archipelago trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Zadar, Šibenik, Krka National Park & the Zadar Archipelago.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, beaches, culture trip through Zadar, Šibenik, Krka National Park & the Zadar Archipelago, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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