Private speedboat tour Zadar Islands: No crowds, your schedule

Three hidden bays, turquoise water, and nobody else on the beach

A private speedboat tour of the Zadar archipelago where you and your group set the itinerary with help from a skipper who knows the lesser-known islands. The boat takes you through the channel between Ugljan and Pašman toward Dugi otok, then to a secret sandy bay surrounded by wild olive groves, next to the traditional village of Mali Iž on island Iž where you can swim and snorkel, and finally to a shallow white-sand bay on the uninhabited side of Ugljan. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours and you decide when to move on.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private speedboat tour of Zadar islands

• Scenic ride through Zadar channel
• Break at Dugi otok for drinks
• Visit secret sandy bay near Dugi otok
• Head to island of Iž
• Snorkel and swim in secluded bay on Iž
• Visit traditional village Mali Iž
• Optional lunch at local restaurant
• Relax at sandy bay on uninhabited Ugljan
• Unwind in Olive Gardens or pine trees
• Return to Zadar

The experience

You arrive at the boat and head out through the Zadar channel with your skipper, passing islands of Rava, Ugljan, Žut and Sit before reaching Dugi otok for a first break: coffee, ice cream or a cold drink while you adjust to the island pace. The real stop comes next: a small unnamed sandy bay in front of Dugi otok, surrounded by nothing but wild nature and olive trees. This is the kind of place other tours don't know about. You can camp under the trees or stay on the boat under the canopy, swimming in turquoise water with no crowds and no schedule pressing you forward.

From there the boat heads to Iž island and a perfectly secluded bay where you'll snorkel and swim while music plays from the boat's sound system. Mali Iž, a traditional Croatian island village, sits nearby. If you want lunch, your skipper can take you to a very local restaurant there. The final stop is a shallow white-sand bay on Ugljan's uninhabited side: shallow enough for wading, pristine enough to feel like the last beach on earth. Sit under the pine trees or in the olive gardens, soak in the Adriatic, and let the day finish on its own terms before heading back to Zadar.

What makes this different from a standard island tour is the flexibility built in. You're not following a fixed route or a clock. Your skipper makes suggestions, but you decide which islands matter, how long to stay at each one, whether to swim or just float. The boat carries diving masks and life jackets. Water is provided. If you want to bring your own food and drinks, that works. If you'd rather eat at a restaurant on one of the islands, your skipper knows where to go. The tour runs a minimum of 7 hours, but can stretch longer if you're enjoying yourself.

What’s included

• Diving masks and life jackets.
• bottled water.
• skipper fee and boat rental for the full day.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 15 Apr 2027

Book up to4h before

AgesUp to age 77

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 182

Prices and times updated 16 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Speed Boat Zadar

Is this one for you?Your skipper speaks English and guides the day with suggestions rather than a script, so you can follow the pace and make decisions as you go. This works best if you want to shape your own island day instead of following a set route. You're in control of where the boat stops and how long you stay.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the secret bay everyone talks about on this tour?

The unnamed sandy bay in front of Dugi otok is the one: a small, beautiful cove surrounded by wild olive groves with turquoise water and no other tourists. Your skipper keeps its exact location quiet so it stays that way.

Can we swim and snorkel on this tour?

Yes. You'll snorkel and swim in the secluded bay near Iž island, and you can swim at the final white-sand bay on Ugljan's uninhabited side. Diving masks and life jackets are provided on the boat.

Do we have to eat lunch at a restaurant, or can we bring our own food?

You can bring your own food and drinks and eat on the boat or on the beach. If you'd rather eat ashore, your skipper can take you to a local restaurant in Mali Iž on Iž island.

How does the schedule work if we want to stay longer at one island?

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours minimum, but your skipper adjusts based on what you want to do. If you're enjoying a bay and want to stay longer, you tell them. The whole day is built around your pace, not a fixed itinerary.

What islands will we see on the way?

The boat passes through the Zadar channel and between Ugljan and Pašman, then heads toward Dugi otok. On the way you'll see islands of Rava, Ugljan, Žut and Sit before reaching the secret bay, then Iž island and finally the bay on Ugljan's uninhabited side.