Visit Croatia: An excursion to Dugi Otok

During our Eurocamp holiday at Zaton Holiday Resort, we were keen to take part in one of the organised excursions to Dugi Otok. For those who haven’t heard of the island, Dugi Otok is the largest of the islands situated here in Dalmatia and the name translates to “Long Island” which, at 45km long, is exactly the best way to describe it. With a population of 1500 people and known for its vineyards and orchards, we were told it was a great choice for a family excursion and we couldn’t wait to find out more.

Leaving directly from the Parc, with tickets pre-booked in advance, we were instructed to meet at the jetty at 8am before boarding the boat ready to set sail. We made the mistake of arriving at just before 8am by which time the boat was almost full and we had to sit indoors with a more limited view. For those who would prefer the popular choice of the middle deck, I would advise getting there early.

Inside we were seated at a table, although free to move around the boat as we pleased, and all drinks were included for the duration of the cruise within the ticket price. This included water, juice, beer and wine but other drink options were available to purchase should you wish.

As we set sail it soon became clear why the cruise was such a popular choice with visitors to Zaton, there is no better way to appreciate just how stunning the coast lines are in Croatia than by water. The seas are crystal clear and even at some of the deepest points we could see right the way down to the sea bed it was that clear!

The boat cruises just over two hours to Dugi Otok and during that time we sat and enjoyed the views, strolled up to the top deck to look out at the sea, and enjoyed the sandwiches that were brought out for all passengers to enjoy. Unfortunately there wasn’t a gluten free option but I had already guessed this would be the case and brought snacks of my own for when I got hungry.

The most amazing part of the cruise was spotting dolphins out in the sea, something we have never seen before and it was a real highlight for us, not just on the cruise but of our Summer as a whole. The children were completely amazed to see them jumping in the water, especially the baby dolphins out with their Mummy, and it made me quite emotional to share such a special moment with my own children stood beside me.

Another highlight for the children was steering the boat having been welcomed into the cabin by the Captain. Again this was a real first for all three of them and their little faces were utterly adorable as they took their turn to steer it, taking it very seriously as they did!

As we headed closer to Dugi Otok the tour guide told us more about the islands we sailed past before slowing down the boat to look at the Submarine tunnel in the cliff face. There are many military tunnels in these islands, dug during World War 2 when the islands were a major military base for the Yugoslav armies and it was really interesting to see one as we sailed by.

We arrived on Dugi Otok with four hours to explore as we wished, and our first stop was Veli Rat Lighthouse which is still active to this day and is a well known landmark in Dalmatia. The lighthouse is lived in by the lighthouse keeper and his family who now rent out rooms within the lighthouse as quirky holiday accommodation on the island. I would love to stay there one day!

Although the island is inhabited, other than the lightkeepers wife selling produce at the lighthouse, we didn’t see anyone else on the island apart from the other members of our tour. It feels incredibly remote and peaceful with the most stunning coastline which everyone was desperate to enjoy.

If we thought the sea was clear at Zadar then the sea at Dugi Otok was even more so and it wasn’t long before everyone had flocked into the sea to cool down, swim or snorkle amongst the reefs. Whilst Gaz and Lewis headed out to explore further to sea, the children put on their goggles and were over the moon to discover fish swimming around closer to shore.

Although the beach was far more rugged than that at Zadar, it was exciting to see more of Croatia, visit somewhere new and enjoy the whole experience of a cruise with the children. They were more than happy playing in the sea, building towers with the rocks, and just enjoying the sunshine which, although hot, had a really lovely sea breeze to cool us all down.

For those who prefer to spend the four hours exploring as much of the island as possible there are trails right throughout the pine forest and, for those who have visited via the car ferry and have their own transportation, I am told that Sakarun beach is one of the most idyllic beaches in the whole of Croatia.

After a lovely few hours snorkelling and enjoying our little island escape it was time to get back on the boat and sail two hours back to Zaton Holiday Resort. We were treated to a lovely meal of mackerel of chicken, served with a traditional Croatian dish of potatoes and cabbage which was actually delicious. It was just what we needed after a long day in the sun and, as always, we followed it up with a cold gelato as we sailed home.

If you’re visiting Zaton Holiday Resort we would definitely recommend taking part in one of the excursions to see the beautiful islands of the Dalmatian coast. If nothing else, seeing dolphins in the wild and captaining a boat will be memories we treasure for many years to come.