Come on a Ugljan island boat trip with Zadar Archipelago
Dec 08, 2025A boat trip through the Zadar archipelago is about understanding how a chain of islands, bays and coastal settlements forms one landscape that seems to be out of this world. Ugljan is an important part of that story, yet it is only one stop on a larger route that reveals far more than can be experienced in one place.
Its proximity to Zadar makes it a natural starting point, but our tours go beyond Ugljan, connecting visitors to hidden bays, uninhabited islets, and viewpoints that show how diverse this part of Croatia truly is.
Zadar Archipelago operates several fixed itinerary tours that include Ugljan as one of their key stops. These routes are designed for travellers who want more than a simple transfer or short beach visit.
Each stop is selected to build a broader narrative of the Zadar archipelago, offering insight into geology, history, marine life, and contemporary island living. For families, groups of friends, or couples, a boat trip that moves between multiple locations provides a richer, more complete experience of the region.
How a boat trip connects Ugljan with the wider Zadar archipelago
From the moment the boat leaves Zadar, the setting begins to shift. Urban stone streets and harbor activity give way to open water, low-lying islands, and a coastline shaped by centuries of interaction between people and the sea. Ugljan lies directly across from the city, but it is surrounded by smaller islands and reefs that form an intricate network within the Zadar archipelago.
During the boat trip, visitors see how Ugljan works as both a physical and cultural bridge between the mainland and the outer islands. Its long coastline is not uniform. Instead, it is marked by hidden bays, rocky outcrops, and quiet beaches that are often invisible from the ferry route.
These areas are only properly revealed from the water, making a guided boat trip essential for seeing the island in its true context.
Beyond its natural features, this island is home to the village of Preko, a traditional settlement facing Zadar. From the sea, Preko appears as a carefully layered composition of waterfront houses, small docks, and church bell towers.
What makes a boat trip with Zadar archipelago different
Our tours are not built around just one island. Instead, they are constructed as a sequence of complementary locations that, together, explain the character of the Zadar archipelago. Ugljan is included because of its accessibility and cultural importance, but each boat trip continues on to other areas that expand the perspective.
One of the standout itineraries, the Shipwreck, Beach, & Island Tour, leads participants to an underwater site near Ugljan where a historical shipwreck lies in relatively shallow water. This location is approached carefully, respecting both safety and the environment.
The presence of the wreck gives visitors a tangible link to the maritime past of this region, which has for centuries depended on seafaring routes.
Another itinerary, the Zadar 3-Islands Tour, combines snorkeling, beach time, and sightseeing over approximately four and a half hours. On this boat trip, Ugljan appears as one chapter in a much longer story.
Visitors are able to compare different coastlines, seabed formations, and vegetation patterns as the boat moves between several islands. This contrast is one of the tour’s strongest elements, as it reveals how varied the Zadar archipelago is within a relatively small geographical area.
Why Ugljan remains essential on boat trip
Although it is just one stop, Ugljan plays a central role in understanding the region. Its mix of natural scenery and human settlement offers a clear introduction to island life in Croatia.
The hidden bays show how the coastline provides shelter and resources, while Preko illustrates how communities developed in close contact with the mainland city of Zadar. St. Michael’s Fort adds a historical dimension that helps explain the strategic importance of this maratime region over time.
By visiting this island as part of a larger trip, travelers are able to see how individual islands are connected through trade, defense, and daily movement. The short distances between them highlight an ongoing relationship that is best understood from the sea, the original route that linked them all together.
Experience your next boat trip across the Zadar archipelago
Choosing a tour with Zaadar Archipelago is about access, structure, and insight. Instead of focusing on a single island, each boat trip is a curated journey through multiple locations that reveal the true scale and diversity of the Zadar archipelago, with Ugljan as a key but not exclusive highlight.
If you want to discover hidden bays, explore historic sites, walk through the village of Preko, and continue on to other islands that define this region, this is your opportunity. Book your boat trip with us today and experience Ugljan as it was meant to be seen, as part of a wider and unforgettable island story.
