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Dugi Otok: Croatia’s Long Island and Sakarun Beach Dugi Otok is one of Croatia’s best-kept secrets – a place of true peace and tranquility. It is a known to be an island where you can really let go, embrace the nature and experience relaxation for your body and soul. Its name translates to ‘Long Island.’ It is not, however, the longest island in Croatia. It is 45 km long and is the seventh largest island in Croatia. Dugi Otok is a part of the Zadar archipelago on the Dalmatian coast. There are many, twelve to be exact, small villages on the islands, and each with their own charms and peaceful ambiance. Dugi Otok has many fun attractions that the whole family will enjoy. When you visit Dugi Otok, do stay a while. There are many accommodation options, so find a place that suits your needs and spend a few days (at least) exploring all the things that the island has to offer. EDITORS NOTE: This is one place that holds a special place in my heart here in Croatia. Why? Well, it’s where I first saw those donkeys, who inspired the name of this blog on my very first trip to Croatia 14 years ago. Mrs. Chasing the Donkey with her beloved donkeys back in 2010 Things to do on Dugi Otok Telačćica National Park The Telašćica Bay is one of the safest and most beautiful natural bays on the Adriatic. Within the Bay, there are six islands and reefs, 25 bays and 69 km of coastline. The bay is secluded from winds; hence it is very attractive for many sailors and those involved in the nautical tourism. Those who love to swim will also enjoy the stillness and clarity of the sea. You and your family will be able to pick a private spot under the many pine trees along the coast, roll out the blankets and picnic basket and just have a perfect day of lounging, sunbathing and swimming. The surrounding area has many beautiful meadows surrounded by many olive groves and rich Mediterranean vegetation with over 300 plant species. If you plan on visiting Telašćica just for the day, you might want to hop on an excursion boat in Zadar or surrounding villages that offer daily tours to the Bay; most offer lunch on the boat as well. There are also many tour buses on the island that offer day trips to the Bay. A professional tour guide will guide you the entire trip and show you the most exciting attractions in the area. Participants have plenty of free time for swimming and to explore the area on their own. If you get hungry or thirsty, there are several cafes and restaurants in the area, with a variety of foods, drinks, and ice cream. I would highly recommend the fresh grilled fish as it is caught in the early morning hours. Kornati National Park Kornati National Park | Croatia Travel Blog Kornati National Park has over 150 islands, islets, and reefs. So you probably will not be able to visit each island, but here are some islands that are very close to Dugi Otok, and thus easily accessible for day trips, such as, the beautiful Katina island, Taljurić, Suha Punta, Vela proversa, Statival, etc. Salt Lake “Mir” Within The Telašćica National Park Photo Credit Croatia Tourist Board Ivo Pervan This natural beauty (900 meters long, 300 meters wide and a maximum depth of 6 meters) is located in the southwestern part of the NP Telašćica. This lake was created after the last Ice Age when the sea level rose above 120 meters, and the sea met the karst depression; the sea penetrated through the many underground cracks. The lake is very salty because the underground channels are connected to the sea. You can swim and relax in the lake, as it is hot in the summertime. However, it does not look very pleasant as it looks very gloomy and muddy because it is covered with clay in the deeper ends and curative mud on the southeast. You should also be very careful going into the lake, as the shore is very rocky. Steep cliffs “Stine” with stunning views of the nearby Kornati islands and the Zadar archipelago is something not to be missed when visiting Telašćica. They are vertical cliffs and are located on the open side of the Telašćica Bay. The cliffs spread from Mrzlovica to the slopes of Veli Vrh, reaching 161 meters in length at Grpašćak. It is a perfect area to explore on foot, with many hiking and trekking trails. Scuba Diving Dugi Otok has a unique underwater world, with rich vegetation. So if you want to get more familiar with this world, you can contact one of five diving schools on the island and get involved in an adventure of a lifetime. Beautiful Bays and White Sandy Beaches Photo Credit Aleksandar Gospić via Dugi Otok Tourist Board Certainly one of the most beautiful things to see on the island is its stunning secluded bays and white sandy beaches, such as Saharun (or often referred to as Sakarun) and Veli Žal. Sakarun Beach Sakarun is a breathtaking and unusual beach in Croatia, the water is so clean and clear, with white sand and shallow for many kilometers in the bay – perfect for small children to play. It is a huge bay, secluded from the sea and winds, so many sailors use it to anchor their boats, but they do not take away from the swimming and playing area for the daily visitors in the beach area. Photo Credit Aleksandar Gospić via Dugi Otok Tourist Board Veli Žal Veli Žal is definitely on my list of favorite beaches in Croatia; it is also located on the western side of the island, closest to the village of Dragove, and very close to Sakarun. It is not as secluded as Sakarun, and the beach itself is pebble, but its waters offer smooth white sand, it is immaculate and clear, overlooking the island of Mežanj and the open sea. While swimming at this beach, I had a feeling like I was swimming in Hawaii. Strašna Peć Cave Dugi Otok: Strasna Pec. Photo Credit: Tomislav Medak Translating to the frightful furnace, located near the village of Savar, is another fun and interesting trip on the island. The cave is 10 meters wide and 7 meters tall. A legend says that a race of Adriatic fairies, similar to vampires, decided to divide the island into two parts at its narrowest point, for reasons that are still unknown. They began to dig a hole to divide the island in half but stopped when dawn came and retreated to the bottom as they suffer when they are exposed to sunlight. Legend has it that they are still there and afraid to leave their hideout. When you visit the cave you will feel as if you have come to another planet, many bats live here, in fact, it is the largest bat colony in this part of Europe. It is unusual, quiet and peaceful and has a somewhat fascinated beauty that even interested the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph, who visited the cave in 1904. PIN THIS! Village Festivities In the summer time every city, town, and village in Croatia has its own “Fešta” or celebration, celebrating the old traditions that are unique to only that town. This goes for every village on Dugi Otok. Locals celebrate a specific type of food and a way of life of their ancestors through live music while offering their visitor’s local delicacies to taste their culinary traditions. These festivities are a lot of fun and the locals really go all out to provide good fun and delicious local foods. One example of these festivities on Dugi Otok is the Saljske užance in the village of Sali. A festivity that has been held every year in the first weekend of August for over 50 years; the celebration lasts for three nights and every night has its own theme. Friday night, for example, is “Fisherman’s night”, while Sunday night, up until recently, has been dedicated to the traditional donkey race. Traditionally the donkey represented a way of life on the island – almost every household had a donkey, and the donkey was used for hard labor and a means of transportation for the local villagers, most often transporting water, olives, etc. However, ever since the car and tractor made its way to the island, and because many islanders no longer live off of their land the use of the donkeys has declined, and this lovely creature has become scarce on Dugi Otok. These festivities are bundles of fun for the entire family and go on to early morning hours. Lighthouse Near Veli Rat Photo Credit Aleksandar Gospić via Dugi Otok Tourist Board This lighthouse is just not to be missed. I am a huge fan and have been promoting it a lot as a destination-wedding venue. The views and the experience at this lighthouse and its grounds are simply perfect. It is located on the northwestern tip of Dugi Otok, near the village of Veli Rat. The lighthouse was built in 1849, and it is 42 meters high (the highest on the Adriatic). In the courtyard of the lighthouse is a chapel of St. Nicholas. For all you lovebirds out there, it is a perfect location for organizing a destination wedding. The lighthouse also offers accommodation, so you could easily organize your wedding and spend your honeymoon at this location. Photo Credit: Kresimir Birkic Sakarun beach is minutes away, which is becoming a very popular destination as of lately. However, still private enough that you will not find lots of crowds. In front of the lighthouse, you will find a large courtyard and a large swing underneath a big, very old tree – perfect for some playful fun. Activities on Dugi Otok You will never be bored on the island as there are many different activities for you to do, including various excursions on the island and boat excursions to the nearby islands, fishing, hiking, mountaineering and trekking, kayaking, swimming, biking, and walking. Actually, the best way to explore the island and its landscape are by walking and biking. There are not a lot of cars on the island, so the roads are not that busy – and therefore ideal for getting to know the island on a bike. The landscape is rugged and offers stunning views of the local waters of the Adriatic and the nearby islands. It is not too steep; the highest point above sea level is only 338 meters high, ideal for bikers, trekkers, and walkers. Camping in Dugi Otok If camping is something that you love, there are two campsites on Dugi Otok – Camp Kargita, which is an auto camp located near the lighthouse at Punta Bianca and Camp Mandarino near the village of Verunič/Soline. Camp Mandarino even has a restaurant with a variety of foods, drinks, and Mediterranean specialties. Sailing If you plan on visiting Dugi Otok by sailboat, it is important to consider mooring options on the island. Mooring is available in Sali, Brbinj, Božava, Veli Rat, Telašćica, Čuna, Sakarun, and Solišćica. LOCAL TIP: Solišćica is one of the safest anchorages on the island and offers the most protection from the wind and the open sea. Sali, Brbinj, and Božava have a reception for ships, where you can have a supply of water and electricity. Furthermore, it is useful to know that the mooring facility in Sali also offers a toilet facility in the berthing price. Main Photo Credit: Zadar. hr SOURCE:http://www.chasingthedonkey.com/dugi-otok-sakarun-beach-croatia/
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Otok Dugi otok Dugi Otok, sa 5 km širine i 50 km dužine, je najveći otok u zadarskom arhipelagu. Za razliku od većine hrvatskih otoka koji su samo nekoliko kilometara jedni od drugih, Dugi Otok nije uključen u uobičajenim turističkim rutama. Kao takav privlači ljude u potrazi za mirnim odredištem koje nudi netaknute plaže. Budući da Dugi Otok ima centralni položaj u Jadranu, ima klimu kakvu ne možete pronaći nigdje u Dalmaciji. Neki od sadržaja na Dugom otoku uključuju svjetionik Veli Rat, bijeli pijesak plaže Saharun, i uvale Telašćica, među ostalima. Nacionalni park Kornati ima 147 malih otoka sa slikovitim obalama i miran ugođaj, dok Park prirode Telašćica iznova oduševljava goste sa 2 kilometra dugim područjem ispunjenim mlakom vodom visoke koncentracije soli. Ostale turističke atrakcije na Dugom Otoku su Sali, Zaglav, Žman, Luka, Brbinj, Savar, Dragove, Božava, Soline, Veli Rat i Verunić.