Chart Your Course to Pašman: The Beating Green Heart of Zadar's Islands

Navigating the Ždrelac Passage

The Ždrelac Pass, which separates the island of Ugljan and Pašman at 14 meters, is important to boaters, but presents some challenges, as the bridge that connects these two islands has already caused minor accidents involving vessels whose masts are higher than 16.5 m.

During the day, Ždrelac is full of tourist boats, fishermen and ferries, but when night falls, peace and quiet reign, and Ždrelac becomes a refuge for sailors, offering them protection from winds and waves.

About twenty buoys placed on both sides of the passage offer a carefree option for good night’s sleep, just keep in mind that the depth in Ždrelac comes down to 5 meters, and underwater currents can reach speeds of up to four knots, so be certain your boat can handle the currents and not stray from your course.

This side of Pašman is mostly inhabited, while Ugljan offers some scenery and the picturesque church of Our Lady of Snow, whose holiday on August 5th is a local must-see, culminating with a boat procession that sails out of Kukljica, an unforgettable experience for all visitors.

In the southeast of Ugljan, the fishing tradition flourishes in Kali, while the aforementioned Kukljica offers more scenic views and calm beaches. Its harbor offers shelter to smaller vessels, and is ideal for boaters looking for their quiet corner of Dalmatian paradise.

Serene anchorages along Pašman's coast

After leaving the Ždrelac passage behind, sail southeast, toward Pašman. After five miles of navigation along the uninhabited and inhospitable shore of this island, you’ll find three coves ideal for a quiet day at anchor and swimming. They are pretty shallow, which makes them a good choice for anchoring only in calmer weather.

Čelinja Bay will provide solid protection from tramuntana and mistral, the neighboring Vržišće bay from tramuntana, and the southernmost and deepest Kobiljak from all winds except mistral. All these coves with water depth under 10 meters are only lightly populated, and peaceful even in high season.

Pašman's southwestern paradise: A haven for boaters

The southwestern shore of island of Pašman, with four deeply indented bays, is the most popular destination for boaters in this area.

The first among them, St. Ante’s bay, is easy to recognize by its church, and since the houses only occupy its eastern part, there’s always a quiet corner for boats there. It isn’t protected from south-westerly winds, buoys are placed in the middle of the bay, and its shores are good for anchoring, just make sure you tie your stern lines to the shore.

Soline bay: The ultimate shelter

The neighboring bay of Soline boasts impressive depth – into the rocks behind it, that is, and is the best shelter on Pašman. It is protected from all winds, and depending on the direction of the wind, you can drop your anchor in its northwestern or southeastern part.

Dozens of buoys are placed in both arms, and larger boats usually anchor in the middle of the bay. The southwestern part is much more spacious and populated, but both parts offer good restaurants.

The next two bays, separated by a peninsula green with olive groves, are Žinčena and Lanđin. They are protected from all winds except the southerly.

Žinčena Bay is the least visited bay of this part of the island and only lightly populated in its northern part. Water depth under 10 meters makes it ideal for anchoring, and its muddy and sandy bottom holds the anchor well.

Lanđin bay: A boater's paradise with waterfront dining

The neighboring bay of Lanđin is much more populated, and both of its branches end in a beautiful cove. There are two good restaurants; the family-style tavern Sidro and the slightly larger restaurant Gajeta. Buoys await you in the middle of the bay, and you can safely anchor there.

Zaklopica bay: A final refuge before departure

Before returning to one of the mainland ports, pay a visit to the small bay of Zaklopica in the southeast of the island. This bay is an excellent shelter from all winds except for gales, there are several buoys, and it’s popular among sailors because of the restaurant Owsik's bay.

The northern shores of the inner side of Pašman do not offer good shelter, so we recommend leaving for another time, when you visit this charming island itself, and not just its shores.