Kayaking Tours in Zadar: 11 Days Worth the Detour

1.Zrmanja River: Half-Day Guided Kayaking Tour Near Zadar

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,817 reviews · 5 - 7 hours · from $64Our pick

Paddle the Zrmanja River from Kaštel Žegarski through a rocky canyon, small waterfalls, and gentle rapids. Guides such as Andrea, Julio, Adam, and Marin help beginners, families, and mixed-ability groups. Expect swimming stops, walking around larger falls, changing facilities, and an optional transfer from Zadar or nearby resorts.

“Very good value for money. Lovely stop offs. Luca was our skipper and was very helpful and informative. Really good experience would recommend”

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2.From Metajna/Novalja: Pag Bay Guided Sea Kayaking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 300 reviews · from $61Best value

Join an English-speaking guide at Ručica Beach for a roughly 13-kilometer paddle across Pag Bay. You’ll stop at Sušac, paddle through part of Gače Cave, refill water at Malin Beach, and swim at Beriknica. Guides such as Tibor, Marko, Marine, and Ivan have led recent trips, with stable kayaks supplied.

“It was super fun, Marko and his friend were excellent and friendlt guides. The views were so beautiful on the trip, I highly recommend!”

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3.From Zadar: Full-Day kayak adventure in Dugi Otok

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 236 reviews · from $131

Spend 11 hours exploring Dugi Otok with a small group of up to 12. Guides such as Ivan, Zoki, Zoran, Sven, and Filip lead beginner-friendly kayaking past caves and cliffs, with time for cliff jumping, shipwreck snorkeling, lunch, and picigin at Sakarun Beach. You must arrange your own ferry ticket from Zadar.

“I went on this tour with my mum (50) and brother (23). It was amazing. The guide sent us instruction regarding how to find him on the day. Following these easy instructions we took a large ferry over to the island (which was lovely and very comfortable). The guide met us as soon as we walked off the ferry and drove us 5 mins to the Kayak spot. Our group was small and intimate consisting of 6 of us in total. After a safety talk we got into our kayak (two people per kayak) and away into the sea, keeping relatively close to the rocky shore line. The guide gave…”

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4.Zadar: Zrmanja River Kayaking, with optional transfer from Zadar

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 166 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $66

Spend about four hours paddling roughly 10 kilometers through the Zrmanja and Krupa river area. Guides such as Adam, Sarah, Fabian, Becky, and Santos provide instruction and safety help, while you tackle small rapids, swim in clear water, and choose a fun waterfall drop.

“We enjoyed a cracking day on the river, the thunderstorm was wild but that didn’t stop us enjoying ourselves - especially when the sun appeared. 10km is a bit more intense than we thought but Becky and Santos looked after us and kept us motivated and safe. Thanks”

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5.Obrovac: Rafting or Kayaking on the Zrmanja River

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 144 reviews · 6 hours · from $64

Meet your guide at Mićanovi dvori for a six-hour Zrmanja River outing through the spectacular Zrmanja and Krupa canyon. You’ll learn the basics, then cover 14.5 kilometers by two-person kayak in summer or shared raft when water levels rise. Two skippers guide a group of about 30 people.

“Esperienza molto bella Guida preparata, gentile ma un po' frettolosa Durata di 4 ore diversamente da quanto indicato”

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6.From Zadar: Dugi Otok Half-Day Kayak Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 135 reviews · 8 hours · from $100

Take the ferry from Zadar to Dugi Otok, then spend the day kayaking around Veli Žal, quiet bays, caves, and nearby islands. An ACA-certified guide such as Filip, Ivan, or Zoki leads the small group, with time for swimming, snorkeling, and optional cliff jumping. Ferry tickets and food are extra.

“everything went smoothly. Mihael and his awesome dog Oscar received us and we spent the best time. The caves and the whole experience throughout was great!! We also had the time to do cliff jumping. Would do again definitely.”

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7.Canoe safari / rafting on river Zrmanja

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 81 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $78Top rated

You’ll paddle through the Zrmanja River Canyon near Velebit, beginning at 10:00 in Kaštel Žegarski and finishing at Bilišane. The roughly four-hour river route includes equipment rental, English-language guiding, soft drinks, coffee, and tea. Expect moderate physical effort, beautiful karst scenery, and a possible waterfall descent.

“This trip is great if you are young, drink a lot. It is a party boat. Not a scenic cruise. The crew was fabulous, the lunch they served was way beyond expectations.”

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8.From Zadar: Full Day Dugi Otok Guided Paddle Board Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 17 reviews · from $112

Take the ferry from Zadar to Dugi Otok, then paddle hidden bays, small islets, and old military submarine tunnels with guide Roko or another certified guide. The day includes SUP equipment, a dry bag, lighthouse entry, Sakarun Beach, balote, wine or juice, and van transport back to the starting point. Ferry tickets and food cost extra.

“We had an amazing day as a family exploring caves and islands on paddle boards with our wonderful guide. He got us to all the spots and even gave us bit of history of the island along the way. We had a great lunch and yummy ice cream before heading back to Zadar. Highly recommend”

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9.Canoe safari adventures at Zrmanja river day tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $84

Meet at 9:30 am for a five-hour guided canoe or kayak trip on the Zrmanja River from Kaštel Žegarski. You get equipment, a waterproof phone case, bottled water, river access, and time to swim. A Zadar transfer costs an extra €35 per person.

“Une superbe balade bien encadrée avec du bon matériel dans un beau paysage. Petits rapides sympa.Baignade agréable en sus.”

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10.Zadar Archipelago 3 Islands Sea Kayaking Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · 5 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $119

Meet guide Daryl on Molat for a small-group sea-kayaking day among uninhabited islands. Learn the basics, paddle past cliffs and Cold War caves, stop for snorkeling and a pebble beach, and possibly reach a shipwreck if conditions and fitness allow. Ferry travel and lunch cost extra.

“We had a very good interaction with Daryl, our guide. The kayaking experience was amazing, way above our expectations. It was our first activity if this sort, however, Daryl explained us the necessary and made it all really simple and enjoyable. We would definitely do it again!”

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11.Kayak and Via Ferrata Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 3 reviews · from $82

Start at Ručica Beach near Metajna for a four-hour outing that pairs sit-on-top kayaking with a via ferrata above the sea. Your Croatian or English-speaking guide supplies boats, paddles, safety gear, helmets, harnesses, and waterproof bags. Expect clear water, karst shores, beach stops, and a serious climbing section that suits fit swimmers who are comfortable with heights.

“Nice but you should know that the via ferrata is not easy, level 4/5 according to the guide! Otherwise the kayak is just to go to the spot, it's 30 minutes to go there then 30 minutes to come back. Magnificent landscape all the same good experience but unreasonable price (66€)”

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