When Russian and American astronauts were once asked where the sea, seen from space, is the most beautiful color, they agreed that all areas of the earth covered with water have the most beautiful blue color right around the Kornati archipelago.
Group about 150 islands, which spreads out between Zadar and Šibenik covering an area of approximately 320 square kilometres, it was declared in 1980 as a National Park. The archipelago got its name from the largest the island of Kornati, and sailors, of whom there are more in the Kornati National Park every year, find it a great pleasure to cruise between islands with particularly unusual names, such as Babina Guzica, Balun, Kurba Vela or Prduša. The locals say that the funny names date back to the time when the hairy Austrians came to the archipelago and wanted to accurately record every part of the land that looked out from the sea in their land registers. The locals did not like the Austrians, so they answered their questions about the names of the islands with the stupidest words they could think of, and the Austrians dutifully wrote them down in official documents, and since then only those of us who understand Croatian laugh at their guesses locals.
The best way to visit Kornati is by sailing boat, because after paying the ticket to the park, they really open up to us in all their beauty and, despite the summer crowd, we can still hide in a cove that will be ours alone. All of us who do not have our own vessel can visit Kornati as part of one-day group trips from nearby Zadar, Šibenik or, the best starting point for discovering Kornati, with of the island of Murter. One-day trips will suit mainly those who stay in holiday villages on the coast, but will not satisfy adventurers who want to get to know the magic of Kornati in a more authentic way. Due to the dangerous navigation through the labyrinth of stone and sea of Kornati decorated with many lighthouses, some of them are today converted into homes that offer "Robinson vacations", far from the hustle and bustle of coastal cities. A week on a small island without running water, electricity or telephone signal is the ideal opportunity to relax in peace. One of the lighthouses that offer a comfortable secluded vacation is Tajer on the island of Sestrica Vela, which offers three-star accommodation, but we can of course opt for much more modest accommodation in old fishermen's houses. They say that the summer months are for mollusks, true sea wolves, we should go to the lighthouses in the months when strong winds and high waves whip the islands, and after storms, nature rewards us with the freshest and clearest days of the year.
In the months when the sailing frenzy in the Kornati National Park calms down, getting to know the Kornati with travel kayaks is also more popular every year. Sports center Skok from Ljubljana in October organizes two 5-day trips with kayaking in Kornati. Well, we probably won't be swimming in October, so we'll have one of the most beautiful corners of the Adriatic coast all to ourselves.
