Island vibes meet bright Adriatic days on Ugljan, a welcoming corner of Zadar County where crystal-blue waters kiss olive-green coves and sun-warmed stone paths lead to secret beaches. If you’re plotting a getaway with friends and you crave sun, sea, and spontaneous adventures, Ugljan and its charming village hub of Općina Preko are calling. From the moment you roll off the ferry onto the emerald shoreline, you’ll know you’ve found a place where vacation rentals feel like a home base for wild nights and relaxed mornings alike. This guide is your friendly roadmap to a stay that blends glamping in a Yurt with Croatia’s warm hospitality, local flavors, and immersive experiences that make Croatia feel like a bigger, brighter playground every day.
Why Ugljan and Općina Preko Make a Perfect Base for a Glamping Getaway
Ugljan sits just off the coast from Zadar, connected by a short ferry ride that adds a dash of island anticipation to your plans. The island’s north-south spine is easy to explore by car or bike, and tiny coves reveal themselves with a quick coastal loop. Općina Preko—the administrative heart of the island—offers a friendly base with winding lanes, friendly konobas (taverns), and markets where you can stock up on fresh fish, local cheese, and seasonal fruit. The local vibe is relaxed but never dull: mornings start with a coffee that tastes like a small celebration, afternoons drift into playful swims with friends, and evenings bring golden-hour sunsets that turn seascapes into living art. Staying in Ugljan means you can switch from beach days to village nights in seconds, all while your accommodation base stays wonderfully close to the action.
Yurt and Glamping: A Fresh Way to Stay in Croatia
Glamping on Ugljan has a growing appeal for travelers who want nature-close experiences without sacrificing comfort. Yurt accommodations offer a playful fusion of rustic charm and modern convenience. Picture a round canvas tent with a sturdy floor, a cozy bed, soft lighting, and a sense that you’ve escaped to a summer hideaway that’s still connected to all the perks of coastal life. A well-chosen Yurt on Ugljan can feel incredibly private—you’ll have your own little island nest where the water’s just a short walk away and the pine-scented breeze keeps evenings deliciously fresh.
What makes Yurt stays particularly good for groups of friends or a couples’ mini-adventure with a touch of flirtatious spontaneity? Shared outdoor spaces become social stages: a private deck for sunset cocktails, a fire pit for storytelling under a blanket of stars, and a kitchen area where you can whip up a simple feast after a day of island discoveries. Most Yurts on the island bring a blend of basic comforts (good beds, ventilation, seating areas) with the flexibility to tailor the experience: some are closer to beaches, others tucked into olive groves or hillside vantage points offering panoramic sea views. They’re also ideal for travelers who want to mix the island’s slow rhythms with a few more adventurous activities—think morning swims, bike rides along quiet lanes, and evenings that end with music, laughter, and a sky full of stars.
Choosing the Right Yurt on Ugljan
When you’re planning a Yurt stay, consider a few practical points to maximize fun and minimize stress:
- Proximity to beaches and your preferred activities. If you live for snorkeling or sunrise swims, pick a location that makes those moments effortless.
- Outdoor spaces. A deck or terrace where you can linger with coffee or a glass of wine is worth its weight in sunsets.
- On-site amenities. Some yurts come with simple cooking facilities, outdoor showers, or communal kitchens—these can be a big win for groups who want to dine al fresco after a day on the water.
- Connectivity and parking. If you’re renting a car, you’ll want easy parking; if you’re traveling by ferry and bikes, check on bike-access or storage options.
Top Experiences on Ugljan: Activities to Do with Friends
Ugljan is a playground for outdoor-loving travelers. Here are activities that fit a mid-week sprint or a sun-soaked weekend with friends:
Beach Time and Water Adventures
Crystal-clear waters and sheltered coves make swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboarding irresistibly easy. Seek out calmer bays for morning swims before the day tourists hit the beaches. If you’re up for a light challenge, rent a kayak and paddle along the coastline to discover hidden inlets, small pebble beaches, and the scent of pine and salt air lingering in the breeze. Sunset swims are a thing here—gather your crew, dive in, and rinse off with a rinse of sea spray while the sky blushes pink.
Coastal Cycling and scenic walks
Ugljan’s quiet lanes are tailor-made for bike trips. You can ride gentle coastal routes that pass by olive groves and traditional stone houses or tackle a longer circuit that climbs to hillside viewpoints with sweeping panoramas of Zadar’s archipelago. If you’d rather walk, there are shaded paths and shoreline promenades where you can pause for gelato or a cold drink at a seaside cafe. The pace stays easy but the views stay memorable, which makes it perfect for groups who want to share a few laughs and a few kilometers.
Explore Preko and Sutomišćica
Preko is a hub of life where ferries, markets, and seaside taverns converge. It’s a great place to begin a day: stroll the harbor, pick up fresh bread and tomatoes, and plan an afternoon boat ride to nearby coves. Sutomišćica, a charming village at the island’s edge, rewards curious walkers with narrow lanes, small churches, and a sense of having stepped back in time. Time your walk to catch a sunset from a lookout point—it’s a moment that begs for a photo or two with your favorite travel crew in the frame.
Boat Trips to Nearby Islands and Hidden Cays
From Ugljan you can arrange half-day boat trips to nearby islets and reefs. Even a short sea excursion brings a new perspective on the Adriatic—the water changes color with the light, and every inlet seems to reveal a new shade of blue. If you’re feeling social, join a small group cruise for party-on-deck vibes or a quiet snorkeling-focused trip for those who prefer underwater discoveries to sunbathing.
Local Experiences and Food: What to Taste and Savor
You don’t travel to Croatia and skip the food scene, and on Ugljan the flavors are simple, honest, and delicious. The island’s culinary heartbeat comes from seafood caught daily by local fishermen, fresh vegetables from family farms, and olive oil that’s been pressed from groves that line many lanes around Preko and Kali. Here are some tasty anchors to seek during your stay:
- Seafood feasts: grilled fish, sardines, calfs, and a variety of shellfish served with lemon wedges and crusty bread.
- Olive oil tastings: you’ll find small producers who invite guests to sample oils that range from peppery and robust to mellow and fruity—perfect for drizzling over bread or finishing a salad.
- Local wines and grappa: Croatian wines from coastal regions pair beautifully with seafood; ask locals for their favorite pairing and you may discover a new favorite bottle.
- Home-baked pastries and honey: the bakery near the harbor often carries a selection of rustic, comforting sweets that pair with strong coffee perfectly.
Many family-run konobas in and around Preko offer warm hospitality and a sense of community. It’s common to be invited to share a table with locals, turning a simple dinner into a memory of laughter, new friendships, and stories that blend sea breeze with island folklore. If you’re staying in a Yurt, consider running a little “cook-off” with your friends one evening—grill fresh fish, toss a simple salad, and toast to a day well spent under Croatian skies.
Sample 4-Day Itinerary for a Friends’ Glamping Getaway
Day 1: Arrive, settle into your Yurt, and sip local coffee on the deck. Explore Preko’s harbor, pick up fresh bread and fruit, and walk along the shore to a sunset spot. Dinner at a seaside konoba with a table full of seafood plates to share.
Day 2: Bike ride along the coast, stop for a dip in a secluded cove, then rent a small boat for a noon excursion to nearby islets. Picnic lunch with olives, cheese, and bread. Evening at your Yurt with a gentle bonfire (where allowed) and stargazing after dusk.
Day 3: Morning snorkel session and a late breakfast; afternoon exploration of Sutomišćica or Kali with a relaxed coastline walk. Sunset drinks at a beach bar, followed by a seafood feast back in town.
Day 4: A laid-back day of local markets, souvenir shopping, and a final coastal hike to a lookout. Collect memories, then check out with a promise to return soon for another Yurt stay and more island adventures.
Practical Tips for a Smooth Stay
To make the most of your Ugljan holiday rental experience, keep these tips in mind:
- Book your Yurt in advance, especially during peak season (June–September), to secure the best locations with easy beach access.
- Pack breathable clothing, a light jacket for cooler evenings, and a camera for those postcard-worthy moments on the coastline.
- Ferry schedules can vary with the season and weather, so plan arrivals and departures with a little buffer time.
- Respect local customs and environmental guidelines—leave no trace on beaches, and dispose of trash in designated containers.
Where to Find Your Ugljan Holiday Rental
When you’re ready to search for a Yurt or other vacation rentals on Ugljan, a great starting point is searchandstay.com. The site specializes in listing accommodations across the area, helping you compare options, check amenities, and read genuine traveler reviews. Whether you’re after a secluded Yurt by olive groves, a modern glamping tent with sea views, or a traditional apartment in Preko, you’ll find listings that suit your group size, budget, and dream itinerary.
How to use searchandstay.com for Ugljan, Općina Preko, and Zadar County:
- Enter your travel dates and the island name (Ugljan) to pull up available options fast.
- Filter by property type (Yurt, glamping tent, vacation rental), beds, and proximity to beaches or villages.
- Read reviews and look for listings with outdoor spaces, kitchens, and easy access to ferry terminals.
- Use the map view to identify rental clusters near Preko or Sutomišćica for easy day trips and sunset moments.
Remember, the island is part of a broader Croatian coastal experience. After you’ve unpacked your Yurt, you can easily branch out to Zadar’s old town for a day trip, explore waterfront promenades, and sample more regional delicacies. With a little planning, your Ugljan stay becomes a launchpad for a week that blends island charm with lively friends’ adventures, all wrapped in the comfort of a unique lodging style that’s as memorable as the Adriatic itself.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Island Rhythm
Ugljan, Općina Preko, and the surrounding Zadar County offer a balanced mix of easygoing days, water-based thrills, and social evenings that are tailor-made for groups of friends who like to keep things light, bright, and a little flirty with adventure. A Yurt stay provides the right amount of novelty and comfort to make days feel special without complicating the plan. Whether you’re chasing a perfect sunset, a secluded swim, or a coastal ride with your closest people, Ugljan welcomes you with wide-open skies, warm hospitality, and a coastline that begs to be explored again and again. When you’re ready to book, searchandstay.com stands ready to help you find the ideal accommodation in Ugljan and the wider Zadar County area, so you can focus on the memories you’re about to create rather than the logistics of where you’ll sleep.
Plan smart, travel light, and let the island breeze guide your days. Your Yurt adventure on Ugljan awaits—a playful, sun-kissed chapter in your Croatian holiday story.
For more inspiration and verified listings, visit searchandstay.com to discover vacation rentals, holiday rentals, and Yurt accommodations across Ugljan, Općina Preko, and the broader Zadar County region.