Lying well west of the mainland, beyond the more populous islands of Ugljan and Pašman, the stony 43-km ridge of Dugi otok (literally “Long Island”) offers the natural splendour and sense of escape that coastal resorts often lack. Sparsely populated, and with only a handful of hotels, the island has (so far) avoided the kind of tourist development that would have radically changed its character.

Sali

Main settlement is Sali, a pretty harbour that is home to a scattering of cafes and restaurants. Sali is the jumping-off point for excursions to Telašćica, a spectacularly indented bay filled with grey-brown islands and edged on its western side by dramatically plunging cliffs.

Božava

The one major settlement in the northern part of the island is Božava, a cute port stretched around a picturesque bay. East of Božava, Sakarun is one of the Adriatic’s cult beaches, a sweeping crescent of shingle backed by pine trees and Mediterranean maquis.

Veli Rat lighthouse