Croatia has been an increasingly popular destination in recent years, largely thanks to Game of Thrones-inspired pilgrimages to Dubrovnik and the pristine beaches on the island of Hvar. But there's another floating paradise that's well worth a visit, too: Lošinj.
Once a well-kept secret thanks to it only being accessible by boat, the luxury spot can now be reached by a 20 minute plane trip from Zagreb, Split or Pula, a route put on by Lošinj Hotels & Villas.
Once the holiday destination of the Austro-Hungarian emperor, Franz-Josef, Lošinj is now called “the healing island” or “island of wellness and vitality” because of the climate’s unique healing properties. The air has such beneficial effects on the respiratory system that it led to Lošinj being used as destination for health tourism for hundreds of years.
For modern day travellers this means visiting an island where the air is fragrant with the scent of Aleppo pines, and the seawater hitting the rocks results in a kind of “open air aromatherapy” which locals claim instantly clears a night of heavy drinking.
Luxury hotel group Lošinj Hotels & Villas have a number of properties on the island including The Hotel Bellevue, Boutique Hotel Alhambra & Villa Augusta, Villa Hortensia and Villa Mirasol.
The Alhambra is made up of two classic old houses in beautiful shades of sunshine yellow and mottled terracotta, all overlooking the Čikat Bay and with agaves and palm trees dotted around the exterior of the hotel. Rooms are spacious and fitted with luxury amenities such as roomy bathtubs for soaking in and a pillow menu for selecting one that suits your mood.
With the island’s rich history of health and wellness, spa facilities are an essential addition to the hotel group, with The Alhambra’s spa, The Cube, featuring a warmly lit indoor pool as well as areas to relax in after a deep tissue massage or stone therapy.
The Hotel Bellvue is a more contemporary offering: a sleek white building with a grand outdoor hotel and a more intensive spa if you’re looking to get into the spirit of the island. As well as traditional treatments like massages and facials, the spa offers more technical treatments such as a cryotherapy chamber and a detox camp featuring exercise plans and diet advice.
If that sounds a little too intense, Lošinj is an island which you can take at your own pace, and soaking up the air’s healing properties is as far as you can take the commitment to wellness should you wish. A relaxing couples trip or family holiday can be spent swimming in the hotel’s private beach on the Čikat Bay, or even renting a private boat for a day out admiring the unique landscape of the island.
While luxury dining options on the island are mainly limited to those run by the property, a wide array of different cuisines at their restaurants means you won't tire of what is on offer. Within the Boutique Hotel Alhambra is the Alfred Keller, a restaurant which combines modern European cooking and fresh local produce to produce excellent dishes such as crab ravioli or Istrian boškarin beef.
Be sure to try some of their Orange Croatian wine, an on-trend grape and just one of the 400 bottles that the cellar offers. Hotel Alhambra has also recently launched a gourmet food break which showcases the Illyrian culinary heritage of the region and traces the island’s culture of olive cultivation.
Situated in the Hotel Bellevue, Matsunoki serves up a variety of Japanese-inspired delicacies which feature fresh Croatian seafood. The tasting menu includes a delicious range of dishes such as Karaage chicken, Tuna tataki and Matcha ice cream. Elsewhere, more casual dining comes courtesy of Lanterna Grill. Situated along the Čikat Bay, you can enjoy grilled meats and salads with a glass of Istrian wine as the sun sets.
While the island has a secluded and unspoiled feel to it, there’s enough going on to keep you occupied should you wish. Spend a day visiting Mali Lošinj and the Museum of Apoxyomenos, which features the bronze statue of athlete Apoxyomenos found by a diver in 1997, or the museum of local history in nearby Veli Lošinj.
The unique landscape and architecture make it a visual paradise, with colourful buildings that feel reminiscent of Portofino or Positano, and the turquoise Adriatic sea where turtles and dolphins roam.
Get there before it's on everyone else's bucket list.
Flights from the UK to Zagreb run frequently during the summer months with British Airways or Croatian Airlines. Lošinj Hotels & Villas hotels charter return flights from Zagreb, Venice or Lugano to Lošinj Airport from June 15 until September 28, 2019.
A deluxe sea view room at The Boutique Hotel Alhambra starts from £350 per night. Package prices start from £2,255 for 7 nights half board per person.
