Travel Tales Podcast
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Health and wellness are never bad things, but they’ve rarely been the main focus of my past vacations.
Sure, there were trips that centered around physical activities like skiing, hiking, or scuba diving, but aside from the occasional dip in the hotel pool, rehabilitation was something I usually reserved for when I returned home.
Losinj, Croatia may have changed all that.
I was lucky enough to attend a press trip to Losinj this past October, and was won over by its natural beauty, cleanliness, cuisine, and people. Despite this being my fourth visit to Croatia, I had never heard of Losinj (pronounced “Lo-‘zheen”), and that off-the-radar quality only adds to its appeal.
Here are my Top 7 reasons to visit Losinj, Croatia:
- Cleanliness – Losinj possesses some of the cleanest air and crystal-clear waters you’ll ever experience. Noble families in the Austro-Hungarian Empire knew this, and starting in the 1800’s, those with means around Europe used Losinj to escape the pollution of the cities and rehabilitate alongside clear, salty waters of the Adriatic. The local authorities and their citizens take pride in protecting their environment and natural beauty.
- Outdoor Activities– Whether you like beaches, boating, fishing, scuba, hiking (over 250 km of walking trails), or biking (the 2018 World Cup of Mountain Biking will be held in Losinj), there is no shortage of activity on Losinj. And after indulging in those activities, you may need to recover a bit, which brings us to:
- Spas and Hotels– Losinj takes its relaxation seriously, and if you want to relax in style, there is no shortage of 5-star accommodation to chose from. I stayed at the beautiful Bellevue Hotel, Losinj’s first 5-star hotel, reopened after a complete 2014 redesign. Situated on picturesque Cikat Bay, Bellevue is surrounded by two other 5-star resorts: Villa Hortensia and Boutique Hotel Alhambra. Each hotel came complete with full spa facilities: pools, saunas, massage, gyms, whirlpools, skin treatments, etc.
- Food and Wine– The Roman Empire, particularly the nearby Venetians across the sea, certainly left a tasty imprint on Croatian cuisine. I’ve waxed on in the past about Croatia’s under appreciated domestic wine (particularly the whites), but the local grape rarely disappoints. Like most islands, fresh seafood is always in abundance, and to leave without eating calamari or an octopus salad would be a crime. I also greatly enjoyed a grilled fish called a Dentex, named for it’s prominent (and eerily human-like) teeth. While the seafood is terrific, meat lovers will surely appreciate the local lamb and prosciutto (thanks again, Romans.) And leave room for the local cheese, especially the award-winning goat cheeses, which pair nicely with all that wine.
- Exclusivity– Losinj is not the easiest of islands to get to, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Over the last decade, Croatia tourism has exploded. The secret is well out, and the teeming crowds and rising prices of hotspots like Dubrovnik, Split and Hvar reflect that popularity. But there is no direct bridge connecting Losinj to the mainland, no cruise lines stop there, and the tiny airport accepts only small, chartered aircraft- a roughly 35-minute flight from Zagreb. Many guests arrive by car ferry, which takes a little over an hour. These factors not only keep the crowds at bay, but also helps keep pollution and noise down, adding to the relaxing (and healing) experience.
- Wellness– Health and Wellness is what put Losinj tourism on the map. Hundreds of varieties of herbs grow and are cultivated on the island, many of which are turned into essential oils known for their healing properties.
The Mediterranean climate is also ideal for organic fruit and vegetables, particularly olives, which are pressed into the delicious olive oils present on nearly every table on Losinj. Thousand of acres of pine trees were planted in the 1800’s, which help filter the air, protect from strong sea winds, give shade to all those hiking paths, and provide nesting areas for many varieties of birds. For more on Losinj’s history of health and wellness, listen to our podcast interview with local physician Dr. Anamarija Margan Sulc here.
- Culture – Croatia has a rich and varied history going back more than a thousand years, from the aforementioned Roman Empire to it’s independence in 1992 after the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. Every corner of the country has stories to tell, and Losinj is no exception. Naturally, Losinj’s history is tied to the sea, via shipbuilding, fishing, trade or as a naval outpost. Numerous museums and cultural centers dot the island. Highlights of our tour included the Tower Museum (great navy and ship artifacts), the ancient Roman town of Osor, the Archaeology Museum (wide array of ancient tools and pottery), and the island’s latest jewel – the Museum of Apoxyomenos, whose titular star is a bronze Roman statue of an athlete from 2nd-1st century BC discovered at the bottom of the sea off Losinj’s coast in 1999. Not only is the statue on display, but the clean, modern museum boasts exhibits and videos detailing the discovery and meticulous restoration process.
If a party is what you’re looking for, Losinj will never be mistaken for Ibiza or Mykonos. But for an island that gives the best the Mediterranean has to offer in terms of lifestyle, food, nature and amenities, Losinj, Croatia is well worth a visit.
To learn more about Losinj direct from an expert local, listen to my wine-fueled Travel Tales Podcast interview recorded in Losinj with Croatia Tourism’s Nena Komarica here!
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