Why retreat in Croatia?
The Satvada team has been lucky enough to spend some more time in Croatia this September, in the wake of our second retreat here.
We first visited a year or so ago, after so many friends and contacts waxed lyrical about the wonders of this country, and universally posed the question: wouldn’t it be a wonderful spot for a retreat?
On paper, the country sounds alluring enough: in the Croatian section of the Adriatic sea, there are 718 islands (47 of which are inhabited), where the main industries are still agriculture and fishing.
The southerly islands boast 300 days of sunshine a year, with the sea remaining a constant 20 degrees celsuis from June through to October. The cuisine is healthy and hearty; deeply Mediterranean, fiercely local, mostly naturally organic.
As ever, we needed to experience all this for ourselves. And so it was we found a near-perfect beach-side villa on the quiet, pine-covered island of Brac, a 50-minute ferry ride from Split, where the visceral presence of the sea can be seen, heard, smelt and felt from the yoga terrace, front bedrooms and long garden dining table.
After a few days here, stepping down a few gears and dropping into a simpler rhythm of life, ‘to-do’ lists put on hold, the only task being to absorb the sea, sun, and cuisine - it is hard to feel anything but physically and energetically cleansed.
Stunning coastlines in Croatia
Others before us have felt this too. Croatia – especially the islands - has a long tradition of health and wellbeing tourism, dating back to the 1860s, when the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy started to spend time here, lured by the warm climate, native medicinal herbs, and sparkling clear seas.
Despite the rising popularity of Croatia as a tourist destination in 2015, the country has so far escaped the mass tourism seen by Spain and Greece – on 150-square mile Brac island, where our retreats are held, there’s a blissful absence of tour buses, egg and chip signs for breakfast, large chain hotels.
Why has Croatia held off the masses? Perhaps it’s the scarcity of sandy beaches or the lack of polished infrastructure. Perhaps it’s because the Croatian War of Independence ended so recently - in 1995. Whatever the mix reasons, long may the quiet continue.