Dugi Otok, in Croatia, is a stretch of land covering approximately 40km in length with a population of circa 2,000 residents. Having never set foot on Croatia soil before, my imagination of the coastline, its sailing territory and beautiful landscape was to be realised as we touched down in Zadar. With a couple of hours to spend sightseeing in Zadar before our boat took us to Dugi Otok from Zaglav Port, we wandered the little streets. Zadar is famed for its sea organ, a spectacular musical instrument, which plays melodic notes as the waves lap against the pipes. Some people are reminded of whale song when they hear the sea organ. It certainly is a magnet for the curious, who come and listen. The designer, Nikola Basic, created this famous attraction; 35 underwater pipes stretching across 70 metres.

The public ferry from Zadar takes you to Sali on Dugi Otek, some 40 minutes from Zadar. My first impression was how unspoilt and serene the island is. Within five minutes, we had climbed the road leading to Villa Nai 3.3, located in the middle of an olive grove. It has breath-taking views of the sea and the nature park of the Dalmatian coast. It is one of the most luxurious hotels in the Mediterranean, close to the exquisite cliffs of Telašćica Nature Park and beautiful islands across Kornati National Park. Villa Nai 3.3 is the first hotel among The Leading Hotels of the World with a prestigious ‘Good Travel Seal Level 1’ certificate by Green Destinations. It is a gem for all who love architecture as it has an unusual geometry within the olive groves. This is another wonderful project from the famous designer Nikola Basic (designer of Zadar’s sea organ I mentioned above.)

I was curious to understand how the property got its name. Snow is rare in this part of Croatia and lasts an average of 3.3 days. ‘Nai’ means ‘Snow’ in Dalmatic, an extinct language from this area of the Adriatic, so Villa Nai 3.3 was named accordingly.

With just 8 suites, each with private terraces overlooking the bay, the forests and the olive groves, each suite is calm and secluded. The olive grove of Villa Nai 3.3 has produced olive oil for centuries. All olives are picked by hand and processed the same day. We were fortunate to be there when the staff of Villa Nai 3.3. were harvesting the olives. The olives are separated from their stems and any affected by external conditions are discarded. The oil does not disappoint. In fact, we couldn’t try enough of it – lunches and dinners were served with the oil and freshly baked focaccia to soak it up along with other exquisite tastes that the talented chef had cooked for us. There is always a feast of fresh fish, salads and vegetables.

Time was spent sightseeing and then enjoying their wellness area and spa. Your body will thank you as you pamper yourself at the spa. They offer revitalising treatments with products made from their own olives and olive oil that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. You will feel very special after a treatment such as Balinese and Thai body massages. The sauna and Jacuzzi are wonderful with bird song being played in the sauna as you relax. Heavenly!

At Fort Grpašćak, you have the visitor centre. It is housed in a former fort (several of which are still scattered on the nearby islands). Another highlight is Lago Mir. This salt lake formed after the last ice age. The seawater comes in through cracks in the ground. The lake is about 900 metres long with a higher salinity than the surrounding Adriatic Sea. It is a wonderful place for swimming and walking.

A visit to Dugi Otek would not be complete without a visit to the lighthouse Veli Rat. It is 36 metres high, built in 1849 and I was fortunate to climb the many stairs for a extraordinary view of Dugi Otok. The views over the Croatia seas and islands are spectacular.

Villa Nai 3.3. is the most wonderful hotel to stay in while you visit this unspoilt area of Croatia. The owners and hosts, Goran and Nives Morovic are delightful. I felt like royalty during my short stay here.

To learn more about Karen’s stay in Croatia and Villa Nai 3.3., please feel free to make an Enquiry today!

(This blog has been written by Karen, CEO & Founder of Travel Matters. She visited Croatia in October 2024, courtesy of our partners at Red Sky Marketing)

Photo Credit Red Sky Marketing and Villa Nia 3.3.

Croatia’s lesser known Island - Dugi Otok