Open for just ten weeks a year, the private 136-acre Obonjan Island is a blissed-out adults-only playground of nature and relaxation off the coast of Croatia, running between 29 June and 2 September. Guests can wake up with morning yoga, play in the Adriatic Sea, relax in the island’s spa, or simply unwind in a cabana by the hilltop pool. In the evenings, the island comes alive – sets from acclaimed DJs and performers make for a festival-like atmosphere.
There are three choices of accommodation; even the basic option, the Bell Tent, has fresh linen and towels, wi-fi, USB and socket chargers, plus air conditioning on top. In addition, the Forest and Sun lodges come with sleek, modern en suite bathrooms, fridges, hairdryers and private terraces.
The hillside outdoor pool is a chilled space with an all-day DJ, who spins laid-back tracks while guests relax in the cabanas and loungers. When hunger strikes, The Kitchen is at hand with a menu of daily specials that make use of local produce – plus cold beers and cocktails. And when the sun sets? That’s when the party starts at the open-air East Harbour, where a range of acclaimed DJ acts play for the revelers.
A more formal dining option is to be found at Bok, which serves up Croatian and Mediterranean cuisine with Asian and Central American touches with views over the Adriatic. Meanwhile, the shorefront bar and restaurant Drift, on the livelier part of the island, delivers ice-cold drinks to guests’ loungers as a DJ plays all day long.
However, there are more dynamic ways to unwind on Obonjan. A wealth of options are available for activities: on the water, one can snorkel, paddleboard, jet-ski and kayak, or hire a private speedboat to tour the nearby islands. Yoga devotees can take part in two classes a day among the pine trees further inland.
Guests seeking more intense relaxation can head to the spa, where treatments on offer include deep tissue and sacrocranial massage, reflexology and shiatsu – all delivered in the most natural setting possible.
