Born of nature

Far from the crowds of Croatia’s hotspots, Dugi Otok is the very essence of tranquillity, and home to a truly unique five-star hotel

A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Villa Nai 3.3 is located on the Croatian island of Dugi Otok at the gateway to the Kornati National Park. Built from locally-sourced stone, this five-star hotel has an eco-conscious heart and is the ideal base to explore the labyrinthine Kornati archipelago. While many flock to Croatian hotspots such as Dubrovnik or Hvar, Dugi Otok is crowd free and is blessed with a rich heritage, fascinating culture, and beautiful scenery.

2025 is the year of adventure and Villa Nai 3.3 offers countless ways to explore the island on both land and sea. The Kornati National Park consists of 89 islands, islets, and crags spread across 217 sqkm and is home to stunning coves, dramatic limestone cliffs and mysterious caves. It is also home to a wide variety of wildlife, including bottlenose dolphins, loggerhead turtles, peregrine falcons, Eurasian eagle-owls, and 850 species of marine life.

Whether you’re a nature-lover or thrill-seeker, Villa Nai 3.3’s expert concierge can arrange bespoke adventure itineraries, including kayaking, hiking across the untouched landscape, snorkelling to discover the underwater wonderland, or private sailing excursions through secluded coves and uninhabited islands.

An all-new adventure arranged by Villa Nai 3.3 for 2025 takes you deep into the historical and geological wonders of Dugi Otok to explore three mesmerising caves. The first is Golubinka Cave, a sea cave only accessible by boat or swimming. The cave is known for its underwater chambers and a stream of sunlight that shines through a small opening to create an otherworldly atmosphere. Home to a plethora of marine life including vibrant sponges, Golubinka Cave is perfect for snorkelling or paddleboarding as dapples of sunlight dance across the cave walls.

Back on dry land awaits the fascinating exploration of Vlakno Cave – one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Adriatic with signs of human habitation dating back 11,000 years. Excavations have uncovered tools and artefacts including ancient flint arrowheads, a decorative female statuette made of bone probably worn as a pendant, and animal bones.

The third subterranean wonder is the spooky Strašna Peć cave. Known as the Terrible Furnace, Strašna Peć was once visited by Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph. With the feel of a gothic basilica’s vault, this cave has massive stalactites and stalagmites and a fascinating legend explaining its origins. The story says fairies agreed to split Dugi Otok in half so they began digging, but when dawn came, the fairies were trapped in a cave before they could complete their task. With its mysterious origins and dramatic natural formations, Strašna Peć is a must-see for history and geology enthusiasts.

Eat local, eat well

An emerging trend for 2025 is a ‘Locavore Diet’, meaning to only eat local produce. The fine dining experience at Villa Nai 3.3 is all about local produce, making it easy to satisfy this new way of eating. The hotel is surrounded by 500-year-old olive groves from which they source the olives used in their multi-award-winning olive oil, Nai 3.3. Each autumn, guests are invited to weave through the olive groves with the hotel’s pickers to contribute to the 50kg of olives picked daily. They can then follow the olives through the process of pressing in the hotel’s very own olive mill and taste the first drops of the ‘liquid gold’. Rich in polyphenols, Nai 3.3 has a distinctive flavour profile, being rich, peppery, and aromatic. Guests can purchase a bottle from a previous pressing to take a piece of Villa Nai 3.3 home.

In true celebration of island life, Villa Nai 3.3 champions using local produce in its delicious dishes, including fish caught from the surrounding waters, fruits and vegetables from nearby orchards, herbs and spices from the hotel’s garden, and the world-class Nai 3.3. Nai 3.3 is used in each of the dishes at the refined 3.3 Restaurant and the rustic Grotta 11000, where the food is cooked over an open fire to bring to life the magnificent flavours of the Adriatic.

The olive paste resulting from the pressing process is also used as a base in each of the indulgent treatments at the hotel’s spa.

Suite dreams

The adult-only Villa Nai 3.3, has eight beautiful rooms and suites designed by renowned Croatian architect Nikola Bašić. Paying homage to the island lifestyle, Villa Nai 3.3 was designed to create a concept hotel that blends seamlessly with Dugi Otok’s rustic landscape. Available for hire in its entirety, Villa Nai 3.3 honours the outstanding natural beauty of the island. Guests feel completely at one with nature as they take just a few of steps from the comfortable interiors out to the picturesque olive groves with the sparkling Adriatic beyond.

Villa Nai 3.3 is the point at which nature, history, and culture meet, not to mention the fabulous selection of thrilling adventures ready for guests to explore. The spectacular combination of Villa Nai 3.3’s world-class accommodation, incredible food, exquisite olive oil, and location equidistant between Venice and Dubrovnik makes this exquisite hotel an unparalleled destination for 2025.

Further information – villanai.com