Hold on to your sunhats: the latest line-up for Obonjan has been released and it’s a corker.
The electric, eclectic soundtrack to the summer will include acts as diverse as Four Tet, Mr Scruff and the Hot 8 Brass Band. Kate Tempest will be weaving her lyrical magic, whilst Gilles Peterson will be setting the tone for sundowners at the waterside Rum Bar. Alongside the island tunes, the extensive creative programme will see experts and eminent thinkers taking to the stage in the custom-built Geodome for a series of talks and workshops. Newly announced speakers include American author Daniel Pinchbeck, life coach Jules Evans and TED fellow Tim ‘Mac’ Macartney.
The latest wave of announcements is adding to the mounting excitement. An entirely unique proposition, Obonjan is Europe’s first dedicated arts and wellbeing island, offering a smorgasbord of activities and programmes for guests to dip into as they please.
Croatia’s Dalmatian coast is littered with islands; endless coves and liliputian islets, lush greenery and barren limestone bays; all surrounded by the glittering waters of the Adriatic. Over the past decade, these have turned from sailors’ best-kept secrets to a mainstream summer destination.
Otok Obonjan was once known as the isle of youth: a verdant coastal outpost which every summer transformed into a scout camp for Croatia’s young children. The scouting years saw the previously uninhabited island come alive, with the construction of humble huts and a vast stone amphitheatre. Over time, the scouts moved on, and Obonjan once again fell quiet – the tiny island home to just one man and his dog.
This year, the isle of youth will return to full bloom, as Obonjan transforms into a unique creative mecca. Soul seekers and sybarites; nomads and foodies and yogis will come together to create a community like no other. An extensive and varied creative programme of mind-opening talks and workshops will sit alongside an eclectic musical offering, a spa nestled in the woodland, delectable dining options and much more besides.
Those seeking a summer of serenity can find it, with sunrise yoga classes, cold-pressed juices and ocean-side meditation. Sun-worshippers can feel the salt on their skin on a yacht trip to nearby Krka or Plitvice National Parks. Water babies can explore artist Celia Gregory’s ethereal underwater sculpture park, free diving amongst the sculpture or scuba diving in a secluded bay. Music lovers can choose to shimmy the night away to a DJ set in the amphitheatre, or relax to the sounds of a jazz band as the waves lap the shore.
Come for a week or stay for the summer; with an endless variety of experiences and activities, every day will hold something new to discover. This is an island for everyone: arrive with an open mind and creative spirit and come away refreshed, rejuvenated and part of a unique community of likeminded souls.
Visit otokobonjan.com
