CROATIA & THE BALKANS KVARNER ISLANDS DESTINATIONS W


ith Istria to the west and Dalmatia to the south,


little Losinj in the Kvarner Gulf can easily get lost between Croatia’s best-known regions. But this sleepy island and its neighbours – Krk, Cres and Rab – have been welcoming tourists in their own quiet way since the 19th century, when the Austrian elite discovered this undeniably beautiful corner of Croatia. Stretching into the Adriatic


like a long bony finger, Losinj has been dubbed the island of vitality. It’s not just empty marketing speak: all over the island, there’s an incredible profusion of wild herbs scenting the balmy air and mingling with the fragrance of pine forests.


With all those footpaths curving around the island’s headlands under the shade of pine trees, the first instinct is to take to two feet or two wheels and explore at your own pace. Add a dizzying number of beaches to the mix and holidaymakers soon discover why the Austrian-Hungarian emperor Franz-Joseph became so attached to the place back in the 19th century. Clients who prefer sandy beaches can take the little ferry across to the island of Susak to laze on the sands, but the pebbly and


Losinj’s rocky beaches have a compelling beauty – not to mention impossibly blue-green waters


rocky beaches of Losinj have a compelling beauty of their own – not to mention impossibly clear blue-green waters.


 TALK OF THE TOWN Much of Losinj life revolves around the two main settlements – Mali Losinj and Veli Losinj. Mali Losinj is the larger of the two (even if its name means ‘little Losinj’), its deep harbour lined with sea captains’ baroque houses in every shade of terracotta and ochre. Restaurant terraces have fine views of the bay and the lively harbourside life, where ferries set off not only to Susak, but also to neighbouring islands. Holidaymakers looking for


24 January 2019travelweekly.co.uk75


PICTURES: SHUTTERSTOCK


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