Behind the scenes of the yoga retreat and discovery of Croatia by Terra Balka

Discover Terra Balka’s yoga retreats!

Come and recharge your batteries and enjoy a unique experience in the Kvarner region on the Adriatic coast during an 8-day yoga retreat! Organised by Terra Balka and led by Goranka Crété, a French-Croatian yoga teacher, these retreats offer you a real moment of escape, relaxation and disconnection in an authentic and unusual setting. Discover the Hotel Balatura, a 300 year old building, completely renovated and transformed into a superb 4 star hotel. Close to the small town of Tribalj, between the Istrian peninsula and the Dalmatian coast, the hotel offers an idyllic setting for a stay you won’t soon forget!

Terra Balka team has designed an 8-day getaway that combines physical activities (yoga, swimming, walking, cycling) with relaxation. It also offers the opportunity to explore the region thanks to 3 optional excursions organised by Terra Balka: a boat trip on the island of Krk, a hike in the heart of the Risnjak National Park and a visit to the town of Senj and the fortress of Nehaj.

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Committed to the path of yoga since the 90’s, Goranka has continued to follow her inner voice and her need to deepen the different aspects of yoga, beyond the physical practice. Goranka has subsequently participated in numerous meditation and pranayama/breathing technique workshops (Mindfulness Meditation, Vipassana, Art of Living, Sahaj Samadhi, Sudarshan Kriya, Shakti Yoga/Krishna Kriya, Kundalini, etc.).

She gradually integrated these new techniques into her daily yoga practice.

Goranka then embarked on a study trip to India and a series of yoga teacher trainings, including the “Life of a Yogi TT 500” training, under the guidance of the famous Sri Dharma Mittra, one of the world’s greatest yogis who has been teaching for over 50 years.

These trainings allowed him to deepen his asana practice and his knowledge of yoga philosophy, psychology, anatomy, ethical rules, but above all to develop his teaching techniques.

After 25 years of training thousands of people in communication skills as part of her professional career as a trainer and communication coach for international and humanitarian organisations, the way was clear for her to start transmitting her passion. Her love of sharing is now reflected in her yoga workshops, focused on (re)connecting with oneself and finding inner peace.

Since 2018, Goranka has been leading Hatha Yoga workshops in French, English and Croatian, in the lineage of Dharma Yoga. As a travel designer for Terra Balka, she leads the workshops at the Balatura Hotel. The old building used to be her great-grandfather’s farm, which was converted into a hotel by Gordan Godec, who is none other than her cousin. A true family story!

In the heart of the unspoilt nature of the Kvarner, easily accessible from Zagreb or Rijeka, Balatura has become a real hotel village over the years. Over the years, many talented people who love the region have settled here and developed a unique project around this unusual 4-star hotel!

The ambitious project

This ambitious project is the brainchild of Anne-Kathrin and Gordan Godec. He is a former journalist and an expert in rural design, and she is a writer and literary translator, specialising in the creation of imaginary worlds. The two of them have turned the Balatura Hotel into a metaphorical home for all kinds of events: yoga retreats, jazz and blues music workshops, literary evenings and cultural festivals.

In its 14 years of existence, Hotel Balatura has hosted many guests and events. Today, the hotel’s programme focuses on workshops, seminars, yoga retreats and summer courses, as well as offering space for individual travellers.

Some of the guests fell in love with the place, its architecture and its atmosphere. And so the magic happened. Some of them decided to settle there by buying abandoned houses or ruins in the vicinity of the hotel. They then rebuilt them with Gordan, respecting his vision and the special spirit of the Balatura Hotel. Today, each house brings a real benefit to the whole.

For this reason, Balatura now has a swimming pool, a beautiful workshop area and a house for seminars and yoga workshops.

An unusual and idyllic environment

The seminar house, dom kultura in Croatian, is where Goranka’s yoga workshops are held. The house has a small and a large room for all kinds of group activities, as well as a fantastic roof terrace, flooded with sunlight and offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape. A retreat, it hosts various workshops throughout the year, including music and yoga. Sit comfortably in the lotus position, close your eyes and breathe deeply! Surrender to the surrounding nature and enjoy a moment of total disconnection in an idyllic setting!

The other houses in the complex enhance Balatura with various spacious areas for workshops and an exhibition hall dedicated to art in all its forms! Recently, a superb swimming pool has been added to Balatura, a great asset for a cool break in summer! The garden is a great place to relax and read a book in the shade, and the large terrace in the courtyard is ideal for enjoying the sunset and evening light.

The rooms at Hotel Balatura reflect the authentic atmosphere of the place. Decorated in a style that combines old stones and modern furniture, they offer great comfort while respecting the typical rural charm of the region!

A family-run heritage hotel

The Balatura Hotel property is approximately 300 years old and was once a farm. These ruins have been lovingly restored by the Godec family, who have transformed the old farmhouse into a small heritage hotel based on ethical and sustainable values.

Only natural local materials were used in the renovation. Today, the hotel consists of several small stone houses and exudes a special atmosphere of well-being as soon as you enter.

A large, lush garden surrounds the complex with its winding corners and comfortable retreats. Anne-Kathrin and Gordan Godec wanted to create a natural haven of peace. It is a place to relax and unwind, ideal for yoga workshops led by Goranka!

The hotel’s distinctions

A 4-star hotel, its reputation is well established. Balatura is a singular and unusual place, rewarded by multiple awards and labels!

In particular, it has obtained the ¨heritage hotel¨ label, awarded by the Croatian Ministry of Heritage, rewarding establishments that are part of the historical and cultural heritage of their region.

The hotel received the award for the best local tourism project “Zlatni Suncokret”.

It also won the “Guru Restaurants” badge for its vegetarian cuisine. A perfect segue to Balatura’s commitment to the kitchen!

A recognized vegetarian restaurant 

The restaurant of Hotel Balatura is recognised as one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Europe. The kitchen team of the Balatura Hotel places great emphasis on regional and Mediterranean ingredients. Only organic products from the hotel’s surroundings are used. Everything is freshly prepared to give guests a taste of Croatia.

Breakfast is served on the beautiful sunny terrace or in the large communal kitchen on a long table. Balatura offers homemade fruit juices. Dinner is served, weather permitting, on the beautiful outdoor terrace.

Menus can be adapted to suit all diets (gluten-free, vegan) and the team will be happy to introduce you to local and vegetarian dishes in this idyllic setting!

Surrounded by karst mountains and green forest, Hotel Balatura is located in the Vinodol “valley of vineyards” in the Kvarner region, between the Istrian peninsula and the Dalmatian coast, in the midst of wild and romantic nature, only 6 km from the Adriatic Sea.

The Vinodol Valley is home to numerous hiking trails and offers many opportunities for excursions into the mountains. Climbing up is a must to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Kvarner Bay.

A few hundred metres from the hotel, the large lake near Tribalj can also be explored on a hike.

The nearby small town of Crikvenica is a must for enjoying the beach, shops and restaurants serving authentic Mediterranean dishes.

The island of Krk is only 20 minutes away by car. It is connected to the mainland by a bridge and is easily accessible by car. For those who wish to explore other islands in the bay, it is possible to take a ferry from Krk to Cres and Losinj.

Those who prefer to experience more nature can go to Risnjak National Park, which is about 30 minutes away from the hotel and offers many hiking and climbing opportunities.

The nearest major city, Rijeka, is a charming port city with Austro-Hungarian architecture and a rich cultural heritage. It is a perfect city for a day trip! You can also explore neighbouring Opatija, a fashionable seaside resort with a beautiful promenade lined with 19th-century villas and lush gardens along the Adriatic Sea.

The days of the journey are structured around 2 daily yoga sessions. The morning session, at 8am, takes place on the yoga platform or in the hall, depending on the weather. The programme includes breathing/pranayamas, postures/asanas, relaxation/yoga nidra.

Afterwards, enjoy a buffet brunch before exploring the hotel’s surroundings in your own time.

The second session, at 6pm, is a ‘gentle’ indoor yoga session. It consists of mini classes / presentations on various yoga topics, Dharma Yoga, relaxation / yoga Nidra and sound therapy and meditation.

Each day concludes with a convivial dinner at the hotel! A moment of exchange and sharing around delicious vegetarian dishes, concocted with fresh and local products!

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During your free time, it is also possible to participate in 3 optional excursions, organised by the Terra Balka agency team:

• A boat trip on the island of Krk to discover the perched village Vrbnik and enjoy a tasting of local products with a local guide.
• An excursion to Risnjak National Park in Gorski Kotar, the most mountainous and forested region of Croatia, with a local guide.
• A guided tour of the town of Senj and the fortress of Nehaj, offering a breathtaking view of the Adriatic Sea.

• Included: 7 nights at the Balatura Hotel, hearty breakfasts, dinners, yoga sessions mentioned.
• Not included: transportation (1 hour 45 minutes from Zagreb or 25 minutes from Rijeka), drinks and optional tours.

It is possible to do this trip over 4 days / 3 nights.

-> Information and registration by email: contact@terra-balka.com or by phone + 33 7 83 00 07 78

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• The easiest option is to arrive in Zagreb by plane. It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach the Balatura Hotel from the Croatian capital. Terra Balka can arrange a transfer from Zagreb to the hotel.
• Many airlines offer good direct connections to Rijeka. The taxi ride from Rijeka takes 25 minutes and costs about 40 euros.