HOW IT ALL STARTED

In 2018 I bought 4 acres of forest land near Rastoke village, by Korana river, in Croatia. There was no infrastructure on the property except a huge linden tree, a barn, and a little demolished house of Kolar family, manufacturers of wagons back in 1906.

The idea of what I wanted to do in life, truly and fully, came to me when I was 29.  It was crystal clear: buy a forest, build treehouses and come up with something new, something kind. I’ve been saving money since I was 15 when I got my first job in the tourism industry, and I knew that it was not the path I was willing to follow. I wanted something more, something different and something that could change people’s lives.

That’s why I want to create the kindest eco retreat in the world, in the middle of Croatia, and to devote myself to this forest, to the people, and to nature. Not only do I want to live here and work ecologically with zero waste policies but I also want to build it with local materials and to full respect to Mother Nature. 

The aim is to create intelligent luxury at its best while minimizing the impact on the planet. The retreat will recycle plastic and glass, limit waste, grow its own produce-fed compost, install solar panels to save fossil fuel use, and audit its supply chain for its environmental impact. The focus is on energy efficiency, water, and waste management, social commitment while protecting natural surroundings. It is a low-impact, high-value tourism model – fewer guests paying a premium for the privilege of experiencing vast open spaces.

The dream is for this forest not to be my own, but everyones. That we, together, as a community, learn from nature and give back to nature as much as possible. The magical forest I want to see will have birdhouses, birdbaths, hotels for insects,  inspirational quotes scattered around the forest, a glasshouse with herbs and spices, a sauna, a pool, wooden benches everywhere, and yoga spots to unwind, to find some peace and to heal.

I want for a traveler to develop a growing sense of one another, our world, and our place in it. There should be a connection between a traveler with the local community and the environment. The purchase of something should impact locally, directly but morally as well. I am not here to promote mass tourism, but to propose eco-kind. For me eco-kind means with environmental and social respect.

After we make this project a reality, your visit and stay will contribute to showing what responsible and sustainable tourist destination means. Away from the masses - being ecologically and socially aware of the time we live in. 

The essence should be the interaction, not only a transaction.

Power to the forest!