Venari Lodges Wilderness Resort To Open In 2027, Spurring New Chapter In Croatian Luxury Hospitality

Published on December 5, 2025

In the remote woodlands of Janja Gora, near the fabled Plitvice Lakes, a new chapter in Croatian travel is quietly underway. The recently announced project Brionj-Luxury Hotel Collection, operated by Grand Metropolitan Hotels, has partnered with the boutique wilderness development Venari Lodges to bring to life a nature-immersive, design-led resort slated to open in 2027. This new arrival could reshape how travellers experience Croatia’s hinterlands.

What Is Venari Lodges and What to Expect

A Wilderness Resort With Design and Soul

Venari Lodges will feature around 60 lodges, thoughtfully designed to blend into the wilderness rather than dominate it. Alongside accommodation, the resort will include culinary venues and a wellness area, all shaped to harmonise with the surrounding landscape.

The operation’s core values will be sustainability, nature awareness and a nature-to-table culinary philosophy: local produce, individually tailored service, and guided experiences that bring guests closer to the raw beauty of Croatia’s forests, rivers, waterfalls and lakes.

Immersive Wilderness: For Wildlife Lovers, Hikers and Those Craving Quietude

Set within a private hunting reserve (with an existing concession), the resort isn’t just for hunters. Hikers, wildlife enthusiasts, and nature-oriented travellers seeking solitude and authenticity are equally welcome. Guests may encounter deer, wild boar, bears, lynx and woodcock. Licensed rangers will lead guided tours through forests, mountains, rivers and lakes, blending adventure with responsibility.

This controlled, low-density approach promises an experience far removed from crowded coastal resorts, offering instead quiet immersion in wild landscapes.

Strategic Significance: Why Venari Lodges Could Change the Game

Diversifying Croatia’s High-End Hospitality Portfolio

Traditionally, luxury tourism in Croatia has been concentrated along its Adriatic coast, islands, beaches, seaside towns. With Venari Lodges, Brionj and Grand Metropolitan Hotels are betting on Croatia’s interior, offering an alternative: pristine wilderness + refined hospitality.

By adding a design-led, eco-conscious resort deep in nature, they respond to growing demand for experiential travel, travellers increasingly seeking authenticity, sustainability and immersion rather than only sun and sea.

A Fresh Competitive Edge in the Luxury Market

Once operational, Venari Lodges will stand as a serious competitor to existing coastal and island resorts, especially for travellers prioritising nature, tranquillity and immersive experiences over traditional beach-oriented holidays. Its combination of wilderness, design sensitivity and holistic wellness positions it as a unique offering in Croatia.

It might also challenge emerging resorts from global chains that have started entering the premium Croatian market. By offering high-end amenities while preserving a low-impact, ecosystem-respecting philosophy, Venari Lodges sets a high bar for sustainable luxury in the region.

What This Means for Croatian Hospitality and Tourism

For the broader Croatian hospitality sector, the launch of Venari Lodges signals a shift in strategy, from purely coastal, seasonal resorts toward diversified, year-round eco- and adventure-oriented stays. This shift could help stabilise tourism beyond summer months, attract a different kind of traveller (wildlife lovers, eco-tourists, luxury seekers with environmental values), and spread economic benefits beyond the usual hotspots.

By drawing attention to Croatia’s lesser-known interior, forests, mountains, lakes, Venari Lodges may encourage more investment in sustainable tourism and help re-imagine Croatia not just as a Mediterranean beach destination but as a wilderness-forward travel destination.

In Their Own Words: A Project With Vision

The founder of Venari Lodges, Valter Kiš, spoke of the project as more than a resort, rather a vision realised: nature in its purest form, luxury without excess, and an encounter with wilderness that both inspires and protects.

Meanwhile, Martin R. Smura, Chairman and Founder of Grand Metropolitan Hotels, emphasised their ambition: to create a setting where adventure and tranquillity, exclusivity and sustainability go hand in hand.

For travellers seeking something beyond the familiar, somewhere where the forest hushes the soul and design complements wild beauty, Janja Gora could emerge as Croatia’s newest must-visit sanctuary.

Final Thoughts

The unfolding of Venari Lodges as a pioneer for mass tourism reversal and nature-oriented holidays may even be considered a revolution, possibly, not only for one resort but also for the perception of Croatia and its presentation to the world.