The air is filled with the sound of excited whooping and shrieking as I race headlong into the frothing waves. The cold water hits me like a thunderbolt, and I stumble onto my knees as the sea engulfs me. All around me other sauna goers are screaming and laughing as they embrace the shock of cold water after experiencing temperatures of over 70 celsius just minutes before.

I’ve just finished taking part in an Aufguss ritual, a beloved part of sauna culture in Austria and Germany. Although I’m in Croatia, the tradition has crossed borders to be here at the Hotel & Spa Iadera, part of the Falkensteiner Resort on the Punta Skala peninsula. The sauna ritual involves an ‘Aufgussmeister’ pouring essential oil-infused water and ice over hot stones, and using towels and fans to circulate air. 

Although temperatures reach roasting levels, it’s an integral part of any wellness incentive. This is due to the numerous health benefits including a better immune system, weight loss, and a glowing visage. And the only way to follow the baking heat is with a cold plunge- sea water preferable. 

Wellbeing

Later on, lying prostrate in a room that looks like all its surfaces are made of polished onyx, I’m having an almost out-of-body experience. My masseuse is using both long strokes and smaller circular movements to tease out all the aches and pains caused by my dreadful posture. I can vouch for a treatment here being the ideal incentive reward for any workers that have spent countless hours hunched over laptops.

Arguably the hotel's standout feature is its spa- the clue is sort of in the name- with two distinct areas nicknamed the ‘black spa’ and ‘white spa’. The white spa feels like an idyllic scene from a brochure with its indoor-cum-outdoor pool with the Velebit Mountains keeping watch; sun loungers bathed in golden light via the glass roof; and marblesque floors and walls fit for a Roman temple. 

While the black spa is where all the treatment rooms and sauna facilities live, with the shiny dark walls absorbing the soft glow of well-placed mood lighting. After a prolonged visit to the various steam rooms and saunas, including a Turkish Hammam, then taking a dip in the outdoor cold plunge, I head to a relaxation room. Entire double mattresses are suspended inches off the ground on ropes, so I allow myself to be rocked into a gentle slumber. 

But there are also more active pursuits for those who think beyond rub downs. The nearby Fortis Club (part of the Falkensteiner complex) hosts a variety of workout classes including yoga and PT sessions, and has an extensive gym equipped with the newest Technogym gear. 

There are over 20 fitness and activity classes on offer, including, but not limited to, tennis, football, beach volleyball, kayaking and horse riding. Or take a painting class with a local artist, who is happy to guide amateurs through a session creating their own masterpieces, or canvases that will be mysteriously lost at security on the way home.

Bedrooms

The teal greens, cerulean blues and pure white colour palette in the bedrooms combine to drive home the seaside theme. They perfectly complement the beach adjacent location, which is mere metres away below. This delightful vista can be soaked up from a generous balcony area if you’ve booked a sea view room.

There’s an expansive desk for working, double sink area, and ample wardrobe and shelf space for an extended stay. A particular godsend is the mirrored wardrobe doors with nearby plug for all delegates’ vanity needs. 

Some rooms are a bit of a walk away from the central lifts and stairs, so it’s advisable to be mindful of this when booking in less mobile delegates.

Event spaces

A dedicated conference centre in the main hotel has seven rooms to accommodate from 12 to 200 guests. But to make corporate events pop, the Ventus Event Hall at Fortis Club is recommended, with its expansive windows overlooking the sea front. It has space for 240 diners, or a reception for 450 people, with an onsite sports bar and its own event team. 

After a day of conferencing, delegates can head to the basement for Disco Bowling and dancing. There’s a four-lane bowling alley, arcade games, large bar area and a DJ taking requests. Apparently no song is too cheesy for his extensive repertoire, so he happily spins everything from the Sugababes to the Weather Girls. 

Food and drink

All this conferencing and bowling means delegates will probably work up quite an appetite. Fortunately there is a lot of great food on offer, with a variety of tastes catered for. 

Jadran, Iadera’s main restaurant, serves both breakfast and dinner, with an absolutely huge buffet section packed with salads, cheeses, breads and gourmet pasta to start. The main courses are all a la carte and are a mixture of central European and Croatian cuisine. The adjacent Sotto Voce bar serves exquisite cocktails, and the margherita in particular comes highly recommended.

Also on-site is Spice, ideal for an al fresco lunch, with its large selection of freshly-made sashimi and sushi, plus Asian-inspired curries and salads. Planika steak restaurant is a short walk away near Fortis, serving Croatian favourites including goulash soup and grilled meats.

For seafood lovers, Bracera is best, with its views over the ocean and sheltered from the sun by the region's recognisable pine trees. We are served up the catch of the day, a sea bass which looks like it’s only just been pulled from the ocean, plus seafood salads and a divine risotto. 

Or wine snobs can visit the nearby Kraljevski Vinogradi winery to sample local plonk, plus cheeses and prosciutto, followed by a grilled meat feast -clearly a Croatian staple!

Nearby

Hop on an e-bike to take a cycling tour of the surrounding areas with a professional cycler. The royal city of Nin is about an hour’s ride, or 9km, away, surrounded by a lagoon and with a quaint pedestrian Old Town ideal for strolling. Park up the bikes and cross over one of two 16th century bridges to visit its cafes, Roman ruins of Rimski Hram, and a pretty old church which still rings its bells every hour. 

Or visit the bright lights of the big (or at least moderately-sized) city. Just a short speedboat ride away, Zadar is a treasure trove of the iconic local sandy-coloured buildings, pedestrian-friendly back streets, and a whole bunch of history. The best way to arrive is while sipping champagne fresh from the ice bucket as you admire the coastline. 

The people of Zadar just love a good wedding, so much so that entire wedding parties parade through the streets singing and playing music to celebrate the nuptials. We see not just one, but two, of these in just a few hours, with gawking- and even joining in- highly encouraged. After all the merriment, we head to the recently opened Labrax fish restaurant and wine bar, where chef Saša Began will curate a series of excellent seafood dishes for smaller groups.

A non-negotiable is a visit to the ocean front to bear witness to the Sea Organ and the adjacent solar-powered Greetings to the Sun by Nikola Bašić on the western embankment. A haunting melody is played by the waves as seawater rushes into 35 pipes that have been fitted into the marble steps that lead down into the water. The best ‘music’ can be heard on days where the sea is violent and choppy, a stark contrast to the ethereal singing melodies which slowly wash over me and give me the most intense goosebumps I’ve felt in a long time.

Verdict

For a holistic wellbeing incentive or event, you could definitely do worse than taking degates to Falkensteiner. They will leave feeling healthier, happier and, most importantly, with very full bellies. After all, a workforce marches on its stomach.

More info at: falkensteiner.com/en/resortpuntaskala