If we told you that you can experience the real desert in Croatia as well, would you believe us? Get lost for a moment, sail into a completely different world and visit this one an unusual tourist attraction.
Many have heard of the "Croatian Sahara", but did you know that you can also see camels there and that there is also a desert in Istria?
Đurđevac sands
Desert Sands it stretches from Đurđevac through Kalinovac all the way to Kloštar Podravski. The part of the sand that is located east of the town of Đurđevac in 1963 was declared a special geographical and botanical reserve as an easily recognizable and unique habitat.
Today it is a protected botanical area, a distinctive habitat with a large number of endemic species, unique flora and fauna and visible forms of sand dunes, or the remains of the "Croatian Sahara".
Đurđevački sands represent one of the last remnants of the once extensive, 12-kilometer-long strip of Podravski sands. In it, the moving gray-yellow sand defined the undulating relief of the reserve.
The people sometimes call this desert "Bloody Sands", in memory of the hard struggle of peasant farmers with the mobile, "Living" sand which covered parts of settlements and agricultural areas. Diligent people from Đurđevac succeeded with hard work in afforestation tame your Sahara.
///Dravski Peski - discover the hidden beauty of Croatia
You can walk unhindered through the desert, wander into a completely different world, and at the same time take the most beautiful selfies.
Visitor center Đurđevački pijesci
In the building of the former Misdemeanor Court in the very center of Đurđevac is located Visitor center Đurđevac sands. If you are interested in something more about this natural phenomenon, there you can discover all the peculiarities of the desert landscape in a multimedia way through the concept of augmented reality in a closed space and the richness of the diversity of fauna and flora who lives on the sands and regardless of the season and weather conditions.
Multimedia equipment includes tectonic plates that move and evoke cold caves from the Ice Age, but also sand from of the great deserts of the world.
Camels are waiting for you there
Croatian Sahara in Đurđevac with its mini animal park is a real tourist attraction that attracts more and more visitors from all over Croatia every day. In 2016, the first camels arrived in Đurđevac, and there are dwarf goats, sheep, horses, indigenous poultry, donkeys and playful llamas.
Although it is not allowed to ride camels, cuddling and feeding is a favorite activity of visitors, especially children.
The adorable animals are located right next to the Stari grad fortress, the cultural and historical flagship of the town of Đurđevac. Visit them and see for yourself why they have already won many hearts with their cuteness and are frequent guests at numerous events national TV shows.
Istrian desert
The Istrian desert is located near Šterna and is often called the Stern Desert, and the place belongs municipality Threatened. The desert consists of marl dunes that you will often notice in Istria.
And if marl dunes they are not a surprise, what makes this place special is the high concentration of this form of rock in the same area. A special experience for visitors is to walk on the rocks, even jump from one to the other and under them and get lost and relax for a moment. It is not a problem to walk on dunes because the ground is solid.
How to get to the desert? You need to pass the town of Šterna, where you will see a clear road sign that says "Istrian Desert". If you are coming from the direction Momjana, at the church it is necessary to turn left. At the small bridge and stream there is an extension where you can park your car.
This area is not big and you will get around it quickly. That's why it's ideal for an afternoon excursion, a walk, taking photos and a short escape from everyday life.
Cover photo: TZ Dravski peski
