Prepare to be captivated by an island that defies expectations — it will feel like a journey to another planet. Located near Zadar, Pag Island, 60 km long with 8,000 inhabitants and 30,000 sheep, is the fifth-largest Croatian island. It is a masterpiece shaped by nature and time. Pebble and sand beaches ring the island, and the Old Town of Pag features an archaeological site and the ruins of a Franciscan monastery.

On Beriknica Beach, you will discover barren lunar landscapes with impressive rock formations that are unique among the Croatian islands. Mother Nature has perfectly arranged three large rocks, creating a natural work of art and one of the most photographed motifs on Pag Island. The spectacular Stogaj cliff rises above the beach, making this one of the favourite spots along the “Life on Mars” trail. The beach is located 3 kilometres from the small settlement of Metajna, and can be reached in a little over 20 minutes on foot or 5 minutes by taxi boat from Ručica Beach.

The northernmost tip of Pag Island is home to one of the most remarkable olive groves in the Mediterranean, spanning over 400 hectares with 80,000 wild olive trees. It is one of the largest wild olive groves in the world. As a protected botanical park, it houses thousands of olive trees, some more than 1,500 years old. Sheep roam freely, and it is a place of spectacular beauty and tranquillity, surrounded on three sides by the intense blue waters of the Adriatic.

The salt pans, with shallow pools stretching like mirrors, are known as “white gold” and are among the oldest on the eastern Adriatic. They have operated for over a millennium and remain the island’s oldest trade.

One of the island’s most famous products is Paški sir, made from local organic sheep’s milk. It is regarded as one of the world’s finest cheeses, with its producers receiving awards year after year at some of the world’s most prestigious competitions.