{"id":32927,"date":"2026-04-07T12:47:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T10:47:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/?p=32927"},"modified":"2026-04-07T12:47:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T10:47:41","slug":"croatias-moon-island-looks-like-another-planet-with-18-degree-weather-in-april-and-15-flights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/sl\/croatias-moon-island-looks-like-another-planet-with-18-degree-weather-in-april-and-15-flights\/","title":{"rendered":"Croatia&#8217;s &#8216;Moon Island&#8217; looks like another planet &#8211; with 18 degree weather in April and \u00a315 flights"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Croatia is renowned for its lush green landscapes, charming medieval towns and sparkling blue waters, but\u00a0one island tells a different story.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">On the northern side of Pag, the land turns pale, rocky and almost otherworldly &#8211; a wind-shaped world that looks more like the moon than the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Locals have long dubbed it &#8216;Moon Island&#8217; and it&#8217;s easy to see why.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The terrain is largely made up of limestone, rolling ridges and sparse fields that stretch for miles, and with few trees and little shade across the island, there&#8217;s barely any colour to break up the extraordinary view.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">According to Toni Hrelja, founder of Croatian rental company Villsy, spring is the best time to experience the island&#8217;s extraterrestrial vibe.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">He said: &#8216;People expect Croatia to be green and Mediterranean. Then they arrive on Pag and feel like they\u2019ve landed on the Moon, or even <span data-track-module=\"internal-body-link\"><a id=\"mol-d1b009a0-2930-11f1-ab3a-13d8babe7b0d\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sciencetech\/mars\/index.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Mars<\/a><\/span>. It\u2019s raw, dramatic and completely unexpected.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In summer, temperatures can reach 30 degrees, and with almost no shade along the northern coast, exploring can be tough.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">However, spring offers milder conditions that are perfect for walking and taking in the scenery, with temperatures ranging from around 13 degrees in March and 20 degrees in May.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32934\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32934\" style=\"width: 791px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32934\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442937-15682021-image-a-2_1774543610655-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"791\" height=\"527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442937-15682021-image-a-2_1774543610655-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442937-15682021-image-a-2_1774543610655-1-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442937-15682021-image-a-2_1774543610655-1.jpg 634w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32934\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pag, an island in Croatia, has earned the nickname &#8216;Moon Island&#8217; thanks to its stark, wind-swept landscape<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32930\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32930\" style=\"width: 791px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32930\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442929-15682021-image-a-5_1774543640187-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"791\" height=\"527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442929-15682021-image-a-5_1774543640187-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442929-15682021-image-a-5_1774543640187-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442929-15682021-image-a-5_1774543640187.jpg 634w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32930\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pag&#8217;s terrain is largely made up of chalky limestone, rolling ridges and sparse fields that stretch for miles &#8211; with few trees and vegetation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32931\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32931\" style=\"width: 792px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32931\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442935-15682021-image-a-4_1774543631559-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"792\" height=\"528\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442935-15682021-image-a-4_1774543631559-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442935-15682021-image-a-4_1774543631559-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442935-15682021-image-a-4_1774543631559.jpg 634w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32931\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">On the other side of the island, a colourful marina offers a striking contrast to the the raw terrain found on the northern coast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>British travellers can also reach the island easily thanks to its close proximity to the UK.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The best way to reach Pag is by flying into Zagreb, with one-way Ryanair flights starting from an ultra-low \u00a315 in mid-April.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">From Zagreb Airport, it&#8217;s worth hiring a car and driving three and a half hours south to the island, as it offers ample opportunity to catch some spectacular views of the dramatic mountain landscape along the way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">One of the most striking areas is around Metajna on the northern coast, where Paj earns its lunar nickname.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Fierce Bura winds from the Velebit mountains have shaped the land over centuries, carrying salt that stripped away vegetation and left behind bare, pale rock.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In bright sunshine, the ground turns almost white, giving the area its unique &#8216;moon&#8217; look.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Nearby, Beritnica beach is just as unusual, with smooth stone instead of sand, and three large boulders sitting in the shallow water.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Above it is Stogaj &#8211; a sharp, sculpted rock formation that adds to the striking setting.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32928\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32928\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32928\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442921-15682021-image-a-1_1774543602654-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"810\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442921-15682021-image-a-1_1774543602654-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442921-15682021-image-a-1_1774543602654-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442921-15682021-image-a-1_1774543602654.jpg 634w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 810px) 100vw, 810px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32928\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Visitors are warned to plan visits wisely during the summer, as the island provides little shade from 30C sun<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32929\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32929\" style=\"width: 808px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32929\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442927-15682021-A_particular_striking_area_is_Metajna_which_earns_Paj_its_lunar_-a-1_1774957179869-300x226.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"808\" height=\"609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442927-15682021-A_particular_striking_area_is_Metajna_which_earns_Paj_its_lunar_-a-1_1774957179869-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442927-15682021-A_particular_striking_area_is_Metajna_which_earns_Paj_its_lunar_-a-1_1774957179869-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442927-15682021-A_particular_striking_area_is_Metajna_which_earns_Paj_its_lunar_-a-1_1774957179869.jpg 634w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 808px) 100vw, 808px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32929\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A particular striking area is Metajna, which earns Paj its lunar nickname<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32933\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32933\" style=\"width: 809px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-32933\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442943-15682021-The_chalky_colourless_landscape_provides_a_dramatic_contrast_to_-a-2_1774957180710-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"809\" height=\"542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442943-15682021-The_chalky_colourless_landscape_provides_a_dramatic_contrast_to_-a-2_1774957180710-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442943-15682021-The_chalky_colourless_landscape_provides_a_dramatic_contrast_to_-a-2_1774957180710-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/107442943-15682021-The_chalky_colourless_landscape_provides_a_dramatic_contrast_to_-a-2_1774957180710.jpg 634w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 809px) 100vw, 809px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32933\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The chalky, colourless landscape provides a dramatic contrast to the surrounding blue sea<\/figcaption><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Croatia is renowned for its lush green landscapes, charming medieval towns and sparkling blue waters, but\u00a0one island tells a different story. On the northern side of Pag, the land turns pale, rocky and almost otherworldly &#8211; a wind-shaped world that looks more like the moon than the Mediterranean. Locals have long dubbed it &#8216;Moon Island&#8217; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":32933,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[109],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/sl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/sl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/sl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/sl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/sl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32927"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/sl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32927\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/sl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/sl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/sl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pag-outdoor.com\/sl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}