- Information on accommodation in the “Educational Center” Čardak can be downloaded HERE.
- The price list for individual visits and small groups can be downloaded HERE.
SAND DUNES OF SOUTH BANAT
SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE “DELIBLAT SANDS” – It is located in the far southeastern part of the Pannonian Plain, in southern Banat, between the Danube River and the southwestern slopes of the Carpathians.
The area of about 35,000 hectares represents a unique natural phenomenon in Europe, formed during the Ice Age from sand deposited by the wind over earlier loess sediments, which was reshaped into a distinctly dune landscape (with altitudes ranging between 70 and 197 m), creating the largest oasis of sandy steppe vegetation in the absence of surface watercourses. Within this space, primeval sandy and forest–steppe ecosystems have been preserved, while aquatic, wetland, and forest communities have developed along the Danube riverbed, its banks, and river islands.
Remnants of the typical Pannonian steppe are represented by former pastures, which cover around 20% of the Reserve, and where herds of Podolian cattle (the Gray Steppe breed) can still be seen today. This breed descends directly from the extinct European wild aurochs and was once the most typical representative of working cattle in Europe.
Because of the presence of a large number of bird species, many of which are rare and endangered, this area has been designated as one of the most important bird habitats in Europe – an Important Bird Area (IBA).
DID YOU KNOW?
The sandy soils and specific ecological conditions of this area have created forest–steppe habitats that are home to exceptionally rare and protected species of plants and animals. Its rich flora, with over 900 plant species, includes remarkable rarities such as the Banat peony – an endemic species of the Pannonian Plain – as well as the steppe peony, Pančić’s wormwood, Scherbe’s feather grass, and around 20 species of orchids.
The fauna is equally diverse, with some of Serbia’s most beautiful birds: the European bee-eater, hoopoe, kingfisher, Eastern imperial eagle, and the Banat falcon. The banks and river islands of the Danube host Serbia’s only stable nesting sites for rare species such as the sand martin, the little egret, and the pygmy cormorant.
The Reserve is also home to red deer, roe deer, and wild boar, along with small steppe mammals such as the lesser mole rat and the steppe mouse-tailed dormouse, which in Serbia inhabit only the area of Deliblato Sands.
The climate is moderately continental with a unique microclimate. It has been determined that the air of the Sands has extraordinary qualities, which is why staying in this special landscape is recommended for children, convalescents, athletes, and for all those seeking a high-quality and restorative holiday.
SCHOOL & RECREATIONAL CENTER “ČARDAK”
The School & Recreational Center “Čardak”, surrounded by a pine forest, is located in the central part of the Special Nature Reserve “Deliblato Sands”, only 7 km from the village of Deliblato, near Kovin. Encircled by unspoiled nature, forests, and meadows, it represents an ideal place for staying in nature, offering both education and recreation, as well as the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the Deliblato Sands.
The complex is intended for school groups and sports-recreational tourism, and it consists of a main building, accommodation pavilions, and a restaurant with a capacity of up to 400 guests, offering a traditional menu.
The facilities and outdoor sports fields for mini football, handball, volleyball, basketball, and an open-air eco-gym are suitable for hosting school stays, sports and youth camps, children’s groups, as well as individual visitors and groups seeking an active experience in nature. In the main building, there is a reception area and a classroom intended for teaching and educational workshops, along with a small sports hall equipped with mats and table tennis tables.
Sports and recreational activities, along with entertainment and educational programs, are carried out by animators and educators for younger primary school classes and preschool groups, both during multi-day stays and as part of morning and afternoon activity programs.
The facilities of the “Čardak” Educational Center are intended for educational activities organized for visitors of the Special Nature Reserve “Deliblato Sands.”
HOW TO GET THERE?
The “Čardak” School-Recreational Center can be reached from the direction of Pančevo, via Bavanište and Kovin, continuing to the village of Deliblato and then to the “Čardak” complex, located about 50 km from Pančevo and Bela Crkva, 65 km from Belgrade, 75 km from Vršac, 120 km from Zrenjanin, and 150 km from Novi Sad.
Another route from Pančevo leads through the villages of Dolovo and Mramorak to Deliblato, and from there toward the “Čardak” complex. Access is possible for all types of road vehicles, with a designated parking area suitable for both tourist buses and passenger cars.
The distance from main traffic routes is an important advantage of the “Čardak” School-Recreational Center, ensuring a safe stay for children and all other visitors.
GPS coordinates: 44.855670 21.093498
HOW TO SPEND YOUR TIME?
Begin your active holiday on one of the HIKING TRAILS: walk through the forest, across pastures, to viewpoints and observation towers, and discover the rich diversity of flora and fauna of the Deliblato Sands. The hiking trails are circular, clearly marked with appropriate signposts, and vary in length. They are equipped with information boards, benches, and tables, making them accessible and informative for all visitors. The terrain is dune-like and gently undulating, with smaller or larger ascents and slopes, requiring different levels of physical fitness.
The Čardak – Vrela Trail (No. 1) is a circular hiking trail, of moderate difficulty for hiking, with a total length of 12 km. The trail is also suitable for cycling, and there is a possibility to connect to the international EuroVelo cycling route.
The Borovi Breg Trail (No. 2) is a figure-eight shaped hiking trail, with a total length of 15 km. The trail is of moderate difficulty for hiking, and it is also suitable for off-road cycling as well as for fitness running.
The Koprivić Trail (No. 3) is a circular hiking trail with a total length of 7 km. It requires a moderate level of physical fitness for hiking.
The Joy Trail (No. 4) is a circular hiking trail with a total length of 5 km. It requires a moderate level of physical fitness for hiking.
The Trail of Health (No. 5) is a circular trail with a total length of 3.5 km. It is suitable for preschool and school-age children and is considered easy for hiking. The trail is also suitable for walking during the winter season.
The Eco Trail (No. 6) is a circular trail with a total length of 3.5 km. It is also suitable for preschool and school-age children and is considered easy for hiking. The trail is also suitable for walking during the winter season.
Braca’s Trail (No. 7) is a linear trail with a total length of 5 km (one way). It is suitable for preschool and school-age children and is considered easy for hiking. The trail is also suitable for walking during the winter season. This newest trail, No. 7, was established in memory of Bratislav Stojanović – Braca, a great lover of hiking, nature, and especially of the Deliblato Sands.
The landscapes along the route are remarkably diverse and scenic, changing as you pass through coniferous forest, then continue across sand dunes, which gradually merge into grassy meadows bordered by deciduous woodland.
Note: Regardless of which direction you choose, it is essential to remain on the marked trail (or to know precisely the destination point you are heading toward with the help of GPS or other navigation tools). The Deliblato Sands are crisscrossed with countless paths and tracks that can easily lead visitors in the wrong direction.
Large forest and steppe areas of the Deliblato Sands are particularly vulnerable to wildfires during dry summer months, which can be caused even by unintentional actions. Therefore, we appeal to all visitors to behave responsibly in nature: do not light fires in open areas unless it is at a designated, clearly marked, and secured location.
For you, we organize a NATURE SCHOOL WITH AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, all within the framework of recreational classes at the School–Recreational Center “Čardak,” designed for preschool children and pupils in lower grades of primary school. With certain adjustments to the content, the program is also organized for other interested professional groups, students, and pupils. This is a guided excursion – a hiking tour with an expert guide, lasting up to two hours and including an educational program tailored to the age and interests of visitors. In addition to presenting the richness of plant and animal life in the reserve, the guide introduces participants to medicinal plants, ecology, and environmental protection, while also organizing a variety of activities such as tree planting demonstrations, tree measurement, and orienteering.The excursion is intended for groups of 15 to 25 participants.
Actively participate in the FUN ECO-WORKSHOP we organize for interested groups of preschool children and primary school pupils during recreational classes, as well as for associations of forest conservation movements, mountaineers, scouts, young researchers, students of ecology, biology, and related natural sciences. The eco-workshop is moderated by a professional guide, lasts up to 2 hours, and includes a promotional film about the Deliblato Sands, as well as educational and creative workshops on various topics, such as: morphological measurement of leaves from different species, identification of plant and animal species, making fossils and masks from collected natural materials, creating decorations from natural materials, workshops on recycling and energy saving through the making of objects from recycled materials. The eco-workshop is designed for groups of up to 25 participants.
The activities organized within the framework of the School in Nature and the fun eco-workshops are adapted to the interests of all nature enthusiasts and visitors of the Special Nature Reserve “Deliblato Sands.”
Insect Hotel in the Special Nature Reserve “Deliblato Sands”
Visit the FEEDING GROUND FOR PROTECTED BIRDS OF PREY “KORN”
Korn is a steppe area where the feeding ground “Orlovac” has been established for protected birds of prey. It is one of only five feeding grounds in Vojvodina where food is regularly provided in order to attract and support endangered bird species, especially during the winter period when supplementary feeding is most needed. Until the late 1980s, the Deliblato Sands was the most important habitat of the Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca) in Serbia.
Over the past ten years, projects for the remediation and revitalization of steppe habitats have been implemented at the Korn locality. These include regular clearing of overgrown areas, as well as extensive grazing of autochthonous breeds such as Vitoroga žuja sheep, Balkan goats, and Podolian cattle.
The excursion, lasting up to 4 hours, includes a guided visit to the feeding ground for birds of prey, as well as observing grazing herds, accompanied by a professional guide (using an off-road vehicle). The program also features a screening of the promotional film about the Deliblato Sands. This excursion is intended for individual visitors and small groups (up to 3 persons per vehicle).
Driving ACROSS THE SAND DUNES TO LABUDOVO OKNO
The “Labudovo Oko” Locality is one of the largest migratory stopovers for birds in Europe. On the frozen Danube, around 300,000 birds overwinter here, including numerous species of wild ducks, geese, and swans. Throughout the year, it serves as an important nesting site for rare wetland birds such as the Glossy Ibis, Pygmy Cormorant, Little Egret, and Squacco Heron in the Dubovački Marsh area, while the Stevanova Ravnica plain represents a key feeding ground. Where the Deliblato Sands collapse into the Danube, along a 10-meter-high riverbank, Sand Martins have excavated their nesting burrows.
The excursion includes a tour of the reserve, leading visitors across pastures to scenic viewpoints and wildlife observation towers, as well as to feeding and watering sites for wild animals, and continuing to the “Labudovo Oko” locality near the hunting lodge Marina. Accompanied by a professional guide, the excursion lasts up to 4 hours (by off-road vehicle) and also includes a motorboat ride. Following the tour, visitors are invited to a screening of a promotional film about the Deliblato Sands. The excursion is designed for individual visitors and small groups (up to 3 persons per vehicle).
THE ENCHANTING ZAGAJIČKA HILLS represent a unique and unusual landscape located northeast of the Deliblato Sands. Their charming appearance—partly forested and partly covered with steppe vegetation—makes them a rare relic of the primeval landscape of the Pannonian Plain, before it was overtaken by arable fields. The highest hill rises to an elevation of 256 meters; at its summit stands a pyramid-shaped monument, and from the viewpoint stretches a panorama toward the Danube and the slopes of the southern Carpathians, while to the north the Vršac Hill is clearly outlined.
After visiting the School and Recreation Center, walking along the hiking trails, or exploring some of the fascinating sites within the Sands, your stay can continue in the surrounding area—enjoying fishing or discovering the cultural heritage of Banat.
For fishing enthusiasts, we recommend Lake “Kraljevac,” located in the immediate vicinity of the village of Deliblato. Covering an area of 182 hectares, of which around 120 hectares are designated for sport fishing, the lake offers catches of pikeperch, catfish, carp, grass carp, silver carp, and other species.
Visit PANČEVO – the center of southern Banat, the capital of beer and traditional crafts – and discover its cultural and industrial heritage: the Old Town center (Donja and Gornja Varoš), the Old Industrial Zone on the Tamiš River, the city itself as a popular film setting, or simply enjoy a break in the largest and most beautiful Pančevo park – Narodna bašta.
Continuing further east, you will reach VRŠAC, an old medieval town that presents its cultural and historical heritage through the baroque experience of the Bishop’s Palace, the Pharmacy on the Stairs, the Concordia Museum, and its old buildings and churches. On the Vršac Mountains – a geological relic of the Pannonian Plain – lies the famous Vršac Tower and the highest peak of Vojvodina, Gudurički Peak, at 641 meters above sea level. Be sure to visit the villages of GUDURICA or VELIKO SREDIŠTE, explore the vineyard plantations and wine cellars, and taste the renowned wines of the Vršac wine region.
For lovers of Vojvodina’s multicultural heritage, we recommend a visit to the village of SKORENOVAC, where you can tour an ethno-house preserving the spirit of old times with its authentic furniture, household items, and traditional tools. Wine or rakija tastings are also organized here.
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All information regarding programs and visits to the Reserve can be obtained from the agency “Vojvodinašume–Turist” Petrovaradin, Preradovićeva 2 – Office hours: weekdays from 07:00 to 15:00.
“Vojvodinašume–Turist” – Phone: +381 21 6432 401, +381 21 6432 976 · Email: travel@vojvodinasume.rs
If you have special interests or requirements, we will prepare a customized visit program for you.
Special Nature Reserve “Deliblato Sands”
