A tour of Europe’s most spellbinding deserts

Europe has an abundance of natural beauty, and while you may not think it, deserts do in fact dot the continent’s landscape. For nature enthusiasts and adventurers planning their next trip, stop by one of these deserts for an altogether alternative experience.

Błędów Desert, Poland

Poland may summon visions of the glittering Masurian lakes and the rugged Tatra Mountains, but it’s also home to the Błędów Desert. Dubbed the “Polish Sahara”, it’s a tidy area of sand squashed in between the villages of Chechło and Klucze. Created through a combination of human activity and natural coincidence – deforestation revealed that a glacier had left deep layers of sand below the ground – it’s Poland’s only desert and a unique example of their scenic heritage. Barren and so unusually out of place, tourists to the area in the early 1900s were reported to have thought it was simply a mirage. The best way to reach Błędów is by car and it’s an ideal spot to take the kids or the dog. Continue onto Hotel Pod Figurą in Ogrodzieniec and visit the crumbling medieval ruins of Ogrodzieniec Castle, allegedly haunted by dark powers.

Deliblato Sands, Serbia

A sprawling wave of sand, Deliblato Sands in Serbia is Europe’s largest sandy terrain. Huddled close to the Romanian border, the desert covers around 300 square kilometres of ground and is one of Serbia’s most spectacular sights. Hulking mounds of sands form undulating hills at one point, while roads weave in and out of the starched landscape – perfect for travellers planning their next road trip. A special nature reserve, the desert is home to a thriving ecosystem with over 900 species of plants, including 20 variations of orchids, and resident populations of wolves and imperial eagles. There’s a majestic feel to the desert so capture the landscape at sunset when its golden hues look their most radiant, as you drive through towards Ladybird Lodge.

Oleshky Sands, Ukraine

The second largest sandy expanse in Europe, Ukraine’s Oleshky Sands is one of the country’s most striking natural spectacles. Categorised as a semi-desert because of its fluctuating rainfall levels and temperatures, it has an unusual history. In the early 19th century, a sheep breeder brought a large number of sheep to the land, however, after some time, the sheep had eaten their way through all the grass. Due to the fierce winds that whipped through the area, the ground was eroded to reveal the sand beneath, and the desert was ultimately born. Now, ribbed sand dunes slope gently into the distance, studded with secluded oases and backed by lush green pine forests. Make a day trip out of it and end the day in nearby town Kherson at Optima Kherson.

Tabernas Desert, Spain

Tabernas Desert is a universe of its own with a star-studded past. Spain’s desert badlands, it’s a rugged, semi-arid and sun-baked stretch of parched land that has served as the setting for iconic films that include Indiana Jones, Lawrence of Arabia and numerous spaghetti westerns. To this day, Western-style villages are scattered across its plains, which visitors are welcome to stop by and recreate any fanciful imaginations they might have. Tabernas is unabashedly cinematic, with a landscape consisting of sandstone and mudstone, where tufts of grass and tussock bush cling to its rolling hills, occasionally singed with deeper, burnt ochre tones. It’s a destination for families and hikers, with the walking tours in particular being worthy of note. Eco-friendly Alojamientos Rurales Los Albardinales is just beyond the desert’s perimeters.

Accona Desert, Italy

Stitched into Tuscany’s patchwork landscape, the Accona Desert is a semi-arid area at the centre of the Crete Senesi. A lunar-like world, barren slopes known as calanques jut upwards while grey dome-shaped biancane are woven along the horizon. It’s a washed-out area of moon greys and pale yellows, home to only a small amount of plant life which makes for an alluring if unusual sight. A drive through here is a new take on the classic Tuscan road trip and visitors will eventually stumble upon the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, a bold clay-red Benedictine monastery that’s a striking contrast to the swathes of grey land surrounding it. Make your way back to the elegant Hotel Athena, which has sweeping views of Siena’s soaring skyline.