Not only is it one of the most beautiful countries you’ll ever visit in your life, but it’s home to one of the most majestic places in the world...Plitvice Lakes National Park. This little slice of heaven is a must-see if you plan on travelling to Croatia. Although the country has eight national parks, Plitvice takes the lead in my humble opinion. Mother Nature sure outdid herself on this one!
Plitvice is one of Croatia’s (and Southeast Europe’s) oldest national parks, but somehow remains a little hidden gem that many travellers miss. Don’t be one of those travellers or you might as well stay at home and eat that Cinnabon.
The park should actually be renamed "300 sq. km of stunningly breathtaking views," with its 16 pristine lakes (separated into an upper and lower cluster), all interconnected by rivers, streams and endless waterfalls. Endless. You can reach out, touch them, splash your face a bit, splash the people around you - you just can’t swim here. It’s probably why the lakes have stayed as clean as they have, all these years.
The waterfalls are undoubtedly the main attraction - they’re everywhere as you wander along the meandering wooden paths that take you over and around and almost through the cascading water. If you’d rather, you can rent a sweet little wooden boat and paddle yourself along for some extra peace and quiet away from the crowds.
The main waterfall, Veliki Slap, (literally translated as “The Big Waterfall”) is 78m tall and is truly a sight for sore eyes. Sick of the incredible beauty yet? Didn’t think so. Continue along hiking through the forests if you choose, and catch some more spectacular views on the brink of the lakes from above.
It honestly looks like the whole park has been magically photoshopped somehow. You’ll keep trying to take off the imaginary pair of glasses you’re wearing that enhance the colours. You’ll be in a daze and keep pinching yourself to snap out of it - this beauty just can’t be real ;)
You could spend weeks there and never run out of breathtaking views. And don’t even get me started on the vibrancy and depth of the colours in autumn! That’s a whole new ballgame of imaginary-photoshop-glasses you’ll be wearing, almost unimaginable. You’ll see pretty much every colour on the spectrum as the leaves change from green to red and orange and yellow, and the water shows hints of turquoise, green, blue and everything in between.
The hues are just so rich and the landscape so vast and pure, I challenge you not to be blown away. If you’re travelling to Croatia, get yourself to Plitvice - a temptation you don't have to resist!
Happy travels!
Sarah
Happy travels!
Sarah
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