Travel Must-See — Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

During my first-ever solo group tour in 2017, our first glimpse of the gorgeous country of Croatia just so happened to be the most incredible national park, covered in lakes and waterfalls as far as the eye could see, like something straight out of a dream. It took me back to days spent in Cornwall in years gone by — only this was definitely more impressive! (As well as with better weather)

We visited Plitvice as part of a larger tour around Croatia and other Balkan countries. I joined for the leg of the tour that visited Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia, but I could have stayed on to explore Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia too. Maybe next time. Still, I’m so glad I was around for the Croatia part, because I cannot now imagine being able to live with myself for missing out on this absolute gem of a nature reserve. Take a few hours or an entire day — either way, you won’t regret it.

I literally cannot put into words how stunning the views are here, and the photos don’t quite do it justice. It’s all about the tranquil atmosphere, the sounds of cascading water and the occasional bird or frog as you take it all in. It’s vibrancy makes it even prettier, with all manner of bold green and blue hues, and there are a number of different walks you can take, all in different areas and of differing lengths and difficulties.

What’s more, a huge effort has been made to conserve the natural look and feel of the park as much as possible, meaning you can explore from tasteful wooden walkways with no ugly barriers to obscure your surroundings. Me and five other women on the trip opted to wander around together, and really took our time admiring every inch of the natural trail, but if you’re travelling with small children, the openness does mean you have to watch your step at times.

Most of the park is accessible on foot, but parts do require short trips across the water in boats, or a quick bus journey up and down the hills. The sooner in the morning you can arrive the better. We were fortunate enough that they opened half an hour early for our group and when I say it’s best experienced without too many crowds, I mean it. Even with crowds though, this should be on everyone’s list for sure if you’re in the area. I know I’ll never forget my own visit to Plitvice Lakes, just one of many highlights of my brief dip into Croatia.