Journey Through Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
/Snaking between boundless overgrown trees, clear lakes, and rocks dripping remnants of the water pouring over the other side of Plitvice Lakes, I’m reminded of how much wonder you can feel when you step outside of your comfort zone.
Even walking on man-made wooden path ways, surrounded by other tourists, it was easy to get caught in the feeling of awe and serenity Plitvice Lakes provides.
Lakes National Park is undoubtedly Croatia’s most famous national park. Pristine lakes laced together by flowing waterfalls at every turn and blanketed with thick green foliage beyond belief, Plitvice Lakes is a traveler's dream come true.
It's a place of fairy tales and magic; water so clear you can see 40-foot-tall trees completely submerged beneath the surface.
As you are ushered through the 295 sq. km and 16 terraced lakes, the air smells so crisp and fresh that you feel as if you might have discovered it yourself, despite the other visitors that share the walkway.
Plitvice Lakes is one of the oldest national parks in Southeast Europe, established in 1949, and became an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
Traveler’s Tip: Since Plitvice Lakes is UNESCO provided, you are not allowed to swim in the surreal waters, however, on my second trip to Croatia in 2017, I visited Krka National Park in which you are able to swim in the waters!
A unique combination of old world charm and untouched wilderness, Plitvice Lakes National Park is not to be missed.
Note: This article was originally posted in December, 2016 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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