A step into paradise — the Plitvice Lakes in Croatia
It might sound strange that it’s far easier to travel and do sightseeing during a pandemic but there are certainly fewer tourists around in places that are usually over-flooded with them. More and more European countries are re-opening the borders and lift restrictions, as people all over the world are seeking a normal life once more. I was one of them and had to leave my own apartment, for the ceiling was about to drop on my head.
After living out of the suitcase for a decent portion of the last five and a half years, being stuck at the same place was certainly a killjoy. One of the few things that provided inspiration was the live sets by Cercle, who regularly send well-known DJs to fascinating places all over the world. Among them was also the British duo Disclosure, who performed live at the Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Once I saw the drone shots of the location, it instantly went to my “must-visit” list because I only had been to Croatia once for a live poker event without any chance to explore. The thought still didn’t cross my mind that I’d actually get there in 2021 even after I jumped on a plane to stay in Romania for five weeks.
However, after a subsequent visit to Austria and Slovenia, it was just a small jump over the border to Zagreb, which was fortunately served by Flixbus. From one day to the other, I found a very affordable AirBnB right in the city center of Zagreb and was all set to finally see a little bit of the country during the ongoing European Championships.
Upon returning to the apartment in the early evening, I noticed a gathering of people near the Croatian National Theatre. There was a small stage prepared and suddenly more than a dozen ballerinas walked outside to perform live. Fortunately, I had my camera at hand and managed to snap some acceptable shots during the show, which lasted more than half an hour.
On the next day, I searched for day trips and sure enough, Plitvice Lakes was among them. The operator promised a small tour and the location was just two and a half hours away in a mini-van. Once everything was confirmed, I strolled around the city and mentally prepared for the fascinating views the next day.
However, the trip never happened as nobody else signed up and as at least two people were required for it to take place. A friend of mine from Split promised to look for a tour operator in her city and two days later I was heading there by bus. This time, the dip into paradise was not to be denied and a small group of eight gathered at seven in the morning outside the Booker Transfers & Tours to head to Plitvicka Jezera.
Our driver Mario had plenty of stories about the local history to share during the morning drive and as we arrived, Biljana the tour guide was already waiting. During peak times, there’d be long waiting lines outside of the main entrance to enter the National Park. However, with the pandemic still ongoing and more than 35 degrees Celsius, we barely had to wait for more than five minutes to purchase the tickets at an affordable 150 Croatian Kunas (approximately 20 Euros).
It is definitely recommended to start the tour from the North Entrance (one) as you instantly get a panoramic view over the lower lakes and large waterfalls. In total, the entire National park consists of 16 cascading lakes and more than 90 waterfalls, some of which you will barely notice as you walk past the wooden bridges.
The scenery is picturesque from the get-go, not just because of the view but also the bright emerald green or deep blue water on the lakes. The color actually fluctuates between them and holds a surprise around every corner.
As you progress between the three stations, every lake becomes more impressive and certain spots invite for landscape shots across the other side of the pond to catch the waterfalls in between the breezing grass. With an eye for the big picture, framing shots from different angles can be found everywhere to diversify the memories from all ABC tourist shots.
Midway through the trip, you get to take a rest near food stalls while waiting for a small boat, which can transfer up to 100 people to the next station. The view across the largest lake of the National Park is soothing and relaxing but not necessarily as stunning as the rest of the impressive scenery.
As the trails continue next and across the various lakes, the flow of water gets more and more creative. It was a pity that we only had around four hours to catch the main highlights of the park, as ideally, it would require two days to grasp the entire beauty. But the drone shots of Cercle certainly didn’t promise too much because the entire National Park was absolutely stunning.
The next time, I shall reserve more time to return and take hundreds of pictures without a guide. That being said, the Booker team really took good care of us and made sure we got to see the most picturesque parts during the day tour.
And as the trip to Croatia slowly came to an end, I took a small sunset kayaking tour around the coastline of Split. There were only three of us and one instructor but it may have been for the best of it that my first experience was in a solo kayak. Now I cannot wait to do it again, as it was a very humbling and satisfying activity. For the record, I did not dip over and fall into the water, which shall be considered as a win for the first time.
What I have seen from Croatia so far was only a small glimpse but has certainly created an appetite for more. For certain, Dubrovnik is on the list of places to visit and the exploration of nearby countries such as Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania also seems very promising as well. That will have to wait until the next time, however.
By then, touristic activities may be back to almost normal and it might be nearly impossible to take certain landscape shots at Plitvice Lakes without being pushed forward by dozens of people right behind your backs. Perhaps, it was the perfect time to discover this hidden gem in Croatia and take full advantage of the ensuing freedom.
If anyone tells you that the National Park is a must-visit, I can just totally agree with that sentiment. And perhaps, the pictures in this blog entry will be convincing enough to check for flight tickets and accommodation in Zagreb or Split.