5 reasons why you should stay longer than 3 days in Plitvice Lakes National Park /

We are all well aware of the fact that our hectic daily lives lead to a lot of stress and anxiety for most people. Our jobs, health issues, family responsibilities, and financial burdens are the areas of our lives that usually lead to increased stress levels. In addition, many of us use our smartphones, computers and tablets on a daily basis, and overusing them can lead to more stress without us even noticing it. Numerous studies have shown that spending more time in nature and greenery helps us to reduce and manage our stress levels in a healthy way. This allows us to improve the psychological and physiological indicators of our mental health, including happiness.

Hiking and camping are excellent stress-relieving activities, and you can find them here. Walking the wooden paths through one of the most beautiful national parks in the world is sure to leave you breathless, and we are sure that the view of the crystal clear emerald green and turquoise lakes will help you forget the stress of everyday life . All you have to do is feel nature and feel its scents, listen to it and become one with it. Give your mind a break from all the work. Discover the Plitvice Lakes and their surroundings, let nature dance with you.

So hit the roads and take the trails.

Go explore

Staying somewhere for several days gives us the chance to get to know the area, its surroundings and nearby towns better. Plitvice Lakes National Park is the oldest and largest national park in the Republic of Croatia and its enchanting and beautiful sights have always attracted nature lovers. The tufa formation process, which creates natural travertine dams and results in the formation of lakes, constitutes a unique universal value that gave Plitvice Lakes international recognition on October 26, 1979, when the park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The park is mostly covered with forest vegetation and bodies of water occupy just under 1% of the total area.

The cluster of lakes in the park consists of 16 named lakes and numerous smaller ones, all one after the other, with the emerald green and turquoise hues of their crystal clear waters mesmerizing visitors. There is no doubt that each of us wanted to visit a magical place like this at least once in our lives, and if you stay for more than three days, you will have the chance to explore every inch of the ancient forest, by walking down all the trails in the visitor zone, count the lakes and row across the magical and beautiful Kozjak Lake, the largest and deepest of the lakes. History buffs can learn about the history of this area, visit all the historical sites and discover something new.

Proximity to other destinations

When planning a vacation, we often look for easy-to-reach destinations and the chance to see other places as well, and Plitvice Lakes are the perfect choice for this. Just about two hours away from Plitvice Lakes, Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, is a city steeped in history, with many cultural and culinary oases at every corner. Zagreb offers top quality accommodation for all travellers, from great hotels to smaller and interesting family owned holiday homes. When it comes to gastronomy, Zagreb is known far and wide for its traditional cuisine, but it also offers delicacies from around the world prepared by celebrity chefs who have chosen this city as their home. Culture-loving visitors will definitely enjoy Zagreb’s museums – for example, the Museum of Broken Relationships founded in Zagreb, or the Nikola Tesla Technical Museum, perfect for all ages.

Do you see Croatia as a combination of blue sea and ancient cities? You can make all your dreams come true, because Zadar, a beautiful city whose historic center is located on a peninsula, is only an hour and a half away from Plitvice Lakes. This city has it all: beautiful beaches, wonderful museums, churches and open-air archaeological sites that tell the ancient history. When you’ve taken it all in, it’s time for a culinary break. And food in Dalmatia is more than first class. From Zadar you can explore some of Croatia’s more than a thousand islands: small and uninhabited, a heart-shaped, but also larger islands where all the luxury of the mainland is combined with the charm that only an island can offer. offer.

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Activities in the area

The surroundings of the Plitvice Lakes offer many activities: you can visit caves and museums, go horseback riding or kayaking. The recently opened Center of Subterranean Heritage, Speleon, is just a 20 minute drive from the National Park and takes you on a walk through the history of the subterranean world. Speleon is organized like a time machine and takes you everywhere from the Middle Ages to the Pleistocene. The center’s collection is truly something special, as it features hyper-realistic images of extinct animal species that once roamed this area. Models, LCD screens, smart glass projections, replicas and many screens that give you a better view of the world below your feet. The center also offers a caving obstacle course for children – a play area inspired by caving and the ice age.

If you want to get to know the nature around the National Park, you can visit one of the nearby ranches and go horseback riding through the beautiful nature under the guidance of a guide. The freeriding activity takes place near the ranches, in a picturesque setting, through woodland forests and on trails where, if you are lucky, you may encounter forest animals such as rabbits, deer, etc.

You can explore the Gacka, one of the cleanest rivers in Europe, in a transparent kayak. This oxygenated river shows you all its abundant flora and fauna. As you navigate in your kayak you can see the Gacka trout, aquatic plants and crayfish. Choose your own route and kayak and set out on a leisurely exploration of the beautiful hidden gems of the verdant Gacka Valley. Kayaking on Gacka is suitable for all ages, from families with small children to top athletes. This is an activity that everyone can enjoy.

Increased happiness

We all want the feeling of true happiness to last longer and be more intense. Our hectic life and pursuit of material things make us appreciate our free time more. Every moment we spend in nature takes us back to a time when we were less stressed, we were in no rush to go to work, to meetings… Being in nature allows us to enjoy it with all our senses. to enjoy. The first sense to be enchanted here is our sense of sight thanks to the beautiful, crystal clear lakes. All the while we can hear the birds sing, the water gurgle, the leaves rustle… natural sights so beautiful and playful that they make you forget all your worries.

Once you dive into the green, you have to let go of bad energy, you can’t help but smile and you feel all warm and fuzzy. Even if your mind is still busy with your work and errands, once you see the beautiful flowers, breathe the fresh air and hear the sound of the waterfalls, you will forget them all. Grab your loved ones, take some time for yourself and spend it in true happiness – hiking through the impressive Plitvice Lakes National Park.

Try the local cuisine

More than ever, travelers are planning their trips around sampling the flavors and aromas of local cuisines. This way they get to know the local culture faster and easier and they mix with the local population. Taste artisan dishes, made according to recipes that have been passed down through generations. Lika’s kitchen has a special charm. In our restaurants you can enjoy dishes prepared with fresh ingredients and their aromas create a special atmosphere that will leave you speechless. Generations have grown up on a diet based on the famous Lika potatoes, which still play an important role in dishes from this region. If you like cheese, be sure to try the well-known Lika varieties – de bass and the skripavac. Local family farms offer a wealth of delicacies: cheeses, jams, homemade sausages, strudels, drinks… There is something for everyone. You will definitely want to take home a memento to remember this beautiful region, or give one as a gift to a loved one, inviting them to visit and experience Lika.

If you want to make sure all your senses are satisfied, go wild and sample as much of the local produce as possible. It is a known fact that good food leads to a good mood.

Relax, fall in love with nature, listen to the birdsong and feel the pulse of the ancient forests!

Tomislav Kovačević is the General Director of Plitvice Lakes National Park. Plitvice Lakes National Park is the oldest and largest national park in Croatia.

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