Plitvice Lakes - the turquoise jewel of Croatia

The day before we had explored Krka National Park and arrived in the evening at Camping Korana - right next to the entrance to Plitvice Lakes National Park. In the morning, we headed for one of Croatia's most famous attractions.

Plitvice Lakes

The park made an enormous impression on us. Turquoise water, cascades tumbling from one lake to the next, wooden boardwalks winding between waterfalls - these are views you don't forget in a hurry. Sixteen lakes connected by waterfalls create a landscape that looks straight out of a film.

Fun fact: the national park was created here in 1949, and in 1979 Plitvice Lakes were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

We spent several hours in the park, walking the boardwalks and taking the boats that ferry visitors across the largest lake. It has to be said, though, that in August Plitvice draws crowds. The narrow boardwalks got tight at times, and manoeuvring a pushchair through groups of tourists took patience. Even so, the scenery made up for everything. The colour of the water shifted with the depth and the light - from emerald green to deep turquoise.

Good to know: swimming in the lakes is not allowed, so save the swimsuits for the campsite or the sea.

Looking for a seaside campsite

After leaving the park we got in the car and headed west towards the coast - about 70 kilometres. We had set our hearts on sleeping by the sea, which in the middle of peak season turned out to be quite a challenge. We tried several campsites that were completely full before finally finding a spot - Camping Klenovica.

Camping Klenovica

The campsite turned out to be rather unusual. Set on a mountainside, on rocky shelves, with a view over the sea. Our pitch had a concrete base, so hammering in tent pegs called for some creativity. On top of that, a strong wind blew in from the sea all night. On the bright side, the campsite had a swimming pool, which we took full advantage of the next morning before moving on. Sometimes it is exactly these unexpected moments that stick with you the longest.