It takes 3 hours one way, same for the return + restaurant stop from 3 to 4 pm, it's a bit long necessarily, meeting in the morning at 7am. Basically 4-5 hours on site, which is enough. There are plenty of different path possibilities on foot, boat and train, depending on the guide and the form of the group to walk so that's the lottery. We came across a group that was progressing well and it suited us perfectly. Downside: at the beginning of November there is a little lack of water, there is more at the Krka waterfalls but the park is smaller on the other hand and therefore fewer lakes and waterfalls to see.

If you are in shape and a fast walker, I would recommend splitting off from the group to explore more on your own. There is a loop after the first stop that fits perfectly in the time schedule and well worth it. If not, you will sit with the group for the whole extra hour or so at the picnic rest stop right after getting there, so splitting off is the move. The views are absolutely incredible; this trip was well worth the time and money invested.

Elena is a fantastic guide, she gave us lots of really interesting information about Split and Croatia. There was a problem with the bus in the morning meaning we left late but she made sure we didn’t lose anytime at the Lakes and still made it back to Split at a good time. Definitely recommend the tour but be prepared for colder/wet weather, it’s a totally different climate to Split and some of the group were unprepared