Plitvice Lakes is the first and the largest national park in Croatia, founded in 1949, and it was designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. On this private tour, you will discover the magic of this region with a professional local guide. The national park comprises 16 picturesque lakes, connected by a number of cascading waterfalls. Travertine barriers, which were formed over ten thousand years, are one of the fundamental features of the park. The lakes are renowned for their distinctive colors, ranging from azure to green and grey, depending on the quantity of minerals or organisms in the water and the angle of sunlight. Over an area of 29,482 hectares, the national park features forests containing a wealth of animal and plant life. There are deer, bears, wolves, wild boar, wild cats, small game and many kinds of birds. About eight kilometers of pathways and wooden walking trails around the lakes are accessible, so it is possible to see all of the 16 lakes and waterfalls by boat, train or on foot.