Stepped terraces of moss-covered limestone edge their way out over looming cliffs, spouting cataracts of water into the shimmering, aquamarine pools below. Karsts of soaring dolomite rise to the left and right, draped in stringy vines and decorated with blooming clusters of orchids. In the distance, the foothills of the Dinaric Alps and the craggy faces of the Velebit Range swell from the earth in bursts of verdant spruce and fir forests. Welcome to the Plitvice Lakes of central Croatia—one of the oldest natural UNESCO attractions on the planet.

This conglomeration of 16 variously-hued lakes of algae green and glacial blue connected by countless gushing waterfalls, represents one of the country’s most popular attractions, and is a veritable must on the way south from Zagreb through to Zadar on the Adriatic coast. Be sure to consult your Plitvice Lakes tour guide on the major sights of the area, which include the Veliki Splat waterfall, the winding cave complexes of the cascades, and the hiking trails that meander between the upper and lower lake areas of the national park.