Krka National Park

August 25

Since Krka National Park was on the way to our next campsite, we included it in our itinerary for the day. However, this meant that we couldn't arrive at the campsite early and we didn't want to push our luck again. Today, we managed to make a phone reservation, so we had the freedom to have an extensive stay. Krka National Park is like the little brother of Plitvice Lakes. It is another canyon created by the Krka River, with travertine cascades and stunning waterfalls. It's not as large and expansive as Plitvice Lakes, but the biggest draw for tourists is that you can swim at the large waterfall. Just for that reason, we really wanted to visit.

We were on track with our schedule because we've become experts at setting up and taking down our tent :)

When we arrived at the park, we were disappointed with the entrance fee. We mainly wanted to go swimming and not spend the whole day there, especially since we had already seen Plitvice Lakes.

So, what to do...? When we were at Plitvice Lakes, we noticed that there was no monitoring inside the park except at the entrances and there were no fences. This park seemed to be set up the same way. We looked at each other and had the same thought. Determined to avoid paying the entrance ticket, we set off on our way. First, we left the crowded area and headed in the direction we thought was correct. The waterfalls are at the bottom of the canyon, so we had to find a way to get there somehow. It was going to be a small adventure. First, we crossed an abandoned industrial site where sheep felt at home, and then we looked for possible paths or trails. The path took us through young pine forests, old olive groves, and over their stone walls, and further through flat, dry thorny bushes until we reached a rough, stony field from where, after 1.5 hours, we could finally see the water and tourist boats down below. The excitement of being on the right path brought us safely down the approximately 200 meters in elevation. And then, our excitement came crashing down. There was no path, only reeds and inaccessible shores. There was only one bitter solution, we had to go back up through the stony field, through the shrubs, past the olive groves, and search for a way back to the car. After a total of 3.5 hours, we made it... and we were back to where we started. BUT we had an exciting hike, fresh figs from a tree, delicious dark red stolen grapes, scratched shins, and now the opportunity to get the 4:00 ticket for a lower price. As a cherry on top, the main rush of visitors to the park was already over. Now, we deservedly took the shuttle bus down and with renewed excitement, we rushed to the bathing area, stripped off our sticky clothes, and plunged into the crystal-clear, roaring, refreshing water. As expected, we weren't alone. During peak visiting hours, we could easily imagine that this place would resemble a bathing spot in the Ganges.

We admit, things didn't go as we had hoped, but in the end, it was a beautiful day filled with adventure that we will fondly remember for a long time.