Private experience of Rastoke and Plitvice Lakes from Zagreb
Description
Leave the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle behind you and spend a day in one of the most beautiful National Parks in the world. On your way to Plitvice Lakes discover its smaller version, Rastoke, a village famous for its watermills and learn about its historical importance. Choose your own activity level before entering the park and rest assured that your expert guide will give you undivided attention and make your experience unforgettable. Only thing you will need to worry about is having enough memory on your camera to capture the beauty of mesmerizing waterfalls and 16 interconnected emerald lakes and the flora and fauna surrounding it. Indulge yourself in local cuisine by tasting award wining local cheese at a family run farm and perhaps enjoy peka, a dish prepared under a cast iron bell. As the sun sets, finish your day with a relaxing drive, casual atmosphere, friendly chatter and with memories for a lifetime.
Tour Options
Itinerary
In the morning hours, you will be picked up at your accommdation in Zagreb by your driver-guide (if the pick up location is not accessible, pick up will be arranged at the closest accessible location). While still driving through Zagreb, you will get the overview of the itinerary as well the historical and cultural aspects of the city.
On our way to Plitvice Lakes we will pass through the city of Karlovac and learn about it's historical importance.
Our first stop is going to be picturesque village of Rastoke where you will stretch your legs and have a short break for coffee, tea or some other beverage. Your guide will share with you stories about the area assist you in taking some beautiful photos.
Before we get to the National Park, you will get a chance to try some exquisite local cheese and learn about it's production.
Before entering the park, you will get an overview of the trails. The tour includes a guided tour of both upper and lower lakes as well as the boat and bus ride. Your guide also adjusts the pace of the tour to your preference and manages the group to navigate through crowds. During your walk you will be mesmerized by the natural beauty of the National Park and the phenomenon of the creation of the Lakes. The tour finishes with the viewpoints of the Lower Lakes.
Our tour will finish in Zagreb in early evening hours.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pick up anywhere in Zagreb that is accessible. Please let us know of your location so we can arrange the pick up accordingly.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(143)
From the minute we booked this trip the communication with Karlo was excellent. The day before our trip he even sent us some recommendations for restaurants, wine etc for Zagreb in case it helped. He arrived on time, and was just such a nice guy. His knowledge of the area, history etc was excellent, his English is fantastic, and he was just great company. We spent 10 hours with him and didn’t stop talking. The trip itself was excellent, and the lunch he provided of foods he had prepared or cooked himself was outstanding. I cannot praise him enough, so would recommend Karlo without hesitation, and guarantee you won’t regret it.
Karlo is a fantastic guide. Great personality and sense of humor, with knowledge of everything you would want to know about the sites you're seeing and Croatia. He answered every question we asked.
Perfect day, well paced, tailored to our needs, delicious lunch, & snacks. Hassle free, Karlo is a great guide, learnt lots, had a laugh, shown all the interesting sights. Plitvice national park is absolutely beautiful. Highly recommend this tour with Karlo - Bespoke Croatia
Karlo contacted us several times prior to the tour to tell us what to expect and confirm an early 6:30 am booking time as we needed to be back at our hotel at a designated time. He was on time for the pickup and we were off! He spent time in the car explaining what we were seeing and took time to get to know us on a personal basis since we were spending the day together. He also shared a bit about himself during the drive and was extremely knowledgeable about Croatian history, etc. We arrived at the park and began our hike. After the first half of our tour, I realized I had left my glasses at a prior photo op location. I figured they were gone and we proceeded to go on the rest of the hike. After a portion of the upper portion of the park, he found a place to rest and proceeded to lay out a food spread that he had prepared for a snack with cheeses, bread, and items that had been Prepared by his mother and grand mother…totally unexpected! Then he told us to wait while he redid our whole hike to look for the glasses! I might add that it was cold, rainy day with periods of hail. He returned without them but he went the extra mile and more to try to solve the issue. We finished the hike only to find that someone turned the glasses into the ticket info booth!!! All this to say that he was so dedicated to us having a positive experience on our hike thru the park and went the extra mile and more to make that happen! I would hire him again in a heartbeat!!!
Karlo was an excellent tour guide. He went above and beyond to make our trip more enjoyable and memorable. He has excellent knowledge of Croatia and its history. The food provided was also amazing. Thank you for providing a brilliant opportunity and we will be using your services again to see the lakes in the summer months :)
Karlo provided a stellar day experience from Zagreb! He provided clear communication during booking and delivered as promised. The automobile was clean, with water and snacks provided by Karlo. His tours are planned well, and he easily answered questions and told us stories about each area we visited. We finished the tour with Karlo feeling like we learned a lot about Croatia and had a new friend in Zagreb!
My husband and I have travelled to many European countries over the years and have experienced every type of tour. THIS tour, however, was the best we have ever experienced in 30 years of travel! Not only was Karlo an extremely knowledgeable guide, but his secret gift which puts him above all others was how attuned he was to our interests/needs. Plitvice is a magical place with more than 90 waterfalls. Karlo knew all the trails and took into consideration what would work best for us. The day started with crystal blue skies but unexpectedly changed mid-afternoon to rain. My husband and I brought umbrellas but made the unwise decision to head out without them. Karlo knew better and was prepared anyway, bringing an extra umbrella for us in his backpack. One special highlight was the picnic lunch that Karlo personally made for us - delicious bread, cheese, pickles, and meats. That picnic, along with everything else Karlo did, created a day that is now a very special memory of a lifetime. I can’t emphasize enough what an extraordinary day this was because of Karlo’s attention to detail, his organization, and his wonderful personality. His preparedness, knowledge, and attunement to what would be best for us was unparalleled. We had 6 subsequent personal tours in Croatia on our trip and we always compared them to this one. It was extraordinary!
Karlo was an amazing tour guide and very knowledgeable about the area and Croatian history. We’d considered doing a bus tour, but the private tour with Karlo gave us more freedom to look around at our own pace. We had also previously considered driving ourselves with a rental car, but it was so much better having a local show us around. I’d recommend this to anyone and everyone. We went in Winter when the lake was all snowy and beautiful. If we come back in Summer I’d honestly do this exact same tour again just to see what it’s like when it’s sunnier.
We visited Plitvice Lakes this December 2025 and Karlo from Bespoke Croatia made it an experience we will never forget. His knowledge of the park is vast, but what truly set him apart was his thoughtfulness. He set up a delicious picnic for us featuring a variety of homemade tasty treats that were just perfect for the setting. On the way, we did a quick stop at Rastoke, which was stunning—the background looks like a photoshopped Windows desktop wallpaper, it is so beautiful! We managed to get some great photos of the trip there. Karlo is a 'walking encyclopedia'—not just about the lakes, but also about movies and TV shows, which made the transit time fly by. He has an impeccable command of English and was incredibly patient with our kids. Punctual, friendly and driving a very comfortable car, he is the gold standard for guides. Highly recommended!
Piltvice Lakes NP was a beautiful winter wonderland the day we went with occasional light snow. The NP is stunning no matter what season you go. Karlo was very engaging. He provided some tasty sandwiches while we took the boat across the lake & also while waiting for the bus later. The Upper Lakes had already closed for the year (it was late Nov when we went), but we really enjoyed our time going thru the Lower Lakes while Karlo explained how the lakes were formed, and told us a bit about the fish, birds, and wildlife. He also was a great source of knowledge about the region on the drive to & from Zagreb. I have a hip issue, so it was enough time for my husband & I & Karlo took good care of us. I would highly recommend this tour! Susan
