Private experience of Rastoke and Plitvice Lakes from Zagreb
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Zagreb, Croatia
- 10 to 12 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Swap Zagreb for a peaceful day trip to explore quaint villages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—Plitvice Lakes National Park. Instead of traveling on a crowded tour bus, benefit from the luxury of private transportation with just your group and a driver. Highlights include Rastoke, a village known for its watermills, a cheese tasting at a family-run farm, brunch, and the magnificent Plitvice Lakes National Park.
- Tick off Plitvice Lakes National Park and Rastoke village in a day
- Explore scenic outdoor sights with a guide so you don’t get lost
- Have your guide’s undivided attention on this private tour
- Travel comfortably in a private vehicle with air-conditioning
What's Included
- Walking poles
- Snacks
- Bottled water
- Licensed English speaking guide
- Guided tour of the National Park
- Private Luxury Vehicle with A/C
- BrunchPicnic charcuterie board of traditional homemade products
- Gratuities
- Plitvice Lakes admission
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We pick up anywhere in Zagreb that is accessible. Please let us know of your location so we can arrange the pick up accordingly.
Operating hours.8:00 am
Itinerary
Zagreb (Pass By)
Karlovac (Pass By)
1
Rastoke
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Rakovica
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Plitvice Lakes National Park
5 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included
Zagreb (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Janice_N
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
Reviews
5.0
based on 143 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Janice_N, Apr 2026
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
Ryan_B, Jan 2026
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.
kjlwhotmailcom, Oct 2025
Plitvice Park was spectacular; however, our guide, Karlo, made our day truly phenomenal. Karlo allowed us to take the day at our pace and he customized the activities and conversation to fit our interests and desires. He's personable, flexible, kind, and sincere in his interactions. He's someone you would want to share a meal with!
Maria_O, Jul 2025
Carlo’s been amazing!
My girlfriend and Carlo decided that we had a very early start at 6am. Turned out the right thing to do as we beat the traffic and the crowds. We had a pick up straight from our apartment and then it got really exiting. Being a bit of history nerd myself, Carlo gave us an amazingly detailed breakdown of 3000 years of history of Croatia. I’ve been absolutely fascinated while the amazing one managed to get a few minutes extra sleep. After arrival, we jumped straight into the national park. It’s been incredible from the start. Carlo offered to take pictures of us which was really kind. Looking at those later we realised that he’s surely done it before, just part of the amazing service we received. We had plenty of time to look at all the different lakes and very much benefited from the fact that Carlo has been about 1000 times before. He just knew how to beat the crowds getting through the whole set up without missing anything. A massive bonus was of course the opportunity to learn about the history of the national park from someone really knowledgeable and experienced.
Next was lunch. Again, just incredible. Carlos comes from a family who’s been farming and curing their own meats for generations. So we had a proper charcuterie picknick at a resting area in the park. Self baked bread as well. On the way back we stopped at another pretty village where my partner and me had another 45 mins of sight seeing. Then we talked more generally about other nice things in life like food and music and enjoyed a Spotify jam together.
Overall, it’s been an unforgettable day out. My partner and me wanted to see that place for ages and Carlo’s expertise just made it extra special.
Highly recommended. Feels like we got so much out of our private tour and in comparison to a coach trip with lots of annoying people it wasn’t that much more expensive. We found at all a new friend in Carlo.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Dear Maria and Bjorn,
WOW!!! What an incredible review. Thank you so much for putting so much effort and time to write it :) We had a wonderful day exploring Plitvice and I am especially happy you were up for an early start so we can beat the crowds and the heat. The day couldn't have been better. Company as well ;) Thank you both once more and I do hope to see you either in Germany and England or back here in Croatia. Wishing you both all the best! :)
Kind regards,
Karlo from Bespoke Croatia
Barbara_W, Apr 2025
Karlo was the perfect guide.
He was punctual, extremely knowledgeable about Croatian history and current events, courteous and very pleasantly entertaining.
I highly recommend Karlo
Response from Host, May 2025
Dear Barbara,
You and Lewis were an amazing company during our private tour of Plitvice Lakes. Thank you so much for finding the time to write this incredible review. What you have written about me, I can say likewise about you. Hope to see you in the future.
Kind regards,
Karlo from Bespoke Croatia
Vitor_D, Apr 2025
Our private, eclectic experience of Rastoke and Plitvice Lakes National Park with guide Marko was truly exceptional. He was on time, well-explained everything, and made the trip highly enjoyable. Marko's knowledge and passion for the region were evident throughout the tour, allowing us to fully appreciate the beauty and history of these breathtaking locations. His detailed explanations of the park's natural features and historical significance added great depth to our visit. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, May 2025
Dear Vitor,
Thank you and Ana for your wonderful company during our trip to Plitvice Lakes. We have touched base with many topics and enjoyed both Upper and Lower Lakes. It will be a pleasure to host you again or catch up in Portugal. Wishing you many happy travels!
Kind regards,
Karlo from Bespoke Croatia
P.S. many times people have misnamed me. No worries at all. Marko is also a lovely name :)
Vicki_W, Feb 2025
My tour guide, Karlo, from Bespoke Croatia, was excellent. I couldn’t have asked for a friendlier, more knowledgeable tour guide. The trip was perfectly catered to my physical abilities and preferences, and I enjoyed every minute of it. When I return to Croatia, I will not hesitate to hire him again.
Patrick_T, Jan 2025
I just finished my phenomenal experience experience in Plitvice Lakes National Park and Rastoke with Karlo from Bespoke Croatia. It was a cold day in January with snow on the ground, however, this was not a problem at all. In fact, the winter weather added to the natural beauty of these amazing locations. During the car ride, Karlo told me about the history of Croatia, from the very beginning up until the present. This was a very interesting conversation and I learned so much. Our first stop was in the small town of Rastoke which was very enjoyable and worth seeing, given the unique waterfalls and charming architecture. Next, we arrived at Plitvice Lakes which was absolutely stunning in the winter season. This is one of those places that is worth visiting in all seasons. Karlo and I spent several hours hiking around the lakes. There were so many breathtaking vistas. We also took a boat across the lake which was a great experience because it allowed us to experience the lakes from a different vantage point. The scenery was breathtaking. Karlo came prepared with a delicious picnic lunch that featured local food that he and his family had prepared for us. This was very special and I am so thankful for this. I am so glad that I took this tour with Karlo. It was such a memorable experience, and it was a very important part of my weeklong trip to Zagreb. I highly recommend this tour - you will not be disappointed!
Joan_S, Dec 2024
It was very generous day the tour operator was very nice good and helpful gave us very good information about the activity and history of the place he was very joyful we enjoyed your activity very much thanks to Karlo the tour operator.
Munesh_M, Nov 2024
We lucky to have Karlo as our tour guide. Ask for Karlo as your tour guide. A next level travel guide. Above and beyond hospitality…
Abdulla_G, Sep 2024
Very amazing trip, the lakes we visited fantastic, beautiful and more than we imagined. Our guide Karlo was excellent , knowledgeable and helpful, he has done more than we expected.
Dianne_R, Jun 2024
Our guide Karlo gave us the most amazing day. We have been in Europe four weeks and this day has been the highlight. The lakes are so beautiful but Karlo made the day for us. He is so considerate from snacks in the car, picnic lunch to his careful driving and excellent commentary. He is very knowledgeable. We only speak English and his English is excellent. We found Karl so good we did some other trips with him.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear Dianne,
Thank you and Graham for your wonderful company during our 3 day experience. It was a pleasure to take you different places around Zagreb, Plitvice in particular.
Hope the rest of your travel went well! See you next time :)
Kind regards,
Karlo from Bespoke Croatia
Melanie_A, May 2024
Seeing Plitvice Lakes has been on my wishlist for many years, and it was everything I thought it would be and more. The park and falls are beautiful and are a very special place. Karlo was a fantastic guide. He took such good care of me. The snacks and picnic lunch he brought were perfect and a wonderful personal touch. He thought of everything and was prepared for anything. I felt that he wanted me to have the best time possible. He is so easy to talk to I felt like I spent the day with a friend. He is very knowledgeable about the history of Croatia and Park, along with answering all my questions about Croatia.If I come back Croatia I will definitely take more tours with Karlo. Thank you Karlo for a great day I won’t forget.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear Melanie,
Thank you so much for writing this incredible review. It was a privilege to take you to Plitvice Lakes and show you the best spots to take photos. Being an avid photographer, I know you appreciated it. Will be seeing you in the future. All the best.
Kind regards,
Karlo from Bespoke Croatia
Mai_N, Apr 2024
Our group had a perfect and wonderful tour with Karlo. He is one of the best tour guide I have ever met. Highly appreciate his knowledge of history, enthusiasm and thoughtfulness. We will definitely go on a tour with Karlo if we have a chance to come back Croatia.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear Mai,
What a wonderful comment. Thank all 3 of you for being an amazing company during our trip. I truly enjoyed the day and it made me happy to share many stories about my country, the region and of course assist you in choosing the best locations for your photos. See again in Croatia and wish you all the best.
Kind regards,
Karlo from Bespoke Croatia
Ling_Y, Dec 2023
Karlo was definitely the best tour guide we ever met in our life! (and we did several local tours in various countries before)
We learned a lot about the Croatian history and culture from him, as well as some really good photos by him at the lakes!
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear Ling,
Thank you and Chak for your wonderful company during our trip to Plitvice Lakes. It made me happy you were so much interested in the culture and history of my country and it was no problem to share the stories. Wishing you both all the best and hope to see you again!
Kind regards,
Karlo from Bespoke Croatia
VippinKumar_J, Aug 2023
One of the best trips ever by Viator in my view. The place is beautiful, guide Karlo is the best guide ever I have come across. The care, warmth & hospitality of Karlo was unmatched. I only hope other guides can be like Karlo then the entire vacation would be so much more enjoyable. Thank you Karlo and we would like to come back just for you
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Dear Vippin,
Thank you and your wonderful wife Smita for finding the time to write this amazing review. We spend a perfect day together exploring Plitvice, a truly unique phenomenon. Thank you for all the superlatives and I can gladly say the same for you. Until next time! And I am sure there will be one :)
Kind regards,
Karlo
Ileana_C, Aug 2023
Karlo enabled us to have an exceptional day! He provided us with a detailed history of Croatia and the region on the way to Platvice Lakes from Zagreb. The vehicle and drive were highly professional. The tour itself was super organized and Karlo was able to customize based on our interest and crowd control. We really appreciated the charcuterie from his family’s farm and the chocolate snacks that he provided. He even helped us book dinner reservations at a local, authentic Zagreb restaurant.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Dear Ileana,
Thank you and your wonderful children for making this experience even greater. It was a super busy day at the Lakes but still we managed to navigate successfully to avoid the crowds. I was happy you were such great listeners and just soaked in the stories. Thank you once more and looking forward to our next encounter.
Kind regards,
Karlo
leslie_K, Jul 2023
This has been one of the most amazing experience I have ever encountered. I was a bit resilient at first as a solo female traveler coming into a new country that I choose randomly on the map 😅 but the host made me feel so comfortable and welcoming during this activity! It is breathtaking and you do not even feel like it is a private tour experience but more so an amazing gathering among your closest friend discovering hidden gem that looks unreal!!
Everything has been perfect from the pick up to the drop off, the snacks were to die for and so many tons of laughing shareable moment occurred within it. I strongly suggest you should book even if you are a solo traveler, go for it! The host is the best I have ever encountered, thank you so much for so many joys and wow moments I had several time throughout the whole journey.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Dear Leslie,
OMG, thank you for this amazing review. You really put an effort. We had so much fun during our tour and easily connected. I am sure this is not your last visit to Croatia, even though the first one being completely random ;) See you next time and keep up rocking!
Kind regards,
Karlo
AndreaL_J, Jun 2023
We had an absolutely wonderful day at Plitvice with our guide Karlo. The park was so beautiful and Karlo planned our day perfectly so we were able to see the lower and upper lakes. He was so thoughtful to bring a picnic snack as well. After our day at Plitvice, he arranged for us to have special meal of the traditional Peka which we absolutely loved and was the perfect way to end our day. Karlo is a fantastic guide -he loves what he does and we will always remember what a great day we had.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Dear Andrea,
Wow what a great review. The day wouldn't have been perfect without you, Christian and Jillian. It proved we have so much in common and I am happy I was able to help in search of your Croatian roots. The people that prepared our meal are simply amazing. Just by entering the lodge you get the homey feeling and relaxed atmosphere. Looking forward to our future adventures! All the best to you and your family.
Kind regards,
Karlo
sab80, Aug 2022
Karlo is an amazing guide who is very passionate about his work and takes pride in ensuring his guests have the most memorable experience. He is very much a people person and happily tailors the day to your specific needs. He plans the day very well and everything ran very smoothly. The lakes are beautiful but can get crowed, I’m not very fit, so I got tired, but he made navigation easy and was happy to go at my pace. Little touches like making a homemade picnic of delicious snacks and taking the time to choose an excellent and very special visit for lunch cooked by a local family makes this tour an even more memorable must do experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2022
Dear Sally,
Thank you for finding the time to write such a great review. We did have an amazing day and I am happy I was able to customize it to your preferences. Personally, I think that the experience would not be complete with a little bit of Croatian hospitality. That is the reason why I always bring some homemade products from my family's farm. The family that prepares lunch is also extremely kind and love to host us. Thank you once more Sally. Hope you had a blast on your wedding. See you in Australia or back in Croatia. As we said, there is a lot more to discover.
Kind regards,
Karlo
JanaL_C, Aug 2022
My friend and I had a wonderful experience with Karlo. He picked us up near our Airbnb at the start of the day, then took us to Rastoke, Plitvice Lakes, and a wonderful dinner. The day was very special, and we learned a lot about Croatian history from Karlo. It is obvious that he loves his job, and his passion makes for a superior experience. Rastoke is a charming village, and the lakes are beautiful. We saw all of the lakes, and even stopped for a nice picnic that Karlo brought with him for us to enjoy. The dinner we had on our way back at a family-run restaurant was one of our favorite meals of the whole trip. Highly recommend this experience. Thank you for a wonderful day!
Response from Host, Aug 2022
Dear Ella,
Thank you and Alana for being such an amazing company during our tour to Plitvice Lakes. The day couldn't have been more perfect. I was extremely happy that you were so much interested in the history of Croatia and the surroundings. It was a pleasure to share these stories with you. The picnic and dinner were also a nice treat and the feedback is always positive. Thank you for another one :) Wish you all the best and looking forward to host you again once you return to explore Istria and Slavonia, another beautiful regions of Croatia.
Kind regards,
Karlo
Terrence_M, Jul 2022
The Plitvice park was absolutely stunning and undoctored pictures don't do it justice. Rastoke was a very pleasant surprise that we knew nothing about going into our adventure.
Our personal guide for the day was Karlo and he was fantastic! His knowledge about Croatian history and the information he shared on the drive to and from Plitvice from Zagreb was very interesting. Karlo was also flexible to our needs and showed honest warmth and concern that we both enjoyed our experience which was hampered a bit by our physical condition.
Karlo provided water and snacks, a delicious tray of meats, cheeses, bread, and vegetable, prepared largely by his own family, for an in-park picnic which was just what we needed to give us energy for the hike out. After leaving the park, we were treated to a fantastic Croatian dinner before being driven back to our Zagreb hotel. The whole experience was marvelous.
If we are able to make it back, we would love to have Karlo as our guide again.
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Dear Terrance,
Thank you and Judy for being such a great company during our tour of the National Park. I truly enjoyed the time we spend together exploring the park, feasting on our small picnic and later enjoying a 3 course lunch. It was a day full of laughter as well. Wish you all the best and many more travels! See you in the US or in Croatia.
Kind regards,
Karlo
Leanna_S, Jun 2022
This is one of the best tours we have ever booked. By the end of the day, Karlo wasn’t just a guide, he was a friend.
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Dear Leanne,
Thank you and Rich for being such a great company during our tour of the Lakes. I am also super happy you proved to be my fellow foodies :) Thank you once more for finding the time to write such a great review. Until next time my dear friends!
Kind regards,
Karlo
Christina_D, May 2022
In March 2022, we visited Zagreb and went on a day tour visiting Plitvice Park and Rastoke village. Our guide was Karlo. He was very informative, knowledgeable and took the time to explain and pointed out the important features of the place. The 10 hour tour was filled with great conversations. Karlo was so caring that he brought along snacks and home made food for our lunch so that we don't have to buy fast food, which was the only thing available at the park. Many thanks to his family for the delicious food.
Please accept our heartfelt gratitude for being such a great host and a wonderful tour guide. We had a fantastic time at Plitvice Lake Park and Rastoke village. You and this trip will be etched out in our memories. We highly recommend this tour and Karlo as the tour guide.
Christina and Duke from California.
Response from Host, May 2022
Dear Christina,
Thank you for writing such an amazing review. I was pleased to share a small piece of Croatia with you and Duke. Both of you are wonderful people and the time flew just by. My dad was happy when he heard you enjoyed the homemade delicacies that both of us make. Thank you both for being such great guests. You are welcome back anytime. Unit then, take care and see you back in Croatia for another adventure.
Kind regards,
Karlo
Merit_S, Apr 2022
Besides the overall trip being amazing, our Tour Guide Karlo was amazing. He was very patient with us from the moment he met us at our hotel, and customized the whole tour to meet our needs. Although it was offseason, The Plitvice park was still a beautiful site to see and because it wasn’t during peak season, we actually got a discount on the tickets and got most of the park to ourselves! We really enjoyed Karlo’s hospitality and we can say we have made a friend for when we come back to Zagreb and/or to another Croatian town in the future. Thank you!
Response from Host, Apr 2022
Dear Merit,
It was an absolute pleasure to host you and Jen. We had a fabulous day which started with some amazing cheese tasting. The family that hosted us produces amazing cheese and I am so happy you loved it. The Lakes are beautiful in every season and we were luck to see the entire park without so many people ruining our photos ;) I do have to say that our tour was also super friendly and the time just flew by. Until next time dear Merit and Jen!
Kind regards,
Karlo
Ebenezer_A, Apr 2022
Best private tour guide out there ! Very friendly and helpful, gives the best tips and really helps you understand the culture. Any tours in Croatia Karlo from Bespoke Croatia is your guy.
Response from Host, Apr 2022
Dear Ebenezer,
thank you and Hazel for being such a wonderful company during our tour! Truly enjoyed every moment with both of you. Looking forward of hosting you again once you return to Croatia. Wish you all the best!
Kind regards,
Karlo
straightkate79, Mar 2022
Karlo is a legend! From as soon as I booked the trip he reached out to say thanks and offer some further advice/information. On the day he turned up on time and was super friendly from the off. He was full of great stories and info for the journey to the National park and we made a great stop en route to stretch our legs and get refreshments. The park is absolutely stunning and as a private tour we avoided the bigger groups and set our own pace. Karlo even brought us the most amazing meats/cheese/bread for lunch from his family’s farm… it was delicious. This tour is an absolute must if you’re visiting Zagreb and check out his website for other great tours !
Response from Host, Mar 2022
Dear Kate,
You and Kayleigh are legends! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts of our tour. The day was beautiful and we were blessed with a lot of sun. Happy that we also brought some sunscreen :) Food that I bring is made from the highest quality products and it makes me happy you recognized that. Thank you and Kayleigh and congrats once more on the happy news. See you soon on our next adventure!
Kind regards,
Karlo
Brian_C, Nov 2021
My wife and I were in Zagreb celebrating some life events and we decided to go on this tour with Karlo. We were impressed by the itinerary and the knowledge Karlo had about the history and anecdotal descriptions of Croatia.
The Plitvice lakes were increíble and the tour around the lakes was outstanding. Karlo brought snacks and drinks for us, took pictures of us along the way and even bought a little birthday cake for my wife as it was her birthday. The snacks included charcuterie from his families farm, wine, and home made bread that his Jill made for us the day before. What a surprise that was and it was delicious 😊
This tour was awesome obviously because of the scenery but the time Karlo took to make the trip comfortable was great. He is a step above other tour guides and we encourage everyone to book a tour with him.
Response from Host, Dec 2021
Dear Brian,
thank you and Kristen for finding the time to write such an amazing review. Despite the rain in the morning the day had turned into magic. Not just because of the beautiful place we visited but also because we connected so easily. I am happy you enjoyed the picnic basket full of homemade food we prepared for you. Happy bday to both of you since your birthdays are just a couple of days apart :) Will be looking forward of seeing you back in Croatia next summer to explore the rest of my country. Until then stay safe and be well my friends!
Kind regards,
Karlo
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