Programme E

Programme E is the park’s 5.1 km circular tour from Entrance 2: a short electric boat carries you across Lake Kozjak, then you walk uphill through the Upper Lakes to Prošćansko before the wheeled sightseeing train returns you to the south entrance. The park estimates two to three hours. It’s a good pick if you want a substantial look at the lakes without walking the same shore back. The mapped walking-and-boat line is about 4.2 km; a separate route description says 5.5 km, so the published figures use different measures. I’d plan around the park’s 5.1 km programme figure and leave time for stops.

From the Entrance 2 access, follow the signed path down to the P1 pier and take the short boat across Kozjak to P2. The crossing is part of the route, not an optional shortcut. From P2, keep heading upstream through the Upper Lakes rather than turning back toward the entrance. The route is a mix of lakeside footpaths, wooden boardwalks and stair sections; it’s easy to follow, but you’ll be going up and down as the path threads between water and cascades.

The walk passes the small Burgeti, Gradinsko, Milino, Galovac and Okrugljak lakes before reaching Prošćansko, the far end of this programme. The park calls out Veliki and Mali Prštavac and the smaller falls; Galovački buk is another named waterfall on the upper-lake walk. Expect the best variety around the cascades, where channels spill over pale barriers into one lake after another. At a broad fall, keep a little of the boardwalk in the frame: it gives the water some scale and shows how close the path runs to it.

The lakes are divided by tufa barriers: calcium carbonate builds up around mosses, algae and other tiny water-dwelling life, making the natural steps that send water from one basin to the next. Those barriers keep changing as they grow and erode. It’s a useful thing to watch for here because the route repeatedly brings you level with the small cascades and their thin rims, not just the big named waterfalls.

At the northern end, board the panoramic vehicle for the return to Entrance 2. It has wheels and travels on the road rather than rails; the park introduced its visitor trains in 1977. That ride is what closes the programme, so check that the boat and vehicle service you need is running on your visit date. The 2–3 hour estimate includes time for the park’s transport legs, but allow the longer end if you want to stop at the falls and lakes.

This is inside the ticketed national park, so you need park admission for the route and its boat ride. Start at the signed Entrance 2 parking and access area; the park map marks parking at the south entrance. The stair section is mapped at 307 steps, so this isn’t a step-free walk. Dogs are allowed on leash, and visitors must stay on marked paths. Use the return vehicle rather than assuming you can turn the itinerary into a continuous walking loop; if the service is unavailable, check with the park for the permitted alternative before setting out.