Plitvice Lakes Buggy Tour — Inspiration Resort

Plitvice Lakes National Park is — rightly — the star of any visit to this part of Croatia. But the surrounding Lika region holds a remarkable layer of hidden history: a Cold War military underground facility, a ruined medieval fortress, a former Yugoslav president’s secret villa, and mountain viewpoints that most visitors driving along the D1 never stop to see. The Inspiration Buggy Tour from Inspiration Resort packages all of this into a 3.5-hour off-road adventure that complements — rather than competes with — a national park visit.

What Is Included

• Buggy rental for the duration of the tour (MY23 MAVERICK SPORT MAX DPS 1000R models)
• Helmet and full safety equipment
• Petrol for the journey
• Live English and Serbo-Croatian speaking guide
• Off-road route through forests, mountain roads, and historical sites

Quick Facts

What Is Not Included

• Plitvice Lakes National Park entry tickets
• Hotel pickup or drop-off — self-arrival at Grabovac Village required
• Food and drink

The Route: What You Will See

Željava Air Base (approximately 45 minutes): This is the most historically remarkable stop on the route. Željava — known internally as “Facility 505” — was built in the 1950s and 1960s into the rock of Mount Plješivica, on what is now the border between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. At the time of its construction it was the most expensive military project in Yugoslav history. The facility could shelter an entire air wing of jet fighters underground. It was deliberately destroyed by retreating Yugoslav forces in 1992 as the country collapsed — the explosion was audible from over 50 kilometres away. Today the ruins remain accessible and extraordinarily atmospheric, with vast concrete tunnels, collapsed hangars, and the haunting silence of a facility that once hummed with Cold War purpose.

Tito’s Summer House (approximately 20 minutes): Villa Izvor, situated in Plitvica Selo within the wider Plitvice Lakes area, was built for Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito after the Second World War. Its 20 elite apartments hosted some of the world’s most powerful political figures during the Cold War era. Now in ruins, the villa stands as a striking reminder of the region’s complex modern history, largely unknown to the tourists who visit the national park a few kilometres away.

Drežnik Fortress (approximately 10 minutes): A 12th-century defensive fortress that protected this part of Europe from Ottoman expansion for nearly four centuries. The tower and walls remain partially standing in a commanding position above the Korana River canyon.

Plitvice Lakes viewpoints (approximately 10 minutes): The tour includes stops at scenic overlooks offering elevated perspectives over the national park — views that are impossible to access from the park’s interior trails.

Is the Buggy Tour Worth It?

This tour is genuinely worth adding to a Plitvice Lakes visit for the right type of traveller. It is not a replacement for visiting the national park — the lakes, boardwalks, and waterfalls are the primary reason most people come to this part of Croatia. But as a companion activity, particularly for visitors spending two or more nights in the area, the buggy tour delivers something the national park cannot: off-road adventure, accessible history, and perspectives on the wider Lika region that most visitors never discover.

The historical depth of the Željava Air Base stop alone makes the tour remarkable. There are few places in Europe where you can drive a buggy into the remnants of the Cold War’s largest underground military base and hear it explained by a knowledgeable local guide.

Best suited to: adventure-seekers, history enthusiasts, families with older children (aged 6+), visitors spending two or more nights near Plitvice, and anyone who wants an active complement to the gentler boardwalk hiking of the national park.

Less suited to: visitors with very limited time (the buggy tour takes 3.5 hours and is separate from the national park visit), visitors with mobility limitations (the off-road terrain is not accessible to wheelchair users), and families with children under 6.

How to Combine with the National Park

The buggy tour departs from Grabovac Village on the D1 road — approximately 7 km north of Entrance 1 of Plitvice Lakes National Park. The most natural combination is:

Day 1: Morning national park visit (arrive at opening, follow Route C or H, finish by early afternoon). Afternoon: rest or explore the local area.

Day 2: Buggy tour in the morning or afternoon.

Alternatively, for visitors on a single full day in the area, the buggy tour works well as an afternoon activity after a morning in the national park — provided you exit the park by 2:00–3:00 PM to allow time to drive to Grabovac and complete the 3.5-hour tour before dark.