Take to the water in Croatia's national parks

Croatia may be well known for its miles of Adriatic coastline and historic seaside cities and towns such as Split and Dubrovnik, but it also has wilder side.

Active holiday enthusiasts can head to the north of the country to discover another side to Croatia among the waterfalls and lakes of Plitvice national park.

The thickly-forested national park contains several small lakes connected by waterfalls, caves, springs and meadows to explore, as well as a chance to see brown bears and wolves.

There are also several rare bird species including grouse and the long-eared owl.

The rivers in this area of the country are renowned for their clear, sparkling green waters, and the white water difficulty ratings for most of the country are category III on average.

The River Mreznica is mostly calm in areas between its many waterfalls, and the River Korana is known for its breathtaking views from the water as it winds through parks.

The summer is the ideal time to go on a water-based activity holiday in Croatia as the rivers are warm (some parts of the Mrezina River reach up to 25 degrees), giving you plenty of opportunity to enjoy swimming in the clear waters.

Among the tour operators offering active holidays to the region is Croatia specialist Hidden Croatia, which has an activity break based at the village of Zvecaj.

Holidaymakers can stay in three-star accommodation in the village of Zvecaj, which is based on the River Mreznica's banks, and as well as white water rafting, kayaking and canoeing, there is also a chance to go cycling or hiking in the area.

The hotel restaurant serves freshly-caught fish, home-grown vegetables and barbecues to refuel holidaymakers after a hard day's exploring the outdoors.

Other tour operators with active holidays in Croatia include Headwater, Neilson and Inn Travel.

For more information on visiting Croatia see www.croatia.hr