The Kravice Waterfalls

The Kravice Waterfalls, on the Trebizat River in southern Herzegovina, are among the most beautiful natural sights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes called a miniature Niagara. Here the river tumbles over a wide, curving amphitheatre of mossy travertine cliffs, some 25 metres high, in a series of thundering cascades that plunge into a broad emerald pool below. Surrounded by lush greenery, with pebbly shores, the pool is a hugely popular spot for swimming, sunbathing and picnicking on a hot Herzegovina summer day.

What you actually see

• The waterfall amphitheatre - the curving cliffs of cascades.
• The emerald pool - the swimming pool at the foot of the falls.
• The swimming and picnicking - the pebbly shores and greenery.
• The boat and kayak trips - the paddling near the cascades.

When to go

May to September, the warm summer season, when swimming in the pool is the main draw and the falls are lovely, though busy; the cascades are at their most powerful and dramatic in spring after the rains, when the water is too cold and high for swimming. Weekdays are quieter than summer weekends.

Honest expectations

In high summer, especially on weekends, the falls get very crowded with swimmers and sunbathers, with cafes and a lively, beach-like atmosphere rather than pristine wilderness, so those seeking solitude should come early or off-season. Spring brings dramatic flow but cold water. As a gorgeous, refreshing natural swimming spot amid greenery, though, Kravice is a Herzegovina highlight, especially on a hot day.

Nearby

Mostar, Blagaj and the medieval town of Pocitelj are within reach.