Be amazed by the Plitvice Gardens in Croatia.

The unique beauty of Plitvice Lakes National Park made it so difficult for travel blogger The Footsteps to obtain a Schengen visa twice before finally being able to enter Croatia on this Central European trip.

Croatia is a country blessed with a coastline stretching nearly 1,800km and countless scenic spots, but it is also known for its four spectacular national parks, which are invaluable for both tourism and biodiversity. Among them, the largest is Plitvice Lakes National Park, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 and is considered one of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Europe.

Established in 1949 and the oldest national park in Southeast Europe, Plitvice Lakes is located in central Croatia, in a valley surrounded on all sides by mountains and lush green forests. Situated on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the park spans an area of ​​nearly 300 km², encompassing a system of almost two dozen interconnected, crystal-clear lakes.

Located about a 2.5-hour drive from the capital Zagreb, you can explore Plitvice in a single day. However, according to Nguyen Hoang Bao's advice, you should stay overnight in Plitvice to continue exploring the surrounding picturesque towns the next morning, where villages are built on stunning multi-tiered waterfalls and you can enjoy fish dishes from Lake Plitvice. Two villages where you can stay overnight are Jezerce and Rastovaca, not far from the park.

There are many sightseeing routes within Plitvice National Park to choose from, depending on your time, needs, and fitness level. The park has two entrances, Gate 1 and Gate 2. Most visitors enter through Gate 1 because upon entering, you can immediately see the central waterfall – the tallest waterfall cascading from the cliffs at a height of 78 meters, creating a resounding sound and a misty spray like a fairytale scene. Some of the wildest scenes from the Native American film "Winnetou" were also filmed here.

Since Gate 1 and Gate 2 are approximately 1,500 meters apart and both are part of the park's walking route, you can enter through Gate 2 and then follow the walking route to Gate 1, or vice versa. There are three basic routes for visitors: Route A - a 1,500-meter walk, Route B - a 4,000-meter walk, and Route C - an 8,000-meter walk. These routes mainly follow Plitvice Lake and visit the waterfalls. In addition, there are many other routes exploring the forest, prehistoric caves, and mountains, designated as routes H, J, K, etc., with some routes extending up to 20km within the park.

If you have a full day to explore, you should choose Route C to discover the cascading waterfalls and tiered lakes within the park. You can experience Plitvice Lake by ferry or use the park's tram service, which connects a section from Gate 2 to near Gate 1. All these options are included in the entrance fee. The park has clear signage, and some areas have rest stops, restrooms, and canteens for visitors.

It's no coincidence that for a long time now, the number of visitors to Plitvice Lakes National Park has exceeded 1.2 million per year. As one of UNESCO's first Natural Heritage Sites, Plitvice also boasts the world's third most beautiful waterfall, according to a CNN survey – surpassing other famous falls such as Niagara Falls on the US-Canada border, or Hanakapia in Hawaii.

Nguyen Hoang Bao shared that he was completely captivated by the scenery and would definitely return to Plitvice Garden in another enchanting autumn to once again immerse himself in the "fairyland" of Plitvice.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TRAVEL BLOGGER NGUYEN HOANG BAO:

- Current job: Lecturer in Tourism, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry

- Author of the book: Solo Journey (2018)

- Website:www.nhungbuocchan.com

- Facebook Page:www.facebook.com/NguyenHoangBao.DocHanh/

- Personal profile:www.facebook.com/NguyenHoangBaoNBC

At Travel Fest 2019 held in Hanoi recently, he was one of the special guests in a talk show sharing his experiences on various types of tourism. He is also one of the "7 impressive travel bloggers of 2018"which Travellive has previously introduced to its readers.

Quynh Anh