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Visiting a national park is a good occasion to get reacquainted with nature. It’s an opportunity to see how marvelous nature’s works are and how we humans fit in the grand scheme of things. It’s a humbling, yet enriching experience. Hopefully, this top 5 most beautiful national parks in the world will take you through an amazing journey, where you can rediscover both yourself and the world.
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Most Beautiful National Parks in the World
Banff National Park, Canada
Banff National Park is the first one in Canada and it’s located very near Alberta. At its start, this was a hot springs reserve with a surface of less than 30 km2. But since the vistas are amazing, with a mountain landscape that’s just breathtaking, the park now has a surface that’s 200 times its original size.
And since this park is located in the Canadian Rockies, you can understand how great it is in terms of hiking and climbing. The terrain is rough but also filled with beauty. There are lakes with crystal clear water like Lake Louise, or pastures bolstering with wildflowers.
But this is also a land of ice giants. The snowy peaks and tall glaciers will make you feel you’ve stepped into a winter wonderland. And there are plenty of warm weather activities here too, apart from hiking. You can go rafting or golf, you can even go fishing or bird-watching. And during the cold winter months, skiing and mountain climbing are the top activities.
The best things about this are the wide plethora of accommodations available. There are also guided tours offered, so you can make the most of your trip.
Zion National Park, Utah
This is also a pioneer national park, located in the state of Utah. I love this one because of the ancient native culture mixed with imposing sandstone cliffs of different red-ish hues. The slot canyon here is difficult to navigate, and it shows the strength of Mother Nature.
There are also a wide variety of plants and animals, which can make your hiking trip in Zion National Park a pleasure. In fact, there are 37 sites where you can backpack, for a total of almost 90 miles. The enchanting wilderness here wants to be explored by brave hearts. But choosing the best EDC knife is of the utmost importance if you’re to navigate such a region.
You can also take various kayak trips. The Narrows are just for experts though, and your survival skills need to be top notch. That’s because you’ll have to survive in the wild without any contact from the outside, and you should really know how to paddle.
Canyoneering trips are another valid entertainment option here, and there are tens of canyons to visit depending on your skill level. The beginning part of The Narrows can easily be tackled by newbies, while Orderville Canyon is better suited for experienced people.
Serengeti National Park, East Africa
This park is located in northern Tanzania, and it’s one of the biggest stretches of wilderness, thanks to its amazing 5,700 square miles of extreme terrain. The desert, aridic landscape offers oases of luxuriant vegetation, so you know you’ve found paradise in the middle of a burnt inferno.
There are rapid rivers, tall green trees that guard them and lots of different animals. In your safari, you’ll meet hyenas, elephants, hippos, and lots of lions. The grass is golden and the wild life is completely at home. Even the congenial giraffes or the playful monkeys will make an appearance.
And if you get here in time for the Great Migration, you’ll see herds of zebras and gazelles going through Serengeti National Park in their search for food. It’s said that there are more than a million such animals crossing this national park during the Great Migration, which is amazing to watch.
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
This is definitely a sight to see, considering it’s among the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It’s located on the east coast of Queensland, and you have about 1,800 miles to explore. But you need to do this pretty fast if it’s on your bucket list because the corals are on their road to becoming extinct.
But for now, you’ll enjoy thousands of coral reefs, hundreds of islands and innumerable fish species. There is other amazing wildlife here too, like the crocodiles in Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. The Cairns Botanic Gardens are also rich with different plants and tropical flowers.
You can go scuba diving here, sailing or even looking at everything from a helicopter. The bottom line is that you can explore this treasure trove of wonders however you might like. You can even do water sports. The rainforest village is another amazing attraction here, so you can explore the mainland too.
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Located near Johannesburg, this is a 5 million acres worth of wilderness. You’ll also see plenty of animals here and have the chance of going on unforgettable safaris. Apart from the lions and leopards, the feared carnivores, there are also peaceful giants, like the buffalos, elephants, and rhinos. What’s more, you’ll get the chance of seeing crocodiles, southern ground-hornbills or vultures.
This South African national park is a paradise for huge trees, like the countless baobabs and Marulas who guard the savanna. The landscape is quite varied here too, with thornveld and woodland vistas.
But there are remnants of an old human civilization here courtesy of the Alnbasini and Masorini ruins. You’ll get a glimpse of how the Portuguese interacted with the local natives in their commercial relationships. Along with all that you can go hiking, mountain biking, or even golfing.
Where will you go?
Hopefully, we’ve covered the most awe-inspiring views in places where you can do all sorts of exciting activities. So what do you choose? Have you visited one of these parks before? Is there a better park that we should have included here? Leave a comment below!
Also, it is important that you bring the right gear and clothing to wild places like this. From backpacks and boots to tents and cookware, make sure that you’re prepared! You can see more gears here.
Author Bio
Rebecca lives in USA, but loves hiking all over the world. Her favorite is Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. It usually takes 16 days, but she likes to slow down, enjoy mountains, company of other adventurers and take more pictures, so it took her 28 days last time. Another of her passion is the ocean, so all short and long hikes along the ocean shore bring a lot of joy. She also writes for HikingMastery.com.