Beach trips and city breaks can keep you partying, shopping and dining your days away, but a trip to one of the world’s most fascinating national parks can bring you right back down to earth. Check out Cheapflights’ favourite picks for top 10 national parks.
Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
Stepping into a boat that coasts through some of New Zealand’s most jaw-dropping fiords is just one experience travellers have in Fiordland National Park. Some of the country’s most well-known icons like the Milford Sound, Mitre Peak, Doubtful Sound and Great Walks are all here too. The national park takes up the entire southwest corner of the south island, and provides both the solitude of the mountains and the interaction of farm tours, four-wheel drives and an underwater observatory.
Masai Mara Reserve, Kenya
Wildlife enthusiasts flock to the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya to spot leopards, elephants, zebra, hippos and elephants. Established as a protected reserve in 1961, the area runs along southwestern Kenya near the border of Tanzania and adjacent to the Serengeti Plains. There are no fences and very few crowds, so walking safaris and game drives are best experienced between July and October, when the wildebeest and zebra are at their highest numbers.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
More than 3,000 individual reef systems and coral cays can’t be wrong. Larger than the Great Wall of China and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is home to hundreds of tropical islands and a paradisiacal spot for scuba diving, glass-bottom boat tours, water sports, whale-watching and swimming with dolphins.
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Grizzly bears hang out here, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit. Discovered in 1885, Banff National Park in Alberta is a 1,700-square kilometre area where snow-capped mountains and deep valleys coexist among cobalt blue lakes and rushing rivers. In the summer, hike among the lush poppy gardens, and in the winter, ski down soaring peaks with ultimate views of Peyto Lake and sulfurous hot springs.
Swiss National Park, Switzerland
Europe’s first and Switzerland’s only national park, the Swiss National Park is rife with flora, fauna and wildlife like the bearded vulture, golden eagle, chamois and stag. Hike through alpine forests and three levels of trails and glaciers. Bonus: There’s no charge to enter the park.
Yellow Dragon Scenic Area, Huanglong, China
A World Heritage Site situated in the northern Sichuan Province, Hualong’s colourful pools formed by calcite deposits look like a tapestry painted in light blues and yellows. More than 3,300 cascading terraced pools and travertine formations are peppered through hot springs, waterfalls, mountains and glaciers. The rare plants and unspoiled habitats here are also important to local Tibetan culture, religion and folklore.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States
This is one place for which words do no justice, but we’re writing about it anyway. One of the world’s most studied geological landscapes, the Grand Canyon is an enormous archaeological site with artifacts dating back 12,000 years ago from the Paleo-Indian period. Caves, rivers, streams, forests, prairies and natural springs are just a few of the reasons why campers and hikers come from far and wide to absorb the incomparable views of both the North and South Rims.
Galapagos National Park, Ecuador
Set along the equator, approximately 965 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos National Park is made up of 13 major islands and 17 smaller ones that have only recently been discovered and inhabited by humans. Most well-known for its exotic wildlife, and made famous by Darwin and The Origin of Species, the national park works with the Galapagos Marine Reserve to protect both the land and water. Visit to scuba drive, snorkel, hike, kayak or mountain bike through this gorgeous terrain.
Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary, Peru
Built around 1450, Machu Picchu is a pre-Columbian Inca site referred to as the “Lost City of the Incas.” It is believed by most archaeologists to be an estate for the Incan emperor Pachacuti, and was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1982 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Missed by the Spanish during conquests, its intact dry-stone walls are considered scared by most. Make a point to see the Temple of the Sun and the Room with Three Walls.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
Yellowstone National Park is Americana in the most picturesque sense. Sprawling through Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it’s most known for its famous hot spring, Old Faithful, and its vast subalpine forests. Travellers can enjoy the warm seasons here by hiking, camping, boating and fishing.
Featured image: Sheila Sund
