The world’s first national park was Yellowstone which was established in 1872 by President Ulysses S. The concession was signed. The idea quickly caught on and spread around the world and today there are more than 1000 national parks in more than 100 countries which preserve the natural beauty of the geographical wonders of the unique flora and fauna.
There are so many beautiful places around the world that it is difficult to choose which natural wonders to see first. These are some of the most beautiful national parks in the world from the blue glaciers of Torres del Paine to the Great Migration of the Serengeti and from the remote areas of Fiordland National Park to the unique fauna of the Galapagos.
1. Yosemite National Park, USA
Yosemite was the first national park I visited in America. I was about 7 years old at the time and I still remember the thrill of seeing the first bear I ever saw walking past a parked car with its face on our cabin windshield.
Yosemite is a World Heritage Site located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains about 170 miles east of San Francisco and is home to some of the most unique rock formations in the United States. The main feature of the park is that the Yosemite Valley is famous for its spectacular waterfalls and the towering granite peaks that surround it. Anyone who has ever visited Yosemite will attest to its wonders especially after seeing Half Dome and El Capitan’s Inspiration Point. Hikers have more than 800 miles of scenic hiking trails to choose from and bikers can enjoy more than 12 miles of paved trails. Whichever route you take the end goal is to reach Glacier Point for unrivaled views of the Yosemite Valley and don’t forget to stop by one of the sequoia groves for the towering trees.
Even inexperienced hikers can enjoy Yosemite. Guided tours and climbing lessons are available at local adventure supply stores such as the Yosemite Mountaineering School and the Four Seasons Guide and Guide Service. Don’t think you can have a garden all to yourself. About 4 million people visit Yosemite every year. But if you go at the right time when May and September are the best months and you start the day a little earlier than usual then you can enjoy this beautiful place. But keep in mind that many of the roads and trails in Yosemite are covered in snow most of the year.
Stay at the historic Ahohnee Hotel (closed for renovations from 2 January 2023 to 2 March 2023) or the more challenging High Sierra Complex (you can usually apply for places via the lottery system (although the camp is closed for renovations) for the 2022 season). Autocamp near the park offers retro-style Airstream glamping tents and cabin rentals with a daily shuttle service that takes you directly to Yosemite National Park.
2. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Another destination is the Serengeti, the oldest and most popular national park in Tanzania. This magnificent game park and World Heritage Site spans 5,700 square miles in northern Tanzania and the Maasai Mara in Kenya. This is one of the most amazing places in the world to see wildlife. The Serengeti is home to a major migration this year when 2 million reindeer and hundreds of thousands of reindeer and reindeer – often on a 25-mile journey followed by many hunters – cross the crocodile-infested Krumeti River on their way from June to July. 1 on a 200 mile journey through the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Another good time to visit is February when an incredible population of wild bees and zebras is born (8000 born daily). But the Serengeti is not only a great place to visit during the Great Migration but also offers better all year round and less crowds.
Get a unique experience with the Serengeti Balloon Safari and join the hot air balloon safari for an unforgettable experience.
3. Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile
It is surrounded by steep snow-capped mountains, turquoise alpine lakes, windswept plains and glaciers. Torres del Paine National Park in Chile home to llama (relative of the llama) fox and puma is a truly unique place. Located in Chilean Patagonia named after the three granite Paine Towers which are the main symbols of Torres del Paine National Park a glacial blue world with sparkling lakes, fjords and jagged peaks. This is a great place for the intrepid hiker or adventurous mountain biker. The multi-day hike is the highlight here and although the most spectacular views take effort everyone can enjoy the park’s main attractions with a walk. Don’t miss the sunrise when the corners of the Torres del Paine mass turn purple and then red.
You can choose from a variety of itineraries. W tours are the best way to start and take 4 to 5 days to complete. If you feel strong try a longer O-circuit which is more difficult and lasts 6 to 10 days. If you want to move your feet you can book your trip through Cascada Expediciones. Or you can relax with a relaxing kayak tour of Gray Glacier.
Can you recommend an eco-friendly hotel in Tierra Patagonia?
4. Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
New Zealand’s largest national park is filled with fjords so spectacular they take your breath away. Glacier-carved fjords can be found throughout the park although the most famous are Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound. Other highlights include the Te Anau Glowworm cave where you can take a boat to see native fireflies and the Humba where a short walk takes you to an area where water sculptures surround the park’s ancient rocks. Filled with lush tropical forests, clear rivers, clear lakes, snow-capped glaciers and spectacular ice-carved fjords, most of this national park is uninhabited and only accessible by boat or on foot. The view is spectacular even on a rainy day with all the valley walls turning into thunderous waterfalls. Fiordland National Park is home to a wealth of wildlife including penguins and kiwi seal dolphins as well as the flightless takahe and flightless kakapo kakapo found here.
Milford Sound menjadi sorotan dengan Meter Peak di ketinggian 5551 kaki di atas permukaan laut. Ini adalah salah satu puncak yang paling banyak difoto di Selandia Baru dan satu-satunya fjord di negara ini yang dapat dicapai melalui jalan darat. Fakta bahwa Milford Sound hanya berjarak 4 jam dari Queensland dan menyambut lebih dari satu juta pengunjung setiap tahun memperjelas betapa menarik dan menakjubkannya tempat ini.
Book your Lake Te Anau and Te Anau Caves cruise with RealNZ.
5. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Located off the coast of Ecuador the Galapagos National Park is one of the most diverse places on Earth. Founded in 1959 it is the oldest park in Ecuador and covers 97% of the Galapagos Islands. This park has a truly unique ecosystem. Animals, plants and fish are found nowhere else on earth. Galapagos tortoises have their own species of penguin and lizard; In fact this is the only place in the Northern Hemisphere where penguins exist and there are definitely more iguanas than humans! Not only wildlife on earth is safe here. The offshore area is protected by the Galapagos Marine Reserve and contains unique species such as the Galapagos Green Turtle, the Galapagos Sea Lion and the Galapagos Sea Iguana. Snorkel or dive in the Darwin and Wolfe Islands and you might spot hundreds of hammerhead sharks or maybe a majestic whale shark. Species like the marine iguana and Darwin’s finches helped Charles Darwin develop his basic theory of evolution and you can visit his old research station in Santa Cruz.
The best way to explore the park is by cruising across the islands both on land and by sea. Adventure Life offers a wide variety of excursions and tours ranging from ecotourism to private yacht charters and luxury cruises. December to May is the best time to visit the Galapagos Islands as these months coincide with warmer weather and very warm sea conditions and are ideal for snorkeling and diving.
6. Sagarmatha, Nepal
Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal home to Mount Everest is where many climbers (like me!) first encounter climbing insects and create a lifelong goal of climbing the roof of the world. Sagarmatha in Nepali means Sky. The park is located high in the Himalayas with elevations ranging from 9350 to 29028 feet and the highest point of the park is of course the peak of Mount Everest. Lake Tee and Lake Gokyo are popular for those looking for a relaxing trip. There are many villages to explore and guided hikes take intermediate to advanced hikers through the national park.
It is a rugged area with rocky glaciers and steep valleys and cliffs. Several species of plants and animals may actually live here. Hemlock pine and bamboo forests are home to rare species such as snow leopards and mini pandas as well as Himalayan black bears, wolves and musk deer. Mosses and lichens grow on the barren mountains and support few animals except birds that soar high in the sky.
And there you have my take on 6 of the most beautiful national parks in the world. They say “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” so my favorites may of course not be your favorites, but I think we can all agree that these national parks are amongst the most beautiful places on earth.
