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The top most famous national parks in the world

These famous national parks from around the world are renowned for their natural beauty, biodiversity, and unique landscapes. Let them serve as inspiration for your next backpacking trip.
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Kyrgyzstan - national park - Ala Archa National Park

Ala Archa National Park [Kyrgyzstan]

Hike a glacier-fed valley reachable from Bishkek in about an hour, with trails climbing past waterfalls to high camps below 4,800-meter peaks.
Best time to go: May - October
Daily cost: USD30 to 70
Peru - national park - Amazon Rainforest

Amazon Rainforest [Peru]

Board slow boats from Iquitos to reach flooded lagoons, rope bridges at treetop height, and night walks lit by caiman eyeshine.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: US$78 [peru.travel]
New Zealand - national park - Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park [New Zealand]

Cross three swing bridges to a glacial lake with floating icebergs, then climb to viewpoints facing the Tasman Glacier and Aoraki.
Best time to go: September - May
Daily cost: US$95 to 130 [doc.govt.nz]
United States - national park - Arches National Park

Arches National Park [the USA]

Walk short trails to freestanding spans and paired windows, then climb slickrock to an arch framing distant snowy peaks.
Best time to go: March - May, September - November
Daily cost: US$95 [nps.gov]
Canada - national park - Banff National Park

Banff National Park [Canada]

Walk from glacier-fed lakes to limestone canyon catwalks, then ride the gondola on Sulphur Mountain for views over six mountain ranges.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: US$150 [parks.canada.ca]
Indonesia - national park - Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park [Indonesia]

Cross the Tengger caldera sand floor before dawn to reach Bromo's smoking rim, or commit to the multi-day climb of Java's highest peak.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: USD25 to 50
United States - national park - Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park [the USA]

Drop below the rim through narrow slots and spires, where Douglas firs lean toward the light and the crowds thin fast.
Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Daily cost: US$100 to 255 [nps.gov]
Uganda - national park - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park [Uganda]

Climb wet, vine-tangled slopes to spend an hour with a gorilla family, then fill spare days with birds and forest monkeys.
⚠️ Currently not safe to visit
Daily cost: US$758
United Kingdom - national park - Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park [the UK]

Traverse pinewoods alive with wildlife, climb granite peaks above the clouds, and spot herds of reindeer grazing on high tundra.
Best time to go: April - October
Daily cost: USD40 to 80 [visitscotland.com]
Venezuela - national park - Canaima National Park

Canaima National Park [Venezuela]

Fly into a roadless corner of Bolívar, then travel upriver by boat to see water fall 979 meters from Auyán-tepui.
⚠️ Currently not safe to visit
Daily cost: US$190 to 450
Brazil - national park - Chapada Diamantina National Park

Chapada Diamantina National Park [Brazil]

Trek the Vale do Pati over several days, swim in the light-filled Poço Azul cave, and reach the cliff edge above Cachoeira da Fumaça.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: US$65
Nepal - national park - Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park [Nepal]

Ride through tall elephant grass and forest, encountering rhinos and crocodiles, then visit indigenous communities along the park’s edge.
Best time to go: October - April
Daily cost: USD50 to 90 [tourism.gov.np]
Botswana - national park - Chobe National Park

Chobe National Park [Botswana]

Board a shared boat from Kasane to float beside drinking herds, then head inland to the sandy, quieter plains around Savuti.
Best time to go: May - October
Daily cost: US$125 to 150
Mexico - national park - Copper Canyon

Copper Canyon [Mexico]

Ride the Chepe line across bridges and tunnels, then stop at the rim, the pine plateau around Creel or the warm canyon floor.
Best time to go: November - April
Daily cost: US$60 to 122 [gob.mx]
United States - national park - Denali National Park

Denali National Park [the USA]

Ride the lone park road deep into tundra, hop off where grizzlies and caribou appear, and wait for the high peak to clear.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: US$115 to 150 [nps.gov]
Namibia - national park - Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park [Namibia]

Roll between waterholes in your own vehicle, then sit at Okaukuejo after dark while rhinos, elephants and lions arrive in turn.
Best time to go: May - October
Daily cost: US$150 to 270
United States - national park - Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park [the USA]

Follow boardwalks over sawgrass where gators lounge near the rail, then drive south to mangrove creeks and Florida Bay.
Best time to go: November - April
Daily cost: US$75 to 120 [nps.gov]
New Zealand - national park - Fiordland National Park

Fiordland National Park [New Zealand]

Cruise sheer-walled fiords, walk the Milford or Kepler tracks, and expect rain to feed waterfalls down every cliff.
Best time to go: September - May
Daily cost: US$135 [doc.govt.nz]
Ecuador - national park - Galápagos Islands

Galápagos Islands [Ecuador]

Base yourself in town, walk to Tortuga Bay, visit tortoise reserves, and snorkel Kicker Rock’s channel among sharks, rays and turtles.
Best time to go: September - June
Daily cost: US$115
Mongolia - national park - Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park

Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park [Mongolia]

Traverse shifting dunes and hidden canyons, encountering wildlife adapted to the extremes of Mongolia’s southern desert.
Best time to go: April - October
Daily cost: USD40 to 80
United States - national park - Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park [the USA]

Walk the rim past billion-year rock markers, or descend steep trails to a river canyon floor with cottonwood shade.
Best time to go: March - May, September - November
Daily cost: US$83 to 125 [nps.gov]
Malaysia - national park - Gunung Mulu National Park

Gunung Mulu National Park [Malaysia]

Journey into a UNESCO-listed landscape of towering karst spires and vast caverns, where nightly bat flights animate the dusk.
Best time to go: February - September
Daily cost: USD40 to 70 [mulupark.com]
United States - national park - Haleakalā National Park

Haleakalā National Park [the USA]

Reserve a dawn slot above the clouds, hike rust-colored cinder fields, then visit a bamboo forest trail on the wet coast.
Best time to go: January - November
Daily cost: US$95 to 160 [nps.gov]
Austria - national park - Hohe Tauern

Hohe Tauern [Austria]

Traverse glacier-fed valleys and high passes, encountering diverse habitats from wildflower slopes to snow-capped summits.
Best time to go: June - September
Daily cost: €40 to €70 [hohetauern.at]
Peru - national park - Huascarán National Park

Huascarán National Park [Peru]

Acclimatize around Huaraz, then climb to turquoise lakes below 6,000-meter peaks or cross the 4,750-meter pass on the Santa Cruz trek.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: US$57 [gob.pe]
Argentina - national park - Iguazú National Park

Iguazú National Park [Argentina]

Cross elevated walkways above dozens of cascades, descend to river level for the spray, and finish over the 82-meter drop at Devil’s Throat.
Best time to go: March - November
Daily cost: USD 40 to 60 [argentina.gob.ar]
Myanmar - national park - Inle Lake

Inle Lake [Myanmar]

Glide by boat past villages on stilts and floating gardens, observing daily life and rare waterbirds in a highland basin.
⚠️ Currently not safe to visit
Daily cost: USD30 to 50 [myanmar.travel]
Canada - national park - Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park [Canada]

Cruise to Spirit Island, drive past glaciers and waterfalls on the Parkway, and finish with a soak at Miette Hot Springs.
Best time to go: May - October
Daily cost: US$105 [parks.canada.ca]
Bhutan - national park - Jigme Dorji National Park

Jigme Dorji National Park [Bhutan]

Trek beneath towering Himalayan summits, soak in natural hot springs, and encounter nomadic life in Bhutan’s largest protected area.
Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Daily cost: USD70 to 150 [bhutan.travel]
Iceland - national park - Jökulsárgljúfur

Jökulsárgljúfur [Iceland]

Hike through a dramatic gorge where thundering waterfalls, lava formations, and stark cliffs create a landscape shaped by powerful geological forces.
Best time to go: April - October
Daily cost: €30 to €70 [visiticeland.com]
Australia - national park - Kakadu

Kakadu [Australia]

Study ancestral paintings at Ubirr, cruise croc-filled wetlands at dawn, and reach escarpment waterfalls and plunge pools by rough track and rocky trail.
Best time to go: May - October
Daily cost: US$98 to 154 [parksaustralia.gov.au]
Indonesia - national park - Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park [Indonesia]

Hike with a ranger past wild dragons on Rinca and Komodo, then climb Padar's ridge for the three-bay view and dive the current-swept reefs.
Best time to go: April - December
Daily cost: USD50 to 100
South Africa - national park - Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park [South Africa]

Self-drive from southern river roads to the remote north, with guided walks and night drives adding a different angle on the bush.
Best time to go: April - October
Daily cost: US$25 to 30
United Kingdom - national park - Lake District National Park

Lake District National Park [the UK]

Walk beside deep waters framed by steep hills, climb rocky summits, and visit villages that inspired poets and painters.
Best time to go: March - October
Daily cost: USD40 to 80
Brazil - national park - Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

Lençóis Maranhenses National Park [Brazil]

Time your trip after the rains to swim in blue lagoons between dunes, then walk the empty crossing from Atins toward Santo Amaro.
Best time to go: January - October
Daily cost: US$39 to 83
Argentina - national park - Los Glaciares National Park

Los Glaciares National Park [Argentina]

Hike from El Chaltén to granite spires and glacial lagoons, or stand at the boardwalks of Perito Moreno as ice calves into Lago Argentino.
Best time to go: October - April
Daily cost: US$125 [argentina.gob.ar]
Peru - national park - Manu National Park

Manu National Park [Peru]

Descend from Acjanaco Pass through cloud forest to river lowlands, with giant otters, dawn leks and long boat days with licensed operators.
Best time to go: May - October
Daily cost: US$110 to 195 [gob.pe]
Costa Rica - national park - Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park [Costa Rica]

Stroll compact rainforest loops to a sheltered beach, a rocky headland with tide pools and close views of capuchins and sloths.
Best time to go: November - May
Daily cost: US$75 to 95 [visitcostarica.com]
Kenya - national park - Masai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara National Reserve [Kenya]

Track lions and cheetahs across open grassland, watch river crossings between July and October, or drift over the plains at first light.
Best time to go: June - October
Daily cost: US$215 to 260 [kws.go.ke]
Ghana - national park - Mole National Park

Mole National Park [Ghana]

Join an armed ranger on foot at dawn, then watch elephants drink from the motel terrace overlooking a dry-season waterhole.
Best time to go: November - March
Daily cost: USD35 to 80
Tanzania - national park - Mount Kilimanjaro National Park

Mount Kilimanjaro National Park [Tanzania]

Ascend through rainforest, moorland, and arctic summit zones, experiencing dramatic altitude shifts and panoramic views from Africa’s rooftop.
Best time to go: June - October, December - March
Daily cost: USD100 to 150 [tanzaniaparks.go.tz]
Finland - national park - Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park

Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park [Finland]

Traverse treeless highlands and rolling tundra, breathing some of the world’s purest air and watching the landscape shift with the seasons.
Best time to go: May - September, November - March
Daily cost: €20 to €60 [luontoon.fi]
Brazil - national park - Pantanal Matogrossense National Park

Pantanal Matogrossense National Park [Brazil]

Book a boat-based stay from Corumbá to watch otter families, caimans and capybaras along flooded channels and seasonal lagoons.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: US$125 to 255
Chile - national park - Patagonia National Park

Patagonia National Park [Argentina and Chile]

Drive or cycle the valley road past grazing guanacos, then walk up to high lagoons and ridges watched by condors.
Best time to go: October - April
Daily cost: US$75
Vietnam - national park - Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park [Vietnam]

Venture into vast caverns, wade through subterranean streams, and hike forested slopes above a landscape riddled with sinkholes.
Best time to go: February - August
Daily cost: USD25 to 50
Spain - national park - Picos de Europa

Picos de Europa [Spain]

Traverse steep trails through misty valleys, passing grazing livestock and limestone spires that rise abruptly from the landscape.
Best time to go: April - October
Daily cost: €40 to €90 [spain.info]
Croatia - national park - Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park [Croatia]

Traverse a network of footbridges and forested trails linking clear lakes and waterfalls in Croatia’s most iconic inland park.
Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Daily cost: €30 to €70 [np-plitvicka-jezera.hr]
Uganda - national park - Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park [Uganda]

Cruise a hippo-packed channel, then search Ishasha’s fig trees for lions and drive Kasenyi’s plains at first light.
⚠️ Currently not safe to visit
Daily cost: US$98 to 145
India - national park - Ranthambore National Park

Ranthambore National Park [India]

Drive past ancient ruins and rocky hills, where tigers and leopards patrol open grasslands dotted with lakes and banyan trees.
Best time to go: October - June
Daily cost: USD60 to 120 [incredibleindia.org]
Nepal - national park - Sagarmatha National Park

Sagarmatha National Park [Nepal]

Follow ancient footpaths through high valleys, passing prayer flags and stone villages as you approach the world’s tallest summit.
Best time to go: March - May, September - November
Daily cost: USD40 to 70 [welcomenepal.com]
United States - national park - Sawtooth Wilderness

Sawtooth Wilderness [the USA]

Carry a trailhead permit past gravel roads and meadows to swimmable lakes under a jagged granite wall.
Best time to go: June - October
Daily cost: US$40 to 75
Germany - national park - Saxon Switzerland

Saxon Switzerland [Germany]

Scramble up rocky spires, cross stone bridges, and gaze down at the Elbe winding through a labyrinth of cliffs.
Best time to go: March - November
Daily cost: €40 to €80 [saechsische-schweiz.de]
Tanzania - national park - Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park [Tanzania]

Chase the wildebeest loop across open plains, from calving grounds near Ndutu to Mara River crossings, with leopards resting in Seronera’s trees.
Best time to go: January - March, June - October
Daily cost: US$240 to 411 [tanzaniaparks.go.tz]
Ethiopia - national park - Simien Mountains National Park

Simien Mountains National Park [Ethiopia]

Trek basalt rims with a scout, sit near grooming geladas, and look down Jinbar’s drop and Imet Gogo’s cliff views.
⚠️ Currently not safe to visit
Daily cost: US$57 to 113
United Kingdom - national park - Snowdonia

Snowdonia [the UK]

Ascend dramatic mountains, explore abandoned industrial sites, and experience a landscape where local culture shapes daily life.
Best time to go: March - November
Daily cost: €40 to €80 [visitwales.com]
Norway - national park - Sognefjord

Sognefjord [Norway]

Travel by boat or road beneath towering cliffs, exploring small villages and orchards along the shores of Norway’s longest fjord.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: €40 to €90 [visitnorway.com]
India - national park - Sundarbans

Sundarbans [Bangladesh and India]

Navigate narrow waterways and shifting mudflats, where tigers, crocodiles, and fishing villages coexist in a vast tidal wilderness.
Best time to go: October - March
Daily cost: USD40 to 70 [incredibleindia.org]
Switzerland - national park - Swiss National Park

Swiss National Park [Switzerland]

Experience Switzerland’s only true wilderness, where marked trails lead through pristine landscapes and encounters with marmots or golden eagles are common.
Best time to go: May - October
Daily cost: €25 to €60 [myswitzerland.com]
Colombia - national park - Tayrona National Park

Tayrona National Park [Colombia]

Hike muddy forest trails past howler monkeys to boulder-backed beaches, a hammock platform and Tairona terraces above the coast.
Best time to go: November - March
Daily cost: US$68 [parquesnacionales.gov.co]
Spain - national park - Teide National Park

Teide National Park [Spain]

Walk across stark volcanic terrain beneath Spain’s highest peak, observing rare flora and dramatic color contrasts at altitude.
Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Daily cost: €15 to €40 [spain.info]
Chile - national park - Torres del Paine National Park

Torres del Paine National Park [Chile]

Plan your days and reservations early, then hike to spires above a turquoise lagoon, a blue glacier face and the wind-swept John Gardner Pass.
Best time to go: October - April
Daily cost: US$120 [conaf.cl]
Madagascar - national park - Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park [Madagascar]

Clip into cables to cross a field of limestone blades, then glide beneath river cliffs and visit riverside caves with a guide.
Best time to go: April - November
Daily cost: USD50 to 95
Australia - national park - Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park

Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park [Australia]

Circle the rock on foot, hike the Valley of the Winds among the domes, and learn Anangu law at the cultural center.
Best time to go: March - November
Daily cost: US$150 to 190 [parksaustralia.gov.au]
Iceland - national park - Vatnajökull

Vatnajökull [Iceland]

Experience vast icefields, shifting glacier tongues, and steaming geothermal vents in Europe’s largest national park, home to diverse microclimates.
Best time to go: April - October
Daily cost: €30 to €60 [visiticeland.com]
Rwanda - national park - Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park [Rwanda]

Trek through farmland and bamboo to a gorilla family, then climb Bisoke to a green crater lake or visit Dian Fossey’s grave.
Best time to go: June - September, December - February
Daily cost: US$1 [visitrwanda.com]
Jordan - national park - Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum [Jordan]

Cross vast desert expanses on foot or by jeep, camping under stars among sculpted rocks and learning from local Bedouin guides.
Best time to go: September - May
Daily cost: USD40 to 90
United States - national park - Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park [the USA]

Time geyser eruptions and boardwalk springs, then head to Lamar Valley at dawn for bison herds and wolf packs.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: US$110 to 170 [nps.gov]
United States - national park - Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park [the USA]

Park once in the valley and ride the shuttle past sheer cliffs, thundering falls, high meadows and ancient sequoia groves.
Best time to go: April - October
Daily cost: US$85 to 100 [nps.gov]
China - national park - Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park [China]

Wander through a maze of vertical cliffs and lush valleys, where mist and foliage create an otherworldly atmosphere.
Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Daily cost: €70 to €130 [chinahighlights.com]
United States - national park - Zion National Park

Zion National Park [the USA]

Wade a river between pinched canyon walls, or climb chained ridges to views straight down a red-rock gorge.
Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Daily cost: US$60 to 151 [nps.gov]

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