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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]

Ascend from forested riverbanks to icy summits, where marked trails and varied terrain make this park a practical base for mountain exploration.
Best time to go: May - October
Daily cost: USD15 to 40
Peru - national park - Amazon Rainforest

Amazon Rainforest [Peru]

Navigate tangled waterways and humid forest trails where rare species, shifting light, and constant sounds define every moment in the world’s largest rainforest.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: USD60 to 120 [peru.travel]
New Zealand - national park - Aoraki Mount Cook National Park

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park [New Zealand]

Hike beneath New Zealand’s highest mountains, where glaciers, icefields, and clear night skies create a dramatic alpine environment.
Best time to go: September - May
Daily cost: USD40 to 70 [doc.govt.nz]
United States - national park - Arches National Park

Arches National Park [the USA]

Walk beneath stone spans and explore a maze of sculpted formations in Utah’s high desert.
Best time to go: March - May, September - November
Daily cost: USD40 to 70 [nps.gov]
Canada - national park - Banff National Park

Banff National Park [Canada]

Hike above turquoise waters, spot elk and bears in open meadows, and experience the Rockies’ dramatic seasonal changes.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: USD40 to 70 [pc.gc.ca]
Indonesia - national park - Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park [Indonesia]

Climb volcanic ridges before dawn, watch mist swirl over ancient calderas, and encounter Tenggerese traditions in remote highland settlements.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: USD30 to 70 [indonesia.travel]
United States - national park - Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon [the USA]

Descend into a maze of colorful spires and follow winding paths along the edge of a vast natural amphitheater.
Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Daily cost: USD40 to 70 [nps.gov]
Uganda - national park - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park [Uganda]

Trek through tangled forest trails to encounter mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, surrounded by misty slopes and ancient trees.
⚠️ Currently not safe to visit
Daily cost: USD60 to 100 [ugandawildlife.org]
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]

Navigate ancient sandstone mesas and open plains, encountering waterfalls and remote indigenous communities in a landscape shaped by water and wind.
⚠️ Currently not safe to visit
Daily cost: USD85 to 150 [mintur.gob.ve]
Brazil - national park - Chapada Diamantina National Park

Chapada Diamantina National Park [Brazil]

Trek through rugged plateaus and discover hidden caves, crystal pools, and panoramic views shaped by centuries of erosion.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: USD40 to 70
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]

Watch elephants gather at the water’s edge and drift past hippos on a river cruise through a landscape shaped by seasonal floods.
Best time to go: May - October
Daily cost: USD40 to 100 [botswanatourism.co.bw]
Mexico - national park - Copper Canyon

Copper Canyon [Mexico]

Ride the famous train or trek remote trails through a vast canyon system, encountering indigenous culture and sweeping vistas.
Best time to go: November - April
Daily cost: USD40 to 100 [gob.mx]
United States - national park - Denali National Park

Denali National Park [the USA]

Travel deep into Alaska’s interior to spot wildlife and experience vast, open landscapes dominated by North America’s tallest peak.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: USD40 to 90 [nps.gov]
Namibia - national park - Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park [Namibia]

Watch herds gather at waterholes on vast plains, where the shimmering Etosha Pan creates dramatic backdrops for Namibia’s most accessible wildlife encounters.
Best time to go: May - October
Daily cost: €30 to €70
United States - national park - Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park [the USA]

Paddle through slow-moving waters, encounter rare wildlife, and navigate a subtropical wilderness shaped by seasonal flooding.
Best time to go: November - April
Daily cost: USD25 to 60 [nps.gov]
New Zealand - national park - Fiordland National Park

Fiordland National Park [New Zealand]

Journey through vast, wet landscapes shaped by ice and rain, encountering remote valleys and wildlife on foot or by boat.
Best time to go: September - May
Daily cost: USD40 to 80 [doc.govt.nz]
Ecuador - national park - Galapagos

Galapagos [Ecuador]

Walk among fearless animals on stark lava fields, snorkel with sea lions, and witness evolutionary adaptation in real time across isolated islands.
Best time to go: September - June
Daily cost: USD60 to 120 [galapagos.gob.ec]
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]

Descend into immense geological formations or gaze from the rim as shifting light reveals the canyon’s depth and color.
Best time to go: March - May, September - November
Daily cost: USD40 to 70 [nps.gov]
Malaysia - national park - Gunung Mulu

Gunung Mulu [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]

Ascend above the clouds for dawn colors, then descend into a vast volcanic landscape dotted with rare Hawaiian plants.
Best time to go: January - November
Daily cost: USD40 to 80 [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]

Ascend into thin air among snow-capped summits and crystalline lagoons, where Andean condors soar above ancient Inca routes and wildflower meadows.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: USD30 to 60 [peru.travel]
Argentina - national park - Iguazu National Park

Iguazu National Park [Argentina]

Stand at the edge of roaring cascades, trek through lush jungle, and watch for colorful birds darting between ancient trees.
Best time to go: March - November
Daily cost: USD35 to 70 [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

Jasper [Canada]

Cycle quiet roads, paddle emerald waters, and stargaze in one of the world’s largest accessible dark sky reserves.
Best time to go: May - October
Daily cost: USD40 to 80 [pc.gc.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]

Cruise wetlands at sunrise, watch for birdlife, and explore rock galleries that reveal millennia of human presence.
Best time to go: May - October
Daily cost: USD60 to 110 [parksaustralia.gov.au]
Indonesia - national park - Komodo National Park

Komodo National Park [Indonesia]

Walk dry island trails among giant lizards, snorkel over vibrant reefs, and rest on rare pink-hued beaches between rugged headlands.
Best time to go: April - December
Daily cost: USD60 to 150 [indonesia.travel]
South Africa - national park - Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park [South Africa]

Drive for days through changing landscapes, encountering elephants, big cats, and a remarkable variety of birds and mammals.
Best time to go: April - October
Daily cost: USD60 to 120
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]

Walk across shifting white dunes and swim in freshwater pools that appear after the rains, surrounded by a stark, surreal landscape.
Best time to go: January - October
Daily cost: USD40 to 90
Argentina - national park - Los Glaciares National Park

Los Glaciares National Park [Argentina]

Watch massive icebergs calve into blue lakes, trek to remote mountain vistas, and experience the raw scale of southern Patagonia.
Best time to go: October - April
Daily cost: USD40 to 70 [argentina.gob.ar]
Peru - national park - Manu National Park

Manu National Park [Peru]

Descend from misty mountains to lowland jungle, observing macaws at mineral-rich cliffs and tracking monkeys through dense, ever-changing habitats.
Best time to go: May - October
Daily cost: USD60 to 130 [peru.travel]
Costa Rica - national park - Manuel Antonio National Park

Manuel Antonio National Park [Costa Rica]

Follow easy paths to hidden coves, spot monkeys in the trees, and swim in calm waters framed by jungle and rocky headlands.
Best time to go: November - May
Daily cost: USD40 to 70 [visitcostarica.com]
Kenya - national park - Masai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara National Reserve [Kenya]

Travel across vast plains where lions hunt, Maasai herders graze cattle, and seasonal migrations shape the rhythm of life.
Best time to go: June - October
Daily cost: USD120 to 250 [kws.go.ke]
Ghana - national park - Mole National Park

Mole National Park [Ghana]

Join guided walks to waterholes where elephants gather, and scan open savanna for antelope, baboons, and birds.
Best time to go: November - March
Daily cost: USD40 to 80 [ghana.travel]
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

Pallas-Yllästunturi [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]

Travel by boat or on foot through seasonally inundated plains teeming with visible wildlife and ever-changing water levels.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: USD40 to 90
Chile - national park - Patagonia National Park

Patagonia National Park [Argentina and Chile]

Traverse open grasslands and river corridors, encountering herds of wildlife and expansive views shaped by wind and ice.
Best time to go: October - April
Daily cost: USD45 to 75 [conaf.cl]
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

Plitvice Lakes [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]

Spot lions lounging in fig trees, cruise past hippos and buffalo, and explore volcanic craters teeming with birdlife.
⚠️ Currently not safe to visit
Daily cost: USD85 to 130 [ugandawildlife.org]
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]
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]

Witness the spectacle of migrating herds and predators on open grasslands, where seasonal movement shapes every aspect of life.
Best time to go: January - March, June - October
Daily cost: USD100 to 180 [tanzaniaparks.go.tz]
Ethiopia - national park - Simien Mountains

Simien Mountains [Ethiopia]

Ascend dramatic ridges, share trails with endemic primates, and gaze across deep valleys carved by ancient geological forces.
⚠️ Currently not safe to visit
Daily cost: USD50 to 100
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]

Swim in sheltered bays, walk shaded jungle paths, and discover remnants of ancient settlements along the Caribbean coast.
Best time to go: November - March
Daily cost: USD30 to 70 [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]

Trek beneath jagged peaks and along glacial lakes, where shifting weather and dramatic scenery challenge and reward every visitor.
Best time to go: October - April
Daily cost: USD55 to 90 [conaf.cl]
Madagascar - national park - Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park [Madagascar]

Traverse narrow walkways above jagged stone forests and peer into canyons where rare birds and lemurs find refuge.
Best time to go: April - November
Daily cost: €60 to €120 [madagascar-tourisme.com]
Australia - national park - Uluru-Kata Tjuta

Uluru-Kata Tjuta [Australia]

Walk the base of Uluru at sunrise, hear Tjukurpa stories, and watch changing colors sweep across the land.
Best time to go: March - November
Daily cost: USD50 to 90 [parksaustralia.gov.au]
Colombia - national park - Valle de Cocora

Valle de Cocora [Colombia]

Wander beneath towering palms in a lush valley, following muddy tracks through misty pastures and rolling Andean foothills.
Best time to go: November - April
Daily cost: USD20 to 45 [colombia.travel]
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]
Cuba - national park - Viñales National Park

Viñales National Park [Cuba]

Cycle or hike through fertile valleys framed by steep mogotes, visiting traditional farms and exploring extensive underground cave systems.
⚠️ Currently not safe to visit
Daily cost: USD30 to 70 [cubatravel.cu]
Rwanda - national park - Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park [Rwanda]

Climb steep slopes through dense bamboo to observe gorilla families, with misty volcanoes rising above a patchwork of terraced fields.
Best time to go: June - September, December - February
Daily cost: USD85 to 150 [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]

Watch thermal features erupt and wildlife graze in open valleys, exploring a vast volcanic plateau shaped by fire and water.
Best time to go: May - September
Daily cost: USD30 to 70 [nps.gov]
United States - national park - Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park [the USA]

Climb beneath towering rock faces, wander through ancient forests, and witness seasonal waterfalls in California’s Sierra Nevada.
Best time to go: April - October
Daily cost: USD40 to 80 [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]

Hike narrow river corridors and ascend steep trails for views of towering cliffs and sculpted rock amphitheaters.
Best time to go: March - June, September - November
Daily cost: USD40 to 70 [nps.gov]

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