Here's What National Parks Look Like In 20 Different Countries
Bring on the wanderlust.
National Parks are home to some of the most incredible landscapes in the world — from surreal fairy chimneys in Turkey, to volcanic islands in Indonesia, to sweeping sand dunes in Brazil. Below, you'll find wanderlust-worthy National Parks from all over the world. Happy travels!
1. China: Guilin and Lijiang River National Park
Set in southern China, the best way to see this unique setting made up of karst pillars, spiked cliffs, and dense forests is by river cruise.
China: Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park
Jiuzhaigou Valley is known for its multi-colored lakes and waterfalls. The water is so crystal clear, you can see right to the bottom.
2. Brazil: Lençóis Maranhenses National Park
When the rainy season comes around, these rolling sand dunes become speckled with crystal-clear, turquoise lagoons.
3. Ecuador: Galápagos National Park
The volcanic lands that make up the Galapagos Islands are all protected under a single National Park. Blue-footed boobies, penguins, seals, and flamingos are just some of the creatures that call this place home.
4. USA: Acadia National Park
Located on Mount Desert Island in Maine, Acadia is known for rocky beaches and incredible sun rises. Visit during the fall to gaze at some of the most amazing fall foliage in the world.
USA: Grand Teton National Park
This park encompasses the Teton Mountain range and Jackson Hole, a valley that serves as a popular year-round tourist destination.
USA: Channel Islands National Park
California is home to more national parks than any other U.S. state, including this one, which contains five of the eight channel islands just off the Pacific coast.
5. Turkey: Göreme National Park
Located in Cappadocia, Göreme National Park is instantly recognizable thanks to its distinctive rock formations known as "fairy chimneys."
6. New Zealand: Fiordland National Park
Head to New Zealand's South Island to visit this spectacular landscape, known for its deep fjords formed by glaciers and the tranquil Milford Sound.
7. Indonesia: Komodo National Park
This volcanic island may look tranquil, but it's actually inhabited by thousands of giant lizards (aka Komodo Dragons), which exist no where else in the world.
8. Nepal: Sagarmatha National Park
This Himalayan park is home to glaciers, valleys, and Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak.
9. Canada: Banff National Park
Banff, Canada's oldest national park, is nestled in the Canadian Rockies in Alberta. Doesn't that jade blue glacial lake make you feel some type of way?
10. Croatia: Plitvice Lakes National Park
This Croatian park — one of the most scenic spots in all of Europe — is made up of 16 towering lakes all joined together by cascading waterfalls.
11. Thailand: Ao Phang Nga National Park
Comprised of dozens of islands and giant limestone cliffs emerging from the Andaman Sea, Ao Phang Nga is one of the most photogenic spots in Thailand. It's home to the so-called "James Bond Island," made famous by the movie "The Man with the Golden Gun."
12. Iceland: Thingvellir National Park
If you watch "Game of Thrones," you'll probably recognize Thingvellir National Park. It's located about an hour outside of Reykjavik along the Golden Circle route.
13. Chile: Torres del Paine National Park
You'll find Torres Del Paine in Chile's Patagonia region. The landscape is one of a kind. Think: Lush forests, snaking rivers, sapphire lakes, and the giant Perito Moreno glacier.
14. Namibia: Namib-Naukluft National Park
So barren, the majority of this park isn't accessible for people to visit. At its northernmost point lies Sandwich Harbour, where enormous sand dunes blend into the Atlantic Ocean.
15. Australia: Port Campbell National Park
The hallmark of this stretch of land in Victoria are The Twelve Apostles: a series of limestone stacks that jut out from the Southern (or Antarctic) Ocean.
16. France: Calanques National Park
Just a short trip from the city of Marseilles on France's southern coast, Calanques is a 20-mile stretch of limestone cliffs and azure seas. Cars are banned from the area all throughout the summer, making it the perfect time to visit and hike the scenic trails.
17. Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls National Park
This park, which contains the Zambezi River, forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. On the Zimbabwe side, you'll find Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world.
18. Italy: Cinque Terre National Park
The protected area of Cinque Terre is made up of five colorful fishing villages — Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore — that look like they've come to life from the pages storybook.
19. South Africa: Kruger National Park
Covering 7,523 square miles, Kruger is one of the largest game reserves on the whole African continent. If they get lucky, Safari-goers can spot all of the big five animals: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos.
20. Colombia: Tayrona National Park
This picturesque coastline sits where the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains meets the Caribbean Sea. The landscape is made of golden sandy shores, palm trees, dense rainforests, and crystal-blue waters.