15 of the best national parks in the world

National parks are humanity’s way of recognising and protecting areas that may have been just another valley or plain thousands of years ago, but now are respected, remembered and tucked away from development or farming. And it just so happens that many are teeming with wildlife, packed with amazing views, or hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the humans world.

We’ve chosen 15 of our favourite national parks around the world to inspire your bucket list, as well as a few tours and suggestions if you’re ready to plan your dream trip.

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Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

The Serengeti, which translates to "Endless Plains," is one of the best places to see exotic animals in their natural habitat. It is located in northern Tanzania and flows into Kenya's Maasai Mara. Millions of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle migrate to the Maasai Mara in Kenya every year in search of water and new grass. If you love nature shows, you’ll feel like you’re right in one – it’s almost impossible to miss the abundant wildlife.

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Banff National Park, Canada

Canada's oldest national park can be found in southwest Alberta, and it's also one of the country's most stunning destinations. With over a thousand miles of trails, including the Lake Agnes Trail's European-style tea house (open seasonally), and the scenic Icefields Parkway (with its own awe-inspiring views of glaciers and waterfalls), Banff National Park is an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

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Yellowstone National Park, USA

Yellowstone is a treasure to the United States because of the many sights to see across its over 2 million acres. Since its establishment in 1872 (as America's first national park), this protected area in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho has lost none of its pristine beauty. In addition to the perennially popular Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful, the area also boasts lesser-known gems like Hayden Valley, a fantastic location for wildlife viewing that sees far fewer tourists.

Get the most out of your Yellowstone trip by hiring a tour guide on a VIP guided Yellowstone tour – they’ll show you the key highlights and help you to avoid the crowds.

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Kruger National Park, South Africa

Kruger National Park is one of the best places to go on safari in South Africa, thanks to its expansive landscapes and diverse animal population. The Classic Safari Tour is just one of many available excursions. In this exciting excursion, you will travel around in search of wild animals. After a long day of exploring, you can unwind in the comfort of a luxury lodge while being surrounded by local wildlife.

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Goreme National Park, Turkey

Get your cameras ready, because Turkey's Göreme National Park is home to stunning volcanic landscapes in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When it comes to hot air ballooning, Göreme National Park is among the best in the world, thanks to the hundreds of balloons that take off before dawn to show off the otherworldly landscape from above.

Climb to great heights, discover hidden villages, and marvel at the multicoloured cliffs carved out of basalt and tuff.

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Zhangjiajie National Park, China

Zhangjiajie National Park serves as the inspiration for the fictional mountains in the first Avatar movie. These towering sandstone spires are so tall (up to 200 metres) that they were named after the film of the same name.

Because it was China's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park has a lot of prestige. Each year, millions of tourists visit the area to take in the sights, which include the Avatar Mountains.

See this amazing national park on a full guided tour and don’t miss any of the key moments.

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Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia

Uluru and the surrounding Kata Tjuta rock formations provide numerous photo ops. This Australian national park was established in 1958 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its vibrant red rock formations.

The park’s focal point is the imposing Uluru (formerly known as Ayer’s Rock), a gigantic monolith which is an important religious site for local populations. Visits are still possible, but climbing Uluru is now off-limits for tourists.

See Uluru in style with a helicopter tour of the national park, including extended fly-bys of the important Australian outback landmark.

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Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

In terms of area, Fiordland National Park is by far the largest national park in the entire world. Though the park is home to a stunning chain of fjords capped by glaciers, the highlight is undoubtedly Milford Sound, one of the country's most popular tourist spots and the only fjord in the park that is accessible by road.

When you consider that Milford Sound is fairly difficult to get to and yet still attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, you begin to get an idea of just how popular this destination really is.

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Killimanjaro National Park, Tanzania

As the highest mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro is protected within Kilimanjaro National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its role in preserving the world's largest free-standing volcanic mass.

There are routes up Mount Kilimanjaro that are suitable for both novice and experienced mountaineers. The park also has a variety of animals to see, including elephants, leopards, buffalo, and bushbucks.

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Ranthambore National Park, India

In terms of size and prominence, India's Ranthambore National Park ranks among the top. This national park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district of southeast Rajasthan and is well-known for its population of Bengal tigers. It's one of the few places nearby where you can see wild tigers and lions. Most sightings occur between November and May.

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Zion National Park, USA

While Zion Canyon is the main draw for visitors to Utah's first national park, the trails within the park are equally breathtaking. Hikers with more experience should make the ascent to Angels Landing, Zion's highest point (go early in the morning for fewer people) or venture through The Narrows, Zion Canyon's narrowest section. Try the well-known Canyon Overlook Trail or the Pa'rus Trail for a more manageable ascent.

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Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

You can explore forest, grassland, and lagoons in Sri Lanka's Yala National Park. A safari in Yala National Park is a great way to see leopards, elephants, and other native animals up close.

As a protected area covering 500 square kilometres, the park is divided into five sections. The area is inhabited by 44 different mammal species and 215 different bird species.

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Hakone-Fuji-Izu National Park, Japan

The Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is a must-see because it is the location of Japan's national symbol, Mount Fuji.

The park's territory also includes the Pacific-facing Izu Peninsula and Izu Islands.

In spite of the fact that Mt. Fuji itself is the main draw, visitors will also enjoy the park's many hot springs and the many hidden gems that can be found throughout the area. Save time by booking a Mount Fuji tour from Tokyo – you’ll get to see the amazing mountain and surrounding national park within the same day.

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Yosemite National Park, USA

Among America's national parks, Yosemite is among the most well-known, and for good reason. Just incredible! Yosemite National Park in the California Sierra Nevada Mountains features a breathtaking landscape of granite cliffs, plunging waterfalls, glistening lakes, winding streams, and groves of giant sequoias, the world's tallest trees. Over 1,200 kilometres of trails of varying difficulty are hidden away within the enchanted landscape.

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Galapagos National Park, Ecuador

Galapagos is the first national park in Ecuador, having been established in 1959. Inhabited islands make up the remaining 3% of the Galapagos archipelago, so the park effectively covers the entire archipelago and preserves its unique ecosystem. Unique species of plants, animals, and fish are only found in this area. It's the only place on the Equator where penguins can be found, and there are more iguanas than people.

Tortoises, penguins, and lizards are all indigenous to the Galapagos. The Galapagos Marine Reserve safeguards the marine ecosystem, which is home to endemic species like the green sea turtle, sea lions, and marine iguanas, as well as the land animals that call the islands home.

The only way to see this unique and heavily protected national park is on an organised, officially recognised trip, which includes all passes and lodgings while staying on the islands.