Mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, grasslands, or spectacular landscapes and diverse wildlife – these national parks offer all the scenery you could wish for. So why not choose one of them for a spontaneous trip?

Banff National Park

  • Keywords: World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site, Natural Lakes
  • Location: Alberta, Canada
  • Must-see spots: Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Minnewanka Lake, Vermilion Lakes, Johnston Canyon
Banff National Park is primarily known for its natural landscapes, with endless stretches of pristine pine forests, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and countless caves.
You absolutely must visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake; they are simply breathtaking, especially the crystal-clear turquoise water blending seamlessly with the snow-capped mountains – truly stunning! Lake Louise, backed by the perpetually snow-covered Mount Victoria, is a classic scene that has been featured on countless postcards. You can rent a canoe and paddle on the water for a close-up view of the beautiful scenery. Moraine Lake was even featured on the back of the Canadian twenty-dollar bill issued in 1969 and 1979; its beauty speaks for itself. Although these bills are no longer in circulation, they have become cherished collector's items. Since these two lakes are glacial lakes, the water level reaches its highest point in June each year, which is also the best time to see them. In winter, the entire Lake Louise transforms into a "giant ice rink and ski resort."
You can stay in Banff town at night. Built at the foot of Sulphur Mountain, the Bow River flows through the town center. In the early days of its founding, many mountain guides from Switzerland settled here, so some of the local houses have an architectural style quite similar to European styles, earning Banff the nickname "Little Switzerland." There's plenty to do here, with restaurants offering various cuisines, including Italian, French, Greek, Japanese, Korean barbecue, Thai curry, and Canadian steak and seafood restaurants.

Yellowstone National Park

  • Keywords: The world's first national park, the most unique and magical paradise on Earth, hot springs, wildlife
  • Location: Montana, USA
  • Must-see attractions: Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful Geyser, Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin
Yellowstone National Park's natural landscape is divided into five major areas: the Mammoth Hot Springs in the Hot Springs Terrace area, the Old West landscape in the Roosevelt area, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and waterfalls in the Canyon area, the lakes and mountains in the Yellowstone Lake area, and the geysers, hot springs, steam vents, hot pools, mud pots, and fumaroles in the Geyser Basin area. There are over 4,000 hot springs and more than 100 geysers in Yellowstone National Park, and no one knows how many more there are beyond that. One of the largest and most magnificent springs in the entire park is the Grand Prismatic Spring, which looks more like a lake than a spring. The pure deep blue color at the center of the spring gradually fades towards the shore, turning green. The spring basin and the slightly raised rocky surface around it are colorful and dazzling. The most powerful are the geysers, which are both beautiful and terrifying. The spring vents resemble giant flowers, and the scorching colorful mud pots, mud springs, and hot mud springs are filled with viscous mud of various colors, all bubbling and boiling together.
Yellowstone National Park has a variety of ecosystems, primarily subalpine forests, as well as lakes, canyons, rivers, and mountains. Hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles have been recorded in the park, including many endangered or threatened species. The Yellowstone bison herd is the oldest and largest bison herd in the United States. Large numbers of bison can be seen along the main loop road to the West Entrance during the early morning and evening hours, a must-see for visitors who want to get up close to the animals.
Whether their journey through Yellowstone National Park is unplanned or meticulously organized, visitors will inevitably pause to admire the breathtaking scenery when immersed in this tranquil landscape.

Serengeti National Park

  • Keywords: Great Migration, World Heritage Site, vast grasslands
  • Location: Northern Tanzania
  • Must-see attractions: Hot air balloon ride, witnessing wildebeest calving, Mara River
Serengeti National Park is a large national park in Tanzania, located in the Serengeti region. It is famous for the annual migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest and approximately 250,000 zebras. In pursuit of water and fresh pastures, the animals of the Serengeti migrate between the north and south year after year. It boasts the largest number of wild animals in the world, and the migration is an incredibly spectacular sight. If you've seen the movie "The Lion King," you won't forget the various animals depicted in the film. That's right, the Serengeti is the inspiration for The Lion King, and it's home to countless wild animals.

Fiordland National Park

  • Keywords: Eighth Wonder of the World, film location, fjord
  • Location: Southwest of the South Island, New Zealand
  • Must-see attractions: Milford Sound cruise, Routeburn Track hike, Te Anau Glowworm Caves
The fjords are New Zealand's most enchanting natural attractions. The area experiences frequent rain and is often shrouded in mist. In spring, the snowmelt from the mountain peaks combines with the rain, creating the possibility of witnessing thousands of waterfalls cascading into the fjord – a truly magical sight. A cruise is the best way to experience the beauty of Milford Sound. On calm days, the water reflects the majestic Mitre Peak, and during the cruise, you may even spot seals and other wildlife. Hiking the Milford Track is also highly recommended, offering views of ancient lakes, towering mountain peaks, vast valleys, and New Zealand's highest waterfall.

Jiuzhaigou Valley

  • Keywords: World Natural Heritage, Colorful Forests and Emerald Lakes, Karst Landscape
  • Location: Sichuan Province, China
  • Must-see attractions: Five Flower Lake, Nuorilang Waterfall, Long Lake, Pearl Shoal Waterfall
Strictly speaking, Jiuzhaigou is not a park, but a nature reserve with a level and standard equivalent to, or even higher than, many world-renowned national parks. Having traveled across countless mountains and rivers, and traversed hills and plateaus, I have never seen a lake as magical as those in Jiuzhaigou. Even after the earthquake, the reborn Jiuzhaigou remains a stunning masterpiece created by the hand of nature.
The main scenic area of Jiuzhaigou stretches over 50 kilometers, with the main attractions distributed in the three valleys of Shuzheng, Rize, and Zechawa, forming a "Y" shape. 108 lakes, springs, waterfalls, rivers, and beaches constitute a series of colorful, jade-like pools. The lakes here are like pieces of blue jade, with shades of green, blue, orange, red, and yellow, meeting you with an unperturbed serenity that is utterly captivating.

Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

  • Keywords: Volcanic hot springs, scenic lakes and mountains
  • Location: Honshu, Japan
  • Must-see attractions: Mount Fuji, Owakudani
This is Japan's largest national park, comprised of three distinct areas: Mount Fuji, Hakone (bordering Lake Ashi), and the Izu Peninsula. Mount Fuji needs no introduction; if you have the time, you can climb it. The Hakone region, east of Mount Fuji, boasts natural landscapes formed by volcanic activity, including mountains, streams, and lakes. The outer rim of the caldera, formed after a volcanic eruption, quietly encircles the crater, offering a unique geological landscape worth seeing. The Izu Peninsula boasts a long coastline with sea cliffs, reefs, and fine, soft sandy beaches. And if that's not enough, add some fresh seafood – it sounds wonderful!

Grand Canyon National Park

  • Keywords: Earth's Fissure, One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World
  • Location: Arizona, USA
  • Must-see attractions: Grand Canyon Village, Mather Point, Hopi Point, Lipan Point, Desert View Watchtower, Skywalk
Grand Canyon National Park is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world because it combines rugged terrain, vibrant colors, majestic landscapes, and a long history. The diverse and layered rock formations perfectly illustrate the geological changes this land has undergone over nearly 2 billion years.
The Grand Canyon is mainly divided into two major areas: the South Rim and the North Rim. Most often, when people refer to the Grand Canyon, they are referring to the South Rim. Due to its numerous attractions, well-developed infrastructure, convenient transportation, and year-round accessibility, the South Rim is more widely known. The South Rim is the essence of the Grand Canyon, offering expansive views that allow visitors to appreciate the canyon's grandeur and the winding Colorado River. There are also attractions such as a geological museum, Native American settlement ruins, and art studios to visit. The North Rim is 16 kilometers from the South Rim, and due to winter snow, it is only open from May 15th to October 15th each year. Compared to the South Rim, the North Rim has a higher altitude and lower temperatures. The high-altitude forests and meadows provide a more tranquil and relaxing environment, making it more suitable for leisure travelers with ample time.

Göreme National Park

  • Keywords: World Heritage Site, Hot Air Balloons, Film Location
  • Location: Nevşehir Province, Turkey
  • Must-see attractions: Hot air balloons, Open-air museum, Cave hotels, Rose Valley
Stepping into Göreme National Park, you'll feel like you've entered an alien world. Göreme National Park is a volcanic rock plateau formed by the lava flows of five large volcanoes from ancient times. The Cappadocia rock formations within the park are famous worldwide for their spectacular volcanic rock formations, ancient cave churches, and cave dwellings. Starting from Göreme town, exploring Göreme National Park on foot usually involves visiting one or two famous valleys, which takes about an hour or more if you're reasonably fit. Taking your time to stroll or venturing into deeper valleys can take 3-4 hours. Of course, you can also take a local minibus that stops on demand to reach the various valleys. Besides hiking and ATV tours, taking a hot air balloon ride is also an excellent way to explore Göreme National Park. The spectacular landscape of the Cappadocia region viewed from the air will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park

  • Keywords: World's largest coral reef, World Natural Heritage Site
  • Location: Off the coast of Queensland, Australia
  • Must-see attractions: Snorkeling, Whitehaven Beach, Great Barrier Reef viewing platform
The Great Barrier Reef Marine National Park comprises approximately 2,900 coral reefs of varying sizes, boasting exceptionally unique natural landscapes. At low tide, some of the coral reefs are exposed above the water, forming coral islands. A convenient sea route exists between the reef system and the coast. When the sea is calm, tour boats pass through this area, and the colorful and diverse coral formations beneath the water become a spectacular underwater spectacle that attracts tourists from all over the world.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

  • Keywords: Plitvice Lakes, Karst
  • Location: Central-Western Croatia
  • Must-see attractions: Waterfalls, Kozjak Lake
Plitvice Lakes National Park is also known as the Sixteen Lakes National Park. As the name suggests, the park has 16 lakes. Because it shares the same karst landscape as Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan, China, the scenery is equally stunning, earning it the nickname "European Jiuzhaigou." For thousands of years, water flowing through the limestone layers has been continuously calcified, gradually depositing into calcified barriers that form natural dams separating the lakes. Rainbow-like waterfalls and strangely shaped caves further enrich the park's landscape. In spring and summer, the park is a lush green; in autumn, it's a riot of red and yellow; and in winter, it boasts the beauty of snow and ice. No matter which season you visit, you will be captivated by its endless charm.

For those who love natural landscapes, if you have the opportunity, you should visit these 10 national parks and experience the breathtaking wonders of nature.