Seven Underrated National Parks You Need to Visit

Jessica Jones

Immerse yourself in nature without sharing the trail with other hikers by checking out some of the world’s most underrated national parks. From iconic historical sites to magnificent wildlife reserves, we count down seven of the most beautiful undiscovered national parks around the world.

Saxon Switzerland, Germany

Far removed from the lush green forests and fairytale castles of German postcards are the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, a dramatic rocky outcrop, south-east of Dresden, loved by rock climbers. The mountains are part of the Saxon Switzerland National Park, which has over 14,000 climbing routes on over 1,100 peaks. It was founded in 1990 to protect the unusual rocky hills. If rock climbing isn’t your thing, there are also lots of hiking trails around the park. Don’t miss the cinematic Bastei, a 194-metre rock formation joined by a sandstone bridge.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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The Bastei Bridge

Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska

Lying entirely above the Arctic Circle, the Gates of the Arctic National Park is full of pristine wilderness, dramatic peaks and a sky that dances with the northern lights at night. Despite being the second-largest national park in the United States, it only attracts a few thousand visitors a year due to its remote location and lack of roads or trails. If you’re looking to really get off the beaten track, as well as spot animals like polar, grizzly and black bears, caribou, wolves and moose, then you should visit this magnificent wilderness.

Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska©National Park Service, Alaska/Flickr

Hoàng Liên National Park, Vietnam

Hoàng Liên National Park, located in the district of Sapa, is home to Vietnam’s highest peak, Fansipan, at 3,142 metres. The landscape is a patchwork of green, from the rainforest-covered hillsides to the stepped rice fields and there is a huge range of fauna and flora. The park, which covers around 30 square kilometres, is a great place to discover Vietnamese culture, whether by staying with a local family or getting stuck into some local sports such as archery.

Hoàng Liên National Park

Serranía de la Macarena, Colombia

This national park, located in the centre of Colombia, lies at the convergence of three different ecological areas: the regions of the Amazon rainforest, the Orinoco and the Andes mountains. This environment means there is huge biodiversity; over 2,000 unique species of flora and fauna reside in this area alone. The national park is particularly famous for the Caño Cristales, often deemed the most beautiful river in the world for its five different colours: blue, black, green, yellow and red.

Caño Cristales

Tiwai National Park, Sierra Leone

This patch of ancient rainforest, located on its own island in the Moa River in the south of Sierra Leone, is a community-run nature reserve and means “big island” in the Mende language. It might be just 12 square kilometres, but the island has a flourishing primate population, as well as a population of pygmy hippopotamuses and many other unique flora and fauna.

Rakiura National Park, New Zealand

New Zealand’s newest national park is located on Stewart Island, the country’s third-largest island that lies around 30km off the south coast of South Island. It was officially opened in 2002 by New Zealand mountaineering legend, Sir Edmund Hillary. The island is home to the Rakiura Track, a 32-metre circuit that takes hikers around the island and is one of the best places in the country to see kiwis in the wild.

Lee Bay at the start of the Rakiura Track

Rapa Nui National Park, Chile

This other-worldly national park is located on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, one of the world’s most remote islands that is part of Chile but lies 3,700km west of the country, in the south Pacific. The island is famous for its giant stone statues, or Moai, that were created by the Rapa Nui people who inhabited the island between 1250 and 1500. The mystery of the Moai, and how the islanders moved the giant stone statues around, has fascinated historians for decades.

Moai on Easter Island
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