Best National Parks in the World for Travelers

Posted on: Sep 25, 2023 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Best National Parks in the World for Travelers

Today the world is blessed with beautiful and wonderful terrains including the best national parks which any traveler should consider visiting. When thinking about your next trip abroad and purchasing insurance, you may turn your attention to one of the world’s ten best national parks. Starting from the best-known Indonesian Komodo National Park with a unique Komodo dragon, to South American Iguazú National Park and breathtaking Iguazu Falls, these parks are unforgettable. It enables witnesses to directly view the spectacle of the Great Migration in Serengeti National Park in Africa and see the exclusive fauna of Galápagos National Park in Ecuador.

Towering peaks, rumbling cascades, wild creatures and terrains that appear they have been lifted straight from science fiction; these 10 best national parks around the globe are certain to offer international tourists a vacation to savour. Therefore when planning for your next overseas vacation, ensure your travel insurance policy includes these seven bucket list destinations which are magnificent and living records that show Earth as it was.

Best National Parks in the World (Increase the list of the national parks)

From the geysers of Yellowstone National Park to the fauna of the Serengeti, here are the best national parks to see from around the world when purchasing travel insurance for travel abroad.

1. Torres Del Paine

Torres Del Paine in Chile offers sublime views for anyone who enjoys nature at its best. Torres Del Paine has the distinctive Cordillera Del Paine, which has been worn down by glacial erosion over the years. It is a paradise for hikers and every year a lot of people from across the globe flock to the Cordillera Del Paine. The majestic centrepiece is surrounded by lenga forests, pampas, and ice fields.

October to April is an ideal time to visit the national park for trekking. And the W circuit is one of its most popular attractions. The 80-kilometre trail takes usually four to five days and it is around the legendary massif.

2. Komodo National Park

Situated in Indonesia, the Komodo National Park might be the best national park in the world. Simply because it is one of the few places on the planet where you can get up and close with Komodo dragons, which are the largest lizards on the planet. The park is spread across three islands which are volcanic by nature, Komodo, Padar, and Rinca.

Apart from the stunning Komodo dragons, the national park has a lot of other attractions as well. The mountains have a green cover and are surrounded by a sea that is turquoise in color. You will also find a lot of amazing marine creatures such as dolphins, sea turtles, whales, dugongs, and manta rays. Do not forget to buy travel insurance before your next trip to Indonesia to safeguard your trip.

3. Vatnajokull

Vatnajokull National Park in Iceland is one of the most stunning places that one can set foot on. It is easily one of the best national parks in the world. The stunning volcanic region covers approximately 14% of Iceland and it has a couple of active volcanoes. Vatnajokull is famous for its foaming waterfalls, ice caves, glacial lagoons, and glaciers on which you can hike.

And their easy accessibility from the Ring Road in Iceland makes it even more convenient. In 2008, the park was created by combining the Jokulsargljufur and Skaftafell National Parks. Thus, making it the largest National Park in Europe. If you want to hike on the glaciers, the summers are ideal for visiting Iceland and winters will give you access to the ice caves.

4. Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park is one of the most stunning national parks in the world, located in South Africa. The national park is massive at 19,485 square kilometres and is located aptly to allow you to view wildlife. Animals such as lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and rhinos make up the main resident list of the national park.

And you will be able to find 137 other species of animals and more than 500 species of birds. It is recommended that you opt for a guided drive through the national park, to make the most of it.

5. Fiordland

There are hardly any doubts about the natural beauty that New Zealand has access to. And as hard as it might sound, Fiordland National Park somehow manages to outdo New Zealand's inherent grace. It first became a reserve in 1904 and became a national park in 1952. If you are someone who enjoys rugged fjords, lakes, waterfalls, mountains and forests, Fiordland will ensure you have a field day.

You can even visit the Doubtful Sound. The fjord is only accessible by boats and you can witness penguins, fur seals and bottlenose dolphins. Considering that New Zealand can be a bit expensive, opting for international travel insurance can be quite sensible. Any sort of delays, cancellations and medical emergencies can be easily taken care of.

6. Plitvice Lakes

The Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia also makes it to the list of best national parks in the world. The national park is known for its stunning crystalline terraced lakes and there are about 16 of them. Water flows through limestone and chalk and creates natural dams, caves, lakes, and beautiful forests surrounding it. Some common local animals include bears, rare bird species and wolves.

7. Galapagos

The Galapagos is a volcanic archipelago that is about 1000 miles off the coast of Ecuador. It is no surprise that the place is on the bucket list of many individuals across the globe. Even Charles Darwin found inspiration for his theory of evolution by looking at the flora and fauna of the Galapagos. The national park has some stunning wildlife as well, in the form of giant tortoises, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, etc. The national park is heavily protected and can take some effort to reach but it is worth it.

8. Calanques

The Calanques National Park in Southern France is picturesque, to say the least. It has incredible beauty and diverse landscapes. It is located between Cassis and Marseille and is the only European national park that comprises sea, land, and even urban areas. There are multiple entry points to the National Park, from the fishing town of Cassis, from Les Goudes which is often known as the end of the world, from Sormiou during the winters and from Luminy University, if you are planning to hike.

9. Timanfaya National Park

The Timanfaya National Park in Spain is one of the best attractions in the country. The landscape which looks stunning and is eerie at the same time, attracts over a million visitors every year. About 300 years ago the area was at the receiving end of almost 6 years of continuous volcanic eruptions, which turned the fertile land to barren.

10. Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park in the USA became the first national park in the world in 1872. If you are looking for the best national park in the world, Yellowstone National Park might just be the one. The park is a geothermal wonder and has more than 60% of the geysers in the world. The lakes are stunning to look at and are full of colours as well. Whether you take a hike or a boat trip, you will come across wildlife such as elk, moose, bison, and grizzle bear.

11. Tanzania

Serengeti National Park hosts one of the seven natural wonders of the world – the largest migration of wildebeest, lions, leopards, elephants and many more species of wildlife. Travelers should ensure they travel with travel insurance before they can visit this park which is an excellent national park in the world. International travel insurance helps to have increased coverage for journeys to some parts of the world such as Serengeti.

12. Glacier National Park (Canada)

This Park boasts some of the most beautiful features of the Canadian Rocky Mountains with its peaks formed by glaciers, crystal clear water of the lakes and diverse wildlife. Regarded as one of the best national parks in the world, you should take travel insurance for your trip to Glacier and its wonderful scenery. Overseas insurance cover is useful for travellers who visit famous parks such as Glacier through international travel insurance.

13. Iguazu National Park (Argentina/Brazil)

This park gives an exciting view of one of the world’s largest waterfall systems of Iguazu which borders Argentina and Brazil. Take travel insurance when coming because one of the best national parks globally can be really populated. International travel insurance makes it easy for you to get a policy that extends to different countries when visiting parks such as the Iguazu.

14. Yosemite National Park (USA)

Massive granite monoliths, including El Capitan and Half Dome, stand against the backdrop of Yosemite’s spectacular polished valley, awesome waterfalls and giant sequoias – the park is one of the world’s finest. Purchase travel insurance to help secure your vacation immersing yourself in the lushness of Yosemite National Park. International travel insurance offers the visitors of such famous parks as Yosemite protection while travelling abroad.

15. Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park (USA)

This park on the Big Island hosts the most active volcanoes in the world and even the spectacle of an active one from Kilauea with the Hawaiian goddess of fire Pele. If you are visiting Hawaiian culture complemented by powerful acts of nature, secure travel insurance for your tours to this famous national park that people rank among the top numerous times. American insurance for international travel ensures those foreigners who have taken the time to come to narrate the Hawaiian volcanic regions.

16. Ayers Rock (Australia), Uluru-Kata Tjuṯa National Park

This giant red monolith is a famous and impressive site and a religious one of the native Aboriginal Anangu people of central Australia. Travel insurance assists in covering any loss in case you are visiting one of the easiest identifiable formations in one of the world's best-ranked parks for scenery. As Uluru-Kata Tjuṯa is a remote destination, international travel insurance is essential for getting there.

17. Banff National Park (Canada)

Ranging in glaciers, trees, deep blue water, and wild animals, Banff is a blend of typical Canadian Rockies’ physiognomy that makes it among the best national parks. Vacations enjoying Banff’s mountain vistas and natural serenity can be secured by travel insurance. Foreign phrase insurance gives international tourists protection while touring to such famous parks like Banff.

18. Westfjords National Park (Iceland)

Generally a rugged coastal area, with huge deep water fjords from ground moraines, and the Hornstrandir mountain range located at the extreme northwest of Iceland. If planning to go to one of the best national parks of Iceland do buy an international travel insurance that offers international travel insurance for overseas visits. Having travel insurance is always a plus when travelling for those breathtaking sceneries in the isolated West fjords of Iceland.

19. Table Mountain National Park (South Africa)

Flat-topped Table Mountain which is a defining symbol of Cape Town is surrounded by the steep sea cliffs falling into the Atlantic Ocean. They call this a famous national park for great hikes with stunning views overlooking one of the world-acclaimed cities referred to as one of the best in Africa. Covering trips to hike steep trails through the unique terrain of Table Mountain, international travel insurance is useful for those wanting to be a little more daring in their travels. Covers expense if plan change interferes with travel to or within famous Table Mountain National Park.

20. Zhangjiajie National Park (China)

This park in China was the setting modeled in the movie Avatar with the park offering an opportunity to explore sandstone pillars, deep chasins and forested zones that are other world-like. To get information on this Chinese park that for some time now has been rated among the best global national parks, it is crucial to note that; travel insurance can afford you a means by which to reschedule whenever the incidents change. International travel insurance mainly protects visitors of such tourist sites as the beautiful national park in Zhangjiajie which is a world heritage site.

Why travel insurance is important?

Travel insurance offers significant financial security for the journey regardless of whether it is a domestic one or an international one. Insurance plays a great role especially while traveling whether locally or internationally whereby; costs that arise due to accidents, changes in the trip, lost belongings and many more have to be catered by the individual, not the insurer, if not insured.

• Covering Medical Emergencies

Proper travel health insurance is important. In case you fall ill or get sick on your trip, the normal health checkers will not accept your insurance internationally and if you are forced to pay humongous bills in foreign places you will be financially crippled if you do not seek adequate insurance.

• Protecting Travel Investments

You also need insurance to protect any financial investment you make in your trip against cancellation, interferences or delays. This extends to meeting and sometimes reimbursing for prepaid, non-retractable expenses including flights, hotels, sight-seeing tours, and much-desired tickets to specific locations such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and so on.

• Lost/Stolen Items That Should Be Replaced

Further, travel insurance can help get the cashback for personal effects and this way you aren’t totally responsible for buying new passports, electronic devices, carry-ons, and other expensive items in case they are lost, stolen or damaged during the tour.

FAQs

1. When visiting the best national parks in the world, what type of travel insurance should I take?

Before you set out on a tour to visit some of the best national parks in the world such as Yellowstone, Serengeti, or the Galapagos Islands you should consider getting an international travel insurance package. They have more complete choices of coverage than normal policies, including emergency health care, tour interruption, lost baggage and other additional protections.

2. Do I need to take my travel insurance if I only go around the best national parks in the United States?

Just as visiting famous American places such as Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon and Glacier National Park may be less dangerous than travelling abroad, you can also receive coverage abroad when travelling internationally. These plans include coverage for medical emergencies, travel and baggage delay or loss, damage to a rented car and more. In case you already have health insurance, basic travel insurance may be enough for you.

3. Which factors define the best travel insurance plan where my destination is the most-rated national park?

When choosing your travel insurance for your international trips to some of the leading national parks across the globe, always consider getting a travel insurance plan that has medical expense benefits of not less than $100,000, medical evacuation, trip cancellation/interruption, and lost luggage. Also, ensure that every country to be visited is clearly stated by the insurance and the Insurance covers COVID-19 losses.

Conclusion

The above list covers some of the most stunning national parks in the world. If you are planning to visit any of them, buying a travel insurance plan is only sensible. By paying a small premium, you can protect the entire trip.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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