Are you itching to trek, hike, and explore the most wonderful wildlife and noteworthy nature on the earth? You are far from alone! In 2019, 78% of millennial travelers said they want their travel experiences to be educational.
What is more educational than learning about the animals and ecosystems in different countries? And all the best nature vacations are out there waiting for you.
But the world is a big place and the landscapes are so diverse. So, to narrow it down, this guide will break down some of the best outdoor vacations in the world you can take.
Check Out the Scenery on the Isle of Skye in Scotland
The Isle of Skye in the mystical land of Scotland is one of the most popular places to visit in the country, and for good reason.
The island offers several hiking trails including The Old Man of Storr hill climb and the Quiraing circuit. The Quiraing is a slow-moving landslip disguised as a mountain range and they are both easy hikes for beginners.
Lovers of both nature and fantasy tales can walk to the Fairy Glen and the Fairy Pools. The former is a group of conical ridged hills which look unnatural and otherworldly. Fans of fauna can hop on boat tours to see puffins, dolphins, whales, and even sea eagles.
Keep an eye out for the famous Scottish highland cows, too!
Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail on the East Coast
Are you a skilled hiker looking for more challenging treks? It does not get much more challenging than the Appalachian Trail, one of the longest hiking-only trails in the world.
The path stretches around 2,200 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. That means you could spend around five months hiking through 14 states. And you would witness beautiful mountain ranges like the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway.
Though the hike passes through some of the most scenic places in the United States, it is not for the faint of heart. Bears, coyotes, and bobcats all live on various parts of the trail. And the completion percentage is around 25%.
Still, it is an experience to add to your bucket list.
Drive the Golden Circle in Iceland
Iceland offers very few trees (honest, look it up) but what the country lacks in woodland, it makes up for it with other spectacular natural wonders.
The best way to see everything Iceland has to offer is by renting a car and driving around the Golden Circle. It is a ring road around the whole country and you will see:
- Geysers (hot exploding springs)
- Waterfalls (Skógafoss and Kirkjufellsfoss)
- Black sand beaches (Reynisfjara beach)
- Volcanoes (Geldingadalur volcano)
- Glaciers (Vatnajökull National Park)
You can go ice climbing on one of Iceland’s glaciers if you like adventure on your nature vacations. And you can even scuba dive between two tectonic plates, which is the only place in the world you can do that!
Also, Iceland is one of the best nature vacations where you can see the Northern Lights. Peak Northern Light-spotting season in Iceland is September to March when the nights are long.
Explore Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming
Do you want to know about adventure vacations in the USA but do not have a spare five months to spend hiking? No problem! Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is without a doubt one of the best nature destinations in the country.
And fun fact: Did you know it was the first National Park in the country?
Yellowstone boasts a varied landscape with alpine forests, hot springs, canyons, and even geysers. The most famous is Old Faithful because, well, it is a predictable exploding hot spring. But the number one thing to see in Yellowstone has to be the Grand Prismatic Spring.
There are tons of viewing platforms around the park so you can get up close and personal with some of these natural wonders.
Yellowstone is also home to bears, wolves, bison, elk, and hundreds of other species. Though you should always keep a safe distance, Lamar Valley is the best part of the park to see bison.
Swim in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
No list of the best nature vacations in the world is complete without featuring the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Any nature lover has seen or wants to see it and you can check out the best adventure blogs here for some personal accounts.
It is the world’s largest coral reef stretching over 133 square miles off the coast of Queensland in Australia. For the best experience, book a boat trip so you can snorkel with over 1,500 different species of fish.
Some say the coral reef is dying, so you best make a trip here a top priority!
Discover the Wonders of Kauai in Hawaii
Kauai might be the fourth largest Hawaiian island but it is one of the top US vacation destinations for nature lovers. It is not known as the Garden Island for no reason.
These are some of the best hikes on the island:
- Kokee State Park
- Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail
- Nounou East ‘Sleeping Giant’ Trail
- Makawehi Lithified Cliffs Trail
It is obvious that the best hikes are along Kauai’s epic cliffs and coastline. Check out the Hanalei Valley Lookout and head to Wailua Falls for more gorgeous vistas.
And if you are a real adventure junkie as well as a lover of the outdoors, you must join an ATV tour of the Jurassic Park filming locations. Yes, it is unsurprising that Kauai stood in as the exotic Isla Nublar where dinosaurs lived.
The Best Nature Vacations Are Waiting for You
No matter which trip you decide to take, these are some of the best nature vacations in existence. You cannot go wrong with any of them.
All you need to do is close your eyes, point your finger and let Mother Nature decide which awesome trip you will experience first.
Want more vacation inspiration? Check out our other articles for more expert travel advice and tips.
