AROUND THE WORLD · NATIONAL PARKS

Where to Go: the 15 Best National Park Trips Worldwide

28 tours  ·  from $28 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 national park trips worth crossing a border for, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.

Sydney: Blue Mountains National Park Tour with River Cruise - Pickup before the city wakes up
Australia River Cruises, National Parks, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Sydney: Blue Mountains National Park Tour with River Cruise

1.Sydney: Blue Mountains National Park Tour with River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 701 reviews · 10h 30m · from $70Our pick

Spend a full day with Oz Trails guides such as Les or Bruce, visiting Sydney Zoo, Blue Mountains lookouts, Wentworth Falls, Leura, Three Sisters, and Scenic World. Add zoo and cable car tickets on the day, then finish with a Parramatta River cruise to Circular Quay.

“Such an exciting packed day. We loved the Sydney Zoo, had fantastic experience of the Blue mountains with superb tour guide and enjoyed the cable cars and return ferry. Highly recommend 👌.”

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Dart River Jet Boat and Wilderness Experience - The Queenstown to Glenorchy road
National Parks, New Zealand River Cruises, Queenstown River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Dart River Jet Boat and Wilderness Experience

2.Dart River Jet Boat and Wilderness Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 531 reviews · from $190Top rated

Travel from Queenstown to Glenorchy, then ride a jet boat 45 kilometers along the glacier-fed Dart River. Your guide may include spins, river lore, Māori culture, and film-location scenery. Jordan, John, Pedro, Dean, and other drivers are praised for friendly, careful commentary.

“This was an amazing thrill ride experience. Pedro our driver and guide for the trip was very knowledgeable and passionate about the surroundings we were in and passing through explaining all the views to us. It was such a fun trip and all our fellow passengers were excited about the whole experience. This is an opportunity not to miss.”

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Banff National Park: 1-Hour Bow River Horseback Ride - What the One-Hour Timing Really Means
1-Hour Experiences, Canada River Cruises, Horses, National Parks, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Banff National Park: 1-Hour Bow River Horseback Ride

3.Banff National Park: 1-Hour Bow River Horseback Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 518 reviews · 1 hour · from $78

Ride a calm horse beside the Bow River and past Cave and Basin, the birthplace of Banff National Park. Your English-speaking guide gives basic instruction and shares local stories. Guides such as Sarah, Jade, and Mandi have earned praise for their friendly approach. Bring long pants, sturdy shoes, and insect repellent.

“Amazing experience. Beautiful views of Bow valley throughout. The staff was really friendly and helpful”

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National Park Whitewater Rafting in New River Gorge WV - The New River Gorge scenery between rapids
National Parks, River Cruises, River Rafting, River Rafting in the USA, the USA River Cruises, Tour Reviews

National Park Whitewater Rafting in New River Gorge WV

4.National Park Whitewater Rafting in New River Gorge WV

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 513 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $99

Spend about six hours rafting the Lower New River through New River Gorge National Park. Your professional guide leads Class III and IV rapids, with lunch on 9 AM trips. Guides such as Samuel, Crock, Eli, and Nick are praised for clear safety calls and lively river stories.

“First time rafting and had a blast! Glenn was our guide and was amazing! Well guided, lot of fun, and flexible!”

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Storms River: Tsitsikamma National Park Zipline Canopy Tour - The safety briefing is part of the experience
National Parks, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, Zip Lines

Storms River: Tsitsikamma National Park Zipline Canopy Tour

5.Storms River: Tsitsikamma National Park Zipline Canopy Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 481 reviews · 2h 30m · from $55

You’ll zip between platforms high in Tsitsikamma’s yellowwood forest with two English or Afrikaans-speaking guides. Expect a safety briefing, harness training, forest ecology, birdlife, tree ferns, and a 600-meter walk afterward. Small groups of up to eight keep the experience personal.

“We had a great time, our guides were so much fun and we learned so much. We were really impressed that this business is a sustainable one with social justice as a principle and the benefit of the local community at its core. Highly recommend and your guides are so safety conscious that you will feel safe even while zipping through the trees.”

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Wilsons Promontory Wilderness Cruise from Tidal River - From Tidal River to Norman Beach
Australia River Cruises, National Parks, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Wilsons Promontory Wilderness Cruise from Tidal River

6.Wilsons Promontory Wilderness Cruise from Tidal River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 449 reviews · from $118

Cruise Wilsons Promontory’s granite coast for 2.5 hours in an amphibious boat with guides such as Damo, Jazzie, and Ella. Expect Skull Rock, South Point, fur seals, seabirds, and possible dolphins or whales, plus spray jackets and a lively ride across Bass Strait.

“It is one of the great experiences but not for the faint hearted and definitely not for the kids below 5 years of age”

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Banff National Park: 1-Hour Spray River Horseback Ride - Following Bow Falls Toward the River
1-Hour Experiences, Canada River Cruises, Horses, National Parks, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Banff National Park: 1-Hour Spray River Horseback Ride

7.Banff National Park: 1-Hour Spray River Horseback Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 315 reviews · 1 hour · from $83

Ride a calm horse through Banff’s wooded trails, cross the Spray River, and view Bow Falls and the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course. Guides such as Sam, Summer, Ki, and Liv provide instruction and keep the group together. No riding experience is required, but you need long pants, closed shoes, and fluent English.

“Myself and three sons enjoyed our ride through trails and rivers.”

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Permet: Vjosa River National Park Guided Rafting Tour - Starting at the base camp
Albania River Cruises, Guided, National Parks, River Cruises, River Rafting, River Rafting in Albania, Tour Reviews, Tours

Permet: Vjosa River National Park Guided Rafting Tour

8.Permet: Vjosa River National Park Guided Rafting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 291 reviews · 150 minutes - 3 hours · from $49

Join GoRaft Vjosa Albania for a 150-minute to three-hour rafting trip on the Vjosa River. Guides such as Emil, Mikkel, Orges, and Genny lead small groups through rapids, calm swimming spots, and mountain scenery, with equipment, snacks, drinks, photos, and showers included.

“It was such a good und fun experience 🤩 very funny tour guide”

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Banff National Park: Big Canoe River Explorer Tour - Wildlife along the banks
Canada River Cruises, National Parks, River Cruises, River Kayaking and Canoeing, Tour Reviews, Tours

Banff National Park: Big Canoe River Explorer Tour

9.Banff National Park: Big Canoe River Explorer Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 286 reviews · 1h 30m · from $67

Paddle the calm Bow River from the Banff Canoe Club on a 90-minute family-friendly tour. Your English-speaking guide teaches simple canoe skills, shares Banff history and wildlife facts, and points out places where elk, bald eagles, loons, beavers, and other animals may appear.

“We loved canoeing down the Bow River with our guide Steff. She was funny and told great Banff stories about wildlife and history. It was such a fun way to spend on the river on a beautiful Banff summer day!”

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Triglav National Park : The Original Emerald River Adventure - Peričnik Waterfall and the first taste of Triglav
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Triglav National Park : The Original Emerald River Adventure

10.Triglav National Park : The Original Emerald River Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 270 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $187

Spend about 11 hours exploring Triglav National Park from Bled with a small English-speaking group. Visit Peričnik Waterfall, Lake Jasna, Vršič Pass, Bovec, and the Soča Valley, with optional rafting and guides such as Marko, Jan, or Klaudij.

“Amazing experience ! We had an amazing time! Žygis and Yan not sure if I have pronounced their correctly were amazing guides !”

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River Explorer | Big Canoe Tour in Banff National Park - Paddling Upstream on the Bow River
Canada River Cruises, National Parks, River Cruises, River Kayaking and Canoeing, Tour Reviews, Tours

River Explorer | Big Canoe Tour in Banff National Park

11.River Explorer | Big Canoe Tour in Banff National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 153 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $69

Join the Banff Canoe Club for a 90-minute big-canoe trip on the Bow River. You paddle with your group, float back downstream, and hear about beavers, wildlife, waterways, and Banff’s past from guides such as Abbey, Madi, Cam, Fergus, and Tim.

“Great experience, knowledgeable guide and the group effort of rowing was excellent. Very much enjoyed this excursion.”

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Bangkok: 2-Day River Kwai & Erawan National Park Tour - Leaving Bangkok for Damnoen Saduak
2-Day Experiences, National Parks, River Cruises, Thailand River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Bangkok: 2-Day River Kwai & Erawan National Park Tour

12.2-Day River Kwai & Erawan National Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 125 reviews · 2 days · from $446

You’ll travel by private vehicle and long-tail boat from Bangkok to Damnoen Saduak, the River Kwai, and Erawan National Park. Sleep at Jungle Rafts or upgrade to Floathouse River Kwai, with guides such as Ken, Pam, and Kim known for attentive service and flexible planning.

“our guide Ken was very informative and took excellent care of us. Yoon our driver did a fantastic job. The stay at the Jungle river resort was something I will recommend and remember forever. The falls were the most spectacular I have ever seen”

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From Queenstown: Dart River Wilderness Jet Boat Experience - The Queenstown to Glenorchy drive
National Parks, New Zealand River Cruises, Queenstown River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

From Queenstown: Dart River Wilderness Jet Boat Experience

13.Dart River Wilderness Jet Boat Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 123 reviews · 2 - 4 hours · from $178

Take a two-hour wilderness jet boat ride up and down the Dart River with an English-speaking guide such as Pedro, Finn, or Dean. Add the Queenstown transfer for a scenic drive to Glenorchy, then race through Mt Aspiring National Park, hear Māori stories, and spot Lord of the Rings filming country.

“We booked the bus ride to Glenorchy with the Jetboat adventure. We loved the whole experience, starting with getting to know fellow travellers on the bus, the lovely staff at Glenorchy, spins on the river, getting stuck and waiting to be rescued surrounded by stunning snowy mountains, the actual jetboat ride down the Dart River - from start to finish, this was a wonderful day out and well worth the price!”

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Chobe National Park: Day Trip, Safari drive & River Cruise - The early pickup and Zambia-Botswana border
1-Day Tours, National Parks, River Cruises, Safari, Tour Reviews, Zambezi River Cruises

Chobe National Park: Day Trip, Safari drive & River Cruise

14.Chobe National Park: Day Trip, Safari drive & River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 100 reviews · 10 hours · from $190

Cross from Zambia into Botswana for a 10-hour Chobe safari with an early game drive, buffet lunch, and a 3.5-hour Chobe River cruise. Guides such as Nature, Max, Tana, and Wesley have helped guests find lions, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and superb birdlife.

“Lovely journey to Botswana through Zambia and Botswana to Chobe. The park was lovely and very green this time of year. We saw a great variety of birds and animals especially very close to a mother and baby elephant. Also two Male lions. The cruise on the Chobe river we saw hippos crocodiles buffalo and birds as well as various antelope. Unfortunately being the rainy season it rained and reduced our views. Guides were excellent and it was a very enjoyable day .”

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Mauritius: Black River Gorges National Park 3-Hour Hike - Meeting at Riverview Commercial Centre
3-Hour Experiences, Hiking & Trekking, National Parks, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Mauritius: Black River Gorges National Park 3-Hour Hike

15.Mauritius: Black River Gorges National Park 3-Hour Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 100 reviews · 3 hours · from $64

Walk for three hours through Mauritius’s primary forest with a small group of up to 10. Guides such as Rowin, Jeremy, Henri, and Eliza explain local plants, wildlife, and island history, with viewpoints, steep sections, and a river swim at the end.

“La nostra guida di oggi si chiama Jeremy ed è stato molto attento alle necessità del gruppo, seguendo il ritmo del più lento. Durante il percorso, la guida si soffermava su diverse curiosità che hanno arricchito l'esperienza. Abbiamo avuto la fortuna di avvistare delle scimmie, che hanno attraversato il nostro sentiero. Indubbiamente da inserire tra le attività della permanenza a Mauritius.”

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