7 Amazing Nature Vacations Around the World: From Reefs to Glaciers

2. Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, Belize

Long regarded as one of the best places to scuba and snorkel in the Western Hemisphere, a dive trip to Belize lets you see one of the natural world’s greatest wonders: a healthy coral reef. The Belize Barrier Reef System provides a home for threatened species like the loggerhead turtle, manatees, and the American marine crocodile, and well as more than 500 different species of fish. Extensive ongoing restoration and remediation have made the BBRRS an environmental showpiece. Many tour and dive operators offer reef tours, above and below water, including Island Expeditions.

Also read: 10 Eco-Friendly Travel Tips to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

3. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

There’s nothing in the world like Alaska. Words can’t describe its beauty and vastness; you only have to see it for yourself. While many people would recommend you start your Alaska sojourn with a tour of Denali National Park, the better bet is this breathtaking intersection of glaciers and water on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. Driving is limited; hiking is a better way through the park’s interior, though conditions can change in a flash. A better bet is a boat tour run out of Seward by a National Park Service concessionaire. However you get there, prepare to be awestruck.

Also read: What to Pack for an Alaskan Cruise and the Best Ports to See

4. Madhya Pradesh National Parks, India

There are hundreds of reasons to visit India, but one huge reason to visit the parks in  Madhya: tigers. Numbers of the big cats are up, and several national parks in the region cater to tigers and tiger-watchers, including Bandhavgarh and Kanha. There’s even a Tiger Express train that shuttles between parks. To make sure you don’t come up empty-handed in the tiger-watching department, book a tour through Responsible Travel. 

5. San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur, Mexico

It’s okay to take a nature vacation with one purpose in mind – especially when the purpose is getting up close and personal with whales. San Ignacio is one of the best place in the world to see eastern Pacific gray whales, which can grow up to almost 50 feet long and weigh up to 40 tons. Lagoon tours, like those run by Ecotourism Kuyima, let you get close enough to the mammals to pet and nuzzle them – and who wouldn’t accept a friendly kiss from a whale?

Also read: Whale Watching - where to go, what to bring

6. Lapland, Finland

There’s getting away from it all, and then there’s getting away from it all in Finland. The country’s northern regions are breathtaking, especially in winter, when temperatures can stay below zero for weeks at a time. However, the tradeoff is more than 200 nights of northern lights a year, cozy lodges, and lots of opportunities for outdoor activities, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, reindeer sledding, and downhill skiing at the world-famous Pyhä-Luosto, Ruka, Levi, and Ylläs resorts. 

7. Na Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii

Talk about a place that has it all. You want lush jungle? Check. Cliffs to hike? Check. Waterfalls and pools to splash in? Check. Oceans to kayak? Got that too. Just about anything nature-related that you want to do this side of skiing you can do on Kauai, and do it bigger and better than anywhere else. It’s arguably the most beautiful spot on earth, but it’s fragile, so you want to see it with an experienced guide like Hike Kaua’i With Me. Sure, you can take an aerial tour and be blown away, but Hawaii is so much better on the ground. Aloha!

Also read: Find the Hawaiian Island You Should Visit