5 INTERNATIONAL PARKS WORTH PLANNING YOUR ENTIRE VACATION AROUND

The average American worker has about 11 days of paid time off. That’s not a lot, especially if you’re trying to plan an international trip. So, how to maximize those limited vacation days? First, cut it out with the town-hopping, aimless wandering, and city side quests—all these waste precious time on transit. Instead, pick a place so spectacular that you can go straight there, set up your basecamp, and feel confident that you’ll never run out of things to do.

These five international national parks aren’t quick detours or “nice if you’re nearby” stops: They’re full-fledged vacations all on their own. From glacier-carved valleys to sacred sandstone monoliths, these parks each anchor an entire itinerary. Go for a week (or more) to hike, bike, camp, swim, and soak at these world-renowned parks.

Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia

As one of the world’s most iconic natural landmarks, Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park is home to the towering red monolith of Uluru and the domed rock formations of Kata Tjuta. Covering about 510 square miles, the park sits within the ancestral lands of the Indigenous Australian Anangu people. It’s especially striking at sunrise and sunset, when the light colors the rock in shades of rust, orange, and deep crimson. While Uluru’s sacred summit has been closed to climbers since 2019, you’ll find plenty of incredible vistas at ground level.

Trails

Try the 6.2-mile Uluru Base Walk to caves, watering holes, and ancient rock art, or the 4.6-mile Valley of the Winds circuit through narrow gorges and across rocky ridgelines. Other ranger-led cultural walks offer deeper insight into Anangu traditions, bush foods, and the park’s spiritual significance.

Getting there

The fastest way here is to fly to Ayers Rock Airport. Hotels and campgrounds in Yulara, the town just outside the park, make this remote landscape surprisingly accessible.

Peneda-Gerês National Park, Northern Portugal

Portugal is ranked among Europe’s most popular destinations, but most travelers miss the real gem: Peneda-Gerês National Park in the country’s far north. Dense oak forests, spongy green peat bogs, cascading rivers, and waterfall-fed swimming holes define this 270-square-mile swath of backcountry. It’s the kind of place where you can hike for hours without seeing another traveler, but still spot wild Garrano horses, miniature Cachena cattle, and—if luck is on your side—the elusive Iberian wolf.

Trails

The park’s trails range from short strolls to all-day routes. Sete Lagoas is a 5.9-mile hike that links a handful of translucent mountain ponds, while the 7.8-mile Pedra Bela miradouro offers sweeping views over the Caniçada Reservoir (go at sunrise or sunset when the trees appear golden in the last of the day’s light).

Getting there

The park is 66 miles northeast of Porto, but there’s limited public transportation. For maximum flexibility, plan to pick up and return a rental car from the Porto airport. For lodging, target guesthouses in rural villages in the park, like Casa do Adro, or privately run campgrounds like Ermida Gerês Camping.

Linnansaari National Park, Finland

Linnansaari National Park is a 37-square-mile wilderness in Finland’s Lake Saimaa region. Established in 1956, the park includes 130 islands and sheltered waterways known for their unique plants and wildlife. Most visitors use Linnansaari Island as the main base for hiking and camping. It’s also the best place to see the endangered Saimaa ringed seal. Thanks to Finland’s unique law, jokamiehenoikeus (“everyman’s right”), anyone in Finland—regardless of residency or nationality—has free access to the park and its trails.

Trails

In summer, the 4-mile Linnavouri trail winds through pine and spruce forests, and the 12-mile Linnansaari trail is perfect for skiing or snowshoeing in winter. But the best way to explore the park is by boat. Renting a canoe or kayak will allow you to paddle between islands, into hidden coves, and across quiet bays. Multi-day paddling trips are popular, and you’ll find established camping and fire pits on many of the islands. Guided trips are also accessible from nearby towns like Oravi and Rantasalmi—and are a great option if you’re new to aquatic navigation.

Getting there

You can access Linnansaari Island via water taxi from the nearby town of Rantasalmi, which is a 5-hour bus ride (or 3-hour drive) from Helsinki. Once you’re in the national park, accommodation options range from charming lakeside cottages to more primitive cabins and tents.

Akan-Mashu National Park, Japan

Akan-Mashu National Park in Hokkaido, northern Japan, is a 914-square-mile volcanic region full of crater lakes, steaming geothermal fields, and ancient forests. Lake Akan itself is a large caldera lake known for its exceptionally clear water and marimo, a rare alga that grows into soft, moss-like green spheres. Akan-Mashu is known for its hiking, mountain biking, and canoeing. Better yet, it’s also an onsen (hot springs bathing) paradise.

Trails

Mount Oakan and Mount Meakan are considered a husband-and-wife duo in local Ainu culture. The 1.5-mile Mount Io Tsutsujigahara Nature Trail is a great introduction to the area, and the 8-mile Mount Oakan Trail makes a more challenging tour of fumaroles, alpine meadows, and rugged ridgelines on its way to Oakan’s 4,495-foot summit.

Getting there

You’ll find direct flights from Tokyo to Hokkaido. From there, the park is just 35 mile away and accessible by public buses and taxis. Accommodations range from the New Akan Hotel, which boasts a multi-level onsen overlooking the mountains, to scenic camping at Akan Lakeshore campgrounds.

Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland

At 5,450 square miles, Vatnajökull National Park in southeastern Iceland is one of the largest national parks in Europe. It also features a unique centerpiece: the Vatnajökull Glacier, the largest ice cap in Iceland. But no trip is complete without a visit to the Glacier Lagoons. Trails around the Fjallsarlon and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoons offer viewers a front-row seat to the real-time creation of massive icebergs. Watch them break up and slowly drift through deep blue coves before floating out to sea.

Trails

The trails here cross lava fields, moss-covered valleys, and highland desert terrain. A few classics: the 6-mile hike along the shore of Fjallsarlon glacier, the 4-mile Svartifoss waterfall hike, and the 12-mile Morsárdalur Valley Hike to Morsárjökull glacier.

Getting there

Pick up a rental car from Reykjavik, then head to the towns of Höfn and Skaftafell to find lodging. There, you can stay in modern lodges like Seljavellir Guesthouse or year-round campgrounds like Skaftafell Campground.

2026-06-01T17:53:36Z