Found 15kms outside Munnar, Eravikulam was declared a sanctuary in 1975 and upgraded in 1978 to a national park, in part due to its unique flora and fauna. We went at the wrong time to see the enigmatic Neelakurunji, a plant which produces its carpet of blue flowers every 12 years (go there in 2014 for the next viewing) but we did see the fabulously rare Nilgiri Tahr, the only species of Caprine ungulate (look that up in your Funk and Wagnall’s) found south of the Himalayas. There are around 2,500 left of this friendly wild mountain goat in the world, ensuring its place among the status of ‘endangered’ in the WWF list of rare animals.
We arrived at the park excited at the prospect of seeing rare goats. In addition to nature’s gifts, it is home to Anamudi (2690m), the highest peak in India south of the Himalayas. We were not allowed to walk up the mountain path, so along with everyone else ascended the foothills aboard the park bus. We jumped off with about 40 domestic tourists at the high entrance point. We were not allowed to deviate from the path. We were told to keep quiet so as not to upset the wildlife. We could not pass go. Fair enough.
Accompanied by families of screaming children scrambling in the undergrowth, shouting groups of men and chattering women in bejewelled thong sandles and saris, we tried to pretend we were at one with nature. A Nilgiri Tahr crossed the carefully designated pathway in front of us ignoring the noise: the 25 species of other mammals, 132 species of birds, 101 species of butterflies and 19 species of amphibians recorded in the Park kept their distance. An abrupt end to the path made it clear we would not be allowed any further, ending our dream of a decent shot at climbing the highest peak in southern India.
A little disappointedly we returned down the hill-path, trying to find a moment of tranquility among the tourist madness. Anyone who has visited India will know this is never an easy task. We gave up at the bus drop-off point, and, in a last ditch effort to find some serenity in the beautiful surroundings, decided to walk back to the bottom. Fat chance. A guard shooed us back up the hill and we joined a heaving bus of tourists back to the park entrance.
Oh well, we saw the goats.

Idukki, Forest Information Centre, Wildlife Warden's Office, Munnar PO, Kerala 685 612, India
+91 4865 231 587
Google map: bit.ly/xjyUeq

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The most incredible geological formations, colours, caves, waterfalls and dinosaur foot prints
Hardly discovered by tourists - off the beaten track but well worth the effort.

Google map: bit.ly/yQB1em

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It might just be me, but I felt like Kings Canyon was the best place for me to get in shape. It's away from the crowds of Yosemite and empty enough that no one will watch you sweating and panting as you hike through the beautiful redwoods. It's a beautiful place, and the weather in the summer is always fantastic. I'd combine a trip here with a tour around northern California. I spent three weeks hiking, shopping and relaxing and I lost two dress sizes without altering my diet! Finally, the best point about the national parks is that they're very family orientated so there will be something for everyone.

www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm
83918 Grant Grove Dr, Kings Cyn Nat Pk, CA, United States
+1 559-335-2856
Google map: bit.ly/sk8E7C

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Posada de la Laguna in the north east of Argentina was quite the most special place I've ever stayed. It was a four hour 4x4 drive from the city of Posadas on the Paraguayan border deep into the heart of the Iberà wetlands to the luxurious yet homely ranch where four of us stayed. On a quiet boat ride at dusk, with a guide who knew his environment and who was intuitive of his guests' level of interest, we marvelled at the caiman, the carpincho and wealth of bird life. We rode bare back with a gaucho in the pampas and ate delicious food served to us communally without the need of menu deliberations. If ever there was a place to feel at one with the world, Posada de la Laguna truly is it.

www.posadadelalaguna.com/
In the Nature Reserve village of Carlos Pellegrini, in the Province of Corrientes.
(+54) 3773-499413
Google map: bit.ly/rY91XA

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Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty; truly world class, as reflected in its UNESCO listing as a World Heritage Site.
The main attractions are the crystal clear lakes which, because of a high mineral content, appear blue and green, and the waterfalls which separate the series of lakes down through the valley.
Actually, it would be more correct to say two valleys as the main area of the park is y-shaped. A shuttle bus service operates within the park for those who buy the relevant ticket; otherwise, there is a lot of walking.
A third valley, the Zharu Valley, is not open to the general public but it is possible to viist if booked on one of the eco-tourism options with the park authorities. A write-up of my 3-day trek is linked below. This also includes other eco-options that we were shown during the trip.
A related site, Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) is nearby and easily combined in a short break from Chengdu.

www.jiuzhai.com/language/english/index.html
Google map: bit.ly/tjjG6X

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In southern Idaho lies a vast black lava field, created by a series of volcanic eruptions over the last 15,000 years. Managed by the National Park Service, it's a magical place, with a fierce, dry heat, astonishing sunsets and wildlife including eagles, owls and bats. It's crowning glory is a series of lava tube caves open to visitors, where you can scramble down over boulders to discover vast, cavernous tunnels under the black rock. Take a torch!

www.nps.gov/crmo/index.htm
Highway 26, Arco, ID, United States
+1 208 527 1300
Google map: bit.ly/qu5B2T

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My family and I spent a wonderful day hiking with an exceptionally knowledgeable naturalist/ guide from Canadian Wilderness Tours. Our guide, Rosemary, selected a trail for us with breathtaking views. She helped us identify the flowers, birds (including some unique alpine birds like ptarmigan and rosy finches). We had never really been able to understand geology but Rosemary showed us how the layers in the mountain were actually ancient sea floor deposits; she even managed to find some fossil coral for us. Rosemary also gave us a lot of background history and real insight into her piece of the wilderness. Her enthusiasm was very inspiring. After reviewing hiking safety with us, including hiking in bear country, she gave us a personalized list of other walks and hikes she thought we would enjoy. Our day with her was well worth the money, the information we received from her greatly enriched our two weeks in the magnificent Canadian Rockies

canwild.tours@gmail.com
+1 403 678 3795

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While Santa Fe is chilled and has an OK beach, it's the boat rides to the islands that you come here for. Jump on a boat and head to the islands where you can eat fresh oysters from a man just walking round with a bucket of them and some limes, stroke the huge lizards and then pop back on the boat for some snorkelling in some beautiful, marine life abundant coral reefs - perfection.
Eight years ago when we went it was still relatively unknown and quiet - pure bliss.

Parque Nacional Mochima
www.inparques.gob.ve/index.php?parques=view&codigo=pn_0011&sec=1

Google map: bit.ly/rnZLpb

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So many visitors to northern Sweden go straight to the Ice Hotel in Kiruna - point proved by the fact that Abisko is not even in this websites drop down menu!! [Noone has tipped about it yet - ed] I recommend keep going north on the train to Abisko, about an hour further into the Arctic Circle. There is a fantastic, huge, youth hostel in the middle of the Abisko National Park, more like a hotel. If you are visiting between October and May you can sign up to spend a night in the cafe on top of the Kungsleden mountain. It sounds bonkers (its not posh, you literally sleep on the floor of a cafe in sleeping bags) but you get to spend the whole night watching for the Northern Lights followed by the sun rising over the Lapporten, the famous Lapp Gateway. This mountain view is seeped in Sami traditions, legends and stories. I also recommend following your evening on the mountain up with a trip on a skidoo across the bright blue frozen lake with a local guide. NB: make sure you book the Abisko Mountain STATION (the youth hostel) not the Abikso Mountain Lodge (the posh hotel)
We did this for our honeymoon and even though we spent the whole trip in separate beds (or sleeping bags!) it was truly amazing. The closest thing to magic I have witnessed.

www.abisko.nu/vinter/englishpages/index.asp
Norrbottens Län, Sweden
+46 920 960 00
Google map: bit.ly/oVQcpc

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I stayed at Basecamp Oulanka for a week on a trip organised by Exodus. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for an active trip with a difference. And don't worry about the cold, you are given plenty of layers - it was between -15C and -32C and I never really felt chilly. But what was really magical was dog sledding - riding your own sledge through a pristine snowscape, only the crunch of the snow under the runners and the panting huskies as a soundtrack. I'm planning to go back to spend a full week sledding - it still won't be enough.

www.basecampoulanka.fi/page.asp?pageid=100&languageid=EN
Myllykoskentie 30, 93999 Kuusamo, Finland
+358 40 0509741
Google map: bit.ly/pT0sl4

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The west coast of the island is amazing. Buy a park permit which is a bargain - about $19 dollars for two days - and allows you access to all the car parks, trails and centres. Every trail between Uclulet and Torfino is worth doing for diversity. If you have a chance to join a trail walk with ranger Carl you must do so. His knowledge, enthusiasm and charm was a highlight of our holiday and changed the way I think about Banana slugs. This is genuinely a paradise park.

www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/natcul/natcul9.aspx
+1 250 726 3500
Google map: bit.ly/oEe27g

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Imagine what you think it will be like and multiply by ten. The Rockies are awesome. Banff is a great place to stay. We stayed at Fox suites on the Avenue. Free transit bus to town - five minutes. Eat at Nourish or the Elk and Oarsman.
Do not expect speed at Nourish but the vegetarian food is nothing short of amazing. Fruit shepherds pie, you must eat it to believe it.

Trips: Drive highway 1A to Lake Louise for bears and wild elk and stunning scenery. Walk up to Lake Agnes and go to the tea shop. Visit Morraine Lake.
Walk up to Stewart canyon at Lake Miniwanka - it is amazing.
Do the Banff gondola, The Whyte museum and visit Bow falls. What a great place to stay.

www.banfflakelouise.com/
Fox Hotel and Suites:
461 Banff Avenue, Banff, Banff National Park, Alberta T1L 1H8
+1 403 760 8500
Google map: bit.ly/q4nF87

Nourish:
nourishbistro.com/
215 Banff Avenue
+1403 760 3933
Google map: bit.ly/oE8YQL

Elk and Oarsman:
www.elkandoarsman.com/
119 Banff Avenue AB T1L 1B6
+1403 762 4616
Google map: bit.ly/qKmbHq

The Whyte Museum:
www.whyte.org/
111 Bear St, Banff, AB, T1L 1A3
+1 403 762 2291
Google map: bit.ly/rpZW0q

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Mo Ko Surin National Park covers an area of around 140km2 located 55km from the Thai mainland. It contains the Surin Islands and surrounding waters – of the total area, 80% is sea. There is a brilliant campsite on one of the islands. Our tent (sheets etc provided) was pitched on the edge of a pretty small white-sand beach and provided great views – turquoise blue sea in the day and beautiful sunsets in the evening.
The co-op run restaurant by the campsite is a great place to chill out, meet people and enjoy locally caught/grown fish and veggies. You can go snorkelling off the beach and explore the baby shark-filled mangroves. Staying at the campsite also allows you to go out snorkelling from longtail boats during the day rather than the bigger boats the day trippers use.
Mu Ko Surin National Park is fantastic for snorkelling, with pristine reefs, mangroves and crystal clear waters. We saw sharks (small and large), sea turtles and loads of beautiful reef fish, coral and plants. The park is stunningly beautiful and so far has been well protected by the government by limiting the number of day trippers and campers.

You can book trips from Khao Lak on the mainland.
www.surin-islands.com/
Google map: bit.ly/mNOu1c

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Bacon and eggs with fresh Tanzanian coffee cannot get better than this. Kingfishers, herons, storks, sun birds, rollers, hippos, crocodiles. You will share your early morning with them all, enveloped by the astounding landscape of Ruaha National Park in Southern Tanzania. An AfrikaAfrika Safaris guide will spot each and every fascinating creature, revealing the scene in its full glory. This lesser known park offers an astounding array of wildlife as well as a range of bio zones that dazzle in their variety. Baobabs, those wise, ancient trees, punctuate the vista. Breathtaking

Kigelia, Ruaha National Park, Southern Safari Circuit, Tanzania, East Africa
www.kigeliacamp.com/
+255 754 927 694
Google map: bit.ly/kZSjap

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Cascais is an easy train ride away from Lisbon, but is relatively unknown as far as Portugal goes. It's a great town with a fantastic harbour and lots of shops and restaurants, including the amazing Enoteca Cascais which has great food and an amazing selection of Portuguese wines. Portugal doesn't export most of it's best wine so you can try things you wouldn't get in the UK. When we visited, there was a food, drink and music festival in town; we were the only non-Portuguese people there and it was a great way of experiencing local life.
Cascais is a mecca for windsurfers. Near the windsurfing beaches you'll also find the Boca Del Inferno; a gaping chasm in the sea which really does roar! You can also easily get to Sintra, which is a UNESCO world heritage site and consists of a palace, a castle and a national park. It is breathtaking.

Google map: bit.ly/hce61D
www.cascais.net/guide/

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A small hotel on the waterfront in the Geres National Park. The hotel serves the best Portuguese food. The owners are fluent in English. The view is absolutely breathtaking. Within walking distance is the lagoon with a wide variety of watersports or just sit on your balcony and take in the fresh pine air!

www.bserra.com
Lugar do Bairro, n.º 25, Vilar da Veiga, 4845-065 Gerês
+351 253 391 457
Google map: bit.ly/g26kuC

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The highest mountain range in mainland Portugal, it has its own ski resort, with some fabulous walking routes off the beaten track. Escape the summer heat of the plains and enjoy the wild landscape. We based ourselves in Manteigas where there is a useful information centre and walked in some of the higher valleys, mountain streams, and forests. Great views from up here!

www.turismoserradaestrela.pt/
Google map: bit.ly/hnkcSn

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This spectacular crescent shaped stretch of white sand sits off the coast of Galicia, accessible only by ferries, which only run from early spring to late summer. There are no hotels, no litter bins, and almost no development on these islands once treasured by Julius Ceasar. The stunning crystal clear waters, warm micro climate and soft white sands make this a heavenly escape from the mainland during the summer months.

Where: A 30 minute ferry ride from Vigo or Baiona
Address: 36212 Vigo, Spain
Google map: bit.ly/eSb2Eo

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Tourists and locals alike park at either end of the road bridge over the Tarcoles River in order to walk along the narrow footpaths on either side to peer down at these monsters on the river banks. These crocodiles are huge - the ones we saw were 10-15 feet in length.

www.costarica.com/places-to-see/parks,-reserves-and-protected-areas/carara-national-park/
Google map: bit.ly/eyupiJ

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An hour’s train ride east of Amsterdam lies the city of Arnhem. The Kroller Muller Museum is a modern art gallery set within the vast 13,590 acre National Park of Hoge Veluwe, where culture and nature come together. The gallery holds an impressive collection including work by Van Gogh, Renoir, Seurat, Picasso and others, and more contemporary work. The surrounding sculpture gardens take up 61 acres, the largest such garden in Europe and display a magnificent collection of sculptures featuring Rodin, Serra, Hepworth, Dubuffet, Oldenburg, and many more set into this natural setting. You can explore the sprawling park on the free white bicycles, via the 26 miles of bicycle paths

www.kmm.nl/
Houtkampweg 6, 6731 AW Otterlo
+31 (0) 318 59 12 41
Google map: bit.ly/gR3NGX

www.hogeveluwe.nl/en/14

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