17 Wild Places Where Humans Are the Visitors

Wild places, whether it’s the North Cascades, the California coast, or the depths of the Internet, have an undeniable draw in an age of digital screens and endless urban sprawl. These are the corners of the Earth where nature makes the rules and humans come to visit. These spots are some of the reminders from icy tundras to scorching deserts of the planet’s raw beauty and power.

If you’re looking for an adventure that’s a little off the beaten path, these wild places might just take your breath away.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge extends 19 million acres of pristine wilderness. Caribou herds roam freely here and so do polar bears and migratory birds. This remote haven has seen remarkably little modern development and is a powerful symbol of natural preservation. Many visitors write that you step back in time to a world in which there is no human activity but instead nature rules.

Okavango Delta, Botswana

The Okavango Delta is an oasis sprawling in southern Africa filled with life. Lions, hippos, and elephants live together in an ecosystem unique because of the seasonal floods. This is not a trip, it’s an immersion into a living, breathing wildlife documentary. Understanding the delicate balance of this environment is something our local guides emphasize.

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is home to the country’s highest peak, dramatic alpine scenery, and star-filled skies. It’s a favorite of mountaineers and stargazers alike. Many visitors come to walk the same trails as Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to summit Everest, who honed his climbing skills here.

Namib Desert, Namibia

The Namib Desert looks like something out of this world with its towering red sand dunes, eerie, and desiccated trees. Although harsh, this desert is home to gemsbok and desert-adapted elephants. It is a hauntingly beautiful landscape. The Namib desert meets the Atlantic Ocean which makes it more alluring on coastlines.

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, Hawaii

This is one of the largest protected areas on Earth, covering more than half a million square miles of ocean. Underneath its waves are vibrant coral reefs, just as rare marine species as well as ancient shipwrecks. This underwater paradise can only be seen by a limited amount of people each year.

Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, India, and Bangladesh

The Sundarbans is the largest tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world and a place home to the Bengal tiger. There are crocodiles, river dolphins, and who knows how many bird species in the intricate waterways. This is a living jungle book and if you visit it, you’ll be taking a step into a dense, swampy terrain.

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

A jagged peak wonderland of shimmering glaciers and azure lakes, Chile’s Torres del Paine is one of the world’s most beautiful national parks. It’s no secret that this Patagonian gem has rugged trails and epic views, and it draws its share of hikers. The weather is so unpredictable, that it can be sunny one minute and then windy and rainy the next.

Amazon Rainforest, South America

Earth’s largest rainforest, the Amazon covers more than 2 million square miles. It’s a biodiversity hotspot, containing one in ten known species on Earth. Researchers estimate that only a fraction of its flora and fauna has been cataloged. Riverboat tours, guided treks, and canopy walks are all ways to explore the area.

Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

It is home to volcanoes, geysers, and untamed rivers. This remote part of eastern Russia is home to brown bears and salmon runs. Adventurers who make the trip often marvel at the region’s raw, untouched character.

Denali National Park, Alaska

North America’s tallest mountain can be found in Denali National Park which extends to the giant tundra, forests, and glaciers. Moose, wolves, and grizzly bears are free to roam here. The park’s single road limits access, preserving its wild allure, but allowing for the chance to get close to nature.

Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galápagos are world famous for their evolutionary history and their ecological wonder. This archipelago is a living laboratory of biodiversity with giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, and marine iguanas. Visitors can see wildlife up close, but respectfully because of strict conservation measures.

Bialowieza Forest, Poland and Belarus

Bialowieza is one of Europe’s last primeval forests and a living relic of Europe’s ancient woodlands. It’s a treasure trove for nature lovers and the stomping ground of the European bison. Getting into a fairy tale is walking in its trees.

Kakadu National Park, Australia

Kakadu is Australia’s largest national park, a cultural treasure trove, and a World Heritage site. It contains Aboriginal rock art tens of thousands of years old and many ecosystems including wetlands and sandstone escarpments. Crocodiles, wallabies, and an incredible diversity of birds are found in this park.

Antarctica

Antarctica is the bottom of the globe—an ice sheet, not a continent, and the ultimate wilderness destination, a frozen desert. Fewer than 1,000 people visit here each year, mostly on guided cruises. The main residents are penguins, seals, and whales that survive in conditions that would be impossible for humans.

Great Bear Rainforest, Canada

The Great Bear Rainforest is one of the largest remaining temperate rainforests in the world and is along the coast of British Columbia. It’s also known for the rare spirit bear, a white variation of the black bear. It’s a forest of lush, misty fjords, it’s otherworldly.

The Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

The Serengeti’s sweeping plains host one of nature’s most incredible spectacles: the Great Migration. Millions of wildebeest, zebras, and antelope live here and move from place to place in search of greener grass. Predators such as lions and cheetahs follow in their wake while they travel, so visitors have great wildlife encounters.

Gobi Desert, Mongolia and China

Gobi is a windswept desert where dinosaurs once roamed and snow leopards hid. It was almost humbling, the vastness of it, endless horizons that made you feel like the last person on Earth. The Gobi teaches resilience to its wildlife, and to those who come here.