The Healing Power of Nature: 8 Majestic Wilderness Destinations to Inspire

John Muir, the legendary naturalist, once said, 'We all need beauty as much as we need bread, places to play and places to pray, where nature can heal and fortify both body and soul.'

Muir's timeless words, written in 1912 for his book on Yosemite National Park, still resonate deeply, perhaps now more than ever, as the world seeks solace in nature's embrace.

Few things can soothe the mind and restore energy like the great outdoors, where the spirit can truly unwind.

While the pandemic may have grounded many of our travel plans, these vast, tranquil landscapes around the globe can offer both inspiration for future journeys and a mental sanctuary during challenging times.

Alaska

Whales, wolves, and grizzly bears roam free. Majestic glaciers, vast tundra, and dense boreal forests stretch for miles. Snow-capped peaks and towering volcanoes, some of which are still active, make Alaska one of the wildest places on earth.

Often called America’s 'Last Frontier,' Alaska offers more untouched wilderness than all of the other 49 states combined, covering a landmass larger than Germany, France, Italy, and the UK put together.

Thanks to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1980, the state is dotted with massive national parks, preserves, and the largest and most isolated state park in the entire United States.

From Anchorage to Fairbanks, embark on journeys to explore Denali – home to North America's tallest peak – or venture into the wildlife-rich waters of Kenai Fjords. Or, trek through the colossal Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, one of the world's largest nature reserves, offering everything from rafting and sea kayaking to mountaineering and backcountry camping.

St. Elias Alpine Guides, based in McCarthy, Alaska, offers an array of wilderness excursions, from scaling remote peaks through climbing or ski mountaineering to fly-in hiking expeditions and multi-day treks across one of America’s most isolated regions.

National Park Service: Alaska

South Florida

Beyond the bustling Miami metropolitan area, South Florida offers surprising tranquility, especially for those who embark on a kayaking adventure or transport their own gear down Interstate 95.

Everglades National Park protects the largest designated wilderness area east of the Rockies, a vast labyrinth of grasslands, dense forests, mangrove swamps, and waterways teeming with alligators, Florida panthers, and a wealth of other wildlife.

The Wilderness Waterway in Everglades National Park offers one of the premier paddling journeys on the planet—160 kilometers (99 miles) of pristine tropical coastline that takes seven to eight days to traverse, with overnight stays at beach and island campsites.

For a different kind of aquatic adventure, you can kayak-camp in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in the Florida Keys, with easy access to more than a dozen premier scuba and snorkeling sites along one of the longest barrier reefs in the world.

For an ultimate getaway, the campground at Fort Jefferson on Garden Key – accessible only by seaplane or ferry from Key West – is the perfect base for kayaking and exploring Dry Tortugas National Park.

National Park Service: Everglades

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

National Park Service: Dry Tortugas

Patagonia (Chile)

At the far southern tip of the Western Hemisphere, the Patagonian regions of Chile and Argentina offer an incredible wilderness, much like Alaska: towering glaciers, pristine fjords, abundant wildlife, and snow-capped peaks (including the Andes), all preserved in the heart of several vast national parks.

Independent travelers have a wealth of exciting ways to explore this stunning region.

One option is to drive the rugged and scenic Carretera Austral (Southern Highway) from Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins, a one-way journey spanning over 1,200 kilometers (770 miles) with 10 national parks along the route.

Another unforgettable experience is the transnational Cruce Andino route, which crosses the breathtaking Lake District between Bariloche (Argentina) and Puerto Varas (Chile), a journey that combines mountain biking and ferry rides. This adventure will become even more magical in mid-December when a total solar eclipse sweeps across the region.

For a more immersive experience, visitors can stay on working cattle or sheep ranches, known as estancias, where they can explore the vast pampas on day hikes, 4x4 expeditions, or horseback rides guided by local gauchos.

Patagonia is also home to one of the world’s most awe-inspiring trekking routes – the O Circuit, which loops around the towering peaks of Torres del Paine in Chile’s iconic national park.

For those seeking a shorter adventure, the W Trek is another option, and it’s even possible to experience it during the colder months (June-August) thanks to the W in Winter program, which includes stays in cozy domed cabins, offered by local operator Fantástico Sur.

Patagonia

Bariloche

Namibia

With affordable rental-car rates, well-maintained roads, and a strong safety record, Namibia is the perfect destination in Africa for a self-drive safari, offering exciting activities like surfing, hiking, and quad biking along the way.

From Windhoek, Namibia’s vibrant capital, highways stretch out in all directions across the vast Kalahari Basin.

To the south, you'll find Fish River Canyon, home to one of Africa's most challenging and rewarding hiking trails, a week-long trek through the harsh desert landscape.

Along Namibia's rugged Atlantic coastline lies the Skeleton Coast, famed for its eerie shipwrecks and powerful waves, as well as the towering orange dunes of Sossusvlei and the expansive Namib Desert.

To the north, Etosha National Park boasts a massive salt pan surrounded by waterholes where elephants, lions, and other wildlife converge to drink.

Much like in North America, Europe, or Australia, Namibia provides travelers with the option to stay in comfortable lodges or well-organized campsites during their journey.

AfriCamper and Namibia 4x4 Rentals are two companies offering fully-equipped camper vans for self-drive holidays in Namibia and nearby South Africa.

Namibia Tourism

Australia’s Northern Territory

Saltwater crocodiles and snakes that can grow over five meters (17 feet) long. A single rock, Uluru, that’s half a billion years old and weighs more than 1.4 billion tonnes. Enormous 'road trains' hauling four or more trailers, like something straight out of Mad Max.

Everything feels larger than life in the Northern Territory, a vast region of wetlands, woodlands, and red-rock deserts that stretch across the heart of Australia.

The long and remote Stuart Highway (watch out for those road trains!) connects the tropical city of Darwin in the Top End with Alice Springs, a desert oasis in the Red Centre.

Offshoots of the Stuart Highway lead to Kakadu National Park, teeming with wildlife and ancient Aboriginal rock art, the stunning waterways of Nitmiluk, the hiking trails of Kings Canyon, and the geological marvels of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas).

Northern Territory

Fiordland (New Zealand)

Fiordland National Park, on New Zealand's South Island, offers some of the world’s most pristine wilderness, a stunning blend of rugged mountains, lush valleys, crystal-clear lakes, and the wild ocean.

Even before European settlers arrived, the region’s steep, inaccessible terrain, combined with its unpredictable climate, kept the Maori from settling in significant numbers. By the 20th century, Fiordland remained largely uninhabited and was eventually designated New Zealand's largest national park.

Queenstown and Invercargill serve as the main entry points for exploring Fiordland National Park. The Te Anau-Milford Highway (Route 94) offers a 118-kilometer (73-mile) drive through the park’s northern section. However, much of Fiordland can only be reached by boat, foot, or floatplane.

Regarded over a century ago as the 'finest walk in the world,' the Milford Track remains the park’s most renowned hiking trail, though dozens of other routes also lead deep into the wilderness.

Local tour operators such as Trips & Tramps, Real Journeys, and Rosco’s offer a range of experiences to explore Fiordland, including guided hikes, kayaking, day trips, overnight cruises, and even helicopter-accessed hiking.

Fiordland

The Pyrenees (France and Spain)

While the Alps are celebrated as Europe’s highest mountains, with Mont Blanc claiming the title of the tallest peak in Western Europe, the Pyrenees offer a true wilderness escape. For those seeking long-distance backpacking adventures, nothing compares to these mountains straddling the border between France and Spain.

The classic hiking route stretches from Valle de Ordesa – Spain's equivalent of Yosemite Valley – to the Cirque de Gavarnie in southern France. This scenic trail crosses into another country and national park, passing through the dramatic Brèche de Roland, a mountain pass named after the legendary medieval knight.

Further east, the Catalan region boasts the equally stunning Aigüestortes National Park, a beautiful mix of rocks and water with hiking trails that weave through its many lakes, including the impressive Estany de Sant Maurici.

For those with more time to explore, three major trails span the entire length of the Pyrenees, stretching from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic: the GR10 Trail on the French side, the GR11 Trail on the Spanish side, and the challenging Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne (HRP) running right down the center.

French Pyrenees

Spanish Pyrenees

Lapland (Finland, Norway, and Sweden)

The northern parts of Finland, Norway, and Sweden, home to the nomadic Sámi people and their reindeer herds for over 3,500 years, form Europe’s largest continuous wilderness area.

Remote national parks like Urho Kekkonen in Finland, Varangerhalvøya in Norway, and Stora Sjöfallets/Stuor Muorkke in Sweden offer endless opportunities for hiking, camping, and paddling in summer, as well as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snow camping in winter.

The landscape spans Arctic tundra, boreal forests, moor-like fells, valleys, and fjords carved by ancient glaciers, along with numerous inland lakes and rivers, making Lapland a haven for kayak camping.

Lapland provides one of the best opportunities in Western Europe to observe wildlife such as brown bears, wolverines, Arctic foxes, moose, and reindeer in their natural environment.

Lapland of Sweden

National Parks of Finland