Swiss National Park. Fjordland Game Reserve, New Zealand

Swiss National Park (Schweizerischer Nationalpark) Is the only national park in the south. It is located in the Engadine Valley area (Engadin), and is located at altitudes from 1400 to 3200 meters above sea level. Its area is more than 170 square kilometers and it is also the oldest national park in the Alps.

This is an amazing place of primeval nature, where everyone can enjoy alpine meadows, forests, mountain slopes and simply picturesque views. It is home to many species of wild animals and birds. For every connoisseur of nature, the national park has developed many hiking trails and excursion routes. This place is definitely worth visiting if you are traveling in Switzerland.

Swiss National Park: How to get there

The most convenient way to get to Zernez (Zernez), where the main entrance to the Swiss National Park is located. In addition, it is highly recommended to use public transport in order to preserve the purity of the park's nature.

Car. The distance between Zurich and Zernez is about 178 kilometers. The road will take you about 2.5 hours along the A3 and 28 highways. The car will need to be left in the parking lot.

Then you need to get to the information center (Nationalparkzentrum) where the main entrance to the park is located. It is located at Urtatsch 2, Zernez 7530, Switzerland. You can take a car or take a taxi.

Swiss National Park: Life Hacks

From the very beginning of exploring the Swiss National Park, it is worth visiting the information center (Nationalparkzentrum), where there is also a museum, exhibitions, and you can book a guided tour. There you will get acquainted with information for tourists, and by visiting the museum, you will have the opportunity to learn the history of the national park, its features and learn about its inhabitants. The entrance ticket costs 7 EUR for adults, 3 EUR for children 6-16 years old, and free for children under 6 years old. It is possible to take a family ticket for 15 EUR. Information on prices for tours, the museum, as well as contacts and descriptions can be found on the official website of the Swiss National Park.

Then you can take a walk through the park itself. You can book a guided tour or go hiking on your own. About 80 kilometers of hiking trails and 21 routes will be available for you. You also need to prepare in advance and take sunscreen and glasses, a raincoat, change of clothes and shoes, food and water. There are also some rules that must be strictly followed. For example, you cannot pick mushrooms and flowers, use a bicycle, or bring pets with you.

Switzerland is a small country by European standards, so it is not surprising that there is only one national natural park here. By the way, it is called the Swiss National Park. At the beginning of the 20th century, the territory of today's park was subjected to the so-called industrialization.

This term, translated into normal language, means the total production of natural resources. And after the latter were almost completely used, someone came up with the idea: "Shouldn't we create a national natural park here, all of this kind."

And since this idea absolutely did not contradict the democratic principles of building society, it fell on fertile soil and is still there. In any case, in 1914, economic activity was completely prohibited on its territory.

And after some time, the creation of a national park was announced. And the reason for the creation of the park was announced: the need to study the ability of nature to restore.

The park is located in the Engadine Valley and its total area is 172.4 square kilometers. Moreover, all of it is located within heights from 1400 meters above sea level to 3174 meters.

Its second name is: Engodin Park, due to the fact that it occupies the southern slopes of the valley of the same name. This park became the first alpine reserve in Europe, created in a place actively developed by man.

What to see.

Since human economic activity in the park is prohibited in any field of activity, this fact has a very favorable effect on the fauna of the park. In any case, not every nature reserve can now boast the presence of more than 60 species of mammals.

Among the latter, there are such rare species today as the alpine ibex, chamois, alpine marten, lynx, brown bear and many others, among which there is even an endemic alpine newt.

It is clear that such types of illegal fishing as poaching are unacceptable here. Moreover, there are many prohibitions in the park, which are not very easy to explain by Slavic logic.

In particular, it is forbidden to ride a bicycle, make loud noises and sleep in tents in the park. Moreover, the fines here are issued not by the human traffic police, but by the strict and incorruptible park security service.

But the most important asset in the park is 21 hiking trails. Their total length is 80 kilometers and they fully represent the opportunity to admire the beauty of these places and see the local inhabitants in their natural conditions.

It is also interesting that the entrance to the park is absolutely free, which is quite rare in Switzerland. In addition, there are 9 parking lots along its perimeter, which are also free and have their own routes.

The park is open from June to October, so everyone who wants to hurry up, otherwise the protracted economic crisis can make its not very good amendments to such a safe and cheap location.

The most interesting thing is that opposite the southern slopes of the Engadine Valley are the northern slopes. So on these slopes there is also a nature reserve, created in 2006. Its name is Ela Regional Park.

It covers the territory of the local mountain range between the peaks of Ela and Kesh. Its area is 600 square kilometers and here human economic activity is permitted on a limited scale.

Its last feature, in particular, allows you to ride on the Rhaetische Bahn railway, which is included in the UNESCO lists. Its length is 63 kilometers. It would seem that it is, if not for 55 bridges and 39 tunnels, which are also included in the route.

And actually there is nothing to say about the views of the Engadin mountains, because it is a must see. In addition, there are ski resorts, which are not fashionable to ski from year to year.

There is also another popular Jura Natural Park in Switzerland. Apparently, it was named after the first cosmonaut on Earth. It is located along the shores of Lake Geneva from Le Santier to Nyon. The Jura Mountains and one of the most beautiful valleys in Switzerland, the Zhu Valley, are considered the pearls of the park.

Despite the rather populated area, there is a very rich world of flora and fauna. And in Lake Zhu there are over 50 species of fish. As elsewhere in Switzerland, there is an excellent network of hiking and skiing trails. Their total length is 523 kilometers.

And the local catering sphere will add color in the form of restaurants and cafes. There are also cycling routes that are popular among fans of two-wheeled cars with a foot drive. Search for cheap hotels.

How to get there.

The best option for outdoor activities in the Engadine National Park would be a stop in St. Moritz. This area has a very developed infrastructure and anyone who suffers from natural spectacles will feel comfortable here.

The main mode of transport for arriving at the St. Moritz resort is the railway. The most convenient train is from Zurich, which runs every hour to Chur. In the latter, a transfer is made to St. Moritz. From Kura, trains run once an hour, starting at 13.58 and ending at 17.58.

Few beats the magic and splendor of African wildlife. Hardly any other national park in the world in terms of its unspoilt countryside, wildlife and vastness of the area can match the Kruger Nature Reserve in South Africa.

Kruger National Park is capable of offering one of the best safaris in the world. In one place you can see a wide range of the largest mammals on earth, a large number of birds, large predators and their prey. If you are a wildlife lover then this is definitely the place for you.

Sagarmatha National Reserve, Nepal

Highly and majestically located in the Himalayas, Nepal's Sagarmatha Nature Reserve includes three of the ten tallest mountains in the world, including Mount Everest. Endless glaciers, breathtaking valleys of untouched snow make Sagarmatha Natural Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And, of course, for lovers of wildlife, not visiting this alpine reserve means losing something important.

Fjordland Game Reserve, New Zealand

If you are into gorgeous fjords and boating, then this is a must visit. The main attraction is Milford Sound, but in addition, the other 14 fjords with the most romantic landscapes make this park a unique place, unlike any other nature reserve in the world.

Galapagos National Park, Ecuador

With stunning landscapes surrounded by clear blue waters, the Galapagos Islands are a haven for exotic animals and wildlife. The unique atmosphere of the islands is of historical and scientific value. Recently, the initiatives of ecological tourism have been strongly supported here.

Tikal National Park, Guatemala

Traveling to Tikal National Park is primarily a means to explore the Mayan heritage. Set in a wild jungle, Tikal hides fantastic ruins of Mayan settlements that date back to around 250-900 AD. Even what remains from those times amazes tourists with the amazing architecture of temples and a variety of different wild animals. Tikal is a place for amazing adventures and unforgettable experiences.

Reserve "Yellow Dragon", China

Calcium sediment here creates the illusion of gold, which gave the name to this place - "Yellow Dragon". Also, this reserve is home to the cute, world-famous panda - the symbol of WWF.

The area features a unique gated ecosystem with waterfalls, hot springs, pristine forests and snow-capped mountaintops, home to endangered species such as the Sichuan gold-bearing monkeys and the giant panda. The Yellow Dragon is a real mecca for photographers from all over the world.

Iguazu National Reserve, Argentina

The Protected Area, which is a World Heritage Site, is the most impressive site in Brazil and Argentina. Over 70 meters high and 1,500 meters wide, the breathtaking waterfalls are home to some of South America's finest fauna. The views of the surrounding subtropical forests will leave no one indifferent.

Kakadu National Wildlife Refuge, Australia

The Kakadu National Reserve is located in Northern Australia. This quintessentially Australian landscape is one of the few places designated as a World Heritage Site, both for its natural and cultural significance.

The reserve stretches over 3.2 million acres and includes several areas of traditional residence of the indigenous peoples of the continent. The wonderful South Alligator rivers, coastal beaches, rainforests and monsoon winds make the Kakadu National Reserve a must-see destination.

National Reserve, Switzerland

Although Switzerland is best known for the magic of the Alps, it is home to the only national park worth visiting. The Swiss National Park was established in 1914 and is inhabited by a huge variety of interesting animals such as chamois, ibex, golden eagle or bearded vulture. Rivers, peaks of snowy mountains and alpine valleys represent nature in its most picturesque manifestations.

Machu Picchu, Peru

The majestic Machu Picchu has been the most popular tourist destination in Peru for many years. No matter how many times a tourist has been here to enjoy the grandeur of the ancient monuments, traveling in the footsteps of the Incas always brings excitement, adventure and mystery.

Travel Plan - "DSBW Travel Collection" organizes excursion tours to Switzerland in 2020, which we offer at very competitive prices for mini-groups of up to 12 people, which provide the greatest level of comfort in sightseeing travel. We have tours both only in Switzerland and in combination with Bavaria, for example a tour "Bavaria - Switzerland" or tour "Switzerland Classic" ... On our tours you will find Zurich and Bern, Geneva and Lucerne, Montreux and Vivey, the Rhine Falls and the medieval Stein am Rhein, Fondue Dinner in Gruyeres and much more.

Switzerland is an amazing country that has been spared by the war and adversity of the past century. For many, she is a model of comfort and peace. Switzerland is many-sided and varied. Different traditions and cultures coexist here: German-speaking Zurich and French-speaking Geneva, speaking Italian Ticino - they are all part of a single but very different country. Excursion tours to Switzerland allow our travelers to see all the diversity of the culture of life in this country. Here you will also find many interesting tours covering three countries at once - Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

Our tours to Switzerland are designed for tourists from different cities of Russia. In each round, in the "Transport" section, there is information on flights and transfers: from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Tyumen, Kazan, Samara, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok. We also welcome tourists from other cities.

Switzerland is a very interesting excursion and educational plan, but quite an expensive country. We have developed our programs in such a way that the cost of traveling in Switzerland would be comparable to tours to other countries and regions of Europe. With extensive experience in Switzerland, we offer a variety of tours both to Switzerland itself and in combination with Bavaria, Austria or Italy. Using our own transport allows us to provide both high quality service and guarantee all announced dates of the tours.