The 15 Best Nature Reserve Tours

1.Wilderness, Wildlife, Glacier Experience from Anchorage

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,004 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $199Our pick

Travel from Anchorage to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Chugach National Forest, Beluga Point, and Portage Glacier. Guides such as Holly, Hunter, Patrick, and Aaron add local history, wildlife facts, and smartphone photography tips. Summer visitors can add the Ptarmigan Glacier Cruise for a closer look at Portage Glacier.

“This tour is perfect to experience some highlights of Anchorage if you don’t have many days to sight see. The Wildlife Conservation stop was amazing enabling us to see many animals such as bears, moose, reindeer, porcupine, lynx, and bison. We stopped at a riverside area where salmon come to spawn and had up close views of sockeye, chum, and pink salmon. We chose to upgrade and went on the boat tour on Portage Lake to see Byron glacier up close. It was phenomenal and worth the extra money! Our tour guide, Aaron, was very knowledgeable about local wildlife and did a fantastic job explaining the history of Anchorage. He…”

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2.From Manapouri: Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,621 reviews · 7 hours · from $208

RealNZ takes you from Manapouri across Lake Manapouri, over Wilmot Pass, and into Doubtful Sound for a guided three-hour cruise. Expect rainforest, waterfalls, misty peaks, and possible dolphins, fur seals, and crested penguins. Bring warm rain gear and allow seven hours.

“Fantastic day trip - definitely worth it to experience Doubtful Sound which was awesome and the trip across Lake Manapouri also a highlight along with the commentary. So glad we went.”

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3.Small-Group Northern Lights Wilderness Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,515 reviews · 4 hours · from $136

Leave Rovaniemi with an English-speaking Aurora guide and up to seven other people. Wild About Lapland may visit three dark-sky spots, provide winter clothing, cook sausages and marshmallows over a fire, and email professional Aurora photos the next day.

“Highly recommended. Our tour guide, Nino was super motivated and patient to find the northern lights for us and it paid off. We had one of the most spectacular sightings with the lights dancing in the sky. He even took loads of pictures for us and never complained. All in all really good experience.”

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4.Ajaccio/Porticcio: Scandola Nature Reserve Guided Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,375 reviews · 1 day · from $82

Spend a full day on a French-guided boat tour from Ajaccio or Porticcio. See Scandola’s volcanic cliffs, pause for two hours in remote Girolata, then cruise past Piana’s red granite caves, arches, and Capo Rosso Tower. Bring lunch, swimwear, a hat, and sun protection.

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5.Pilanesberg Nature Reserve Game Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,327 reviews · 12 hours · from $186

Leave Johannesburg early for Pilanesberg with hotel pickup, a roughly 2.5-hour drive, and two open-vehicle game drives totaling 4.5 to 5 hours. Guides such as Petrus, Martin, and Desmond track wildlife while you watch elephants, rhinos, giraffes, hippos, and hundreds of bird species.

“À must do. We had a fantastic time, our guide Petrus was great, he did really manage to give us the best sights and yeppp he's funny as well, so there was really no doom time Shout out to Nikki as well, the driver who took us from Johannesburg to the Pilanesberg and back, he was kind and so careful ::)) Highly advised!”

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6.From Tromsø: Ice Domes Snow Park and Wilderness Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,255 reviews · 6.5 hours · from $151

Spend 6.5 hours traveling from Tromsø to Camp Tamok for ice domes, huskies, reindeer, snowshoeing, tandem skiing, fire-making, and a hot meal in a lavvu. Guides such as Eva, David, Emmy, and Laura add local stories and practical help, while thermal gear keeps you warm.

“great day at the camp seeing the ice domes, meeting the dogs and reindeer and playing in the snow!”

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7.Day Selous Game Reserve Safari with Flights

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,025 reviews · from $470

Fly from Zanzibar to Nyerere National Park for a full-day game drive in a shared 4x4. Expect an early pickup, coffee break, warm bush lunch, and wildlife such as lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and crocodiles. Guides including Eli, Herman, Dennis, and Songoro are praised for spotting animals and explaining the park.

“An incredible experience, absolutely loved the day! It was well organised from the pick up to the airport to boarding the flight and once landed in Selous. The guide was great, informative and did all he could for us to see as many animals as possible. I would certainly recommend this to anyone looking to do a day's safari from Zanzibar.”

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8.From Ota: Scandola Nature Reserve Eco-Friendly Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 932 reviews · 3 hours - 270 minutes · from $53

You’ll cruise from Porto into Scandola Nature Reserve on a hybrid boat, with French commentary, quiet electric running inside the reserve, and a 30-minute stop in sea-only Girolata. Add 1.5 hours for the pink granite Calanche de Piana, but bring sunscreen, water, and a towel.

“Eine Stunde vor Abfahrt rief der Veranstalter an und wollte absagen wegen zu hohem Wellengang. Wir waren aber schon unterwegs und auf halber Strecke. Dann hat er die Abfahrtszeit um eine halbe Stunde nach vorne verlegt, was wir kaum hätten schaffen können und uns gesagt, dass die Tour heute 1h kürzer und ohne Aufenthalt in Girolata sein würde. Die Tour fand dann auf einem normalen Dieselboot statt, Guide nur auf Französisch, Infos konnten in einer Online-Broschüre nachgelesen werden. Anfahrt also Stress pur, Bootsfahrt zwar mit schöner Landschaft, aber lautem und stinkenden Boot nur 2 statt 3 Stunden ohne Preisnachlass. Das war Abzocke!”

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9.2.5-Hour Denali Wilderness ATV Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 917 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $145

Ride a single ATV or covered side-by-side near Denali with guides such as Cat, Jet, Maddy, and Aiden. Expect a safety briefing, practice time, rocky trails, creek crossings, photo stops, mountain views, and plenty of mud when conditions allow.

“Guides were very knowledgeable about the area and made sure everyone knew how to safely operate machines.”

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10.Madeira: Garajau Nature Reserve Kayak and Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 906 reviews · 3 hours · from $41Best value

Paddle a two-person kayak from Funchal toward Garajau Nature Reserve, stopping at Lazareto for a beach break and snorkel. Guides such as Marco, Hugo, Luis, and Flora explain safety, paddling, and local fish. Expect exercise, clear water, and optional cliff jumping.

“The host was humorous, explained how to paddle very well, talked about the fish we were able to see while snorkelling. Definitely would recommend!”

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11.Guided Wilderness Snowmobile Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 741 reviews · 2 hours · from $121

Join Wild About Lapland for a two-hour snowmobile outing from Rovaniemi. You’ll learn the controls, share a snowmobile with another adult, and ride for about an hour through snowy forest trails, with photo stops and warm gear supplied. Guides such as Vero, Jeremy, Emily, and Thibault are praised for clear instruction.

“We loved it - small group - beautiful scenery - sunshine - perfect day for a snowmobil tour! French Guide very friendly - we can only recommend this tour”

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12.Whistler Wilderness Run Snowmobile Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 724 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Ride into Whistler’s Coastal Mountain backcountry on a roughly three-hour guided snowmobile tour. You’ll receive training, a helmet, goggles, and gloves before following guides such as Brock, Kyle, Tom, or Nate through forested trails, mountain terrain, and frozen lakes. Best for confident beginners and intermediate riders.

“Absolutely brilliant experience! The snowmobile ride was so fun and breakfast in the Yukon lodge was tasty! Would definitely recommend this trip!”

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13.From Port Arthur: Tasman Island Wilderness Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 704 reviews · 3 hours · from $127

Join Pennicott Wilderness Journeys for a three-hour, fast-moving cruise from Port Arthur along the Tasman Peninsula. Expect open-air tiered seating, waterproof coats, lively English commentary, sea caves, Cape Pillar cliffs, and possible encounters with seals, dolphins, albatross, and migrating whales.

“This was a refreshing, spectacular experience. Everything I had hoped for. Thanks so much for a fantastic experience.”

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14.Jet Boat Journey through Fiordland National Park – Pure Wilderness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 678 reviews · from $127

Set out from Te Anau with Fiordland Jet for a two-hour ride along the Upper Waiau River to Lake Manapouri. Expect warm gear, local stories, trout spotting, three Lord of the Rings locations, high-speed turns and a short guided walk in native forest. Guides include Harry, Alex, John and Jade.

“This experience was very fun and informative. Alex was a terrific guide. I highly recommend this venue!”

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15.Snorkeling Tour in a Marine Protected Area

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 636 reviews · 2 hours · from $45

Swim from Abades beach into a sheltered marine protected area with guides Raffaella and Ron. Expect a safety briefing, full wetsuit and quality gear, 50 minutes in the water, fish, rays, octopuses, and possibly green turtles, plus free photos and videos.

“Raffa and Ron are so friendly and go above and beyond to make sure that you get the most out of your trip. The area is stunning and we were so lucky to see so much beautiful marine life, including sea turtles, an angel shark, and hundreds of pretty fish. The photos and videos that Ron and Raffa take are amazing quality and a brilliant way to capture the day. The snorkelling equipment is high quality and there is enough to fit everyone, even big blokes like my dad with size 12 feet! Raffa and Ron's instructions were easy to follow and we felt safe at all times. We would…”

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