10 Must-Visit National Parks In Asia That Are UNESCO World Heritage Sites

OT Staff & Waquar Habib

Kaziranga National Park, India

Kaziranga in Assam is famed for its population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. This UNESCO site also shelters tigers, wild buffalo, swamp deer, and migratory birds across its diverse floodplain ecosystems.

A beautiful closeup of Great Indian one horned rhinoceros at Kaziranga National Park | Shutterstock

Great Himalayan National Park, India

Located in Himachal Pradesh, this park protects alpine meadows, glaciers, and forests. It is home to snow leopards, Himalayan tahr, and rare pheasants, showcasing the western Himalaya’s unique biodiversity.

A shot of a Cheer pheasant in its habitat | methra_manjunath/instagram

Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Established to protect the endangered Komodo dragon, this park spans several islands in eastern Indonesia. It also includes rich marine biodiversity, coral reefs, and dramatic volcanic landscapes, attracting global visitors.

Inside Komodo National Park | samara.liveaboard/instagram

Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia

Famous for its vast limestone karst formations, caves, and pinnacles, this park in Borneo is a UNESCO site. It protects diverse ecosystems, including tropical rainforests with unique flora and fauna.

At Gunung Mulu National Park | placesmalaysia/instagram

Kinabalu Park, Malaysia

Located in Sabah, Kinabalu Park is dominated by Mount Kinabalu. It is a biodiversity hotspot with over 5,000 plant species and hundreds of birds and mammals across varied altitudes.

Inside Kinabalu Park, Malaysia | uobgroup/instagram

Lorentz National Park, Indonesia

Covering 2.35 million hectares in Papua, Lorentz is Southeast Asia’s largest protected area. It encompasses glaciers, alpine meadows, mangroves, and rainforests, supporting a wide array of rare species and ecosystems.

The southern crowned pigeon at Lorentz National Park | Wikimedia Commons

Shiretoko National Park, Japan

Situated in Hokkaido, Shiretoko features volcanic mountains, drift ice, and coastal ecosystems. It provides critical habitat for Steller’s sea eagles, brown bears, and marine species such as salmon and sea lions.

At Shiretoko National Park, Japan | japantravelcom/instagram

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Philippines

A UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Sulu Sea, Tubbataha is a pristine marine park with coral atolls. It shelters sharks, turtles, seabirds, and over 600 fish species.

A view of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Philippines | tubbatahareefs/instagram

Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia

Located in Java, this park is the last refuge of the critically endangered Javan rhinoceros. It also features tropical forests, volcanic remnants, and marine areas rich in biodiversity.

Indonesian gibbon at Ujung Kulon National Park | kaisoradotcom/instagram

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, India

These twin parks in Uttarakhand showcase alpine flora, Himalayan peaks, and glaciers. They are home to snow leopards, Himalayan musk deer, and an incredible seasonal bloom of endemic flowers.

A view of the Valley of Flowers National Park | Shutterstock

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A shot of an Indian cobra | editorkaruna/instagram
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