THE FRUITS OF NATURE

October is here and, with the changing of the season and the weather, Amal Sarhan looks towards three verdant corners of our planet. The destinations bathe you in natural wonder and tranquil scenery as she explores these cherished areas that will make you feel as one with the earth.

JASPER NATIONAL PARK, CANADA

Surrounding the town of Jasper is Canada’s Jasper National Park – named a UNESCO World Heritage Site – with glimmering glaciers, verdant forests, azure blue lakes, plentiful wildlife, high, crashing waterfalls, deep, yawning canyons and lofty mountains. With an area of 11,228sq/km, the park is the largest in the Rocky Mountains and the second largest Dark Sky Preserve in the world. It offers unforgettable adventures, including alpine day hiking, mountain biking, skating and horseback riding. Visitors can also take scenic drives and picnic in the woods, as well as enjoy viewing the wildlife and learning about the surrounding habitat. For those who want to pamper themselves, don’t forget to visit The Spa at Fairmont Jasper Spa Lounge.

Perhaps Jasper’s most adored hidden gem is Spirit Island, a quaint and tiny island in Maligne Lake located off the beaten path and tucked away in the Rocky Mountains. The lake is surrounded by three peaks of the same mountain range, which is quite rare and offers the most beautiful, picturesque view. You can either paddle to the island, which takes about four hours from Home Bay, or take the cruise, which will get you there in about two hours.

The cruise will also take you through the Maligne Valley, which offers breathtaking scenery of the Rockies’ flora and fauna and abundant wildlife. You will stop at Maligne Canyon to embark on two famous bridges which look out onto majestic waterfalls that cascade onto ancient limestone found in the area.

FIORDLAND NATIONAL PARK, NEW ZEALAND

This heavenly sanctuary is lined and dotted with towering mountain ranges, deep sounds, vast azure-blue lakes, colossal waterfalls and crowded forests. Home to three of New Zealand’s greatest hiking tracks, the park is located in the internationally celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Site Te Wahipounamu, once called the eighth wonder of the world by renowned English poet Rudyard Kipling.