Gauja National Park is the oldest one in Latvia. — ILONA IVANOVA/Unsplash
To quote author and historian Jim Bishop, “Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.”
September is the month when most trees in countries with colder climates begin to change colours, turning from various shades of green to a striking blend of brown, yellow, orange and gold.
Despite the chill in the crisp autumn air, the fiery landscape created by these trees exudes this welcoming warmth. Many of us seek to experience this, to envelope ourselves in the brilliance of the season.
Beyond the fall foliage, these final few months of the year is also the time when season-specific specialities and activities make their much-anticipated return. Think pumpkin carving, apple picking and Halloween, to name a few.
For us Malaysians, it entails travelling to countries that actually experience autumn to delight in all these. (Our trees turning brown or bare from climate change doesn’t count.)
This year, the autumn cycle has just begun, which The Meteorological Office United Kingdom officially determined to be from Sept 22 until Dec 21. Of course, that duration is for the Northern Hemisphere; there are variations to this when it comes to countries with warmer climates, like Thailand and Vietnam.
Whether you’re planning to go somewhere not so far away from home or you want to fully immerse yourself in the Northern Hemisphere’s autumn moments, we’ve rounded up a few suggestions here to get you started.
Now grab your pumpkin spice latte, get comfortable and start planning your dream autumn vacation.
The 100m waterfall at Khlong Lan National Park is a scenic spot for a picnic. — KHUNKAY/Wikimedia Commons
Khlong Lan National Park (Thailand)
Typically, our neighbour to the north experiences the changing of seasons around November. The cool season will then last until February, before making way for the hot season the following month.
This means that you still have a couple of months to plan for your autumn trip this year if you wish to go somewhere closer to home.
Khlong Lan National Park is a beautiful spot to go for golden leaves and tranquillity. The park doesn’t get high tourist traffic as even Kamphaeng Phet, the lower northern Thailand province that it’s located in, barely sees outside visitors.
While this does mean navigating the area might be a tad challenging, especially if you do not speak a word of Thai and rely on public transportation to get around, the hassle will all be worth it once you step foot at the park.
Gazetted in 1982 as the 44th national park in the country, it covers approximately 300sq km of land and is popular for its waterfalls. Locals and tourists alike often visit the 100m-tall Khlong Lan Waterfall, which makes for a picturesque picnic and swimming spot.
Another popular activity here is hiking. If that’s not your thing, then perhaps you would want to hike up part of the Kio Nguang Chang Nature Trail, to reach the viewpoint that will give you a panoramic view of the park, including the aforementioned waterfall.
The same viewpoint is also great for watching the sunset or sunrise (or both!), which you can do if you opt to camp overnight at the park to spend more time in nature.
Admission to the park is priced at TBH200 (RM26) each for foreigners. Cars and motorbikes to be parked at the park require an additional TBH20 (RM2.60) and TBH30 (RM3.85), respectively.
Seoraksan National Park is a popular spot for hiking. — PERSPECTIVE NATURE/Unsplash
Seoraksan National Park (South Korea)
Should your budget permit an autumn exploration a little further but still within Asia, then head to this national park in the Gangwon province of South Korea.
The plethora of activities at Seoraksan National Park will satiate the nature lover, history buff and culture vulture in you.
The most obvious thing to do here is, of course, hike. Mid-October to early November is recommended as the best time for hiking for those planning to enjoy the trees’ full fiery hues.
AllTrails listed 35 trails overall at this over 398sq km park, ranging from 1km to roughly 23km long. If you’re lost on which trail to start with, you can opt to follow the hiking app’s user recommendation: Ulsanbawi Trail.
The roughly 7km-long trail is voted as the best due to its breathtaking views. It is a challenging route, however, requiring three to four hours of hiking and involves climbing steep staircases to the peak.
If that sounds too strenuous and you prefer a calming stroll instead, walk for about 10 minutes from the park entrance and you’ll reach Sinheungsa Temple. Here, you will see four Cheonwang (meaning “king”) statues and the Bronze Jwabul Statue that’s over 10m tall.
Another must-do for visitors is taking the cable car up to Gwongeumseong Fortress. The 10-minute journey (per way) will take you to the rocky hill site where its namesake stone castle once stood. You have to buy the cable car tickets on-site.
Alternatively, you can join tour groups that include a visit to Seoraksan and they will handle the ticket purchasing.
Camping or staying overnight is permitted, either at the campsites or shelters. You can look through the Korea National Park Service Reservation Service’s website to see updates on which sites and shelters are open and to reserve a spot.
Entrance fees were previously applicable, but as of mid-2023, visitors may enter the national park free of charge.
Gauja National Park (Latvia)
European countries often have a certain whimsical charm to them, whether architecture-wise or nature-wise. Latvia is no different, and its oldest and largest national park is a great place to include in your autumn travels.
Gauja National Park, established in 1973, spans over 917sq km and runs along the Gauja River from north-east of Sigulda to south-west of Cesis.
A single visit might not be enough for you to explore the park’s numerous attractions. Before you could even start on the nature aspect, you’d most likely be distracted by the historical monuments and castles that dot the area.
When you’re done marvelling at the recently reconstructed Turaida Castle and learning about the area’s history at the Turaida Museum Reserve, you very likely will find yourself heading to Cesis Old Town.
Here, you’ll not only marvel at more beautiful historical buildings but you can even experience medieval living of sorts at its Cesis Medieval Castle and Cesis New Castle.
You can also enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the castles and Gauja River by taking the Sigulda Cable Car.
When you finally get to your nature exploration, you’ll have stunning sandstone cliffs and caves to wander in wonder.
These you’ll discover on your hikes through the various trails, such as the Sietiniezis Nature Trail which has a 15m-high cliff, and the Kubesele Nature And History Trail where the Saulstari cliff and cave are located.
For bird watching and wildlife spotting, try the Ligatne Nature Trails instead.
If these sound too “relaxing” for those of you who seek an adrenaline rush, the park also offers activities like bungee jumping from the cable car and freefalling in a vertical wind tunnel. There’s also the Silguda luge and bobsleigh park where Latvian Olympic medallists go for training.
Admission to the national park is free, but varying charges will apply to the different activities and attractions.
Banff National Park offers stunning views of Rocky Mountains and larch trees. — Unsplash
Banff National Park (Canada)
Shared by both Canada and the United States, North America’s largest mountain system – the Rocky Mountains – is a domineering presence at Banff National Park.
Established in 1885, the 6,641sq km park located in Alberta is the first and the oldest in Canada. One of the most popular autumn activities here is hiking among the larch trees, which turn into a sea of brilliant orange in mid-September.
The trees’ lifespan is fleeting, however, lasting only a few weeks. The leaves will then fall and the trees will be bare until spring comes around. So, best to start your planning now for next year’s larch season.
But while in bloom, the trees lend a majestic golden glow to the mountains, giving you one amazing backdrop for your “autumn aesthetic” snaps.
You also wouldn’t want to miss the Johnston Canyon Trail. The nearly 12km path passes by picturesque waterfalls and leads to the mesmerising Ink Pots – spring water pools whose turquoise hue contrasts beautifully against the fall foliage around them.
For a bird’s-eye view of the park, take a ride on the Banff Gondola. You’ll see six of the park’s mountain ranges, the town of Banff and the Bow Valley during the eight-minute journey through the air. Ticket prices vary depending on your time of visit. Booking can be done at the official Banff Jasper Collection website.
Note that park passes are required to enter any national park in Canada. There are two types available, which you can purchase via the official website of Banff & Lake Louise Tourism.
Day Passes allow daily visits to mountain national parks but exclude national historic sites. Different prices, starting from around CA$10 (RM32), apply for different types of visitors: adult, senior, family/group, commercial group. Children aged 17 and below will not be required to pay.
The Discovery Pass, an annual pass that allows access to over 80 parks in the country, is available in three options: senior, adult and family/group. The price ranges from CA$64.50 (RM206) to CA$151.25 (RM483).
Various rock formations can be found at Ojcow National Park. — DARIUSZ STANISZEWSKI/Pixabay
Ojcow National Park (Poland)
A bat features on this particular park’s logo, which can be seen emblazoned everywhere, from the official website (Ojcowski Park Narodowy) to the park entrance and even the park’s employees’ outfits.
In fact, the slogan on its website states “fall in love with the land of caves and bats” – there’s no mystery here about what you’re going to encounter at Ojcow National Park.
Also referred to as Ojcowski National Park, this 21sq km forested area in southern Poland is the smallest national park in the whole country.
The biggest cave that the public can explore here is Lokietek Cave, which is said to have been the hiding place of the Poland ruler, King Wladyslaw I. Visits are only allowed with a tour guide and at the moment, only Polish-speaking group tours are available.
The same conditions apply if you wish to visit the Dark Cave or Ciemna Cave, an important archaeological site where Neanderthal fossils have been discovered.
All is not lost if you can’t quite follow the Polish guides, since you’re here to enjoy the autumn landscape anyway, which you can explore sans guides.
Most visitors come here to photograph the park’s interesting rock formations. Popular ones include Krakow Gate, Deotyma’s Needle and The Glove (which looks like a hand), but any of the towering rock formations here are worth photographing especially when juxtaposed against the bright orange trees.
Exploration of this park can be done on foot or by bicycle; there are several dedicated routes for either option. Get on the Trail Of The Eagle’s Nests to elevate your experience, as here you’ll be passing through 25 medieval castles that are mostly constructed in the 14th century.
No payment is required to enter the park. However, charges will apply for parking and the caves.
