Swiss National Park.

As Switzerland’s only national park and the oldest in the Alps, this 170-square-kilometer reserve in the Engadin operates under remarkably strict conservation rules. Founded in 1914, the park bans hunting, farming, and even leaving the designated paths, creating an untouched mountain ecosystem where nature is left entirely to its own devices. Visitors exploring the 100 kilometers of hiking trails—ranging from the family-friendly Champlönch trail to the wildlife-rich Senda Val Trupchun—have an excellent chance of spotting ibex, chamois, marmots, and golden eagles in their natural habitats. The journey begins in Zernez at the National Park Centre, a striking monolithic visitor center hosting interactive exhibitions that set the stage for a truly wild, uncommercialized Alpine experience.