Layout in ArcMap can do that for you.  One of the videos below will guide you on how to export your map.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7G3SF4doVg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpHFkPWaC_s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMsym1CbWM4

You could use Google Earth Pro which is free just search thru google. 

There is a good tutorial documentation of QGIS check this link: http://docs.qgis.org/testing/en/docs/training_manual/index.html

Heres a tutorial on using QGIS to design printable maps:

http://www.qgistutorials.com/en/docs/making_a_map.html

You can use the open layers plugin to generate a background from various services (google, open street map, stamen etc.).

Go through the Intro tutorial of Getting started with Arc GIS

Go for  GIS Image put  and use IRDAS and Arc GIS

Oryx - the International Journal of Conservation - recently made available this online manual to provide guidance on designing maps and data plots. This guide grew out of experience advising authors submitting work to Oryx and from the journal's Writing for Conservation workshops for the Conservation Leadership Programme.

http://scalar.usc.edu/works/graphics-for-conservation/

I use Adobe Illustrator with the MapPublisher plug-in.  Since most publishers are not familiar with GIS formats, but do know what an Illustrator file is, that option works well. Even if they don't want Illustrator format, Adobe can easily save the file as a high resolution PDF, JPEG or TIF.

ArcGIS is the standard.  The articles I read in the Journal of Forestry very often use maps and geolocated data.  The are mapped with ArcGIS.  Many forestry researchers use much more accurate GPS systems - very often to CM, meter, or surveying accuracy.  Trimble makes very accurate GIS data gathering solutions - including surveying GPS, and tablets that interface with data collection tools.  If you are looking to only map a site, Trimble offers Terrain Navigator Pro - its a mapping software that stitches together USGS topo maps, satellite imagery, and (where available) air photos into maps that overlay each other - so you can see your site in various imagery modes.  The program uses layers so you can set boundaries, see area, and then output the map as a TIFF file for your paper or print it off.  Since I don't need accurate data collection, I use Terrain Navigator Pro to plan restoration ecology projects and map my stream water quality survey sites.

A generalized map can be prepared by using map info. But for more advanced ones, ArcGIS is the best option.  

Simple study site maps could also be easily done in R, which has several packages for that like mapproj, maps, mapdata etc. Unlike MapInfo or ArcGIS, R is free and available to everybody. The code for example for my site would be following:

#install maps

library(maps)

library(mapdata)

map(col="grey80", border = "grey40", fill = TRUE,

  xlim = c(10, 36), ylim = c(50, 68), mar = rep(0.1, 4))

box()

points(25.615672,58.977768,col=2,pch=18)

If you really whant to make a nice figure for publishing I suggest you to make a GIS course and use ArcGis. Or better if someone in your deparment work with GIS you should ask them to do it for you. Because it is an important part of your paper and should be do it profesionally.

Thanks Jorge i am completely agreed with you.

Martin,what is R, can you give me the link to download it. Thanks

I think the best way is to learn GIS if you don't know it. After going through that course you would be well equipped to produce a study area map.

On the other hand, you can contract any person who had studied GIS to prepare it for you. If I get the shape files and other information, I should be able to produce it for you.

Thank you Allotey Albert, i also want to learn GIS to use it, but i find no one to teach here. I am waiting for some course or workshop to open where i can learn it in India. But as i need this maps for my publication related work it must be of professional quality. So If you really help me i will be grateful to you. I have all the coordinates and google earth map images of the sites. If you agree i can send it to you. I can also give acknowledgement if i publish it.

Oryx - the international journal of conservation made this link available to preparing a good study map. Perhaps, it could be helpful to you. 

http://scalar.usc.edu/works/graphics-for-conservation/

Martin, I tried the codes that you provided and it works. Thanks

Hi,

You can use the co-ordinate data, and convert it into a layer file (using Add XY Data option or Display XY Data option)

Once it is converted into a layer file, add base map to the layer which will provide context to your co-ordinate data.

Then, go to layout view, and insert items, such as legends, title box, North arrow, scale bar, etc.

Then, using Export - Export Data - you can save your map in pdf format or other useful formats.

The exported file can be used in your manuscripts.

Regards

Ashu

DIVA-GIS Mac version download genuine url please

I recommed to used Qgis, It's a free and excellent software. Inn this website, you can find tutorials

https://qgis.org/es/site/

I agree with Madam Carolina that you can use QGIS.

ArcGIS is the best for making study area maps, at present there are lots of tutorials, youtube videos, learnings portals in which you can easily understand the basics of map preparation.

Hy there! I wish you all are doing well. I got this academic discussion very helpful to my work today. Thank you all and Antaryami Pradhan for taking this question in to this platform

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318760929_My_Village_Biodiversity_Documentation_of_Western_Ghats_Biodiversity_through_Network_of_Students_and_Teachers

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331076568_Global_Warming_Mitigation_Through_Carbon_Sequestrations_in_the_Central_Western_Ghats/stats

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323180165_Salient_Ecological_Sensitive_Regions_of_Central_Western_Ghats_India

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332331409_Sustainable_Management_of_Bannerghatta_National_Park_India_with_the_Insights_in_Land_Cover_Dynamics

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301609558_Geospatial_analysis_of_forest_fragmentation_in_Uttara_Kannada_District_India

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT6Ab5cQ6IY, Here is simple technique to make good study area map in qgis by Martin Fisher. Please check this link.

This is the playlist of all the QGIS related queries & for smoothing the expertise in this software. There are basics steps for learning this software starting from installing software to operating in Pro mode in this link. I hope this can help you, sir.

Here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg9ceXoCUFE&list=PL7HotvlLKHCs9nD1fFUjSOsZrsnctyV2R

I have often faced the same problem with getting a good map in ArCGIS. Some of the tutorials on YouTube do not begin with the preliminary steps of downloading the shape file first, making it almost impossible to follow the tutorial videos. Has anyone succeeded in extracting a study area map with three data frames?

This is important for my research. Thank you all for sharing such valuable information.

you can use QGIS...

Diva Gis website provides Shapefiles of the entire world at free of cost... you can download your region of interest and work in QGIS.

This is great, very helpful

You can use ArcGIS if you have your study area shape file or you can access from shape file from this link https://www.diva-gis.org/

I found this series by Steven Bernard to be really useful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf9cYvaCYWA

QGIS and Diva GIS is best to try. Take help from youtube tutorials too

GIS is what is the best to be recommended. But google earth pro can also be used to create a good map if not the best.

If you are not really into R and other such coding based softwares, I would recommend using QGIS since it is a freely available and open access unlike ArcGIS.

QGIS turtorial: https://docs.qgis.org/2.18/en/docs/user_manual/

But you are perhaps talking about map templates? You have to use libraries available, for instance, from ESRI. I doubt you will find them as freeware somewhere

QGIS is my favourite mapping tool, the learning curve isn't too steep.

Hi, You can use ArcGIS or you can try this site: http://www.maphill.com/

I suggest you to use QGIS software. It's user-friendly for beginner and free. You can download it from website and get the free spatial data from http://www.diva-gis.org/download.

All the best!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4kmmtpR5hM&t=2s

i can Suggest Arc Gis is the best recommended tool