There’s a whole world to explore, filled with iconic landmarks, amazing sunsets, and striking cities and landscapes. However, if you’re looking for a travel adventure that the guidebooks don’t usually mention, where do you go?
While Bali, Thailand, London, Paris, and Rome are all amazing, they’re definitely tourist favorites, and huge numbers of people flock to them annually.
We’ve dug a bit deeper and revealed eight incredible travel destinations that are far lesser-known and far fewer people have visited. So, if you’re looking for an offbeat, off-the-beaten-track travel experience, keep reading!
Table of Contents
1. Kamchatka Peninsula
Kamchatka is a long peninsula on the coast of far east Russia. Nestled between Moscow and Alaska, this remote peninsula is home to a small local population of about 300,000 and is rarely visited by tourists.
Despite its quietness, Kamchatka has a lot to offer the determined off-road traveler. There are 29 active volcanoes and around 150 dormant ones, towering mountains, and miles of mosaic-like tundra that stretch as far as the eye can see. This is the kind of place you should travel to if you enjoy plenty of outdoor activity, especially in cold, dry climates.
The Pacific coastline of Kamchatka is abundant with remarkable wildlife, such as European brown bears, Eurasian forest reindeer, elk, eagles, mooses, and mountain sheep. If you can spend some time by the water, you may catch a glimpse of beluga whales, sea otters, and even humpback whales.
Due to its mesmerizing environmental contrast of tundra and volcanoes, Kamchatka has earned the nickname “Land of Fire and Ice”. This special little peninsula is certainly one that deserves to be explored.
2. Sierra Leone
The small West African nation of Sierra Leone is known for its starlit beaches, rich culture, and welcoming people. Although the diamond-shaped country has had a tumultuous political past, it’s since rebounded, making it possible for a new wave of safe and memorable traveling for foreigners.
Sierra Leone is a diverse, bustling country with people from all over Africa living, working, and participating in the colorful tapestry of its culture. There are plenty of vibrant marketplaces, traditional restaurants, and nightlife to explore.
The natural environment in Sierra Leone is unique and quite tropical, featuring rainforests, sandy beaches, and islands such as the dreamy Banana Islands—all of which are home to incredible wildlife such as pygmy hippos, chimpanzees, and a variety of rare bird species with impressive plumage.
Although Sierra Leone is growing in popularity as a travel destination, it is still considered relatively remote and a perfect spot to explore for a more off-the-beaten-track travel experience.
3. Tonga
This small, idyllic island in the South Pacific should be on every traveler’s bucket list. Comprising 172 islands in total, Tonga offers immaculate beachscapes and famously friendly people that make for a memorable and immersive travel experience.
Traveling to Tonga from Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji is neither difficult nor very expensive, and once you’re there, you’ll have a myriad of beautiful Oceanic islands to explore.
Crystalline turquoise water, expansive open skylines, and plenty of humpback whales to view at a distance or swim with if you’re brave enough are just some of the natural attractions that Tonga has to offer. If you enjoy a more active social scene, visiting during season might be best, as this is when the beaches come to life with both locals and other travelers from around the world.
The rest of the year, it’s relatively quiet, which could be perfect if you prefer remote landscapes and traveling. In terms of wildlife, you can expect to see flying foxes, tropical birds, turtles, and quite a lot of island pigs!
4. Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of Africa’s most forested and enigmatic countries. It’s also one of the largest. With dense green rainforests and the winding Congo River, traveling through this wild paradise brings no short supply of raw, natural beauty.
The country’s capital, Kinshasa, is situated in the far west region of the Congo. It may be quite rural, but it’s also home to a flourishing African music scene and hospitable accommodation.
If you’re seeking something slightly more suburban, you can travel to Goma city on the far east side of DRC, where you’ll find the Nyiragongo volcano in the center of Virunga National Park. The oldest national park in Africa, Virunga is home to a wide range of wildlife, such as mountain gorillas, hyenas, and cheetahs.
The climate in Congo is warm and humid, so visiting during the winter months is better for those who are heat-averse. However, this lush rainforested nation is one of Africa’s most beautiful countries and, in many ways, the one that has held onto its historical natural wildness the most.
5. Myanmar
If you’re looking for an authentic look at Southeast Asian culture, Myanmar is a fantastic travel destination. With mythical landscapes that vary from snow-capped mountains to rolling green hills and everything in between, Myanmar is a beautiful, culturally rich, and friendly nation that hasn’t received the same kind of tourist attention as its neighboring countries like Laos, Thailand, and Bangladesh.
Forming part of Burma, Myanmar is an intriguing blend of traditional Indochinese culture and modern urbanization, giving travelers a unique sense of duality throughout the land.
You can expect to see incredible buildings and sculptures, such as pagodas, balancing rock formations, and several Buddhist temples. In terms of surrounding nature, there are plenty of hills and mountains to scale, as well as dense forestry areas that are safe to hike through.
If you do venture into the city of Yangon, be sure to stop by the meditation temples and other iconic relics of Burmese and Myanmarian culture. Compared to other countries in this region, Myanmar can be a more affordable choice, making it a bargain travel destination too.
6. Greenland
Although it is quite challenging, Greenland is a fairly popular travel destination, but in our opinion, it’s also an underrated one. This frozen little country is stunningly icy and full of many unique natural wonders, such as mammoth glaciers, undulating fjords, and, of course, the iconic Aurora Borealis.
If you’d like to see the Northern Lights, Greenland is by far the best place to do so. The lights are brighter and more vivid than in other parts of Scandinavia, and viewing them is a magical experience that you’ll never forget. If you want the full theater production, set up camp and watch the sky come to life.
On top of its fantastic ice formations and mythical light displays, Greenland has a very welcoming and friendly nation of people, making it easy for you to engage with locals even if you don’t speak Greenlandic. Greenland is a photographer’s dream, with its sweeping glacial landscapes and deep green seas; you might even snap a whale if you go in the right season.
7. Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are a group of 18 major islands and 779 islets (tiny islands) just off the coast of Northern Europe. Found between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, this strikingly beautiful string of islands is unlike any other place on earth.
Towering emerald mountains and crashing azure seas govern the coastlines, creating cinematic landscapes that have been used as the backdrop for several films over the years.
The Faroe Islands have a very small population of about 50,000, so it’s the ideal place to go for travelers who dislike crowds. It’s remote and unlike anywhere else in the world, and it’s home to the most incredible number of seabirds.
However, if you do fancy a bit of socializing, the capital city of Tórshavn is well known as one of the coziest and most warmhearted towns in Northern Europe, as long as you’re respectful of the peace of its remote environment.
8. Namibia
A lot of people who’ve visited Namibia say it feels like another planet, and with its sublime landscape contrasts and ochre-azure color palette, it’s easy to see why. Namibia is a desert that stretches over vast portions of land, featuring desolate but gorgeous desert dunes and glistening salt pans.
The environment in Namibia is striking both visually and in terms of the weather. As a desert ecosystem, daytime temperatures can reach as high as 86°F to 95°F, while nighttime is much cooler. However, if you’re close enough to Namibia’s coastline, desert swims can provide a welcome reprieve.
This country has a network of very well-developed roads, making it an excellent destination for road trippers of all kinds. You can explore Namibia from end to end on a motorbike, or in a car, 4×4, or even a vintage VW bus. However you choose to travel, you’ll find that the people are warm, the landscapes are stunning, and the Etosha National Park is an incredible place to see the Big 5 in their natural environment.
A Whole World Of Adventures Awaits
The most frequently visited tourist destinations may be popular for a reason. But fortune favors the bold, and venturing into lesser-known parts of the world can be rewarding on so many levels.
Not only will you be more likely to have a memorable travel experience, but you might even save a bit of money by traveling to a less popular destination. So, next time you’re planning a trip, consider choosing a destination off the beaten track.
You can use these eight unforgettable destinations as inspiration for your travel experience or simply allow your instincts to guide you somewhere else. Whatever you do, be safe, have fun, and explore!
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Hi, we are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from China. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best way to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, not in a school, and not virtually.
So, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration.
And we wish you a happy journey, not just virtually, but most of all- in reality.
Enjoy!
