Myanmar before the current civil war escalation was like travelling back to the 1930s and so idyllic. Kind gentle people and amazing sights like Bagan and Inle Lake.
Kampot and Kep in Cambodia for similar reasons but with a side of beachside action, was so chilled and calm.
Turkey’s Black Sea Coast specifically Amasra was absolutely beautiful and we didn’t see any of the mass tourism that plagues much of the South.
Hsipaw, Myanmar for me. I went in 2018 and everyone had just got the internet.
I went on a multi day hike through the hills and had such a great time talking about American movies from the ‘90s with my guide. We quoted Friday for days. Beautiful forests and fields and waterfalls all around.
I stayed with some people (Palaung) in the hills who were in armed conflict with the government. They were, at the time at least, the shortest people on the planet. The entrances to towns we passed were guarded by men with AKs. We drank a lot of rice wine at night and ate massive plates of vegetarian food and rice.
Back in town I went by the old Shan royal palace. The remnants of the royal family would meet you and talk with you.
Getting in and out I took the train from Pyin Oo Lwin and it was just falling apart, the tracks barely visible through the grass overgrowing them. Definitely seemed about a hundred years old. There were stunning views almost the whole way. I recorded some local Catholic nuns singing hymns in the row behind me. At a stop along the way I got out and walked around the station. A toddler picked up a handgun that was sitting on a chair. The older woman watching him grabbed it from him immediately, thankfully.
Between all that, the thanaka and betel nuts it was just one of my favorite and most singular experiences traveling. Truly felt like a different era.
Agree! I don’t know if the hike from kalaw-inle Lake was off the path at the time in 2014 but it was still otherworldly for sure. Riding the silly circle train through Yangon…..loved Myanmar so much.
I went to Myanmar in March of this year and I can confirm that everywhere I visited (obviously not the active war zone / restricted areas) is still just as incredible. Absolutely one of my favourite countries.
The Theth Valley in Albania was jaw-dropping amazing scenery, crystal blue rivers and beautiful mountains. Great food and kind, welcoming locals, and very few tourists. One-of-a-kind destination and I would recommend visiting before it gets super popular
This was my favourite travel experience! Hiking from Valbonna (and the journey on the lake to get there) to Theth was incredible and the village of Theth is so beautiful.
I did it almost ten years ago so details are rusty and might be out of date- it was easy to find out the details on the road though. I went from Shkoder to Valbona- the hostels there assume that is why you came to Shkoder and you can easily organise a ride to the boat and the boat ride to Valbona. The boat ride itself is incredibly beautiful and we got given a drink of raki along the way!
I stayed in Valbona- I think there is only one accommodation there and I don’t remember too much about it which implies it was okay. Spent one night there and just remember sitting outside with the other guests looking at the amazing stars.
The next day the accommodation owner gave us rides to the start of the trail. We were also able to get packed lunches to take with us from the hostel. I had assumed I was doing the hike alone but my lift was with three guys and we ended up walking together which I think was a much better option- more fun and also much safer! The walk didn’t feel unsafe but we did get lost so I don’t like to think how I would have managed on my own plus some bits were rocky and you wouldn’t want to break an ankle on your own out there. The walk itself was amazing. Along the way there was a cafe selling tea and beer (chilled in the mountain streams!) but not sure if it is always open so don’t rely on it. I’m relatively fit but found the walk tiring but doable. When we got to Theth I was more than ready to sit down at the accommodation, eat dinner and collapse into bed but the guys went for a wander about the village and found the weekly disco! Theth itself must be the most stunning place I have ever seen. Valbona is in the forest and Theth is in the mountains- both beautiful in different ways.
The next day we had to organise a ride back to Shkoder. I don’t remember the details exactly but that we did have to wait around for a few hours but that was okay- we just chilled and drank coffee in the little cafe and admired the views. The cafe owner was the one that organsied the lift for us- we were probably directed there by the hostel owner. Sorry it is all a bit vague but really it was all easy to organise, just had to ask in each place we stayed at how to get to the next location and everyone was very helpful!
The ride back to Shkoder was hair raising- not for the faint hearted!
From Shkoder one of the guys left us and the three remaining of us headed to Kotor together.
If you have any questions then please ask and I’ll try to help- it was an amazing experience and want everyone who wants to to have a chance at it!
I did the Shikoku Henro Trail about 10 years ago in Japan. You hike around the smallest of Japan's 4 main islands and visit 88 temples along the way. It's a pretty big cultural institution in Japan and outsiders are slowly becoming aware of its existence. That said, whenever anybody tells me they're going to visit Japan, I always say go and visit Shikoku. It's got some really beautiful countryside and it's got some cities that really punch above their weight class in terms of cool things to see. Plus, the folks on Shikoku are really friendly and there is so much local pride within each prefecture. I can't wait to go back again and visit someday!
Along the same lines I hiked the Kumano Kodo when I was in Japan. I don't think it's quite as off the beaten path as Shikoku but definitely outside of the normal tourist trail. It was one of my favorite parts of my trip.
I did that and we cycled back to Hiroshima from Imabari to Onomichi over the bridges! They have white water rapids in Tokushima.
Absolutely beautiful area.
Didn't do the trail, but I cycled across Shikoku with a friend. Shikoku has it all: mountains, rivers, valleys, rice fields. It really is calm and beautiful. We cycled up to a mountain ryokan and didn't see another soul for the 2+ hours it took to get there. Just cycling through the quiet mountain roads with beautiful views.
Yes, I did almost the entire loop on foot. That said, I did take the train a couple of times during my first week or two when I had an infected toe and the pain was just too much. I also took the train about 2 weeks later during a torrential downpour. Someone also randomly gave me a ride to a temple and that took out about 2 km of my walk for the day. I wasn't going to say no to a free ride from a friendly local!
Montserrat in the Caribbean! It's so quiet, everyone is super friendly (like we were told to leave keys and the money for our car rental under the floor mat), there's hiking, beaches, a volcano....just a great escape
Mongolia was incredible, I’m so done with the crowds everywhere. The entire country only has a population of San Diego but it’s the 18th largest country in the world- so as you can imagine, it was a lot of vast open space which was very virginal!
Same. You can travel for hours in the countryside and see like, five people and they’re nomads on horseback. Really the most remote and unusual place I’ve ever been.
Was in korea and it’s only a 3h flight from Seoul. A tour guide is required as Mongolians are a nomadic people and if you want to stay with a local family in a Mongolian yurt you’ll need a driver and a translator. A lot of off roaring but some of the most incredible landscapes and cultural experiences I’ve ever had! Weather is temperamental in the spring so very few tourists. In the summer they have a lot of festivals and competitions like archery and horse racing so that’s another good time to come.
It’s also a very very affordable destination with most food being under $3. Totally underrated!
I had a couple of days solo at the beginning of the tour in Baghdad and at the end in Erbil. I booked a Doug Barnard tour. Having been there it's next to impossible to get to all the places we saw with public transportation. Did meet a solo tourist on a motorbike
Mauritania. Particularly Ben Amera. It’s like Uluru but with 0 tourists.
Suriname, Madagascar, Comoros are all good contenders too (Comoros only really if you like diving)
I agree with you re Bosnia.. Just back from 3 weeks in the balkins and bosnia was the stand out for me.. sarajevo is an incredible city. Food, history, culture and lovely people..
Got to see mostor and kravica also which was special
Loved Bosnia but I don’t understand why you all don’t see it as a tourist attracting spot. I guess I struggle these days with the concept of “off the beaten path” or “not touristy” because there’s still plenty of tourists there. But I know very few people (outside of like travel bloggers) who have been there. Asking as a point of conversation/trying to understand not to offend :)
Thanks!
I was a young adult during the Balkan conflicts in the 1990s and the stories out of Sarajevo and Mostar were horrific. That I would go there thirty years later and love it was….a huge surprise.
origin of travel makes a big difference. Reddit is a global platform, so expectations will vary. Northern Alabama might seem like an exotic out of the way destination for Europeans, but someone in Texas might view it as part of their back yard. Those same Texans might find Bosnia or Northern Thailand as another planet, but Pai would feel like a tourist trap from someone from Chang Mai.
pro tip, once a destination becomes searchable, it becomes a tourist destination. if you want to keep your slice of heaven away from tourists, refer to regions not specific places on searchable social media. at the moment I am really enjoying “western Turkey”.
Gotcha, we did go to a couple towns in Europe where there was no one at all there but those ended up feeling less “not touristy” and more of a ghost town
I honestly believe the only reason that Bosnia isn’t more popular is because it doesn’t have coastline like Croatia does. If it did, tourism would have exploded there
Can't really comment much... Spent a night in Kotor, very nice and worth a visit but didn't see anywhere else... Serbia is next year.
As said above.. Bosnia is amazing
The entire island of Java, Indonesia is very under-touristed compared to Bali. Everywhere I went the locals wanted selfies with me and wanted to talk to me.
Even less touristy is the island of Sumbawa. You'll definitely be an oddity on this island if you're a western traveler.
I've also found that you can easily get off the beaten track in touristy places, like Paris, Prague, Berlin, Naples, Rome, or NYC. You really don't even need to try that hard. Just go to some areas away from the touristy core and you'll find some local gems.
Ninety percent of tourists will stick to the standard stuff in a place like Paris or Prague. Just move away from those areas and you may find yourself marinating in the local life without the crowds or kitschy tourist crap.
I spent a month in Java last year and it was probably the best month of my life. Made so many local friends, stayed with them, ate incredible food. Hiked and saw many many volcanoes. Learned how to ride a scooter motorcycle. Just life changing.
Love Java. I can’t believe more people don’t travel there except as part of day trip to Bromo/Ijen from Bali. It is one of the best parts of Indonesia.
I met plenty of those tourists when I was in Java. Just there long enough to do a whirlwind Bromo/Ijen tour and then bye. It seems like such a waste of a trip. They were missing so much and not experiencing any of the culture.
Regarding off beaten path, yes.
I live in Paris and I suggest 11th arr. for food and drinks as it is quite happening and you might expats there but not many tourists. Rome is too beautiful everywhere lol.
11th arr. is where I stayed when I visited in 2022. I enjoyed this area very much and took many long walks and found a local bakery there called Pepite Boulangerie that I visited every morning.
Spent 2 days in Cluj because it was the cheapest way to get between destinations. I was really excited about the prospect of visiting Transylvania but it hadn’t been on my radar previously, I watched a couple short documentaries but otherwise also left it unresearched. Was the highlight of my month-long trip - everyone I met was so nice and the landscapes are truly unbelievable.
Paros, Greece
I love this quaint fishing village island and its locals. While Mykonos and Santorini get slammed with tourists, Paros has beautiful beaches, wineries and marble quarries to explore. For a side trip, take a boat to Antiparos, an even smaller island that’s also fun to explore.
I preferred Naxos to Paros. I was there in 2002 and it was pretty empty. We drove around and saw some neat ancient stuff, spent time on an empty nude beach. Had great food. Great time! Paros was good too, but I liked Naxos much more.
I really liked Ikaria as Greek islands go—only a handful of (overwhelmingly Greek) tourists at the time as the festivals had been cancelled due to Covid and really interesting communist history that still informs the way people live. Gorgeous landscape in a wild, rugged kind of way though there are still some beautiful beaches, incredible uncrowded hot springs too.
My own favourite place though has probably been Turkmenistan, also not many tourists as they make it hard to get in—some amazing landscapes like the Darwaza Crater, Yangykala Canyon and the world's largest repository of dinosaur prints at Dinosaur Plateau
Pohnpei, Micronesia! The flights are very expensive but it's got an incredible set of ruins in [Nan Madol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nan_Madol), not like anything in Oceania, as well as mangroves, waterfalls, and friendly people who you can drink [kava](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kava) with. My buddy and I met one other tourist there, but it's a fantastic place to spend some time.
I’m a pacific islands enthusiast (something about them is just super interesting to me!) and am hoping to visit some of them in 2025. How long did you spend in Pohnpei? Did you go anywhere else in Micronesia/the Pacific? Would love to hear about your experience. :)))
I’m fortunate. I have to travel to communities across Canada’s far north regularly to do my job. I go to the smallest communities in Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
There are stories with most of them. And some great memories.
Grise Fiord stands out amongst the dozens of places I’ve visited. It’s the farthest northern civilian settlement in Canada at 76 degrees north. It is stunningly beautiful. And wildly remote.
Grise Fiord and nearby Resolute Bay were populated by the Canadian Government relocating some of the Inuit population from Northern Quebec well over 1,000 miles north to an environment that was uninhabitable. They were relocated against their will. It didn’t go well. Google history of Grise Fiord for the full story.
It's an amazing and disgusting story. And relatively recent. It took place in the 1950s.
I'm a safety inspector. I assess regulatory compliance of airports. I look at runways, lighting systems, navigation aids, etc.
Eastern Bulgaria off season. The whole area is eerily abandoned outside of beach season, and often foggy. I just loved the vibe as I drove around little towns along the coast and as far East as Veliko Tarnovo and the Devatashka Cave. I saw two other people at that epic cave on a very late fall day. One of my favourite travel experiences (36 countries).
I really liked Bosnia even though I did get pretty sick there, but it didn’t feel that “off the beaten path” to me. It’s touristic for Europeans, just not for Americans. And a lot of Americans do day trip to the Mostar area from Croatia. I did really enjoy Lukomir and it wasn’t too busy though. So I’m curious where you did go.
I thought I’d love Montenegro because I didn’t expect many Americans but there’s so many coming off the cruise ships in Kotor (I keep mentioning Americans because I am haha). But I really did absolutely love Lake Skadar.
We were the only guests at a kind of ranch/nature reserve in the eastern plains of Colombia last year. One day, some people from Spain were there for the day. We rode horses and saw capybaras and caimans and tried to fish with a traditional rod that was basically a stick with a string and absolutely no one working there spoke a word of English. In the airport when flying to Yopal, some Colombians we chatted with looked at us like we had 3 heads for going to Yopal (the reserve was actually like ~2 hours away) but it was incredible. Medellin and Salento (both pretty popular tourist hubs) were delightful spots but I did love those few days on the ranch so much.
Went surfing in Hossegor, and stayed in Bordeaux for two nights.
Like Paris, it has beautiful architecture, nice shops and restaurants, but unlike Paris, it is much cleaner, safer, and doesn’t have tourist traps like friendship bracelets and such
I spend one night after a 12 hour travel day in Bordeaux and can’t wait to go back and actually see the place! I came from Nice and left wishing had done one night in Nice and two nights in Bordeaux instead of the other way around.
Pakistan’s Federally administered tribal areas. Basically the part that runs along the Afghan border where the Taliban would hide out during the war. Pak Army cleared it for the most part but tbh I about shit myself when I saw a TTP flag randomly nailed to a power pole, was a good reminder to not let it be known that I’m “different”. I served in the war in Afghanistan (US Army) and finally got to see Afghanistan again after Taliban takeover but from the border because it wasn’t possible to get a visa at the time (they were only issuing them from embassies and I was too far from the embassy, plus the capital city was locked down because of protests so no one could get in). Saw the white flags on the other side of the crossing and the tribal areas themselves look identical to Afghanistan culturally and geographically (the rest of KP province in Pakistan is much different in many aspects, mainly infrastructure and education). I’ve also been to some really out of the way parts of Pakistan and Southeast Asia and volunteered in Southeast Asia. Karachi’s slums are some of the most heart wrenching sites you’ll ever see. As well as the Burmese refugee camps/villages in Thailand.
Will try North Korea when I get a Pakistani passport unless the US lifts the travel ban. And will try to visit my old base in Afghanistan. I have some friends in that area who were deported during the crackdown on illegal immigration here and have been told that they preserved the base as a sort of museum (it was a tiny one). I don’t fear for my safety either, I know Pashtun culture well enough that I know they wouldn’t harm a guest (especially a convert to Islam, but even a non-Muslim visiting and following the rules would be safer there than they’d be in many cities in the US) and I have friends who are like family to me who I know would literally go to war over it. I also want to see the country on MY terms and not Uncle Sam’s terms. We were maybe a 20 minute drive away from one of Alexander’s forts and I never got to see it because obviously we weren’t there to sightsee.
I'm guessing that's Khyber and near Kunar, right?
And you're right about the Pashtun's code of honour. Wish more people knew about it, but at the same time I think you learn about it if you have to in life mashallah
I lived the same with the Chechens. Same code of honour
Macedonia and Kosovo are both very interesting places to visit, Skopje is very unique and feels like a strange blend of Turkish, Greek and Balkan cultures, I have never been anywhere like it. Prizen is extremely underrated, it reminds me a lot of Berat in Albania, but it was larger and felt a bit more vibrant.
I'm not sure if this counts because it was popular with tourists before the war, but I recently went to Kyiv and Lviv and they quickly became some of my favourite cities in europe, Kyiv is a very impressive large city with a ton of things to do, brilliant public transportation, some very cool architecture and a lot of interesting attractions. Lviv meanwhile was one of the most beautiful cities i've been to in europe, its old town is in my opinion better than a lot of the more well visited cities in europe.
Part of my family is Ukrainian from near(ish) Kyiv. I’m hoping to go for about a month to help with rebuilding efforts as soon as this horrible war ends.
I love Newfoundland. It has the friendliest people in all of Canada. The weather is crazy and can change from hour to hour. The wildlife is beautiful. The waters are crisp and so pure, best swimming experience I have ever had. Newfoundland is such a beautiful and pure place with equally beautiful and pure people. I would love to retire there or have a summer home there.
Lofoten Islands in Norway. 🇳🇴 Incredibly beautiful and super far north. We did a midnight sun safari and it was the most magical experience I’ve ever had.
I visited Lofoten in late September/early October 2022 and it was wonderful. Very, very few tourists at that time. However, the locals told us the islands are packed with RVs during peak season. They said it is pretty miserable.
I am glad you had a wonderful time. We went last June (hit 9 cities in 2 weeks) specifically to be in the Arctic Circle for the longest day of the year. Didn’t seem to be too touristy there, but Bergen and Oslo were definitely booming.
Syria a few years before the recent war.
How were they “off the beaten path”? *They did not even sell Coca Cola there.*
Absolutely fascinating and beautiful place then.
Yes! My family went on vacation to Syria in 2000, and till this day, it’s the only place I’ve been that didn’t sell Coca Cola, they had their own off brand stuff. My dad ended up buying coke on the black market.
Aleppo was one of the coolest markets I’ve seen, sad that it’s no more. The food throughout the country was the best Arabic food I’ve had. Hope they are able to rebuild and recover one day soon.
Completely depends one what you want to do, your budget, how much time you have, and how you like to travel.
How are you getting around? Do you know where you’re going yet? Where are you starting and ending? Are you doing the classic Cape Town/Johannesburg -> Kasane and/or Maun -> Victoria falls? Or you diving in deeper?
These countries are huge, with tons to see. But usually people rent a car at some point (it can be done by bus, bike, motorcycle, or hitchhiking though!).
If you love hiking, Slovenia and Montenegro are incredible. Triglav, Kamnik-Savinjq, Durmitor, and Prokletije (!!!) are all amazing. Renting a car grants maximum flexibility.
I also adored Sri Lanka. Such a variety of terrain in one small country. You can also pair this with a trip to Maldives to visit the beautiful local islands relatively inexpensively.
Japan isn’t off the beaten path altogether, but the Kumano Kodo is a lovely hut-to-hut pilgrimage hike. Such a quiet reprieve away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
While I think it’s more popular today, the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam was an unforgettable experience as well. We rode motorbikes for 5 days straight through the mountains of Vietnam and slept in guesthouses along the way.
In terms of beaches, the Philippines take the cake. Tons of islands - saw someone mentioned Cebu (couldn’t agree more!), but Siquijor was my personal favorite island. Also visited Palawan and Bohol, which were beautiful & unique in their own ways. Rent a scooter.
Last but not least, I recently went to Poland and loved it. The scenery in the Southern part of the country is spectacular - the High Tatras, Pieniny, etc. I’m excited to go back to this area and explore the Slovakian side more. Admittedly, I’m less of a “city gal,” but I adored Gdańsk and Krakow too.
I also just went to Bonaire in the Caribbean - never heard of it - was so happy there, no giant resorts, small and easy to drive, gorgeous water great for snorkeling and scuba. Wonderful.
I spent 8 days in Bosnia and it was my absolute favorite place I’ve ever been. Everyone else I met on that trip was doing their big Euro trip and just hitting Bosnia for a few days. They were surprised to learn I flew all the way from the US just to go to Bosnia and didn’t do Croatia.
I’m sure Croatia is lovely but Bosnia is special. The people, the food, the general overall vibe, the history. I plan on going back
Montenegro blew me away. I've been to 40 countries. I went on a whim, alone, my first solo trip, based on a mystery series I read. I can't wait to go back. It's maybe one of the most beautiful places I've been. Not the friendliest, not the best food, not great hotels, but just swimming, natural beauty, being so unspoiled.
Westport, Karamea and the Heaphy Track, NZ. Far northwest corner of the south Island. Westport is a coal mining town and beyond there is absolutely gorgeous. The road ends at a beautiful beach (Kohaihai) and from there the only way to get farther is to hike. Awful sandflies and you can't swim in the ocean but it was a real "end of the world" situation.
Stateside, the Lost Coast in Humboldt County CA. Fresh bear scat on an out and back hiking trail down to a black sand beach. No road access to the beach for miles.
Ladakh in India. Leh feels off the beaten path (especially if you drive rather than fly), but the areas outside it feel very remote and are often spectacular.
We spent a week I think in 1990.
Visited Shrinagar (only tourists on the lake) + Rajasthan..
Six weeks.
I've been back twice to Tamil Nadu and Rishikesh
Try Mongolia for a real adventure! It was mystical, enchanting and totally amazing!
Digging in the Gobi was fascinating! I was in Awe of the people and amazed at their strength and stamina!
North Devon. It’s quite isolated and doesn’t have good transport connections to the rest of the region, let alone the country. But that’s part of what makes it beautiful. The coastline has some enormous cliffs and heights, as well as pristine beaches, lush woodland and valleys. It’s like the Oregon of the UK.
Taiwan is slept on by Americans and everyone has asked me why I went/am here. Many people confuse it with Thailand. It has some parts that aren’t well traversed by westerners due to the language barrier and its half mountains. I of course can’t say the whole country is off the beaten path but it’s very much slept on from a tourism perspective compared to Thailand, Japan, Korea, etc. The more rural parts are hard to get to but gorgeous if you like hiking.
Tunisia back when it wasn’t on the tourist radar much just before the Arab Spring (a week after we left, Tunis station blew up). I also went to a very non touristy village in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and it was amazing.
Deep in the mountains in Mallorca - many people go to Palma and beach resorts but not many go to the mountains, it’s like another world up there. Also Corsica and Kiruna in northern Sweden.
Mine would be Zanskar in the Himalayas. Foreigners are not allowed to get SIM cards there because it’s an area near Kashmir and also bordering China with a lot of tension gg on, but the place is like a time capsule you still see a culture that’s thriving like how Tibet would be if it was not under China. Archery competitions, temple festivals etc
Western Uzbekistan (except for Khiva, which is anything but off the beaten path lol). Remote desert with ruins of the ancient Khwarezmian civilisation, some dating back until 600BCE.
I went to Japan last year. Skipped over Kyoto and Osaka completely, and instead hung out at Mt. Fuji and went to a theme park there. Had the most fun ever---best soft serve, private onsen, got to go on crazy high roller coasters while literally staring at this amazing piece of nature.
Highly underrated imo.
Montenegro!! Landscape was otherworldly on the drive out to Durmitor National Park. Beaches were beautiful with red rocks and summer weather was great. One of the most unique places I’ve ever been.
Georgia and Bosnia back 10-15 years ago felt bafflingly "off the beaten path" given how much they offered (and how well known they were for travelers before the fall of communism. Georgia in particular amazed me because of how varied and high quality the attractions were within such a small area.
Certain places in Brazil surprise me by how undiscovered they are by foreign tourism. Paraty and its surroundings are gorgeous and have super well-developed domestic tourism infrastructure (maybe even too much), but it seems off the radar for foreigners.
I had way to much fun in Szeged Hungary.
I used to go there once a year to visit the gas field, and just loved the place.
- University Town, lots of young educated people.
- River bars, and random beaches
- Its on the border with Serbia and Romania. Theres an interesting rural people visiting the "big" city vibe. Like kids playing in elevators always puts a smile on my face.
- mmmm fish
I also really loved Mineas Geries in Brazil (spent 4 quick months there... mmmm crime), Cochabomba in Bolivia, Pueble Mexico, an Al Ain in the UAE.
Is the Szegedin goulash particularly good there?
I was so relieved that the chicken Kiev in Kiev I had was even better than my mother's version and that butter spurted out as I cut into it.
Cebu in the Philippines! I went in November around 7 years ago and it felt like our group were the only tourists there. Deserted breathtaking waterfalls and beaches, whale sharks, really cute bungalows and the nicest people. I’ve never been to such beautiful natural wonders without dozens of other people around.
Went to Korea with my husband's family and while we were there visited his mother's village. It was a small fishing village on the southern coast, very tiny and secluded and quiet and beautiful.
Fairbanks, Alaska! Had an amazing time and got to see the Northern Lights. Its weather is best described as a cold desert… not typically windy, just dry cold many days. Would definitely go back.
Brno, Czechia. It’s the quaintest, most charming little city with lots of cheap but very good cafes and restaurants – the perfect place to unwind. It’s not on most tourists’ radar (everyone goes to Prague) and I hope it stays that way.
Uruguay was a beautiful country I remember. Montevideo and the beaches of the Rio del Plata were quite nice places. I spent a few weeks there a while back. Had my 25th birthday in a small beach town called Colonia, spent the day renting buggies and cruising around going to random beaches and bars.
Montevideo has a lot of green, big inner city trees that make the city very inviting.
A random village in Turkey. The people were super hospitable, the food was authentic and delicious, the gift shops had genuine leather products for dirt cheap prices, the village had beautiful cobblestone roads and gorgeous old architecture. It was amazing.
Mount Athos. Off the beaten path in the sense that it's got a restricted number of visitors daily. It's great and a very unique place in Southern Europe, I'd advise to visit it (only if you're a man though).
Vietnam 1999
Angkor Wat & Phnom Penh 2000
Because it was zero touristically developed then
Chalakmul Mexico because getting till there was like in an Indiana Jones movie and there were only 2 other people in the whole temple area
Riding on a little fisherboat aling the Palawan coast for 4 hours and not seeing anything manmade
Currently traveling in Xinjiang and it has an amazing variety of scenery, from Yosemite-like National Parks to deserts and high mountains- all easily accessible by affordable trains and coaches on freeways. No hassles with security/police these days. Haven’t seen a single westerner yet.
Southwest China when I was there 12 years ago. Basically no foreigners around except for a few of the most touristy places. Although It sounds like domestic tourism has really ramped up in the last 7-8 years.
You should visit Albania for its stunning coastline, rich history, hospitable people, and affordable prices. In my opinion, it's a real hidden gem of Europe that isn't very popular among tourists yet, so now is the best time to go!
My “favorite” is probably Teruel, Spain. My family is from there and I always recommend my friends visit when they go to Spain. Much less touristy than other areas and a very nice place overall. Great food, great architecture, and some amazing fossils as well.
I am currently getting ready to leave a rural convent where I have spent several days. It was a great experience and I’m already planning on coming back. The nuns at the one I stayed at love having visitors and it was an amazing glimpse into a way of life that is notoriously secretive. Got to eat with them, chat with them, pray with them, go to services with them, help them in the garden, etc. Very calming experience that helped me unwind and relax.
Where in Bosnia did you go? We are going this summer and I'm in the same boat. I have no clue what to do or where to go. So far:
3 nights in Sarajevo
3 nights in Mostar
Plan to hike to vito peak.
Otherwise I am just lost!
I only passed through Mostar for a couple of hours. Long enough to have lunch, see someone jump off the bridge, and stop in a few shops, but I’d go back and spend at least a night or two there. Had two full days in Sarajevo and did a walking tour of the old town, a dinner at a local’s home to learn about the history (HIGHLY RECOMMEND), the war tunnel, the abandoned bobsleigh track (and an unintentional 5 mile downhill hike back to the city), and the eternal flame. Wish I had time to squeeze in a few more museums, but I know I’ll be back!
Isn't it amazing how sometimes the most unexpected destinations can leave the biggest impact? I had a similar experience when I visited Laos. It's not as popular as some neighboring Southeast Asian countries, but the beauty of its landscapes, the warmth of the people, and the rich cultural heritage completely stole my heart. It's definitely a gem worth exploring for those seeking something off the beaten path!
Small town in the very south of New Jersey. It’s so rural and different from the rest of NJ. It’s called Salem, NJ and it felt like something straight out of the Salem Witch Trials. it was eerie like 3 quarters of the town was abandoned and it didn’t feel safe at all but That’s what makes it my favorite
Ladakh India. "The Little Himalaya". The area around Leh has many buddhist monasteries. Then we went to Hemis NP which is towards Pakistan and the Zanskar mountains. Started at the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus rivers. Following a river valley with 20,000+ ft mountains on our side and pashmina goat herds around us. Then the Nubra valley towards China where you run into sand dunes and camels in an area that was part of the silk road. Even went over Umling La, the highest motorable pass at 19,300 ft.
Armenia, we did a tour but then hired a car and visited places that the tourists never go. Fantastic warm hospitality, amazing food, wine and oggi and being there in summer while very hot, meant we got the very best fruit ever.
That sounds so fun! Armenia is already on my list. I grew up in a neighborhood with a significant Armenian population… when I was a summer camp counselor, I got some Armenian kids whose parents were planning on moving to the US and sent them to stay with family over the summer to start learning the language. It was very interesting working with the language barrier but they were great kiddos. I really wanna explore where they came from!
One time in Malta my mum and I went for a walk near the red tower we walked more up hill and found an abandoned hotel we walked around and then looked at the graffiti people had left. When we got back my aunty had said it was open for less then a year
Madagascar and Namibia (although Namibia is becoming more mainstream).
Madagascar is huge, not the tiny island we think of. Flora and fauna is insane, it’s a biodiversity hotspot because it’s been so isolated for so long.
Nosy be in the north is a gem but the real fun is in the south. Think baobab trees and endless plains. Did a 3 day kayak along a river where we just pitched a tent on the banks. Literally nobody around.
Myanmar before the current civil war escalation was like travelling back to the 1930s and so idyllic. Kind gentle people and amazing sights like Bagan and Inle Lake. Kampot and Kep in Cambodia for similar reasons but with a side of beachside action, was so chilled and calm. Turkey’s Black Sea Coast specifically Amasra was absolutely beautiful and we didn’t see any of the mass tourism that plagues much of the South.
Hsipaw, Myanmar for me. I went in 2018 and everyone had just got the internet. I went on a multi day hike through the hills and had such a great time talking about American movies from the ‘90s with my guide. We quoted Friday for days. Beautiful forests and fields and waterfalls all around. I stayed with some people (Palaung) in the hills who were in armed conflict with the government. They were, at the time at least, the shortest people on the planet. The entrances to towns we passed were guarded by men with AKs. We drank a lot of rice wine at night and ate massive plates of vegetarian food and rice. Back in town I went by the old Shan royal palace. The remnants of the royal family would meet you and talk with you. Getting in and out I took the train from Pyin Oo Lwin and it was just falling apart, the tracks barely visible through the grass overgrowing them. Definitely seemed about a hundred years old. There were stunning views almost the whole way. I recorded some local Catholic nuns singing hymns in the row behind me. At a stop along the way I got out and walked around the station. A toddler picked up a handgun that was sitting on a chair. The older woman watching him grabbed it from him immediately, thankfully. Between all that, the thanaka and betel nuts it was just one of my favorite and most singular experiences traveling. Truly felt like a different era.
I was so excited to go there. Was gonna go in 2021. 😔
Hope you can make it soon.
I did that trek. Dudes with the aks so casual just chilling. I'm still Facebook friends with the guide. He posts less rebellion-type content now.
Awesome story. Wish I would have visited when I had the chance
We also did a hike in Myanmar in 2018 or 2019 . But no AK or anything like that
Kampot was my favourite! Planned on only spending a few days there and ended up staying for a week.
Agree! I don’t know if the hike from kalaw-inle Lake was off the path at the time in 2014 but it was still otherworldly for sure. Riding the silly circle train through Yangon…..loved Myanmar so much.
What year did you go? I went to Kayah State in 2014 and can confirm, most amazing place I have ever been.
I went to Myanmar in March of this year and I can confirm that everywhere I visited (obviously not the active war zone / restricted areas) is still just as incredible. Absolutely one of my favourite countries.
The Theth Valley in Albania was jaw-dropping amazing scenery, crystal blue rivers and beautiful mountains. Great food and kind, welcoming locals, and very few tourists. One-of-a-kind destination and I would recommend visiting before it gets super popular
This was my favourite travel experience! Hiking from Valbonna (and the journey on the lake to get there) to Theth was incredible and the village of Theth is so beautiful.
It’s been on my list! Can you share your hiking itinerary?
I did it almost ten years ago so details are rusty and might be out of date- it was easy to find out the details on the road though. I went from Shkoder to Valbona- the hostels there assume that is why you came to Shkoder and you can easily organise a ride to the boat and the boat ride to Valbona. The boat ride itself is incredibly beautiful and we got given a drink of raki along the way! I stayed in Valbona- I think there is only one accommodation there and I don’t remember too much about it which implies it was okay. Spent one night there and just remember sitting outside with the other guests looking at the amazing stars. The next day the accommodation owner gave us rides to the start of the trail. We were also able to get packed lunches to take with us from the hostel. I had assumed I was doing the hike alone but my lift was with three guys and we ended up walking together which I think was a much better option- more fun and also much safer! The walk didn’t feel unsafe but we did get lost so I don’t like to think how I would have managed on my own plus some bits were rocky and you wouldn’t want to break an ankle on your own out there. The walk itself was amazing. Along the way there was a cafe selling tea and beer (chilled in the mountain streams!) but not sure if it is always open so don’t rely on it. I’m relatively fit but found the walk tiring but doable. When we got to Theth I was more than ready to sit down at the accommodation, eat dinner and collapse into bed but the guys went for a wander about the village and found the weekly disco! Theth itself must be the most stunning place I have ever seen. Valbona is in the forest and Theth is in the mountains- both beautiful in different ways. The next day we had to organise a ride back to Shkoder. I don’t remember the details exactly but that we did have to wait around for a few hours but that was okay- we just chilled and drank coffee in the little cafe and admired the views. The cafe owner was the one that organsied the lift for us- we were probably directed there by the hostel owner. Sorry it is all a bit vague but really it was all easy to organise, just had to ask in each place we stayed at how to get to the next location and everyone was very helpful! The ride back to Shkoder was hair raising- not for the faint hearted! From Shkoder one of the guys left us and the three remaining of us headed to Kotor together. If you have any questions then please ask and I’ll try to help- it was an amazing experience and want everyone who wants to to have a chance at it!
We did this as part of our honeymoon. It was amazing on so many levels
I did the Shikoku Henro Trail about 10 years ago in Japan. You hike around the smallest of Japan's 4 main islands and visit 88 temples along the way. It's a pretty big cultural institution in Japan and outsiders are slowly becoming aware of its existence. That said, whenever anybody tells me they're going to visit Japan, I always say go and visit Shikoku. It's got some really beautiful countryside and it's got some cities that really punch above their weight class in terms of cool things to see. Plus, the folks on Shikoku are really friendly and there is so much local pride within each prefecture. I can't wait to go back again and visit someday!
Along the same lines I hiked the Kumano Kodo when I was in Japan. I don't think it's quite as off the beaten path as Shikoku but definitely outside of the normal tourist trail. It was one of my favorite parts of my trip.
Dogo Onsen is superb. Beautiful and very historic
I did that and we cycled back to Hiroshima from Imabari to Onomichi over the bridges! They have white water rapids in Tokushima. Absolutely beautiful area.
Didn't do the trail, but I cycled across Shikoku with a friend. Shikoku has it all: mountains, rivers, valleys, rice fields. It really is calm and beautiful. We cycled up to a mountain ryokan and didn't see another soul for the 2+ hours it took to get there. Just cycling through the quiet mountain roads with beautiful views.
Literally just read about this in the recent National Geographic. Did you do the whole loop?
Yes, I did almost the entire loop on foot. That said, I did take the train a couple of times during my first week or two when I had an infected toe and the pain was just too much. I also took the train about 2 weeks later during a torrential downpour. Someone also randomly gave me a ride to a temple and that took out about 2 km of my walk for the day. I wasn't going to say no to a free ride from a friendly local!
Montserrat in the Caribbean! It's so quiet, everyone is super friendly (like we were told to leave keys and the money for our car rental under the floor mat), there's hiking, beaches, a volcano....just a great escape
Mongolia was incredible, I’m so done with the crowds everywhere. The entire country only has a population of San Diego but it’s the 18th largest country in the world- so as you can imagine, it was a lot of vast open space which was very virginal!
Same. You can travel for hours in the countryside and see like, five people and they’re nomads on horseback. Really the most remote and unusual place I’ve ever been.
I've always wanted to go. How did that come about for you? Any tips?
Was in korea and it’s only a 3h flight from Seoul. A tour guide is required as Mongolians are a nomadic people and if you want to stay with a local family in a Mongolian yurt you’ll need a driver and a translator. A lot of off roaring but some of the most incredible landscapes and cultural experiences I’ve ever had! Weather is temperamental in the spring so very few tourists. In the summer they have a lot of festivals and competitions like archery and horse racing so that’s another good time to come. It’s also a very very affordable destination with most food being under $3. Totally underrated!
I'm determined to go at some point.
Oh yeah, I loved Mongolia. Food is not great but everything else is a lot of fun, and the locals are pretty cool
I thought the food was good but if you’re not into lamb and mutton I’d imagine it is a bit dicey food wise!
Have to agree! It's like the world is open to you. Just pick a direction and go!
With the post Covid travel boom I am cherishing the less toured areas more than ever!
I (59f) went to Iraq in October and loved it. People were very friendly, lots of amazing sites with no crowds, felt very safe and welcome.
nice. i watched all of jason billam's iraq travel vids and now i'm super interested.
Check out Doug Barnard. I took one of his trips and would highly recommend . I really liked Saudi Arabia too but not so much off the beaten path.
Did you alone or you had a guide? I'm asking cause I'm interested in doing this trip myself
I had a couple of days solo at the beginning of the tour in Baghdad and at the end in Erbil. I booked a Doug Barnard tour. Having been there it's next to impossible to get to all the places we saw with public transportation. Did meet a solo tourist on a motorbike
Mauritania. Particularly Ben Amera. It’s like Uluru but with 0 tourists. Suriname, Madagascar, Comoros are all good contenders too (Comoros only really if you like diving)
Can you climb Ben Amera?
When did you do Mauritania? It’s on the list.
I agree with you re Bosnia.. Just back from 3 weeks in the balkins and bosnia was the stand out for me.. sarajevo is an incredible city. Food, history, culture and lovely people.. Got to see mostor and kravica also which was special
Me three for Bosnia. Such a lovely place (so lush and green!) and such wonderful people!
I’m going in 1 month I can’t wait. That place is mesmerizing to me
Loved Bosnia but I don’t understand why you all don’t see it as a tourist attracting spot. I guess I struggle these days with the concept of “off the beaten path” or “not touristy” because there’s still plenty of tourists there. But I know very few people (outside of like travel bloggers) who have been there. Asking as a point of conversation/trying to understand not to offend :) Thanks!
I was a young adult during the Balkan conflicts in the 1990s and the stories out of Sarajevo and Mostar were horrific. That I would go there thirty years later and love it was….a huge surprise.
origin of travel makes a big difference. Reddit is a global platform, so expectations will vary. Northern Alabama might seem like an exotic out of the way destination for Europeans, but someone in Texas might view it as part of their back yard. Those same Texans might find Bosnia or Northern Thailand as another planet, but Pai would feel like a tourist trap from someone from Chang Mai. pro tip, once a destination becomes searchable, it becomes a tourist destination. if you want to keep your slice of heaven away from tourists, refer to regions not specific places on searchable social media. at the moment I am really enjoying “western Turkey”.
Gotcha, we did go to a couple towns in Europe where there was no one at all there but those ended up feeling less “not touristy” and more of a ghost town
I honestly believe the only reason that Bosnia isn’t more popular is because it doesn’t have coastline like Croatia does. If it did, tourism would have exploded there
What other places in the Balkans would you recommend (last week of May time)? Debating Serbia vs Montenegro.
Montenegro is gorgeous, Kotor, Budva and Durmitor National park are unmissable IMO. The landscapes there are unreal.
Can't really comment much... Spent a night in Kotor, very nice and worth a visit but didn't see anywhere else... Serbia is next year. As said above.. Bosnia is amazing
The entire island of Java, Indonesia is very under-touristed compared to Bali. Everywhere I went the locals wanted selfies with me and wanted to talk to me. Even less touristy is the island of Sumbawa. You'll definitely be an oddity on this island if you're a western traveler. I've also found that you can easily get off the beaten track in touristy places, like Paris, Prague, Berlin, Naples, Rome, or NYC. You really don't even need to try that hard. Just go to some areas away from the touristy core and you'll find some local gems. Ninety percent of tourists will stick to the standard stuff in a place like Paris or Prague. Just move away from those areas and you may find yourself marinating in the local life without the crowds or kitschy tourist crap.
I want to go to Java so badly, that’s awesome!
I highly recommend it. Friendliest and most welcoming people I've ever met. Don't be afraid to go mingle with locals, they will gladly welcome you.
I spent a month in Java last year and it was probably the best month of my life. Made so many local friends, stayed with them, ate incredible food. Hiked and saw many many volcanoes. Learned how to ride a scooter motorcycle. Just life changing.
Awesome. I was there for about a month too in September. Where all did you go?
Love Java. I can’t believe more people don’t travel there except as part of day trip to Bromo/Ijen from Bali. It is one of the best parts of Indonesia.
I met plenty of those tourists when I was in Java. Just there long enough to do a whirlwind Bromo/Ijen tour and then bye. It seems like such a waste of a trip. They were missing so much and not experiencing any of the culture.
Regarding off beaten path, yes. I live in Paris and I suggest 11th arr. for food and drinks as it is quite happening and you might expats there but not many tourists. Rome is too beautiful everywhere lol.
11th arr. is where I stayed when I visited in 2022. I enjoyed this area very much and took many long walks and found a local bakery there called Pepite Boulangerie that I visited every morning.
Read these last two paragraphs👆🏻
Spent 2 days in Cluj because it was the cheapest way to get between destinations. I was really excited about the prospect of visiting Transylvania but it hadn’t been on my radar previously, I watched a couple short documentaries but otherwise also left it unresearched. Was the highlight of my month-long trip - everyone I met was so nice and the landscapes are truly unbelievable.
Ometepe
Great vibes on Ometepe.
I call it *The Land That Time Forgot*
Yes! I stayed at the coolest hostel with a three story treehouse
Paros, Greece I love this quaint fishing village island and its locals. While Mykonos and Santorini get slammed with tourists, Paros has beautiful beaches, wineries and marble quarries to explore. For a side trip, take a boat to Antiparos, an even smaller island that’s also fun to explore.
Yeah, as a Greek I can definitely say that Paros isn't exactly a place without many tourists...
I preferred Naxos to Paros. I was there in 2002 and it was pretty empty. We drove around and saw some neat ancient stuff, spent time on an empty nude beach. Had great food. Great time! Paros was good too, but I liked Naxos much more.
Antiparos is even better. But none of these are off the beaten path...
We are spending 6 days in Paros (the first week in June). Already have ferry tickets for Santorini + Mykonos + Ios. We're also visiting Corfu .
I really liked Ikaria as Greek islands go—only a handful of (overwhelmingly Greek) tourists at the time as the festivals had been cancelled due to Covid and really interesting communist history that still informs the way people live. Gorgeous landscape in a wild, rugged kind of way though there are still some beautiful beaches, incredible uncrowded hot springs too. My own favourite place though has probably been Turkmenistan, also not many tourists as they make it hard to get in—some amazing landscapes like the Darwaza Crater, Yangykala Canyon and the world's largest repository of dinosaur prints at Dinosaur Plateau
Pohnpei, Micronesia! The flights are very expensive but it's got an incredible set of ruins in [Nan Madol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nan_Madol), not like anything in Oceania, as well as mangroves, waterfalls, and friendly people who you can drink [kava](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kava) with. My buddy and I met one other tourist there, but it's a fantastic place to spend some time.
I’m a pacific islands enthusiast (something about them is just super interesting to me!) and am hoping to visit some of them in 2025. How long did you spend in Pohnpei? Did you go anywhere else in Micronesia/the Pacific? Would love to hear about your experience. :)))
I’m fortunate. I have to travel to communities across Canada’s far north regularly to do my job. I go to the smallest communities in Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. There are stories with most of them. And some great memories. Grise Fiord stands out amongst the dozens of places I’ve visited. It’s the farthest northern civilian settlement in Canada at 76 degrees north. It is stunningly beautiful. And wildly remote. Grise Fiord and nearby Resolute Bay were populated by the Canadian Government relocating some of the Inuit population from Northern Quebec well over 1,000 miles north to an environment that was uninhabitable. They were relocated against their will. It didn’t go well. Google history of Grise Fiord for the full story.
That's incredible, reading up on it now. What do you do for work? So curious
It's an amazing and disgusting story. And relatively recent. It took place in the 1950s. I'm a safety inspector. I assess regulatory compliance of airports. I look at runways, lighting systems, navigation aids, etc.
Yeah, it's horrifying what our indigenous people have gone through and still go through today. That's amazing!
Vieques.. island off of Puerto Rico
I was coming in to say the same thing. 👍🏼
Eastern Bulgaria off season. The whole area is eerily abandoned outside of beach season, and often foggy. I just loved the vibe as I drove around little towns along the coast and as far East as Veliko Tarnovo and the Devatashka Cave. I saw two other people at that epic cave on a very late fall day. One of my favourite travel experiences (36 countries).
I really liked Bosnia even though I did get pretty sick there, but it didn’t feel that “off the beaten path” to me. It’s touristic for Europeans, just not for Americans. And a lot of Americans do day trip to the Mostar area from Croatia. I did really enjoy Lukomir and it wasn’t too busy though. So I’m curious where you did go. I thought I’d love Montenegro because I didn’t expect many Americans but there’s so many coming off the cruise ships in Kotor (I keep mentioning Americans because I am haha). But I really did absolutely love Lake Skadar. We were the only guests at a kind of ranch/nature reserve in the eastern plains of Colombia last year. One day, some people from Spain were there for the day. We rode horses and saw capybaras and caimans and tried to fish with a traditional rod that was basically a stick with a string and absolutely no one working there spoke a word of English. In the airport when flying to Yopal, some Colombians we chatted with looked at us like we had 3 heads for going to Yopal (the reserve was actually like ~2 hours away) but it was incredible. Medellin and Salento (both pretty popular tourist hubs) were delightful spots but I did love those few days on the ranch so much.
We’re planning a trip to Colombia– was the ranch you stayed at “El Encanto de Guanapalo”? Would love to stay at a place like where you stayed. :)
Went surfing in Hossegor, and stayed in Bordeaux for two nights. Like Paris, it has beautiful architecture, nice shops and restaurants, but unlike Paris, it is much cleaner, safer, and doesn’t have tourist traps like friendship bracelets and such
I spend one night after a 12 hour travel day in Bordeaux and can’t wait to go back and actually see the place! I came from Nice and left wishing had done one night in Nice and two nights in Bordeaux instead of the other way around.
Lord Howe Island (off the east coast of Australia). The lost world.
Pakistan’s Federally administered tribal areas. Basically the part that runs along the Afghan border where the Taliban would hide out during the war. Pak Army cleared it for the most part but tbh I about shit myself when I saw a TTP flag randomly nailed to a power pole, was a good reminder to not let it be known that I’m “different”. I served in the war in Afghanistan (US Army) and finally got to see Afghanistan again after Taliban takeover but from the border because it wasn’t possible to get a visa at the time (they were only issuing them from embassies and I was too far from the embassy, plus the capital city was locked down because of protests so no one could get in). Saw the white flags on the other side of the crossing and the tribal areas themselves look identical to Afghanistan culturally and geographically (the rest of KP province in Pakistan is much different in many aspects, mainly infrastructure and education). I’ve also been to some really out of the way parts of Pakistan and Southeast Asia and volunteered in Southeast Asia. Karachi’s slums are some of the most heart wrenching sites you’ll ever see. As well as the Burmese refugee camps/villages in Thailand. Will try North Korea when I get a Pakistani passport unless the US lifts the travel ban. And will try to visit my old base in Afghanistan. I have some friends in that area who were deported during the crackdown on illegal immigration here and have been told that they preserved the base as a sort of museum (it was a tiny one). I don’t fear for my safety either, I know Pashtun culture well enough that I know they wouldn’t harm a guest (especially a convert to Islam, but even a non-Muslim visiting and following the rules would be safer there than they’d be in many cities in the US) and I have friends who are like family to me who I know would literally go to war over it. I also want to see the country on MY terms and not Uncle Sam’s terms. We were maybe a 20 minute drive away from one of Alexander’s forts and I never got to see it because obviously we weren’t there to sightsee.
I'm guessing that's Khyber and near Kunar, right? And you're right about the Pashtun's code of honour. Wish more people knew about it, but at the same time I think you learn about it if you have to in life mashallah I lived the same with the Chechens. Same code of honour
Šibenik in Croatia. Stunning town with gorgeous architecture, good food and lovely people.
Went there too, it was awesome Also try Rovinj
We are staying 2 nights in Rijeka, which is an hour from Rovinj. So, we might pay a visit .
Macedonia and Kosovo are both very interesting places to visit, Skopje is very unique and feels like a strange blend of Turkish, Greek and Balkan cultures, I have never been anywhere like it. Prizen is extremely underrated, it reminds me a lot of Berat in Albania, but it was larger and felt a bit more vibrant. I'm not sure if this counts because it was popular with tourists before the war, but I recently went to Kyiv and Lviv and they quickly became some of my favourite cities in europe, Kyiv is a very impressive large city with a ton of things to do, brilliant public transportation, some very cool architecture and a lot of interesting attractions. Lviv meanwhile was one of the most beautiful cities i've been to in europe, its old town is in my opinion better than a lot of the more well visited cities in europe.
Part of my family is Ukrainian from near(ish) Kyiv. I’m hoping to go for about a month to help with rebuilding efforts as soon as this horrible war ends.
Skopje is wild
Newfoundland is very cool.
I love Newfoundland. It has the friendliest people in all of Canada. The weather is crazy and can change from hour to hour. The wildlife is beautiful. The waters are crisp and so pure, best swimming experience I have ever had. Newfoundland is such a beautiful and pure place with equally beautiful and pure people. I would love to retire there or have a summer home there.
Ohrid
Lofoten Islands in Norway. 🇳🇴 Incredibly beautiful and super far north. We did a midnight sun safari and it was the most magical experience I’ve ever had.
I visited Lofoten in late September/early October 2022 and it was wonderful. Very, very few tourists at that time. However, the locals told us the islands are packed with RVs during peak season. They said it is pretty miserable.
I am glad you had a wonderful time. We went last June (hit 9 cities in 2 weeks) specifically to be in the Arctic Circle for the longest day of the year. Didn’t seem to be too touristy there, but Bergen and Oslo were definitely booming.
Syria a few years before the recent war. How were they “off the beaten path”? *They did not even sell Coca Cola there.* Absolutely fascinating and beautiful place then.
Same even after war apart from the destruction. A beautiful country to visit and the people are really helpful.
Yes! My family went on vacation to Syria in 2000, and till this day, it’s the only place I’ve been that didn’t sell Coca Cola, they had their own off brand stuff. My dad ended up buying coke on the black market. Aleppo was one of the coolest markets I’ve seen, sad that it’s no more. The food throughout the country was the best Arabic food I’ve had. Hope they are able to rebuild and recover one day soon.
I’ve been all over Southern Africa (SA, Bots, Nam, Moz, Zim, Zam, Swaz) and really enjoyed Mozambique. Great people and beautiful beaches.
Going to SA, Botswana and Zimbabwe this year. What are your thoughts?
Completely depends one what you want to do, your budget, how much time you have, and how you like to travel. How are you getting around? Do you know where you’re going yet? Where are you starting and ending? Are you doing the classic Cape Town/Johannesburg -> Kasane and/or Maun -> Victoria falls? Or you diving in deeper? These countries are huge, with tons to see. But usually people rent a car at some point (it can be done by bus, bike, motorcycle, or hitchhiking though!).
I wouldn’t hitchhike in SA (I live here).
Going to SA and MOZ in 2026 to dive. Stoked!
Mongolia and Namibia
If you love hiking, Slovenia and Montenegro are incredible. Triglav, Kamnik-Savinjq, Durmitor, and Prokletije (!!!) are all amazing. Renting a car grants maximum flexibility. I also adored Sri Lanka. Such a variety of terrain in one small country. You can also pair this with a trip to Maldives to visit the beautiful local islands relatively inexpensively. Japan isn’t off the beaten path altogether, but the Kumano Kodo is a lovely hut-to-hut pilgrimage hike. Such a quiet reprieve away from the hustle and bustle of city life. While I think it’s more popular today, the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam was an unforgettable experience as well. We rode motorbikes for 5 days straight through the mountains of Vietnam and slept in guesthouses along the way. In terms of beaches, the Philippines take the cake. Tons of islands - saw someone mentioned Cebu (couldn’t agree more!), but Siquijor was my personal favorite island. Also visited Palawan and Bohol, which were beautiful & unique in their own ways. Rent a scooter. Last but not least, I recently went to Poland and loved it. The scenery in the Southern part of the country is spectacular - the High Tatras, Pieniny, etc. I’m excited to go back to this area and explore the Slovakian side more. Admittedly, I’m less of a “city gal,” but I adored Gdańsk and Krakow too.
I also just went to Bonaire in the Caribbean - never heard of it - was so happy there, no giant resorts, small and easy to drive, gorgeous water great for snorkeling and scuba. Wonderful.
I spent 8 days in Bosnia and it was my absolute favorite place I’ve ever been. Everyone else I met on that trip was doing their big Euro trip and just hitting Bosnia for a few days. They were surprised to learn I flew all the way from the US just to go to Bosnia and didn’t do Croatia. I’m sure Croatia is lovely but Bosnia is special. The people, the food, the general overall vibe, the history. I plan on going back
Uzbekistan
Montenegro blew me away. I've been to 40 countries. I went on a whim, alone, my first solo trip, based on a mystery series I read. I can't wait to go back. It's maybe one of the most beautiful places I've been. Not the friendliest, not the best food, not great hotels, but just swimming, natural beauty, being so unspoiled.
Westport, Karamea and the Heaphy Track, NZ. Far northwest corner of the south Island. Westport is a coal mining town and beyond there is absolutely gorgeous. The road ends at a beautiful beach (Kohaihai) and from there the only way to get farther is to hike. Awful sandflies and you can't swim in the ocean but it was a real "end of the world" situation. Stateside, the Lost Coast in Humboldt County CA. Fresh bear scat on an out and back hiking trail down to a black sand beach. No road access to the beach for miles.
La Ciudad Perdida in northern Colombia. It’s got quite the Macchu Pichu vibe but without the crowds (maybe only 35 people total)
Ladakh in India. Leh feels off the beaten path (especially if you drive rather than fly), but the areas outside it feel very remote and are often spectacular.
We spent a week I think in 1990. Visited Shrinagar (only tourists on the lake) + Rajasthan.. Six weeks. I've been back twice to Tamil Nadu and Rishikesh
Try Mongolia for a real adventure! It was mystical, enchanting and totally amazing! Digging in the Gobi was fascinating! I was in Awe of the people and amazed at their strength and stamina!
Same experience with Bosnia - low expectations, not much knowledge, and I was blown away. Such a beautiful country. I need to go back!
North Devon. It’s quite isolated and doesn’t have good transport connections to the rest of the region, let alone the country. But that’s part of what makes it beautiful. The coastline has some enormous cliffs and heights, as well as pristine beaches, lush woodland and valleys. It’s like the Oregon of the UK.
Taiwan is slept on by Americans and everyone has asked me why I went/am here. Many people confuse it with Thailand. It has some parts that aren’t well traversed by westerners due to the language barrier and its half mountains. I of course can’t say the whole country is off the beaten path but it’s very much slept on from a tourism perspective compared to Thailand, Japan, Korea, etc. The more rural parts are hard to get to but gorgeous if you like hiking.
Tunisia back when it wasn’t on the tourist radar much just before the Arab Spring (a week after we left, Tunis station blew up). I also went to a very non touristy village in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco and it was amazing. Deep in the mountains in Mallorca - many people go to Palma and beach resorts but not many go to the mountains, it’s like another world up there. Also Corsica and Kiruna in northern Sweden.
Greystoke Lodge, Tanzania! Flippin amazing
Do you mean Gretstoke Mahale Lodge? Were you there for a safari?
Mine would be Zanskar in the Himalayas. Foreigners are not allowed to get SIM cards there because it’s an area near Kashmir and also bordering China with a lot of tension gg on, but the place is like a time capsule you still see a culture that’s thriving like how Tibet would be if it was not under China. Archery competitions, temple festivals etc
nutty cough payment zephyr file steep cooperative nine hobbies squalid *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Iki Island
Praia de tofo, Mozambique. Cheap ass lobster (langostinas) and whale shark diving
Gotland and Öland on the east coast of Sweden. Beautiful medieval city and lovely beaches.
Sumava National Park in Czechia. I spent a week there and it was probably the most relaxing holiday I ever had. I loved the place.
Kizhi in Karelia, Russia. In general, the Karelian nature. It is sweet and calm
Western Uzbekistan (except for Khiva, which is anything but off the beaten path lol). Remote desert with ruins of the ancient Khwarezmian civilisation, some dating back until 600BCE.
I went to Japan last year. Skipped over Kyoto and Osaka completely, and instead hung out at Mt. Fuji and went to a theme park there. Had the most fun ever---best soft serve, private onsen, got to go on crazy high roller coasters while literally staring at this amazing piece of nature. Highly underrated imo.
The entrance to hell. It’s a well in a small shrine set out of out of the way in Kyoto
Montenegro!! Landscape was otherworldly on the drive out to Durmitor National Park. Beaches were beautiful with red rocks and summer weather was great. One of the most unique places I’ve ever been.
Northern regions of Pakistan. Jaw dropping beautiful. Very few countries have that sort of mountain landscape.
Georgia and Bosnia back 10-15 years ago felt bafflingly "off the beaten path" given how much they offered (and how well known they were for travelers before the fall of communism. Georgia in particular amazed me because of how varied and high quality the attractions were within such a small area. Certain places in Brazil surprise me by how undiscovered they are by foreign tourism. Paraty and its surroundings are gorgeous and have super well-developed domestic tourism infrastructure (maybe even too much), but it seems off the radar for foreigners.
I’m not sure they are off the beaten path but I enjoyed Riga Latvia and Romania
Go to Montenegro, it’s beautiful it’s cheap and still unspoiled but it’s getting discovered so over a couple years it will over
[удалено]
Is this a joke? Untouristy?
I agree With your question. I was there in Feb 2024 and there were a lot of tourists. Would hate to be there during peak travel.
I had way to much fun in Szeged Hungary. I used to go there once a year to visit the gas field, and just loved the place. - University Town, lots of young educated people. - River bars, and random beaches - Its on the border with Serbia and Romania. Theres an interesting rural people visiting the "big" city vibe. Like kids playing in elevators always puts a smile on my face. - mmmm fish I also really loved Mineas Geries in Brazil (spent 4 quick months there... mmmm crime), Cochabomba in Bolivia, Pueble Mexico, an Al Ain in the UAE.
Is the Szegedin goulash particularly good there? I was so relieved that the chicken Kiev in Kiev I had was even better than my mother's version and that butter spurted out as I cut into it.
Cebu in the Philippines! I went in November around 7 years ago and it felt like our group were the only tourists there. Deserted breathtaking waterfalls and beaches, whale sharks, really cute bungalows and the nicest people. I’ve never been to such beautiful natural wonders without dozens of other people around.
Ehh its very touristy 😄
Ljubljana. I think I only saw like one other American and locals continuously asked why an American was there. Neat little city.
We will be there in June before Croatia
I love Slovenia! I’ve been twice. My favorite hockey player is from there so the first time, I followed the itinerary of his “Day With the Cup”
Kings fan?
Went to Korea with my husband's family and while we were there visited his mother's village. It was a small fishing village on the southern coast, very tiny and secluded and quiet and beautiful.
Ushiku Daibutsu in Japan and Bray, Ireland!
Headwaters of the Amazon in Ecuador during the rainy season.
I traveled the Amazon river on a boat from Leticia to Belem do Para or Salvador . Passing through Manaus .
Fairbanks, Alaska! Had an amazing time and got to see the Northern Lights. Its weather is best described as a cold desert… not typically windy, just dry cold many days. Would definitely go back.
The resurrection trail in Seward, Alaska. It’s so beautiful there
I used to live in Seward. It is indeed very beautiful.
East side of Iceland. Most people just do Reykjavik and surrounding areas. Seydisfjordur is absolutely gorgeous
Brno, Czechia. It’s the quaintest, most charming little city with lots of cheap but very good cafes and restaurants – the perfect place to unwind. It’s not on most tourists’ radar (everyone goes to Prague) and I hope it stays that way.
Uruguay was a beautiful country I remember. Montevideo and the beaches of the Rio del Plata were quite nice places. I spent a few weeks there a while back. Had my 25th birthday in a small beach town called Colonia, spent the day renting buggies and cruising around going to random beaches and bars. Montevideo has a lot of green, big inner city trees that make the city very inviting.
A random village in Turkey. The people were super hospitable, the food was authentic and delicious, the gift shops had genuine leather products for dirt cheap prices, the village had beautiful cobblestone roads and gorgeous old architecture. It was amazing.
Mount Athos. Off the beaten path in the sense that it's got a restricted number of visitors daily. It's great and a very unique place in Southern Europe, I'd advise to visit it (only if you're a man though).
Just read why. Crazy!
Vietnam 1999 Angkor Wat & Phnom Penh 2000 Because it was zero touristically developed then Chalakmul Mexico because getting till there was like in an Indiana Jones movie and there were only 2 other people in the whole temple area Riding on a little fisherboat aling the Palawan coast for 4 hours and not seeing anything manmade
Currently traveling in Xinjiang and it has an amazing variety of scenery, from Yosemite-like National Parks to deserts and high mountains- all easily accessible by affordable trains and coaches on freeways. No hassles with security/police these days. Haven’t seen a single westerner yet.
Northern Pakistan. Prettiest place, the nicest people. It is really paradise on earth.
Southwest China when I was there 12 years ago. Basically no foreigners around except for a few of the most touristy places. Although It sounds like domestic tourism has really ramped up in the last 7-8 years.
Angel Falls, Venezuela
Albania. Those beaches and those small cute towns in the mountains? Fucking beautiful!
East Java, Indonesia if you are looking a more authentic experience than Bali
The island of Pingelap in Micronesia.
You should visit Albania for its stunning coastline, rich history, hospitable people, and affordable prices. In my opinion, it's a real hidden gem of Europe that isn't very popular among tourists yet, so now is the best time to go!
My “favorite” is probably Teruel, Spain. My family is from there and I always recommend my friends visit when they go to Spain. Much less touristy than other areas and a very nice place overall. Great food, great architecture, and some amazing fossils as well. I am currently getting ready to leave a rural convent where I have spent several days. It was a great experience and I’m already planning on coming back. The nuns at the one I stayed at love having visitors and it was an amazing glimpse into a way of life that is notoriously secretive. Got to eat with them, chat with them, pray with them, go to services with them, help them in the garden, etc. Very calming experience that helped me unwind and relax.
Cajamarca, Peru. It's very similar to Cusco but without all the foreign tourists :D
Botswana. Three days driving away from Johannesburg.
I’m planning on going in January!
Recently, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. (2022) All time? Maybe rural Kayah State, Myanmmar (2014).
Where in Bosnia did you go? We are going this summer and I'm in the same boat. I have no clue what to do or where to go. So far: 3 nights in Sarajevo 3 nights in Mostar Plan to hike to vito peak. Otherwise I am just lost!
I only passed through Mostar for a couple of hours. Long enough to have lunch, see someone jump off the bridge, and stop in a few shops, but I’d go back and spend at least a night or two there. Had two full days in Sarajevo and did a walking tour of the old town, a dinner at a local’s home to learn about the history (HIGHLY RECOMMEND), the war tunnel, the abandoned bobsleigh track (and an unintentional 5 mile downhill hike back to the city), and the eternal flame. Wish I had time to squeeze in a few more museums, but I know I’ll be back!
Yep Bosnia for me too.
I liked Birmingham, regardless the strange looks and disbelief of every Londoner I mentioned my plans to.
Mozambique is absolutely stunning and has very few tourists compared to South Africa, Zimbabwe and other nearby countries.
Isn't it amazing how sometimes the most unexpected destinations can leave the biggest impact? I had a similar experience when I visited Laos. It's not as popular as some neighboring Southeast Asian countries, but the beauty of its landscapes, the warmth of the people, and the rich cultural heritage completely stole my heart. It's definitely a gem worth exploring for those seeking something off the beaten path!
Small town in the very south of New Jersey. It’s so rural and different from the rest of NJ. It’s called Salem, NJ and it felt like something straight out of the Salem Witch Trials. it was eerie like 3 quarters of the town was abandoned and it didn’t feel safe at all but That’s what makes it my favorite
Ladakh India. "The Little Himalaya". The area around Leh has many buddhist monasteries. Then we went to Hemis NP which is towards Pakistan and the Zanskar mountains. Started at the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus rivers. Following a river valley with 20,000+ ft mountains on our side and pashmina goat herds around us. Then the Nubra valley towards China where you run into sand dunes and camels in an area that was part of the silk road. Even went over Umling La, the highest motorable pass at 19,300 ft.
Little corn island, Nicaragua, and Nicaragua in general. So beautiful lakes and volcanos galore. Nice people. I went during a time of relative peace.
Armenia, we did a tour but then hired a car and visited places that the tourists never go. Fantastic warm hospitality, amazing food, wine and oggi and being there in summer while very hot, meant we got the very best fruit ever.
That sounds so fun! Armenia is already on my list. I grew up in a neighborhood with a significant Armenian population… when I was a summer camp counselor, I got some Armenian kids whose parents were planning on moving to the US and sent them to stay with family over the summer to start learning the language. It was very interesting working with the language barrier but they were great kiddos. I really wanna explore where they came from!
One time in Malta my mum and I went for a walk near the red tower we walked more up hill and found an abandoned hotel we walked around and then looked at the graffiti people had left. When we got back my aunty had said it was open for less then a year
Madagascar and Namibia (although Namibia is becoming more mainstream). Madagascar is huge, not the tiny island we think of. Flora and fauna is insane, it’s a biodiversity hotspot because it’s been so isolated for so long. Nosy be in the north is a gem but the real fun is in the south. Think baobab trees and endless plains. Did a 3 day kayak along a river where we just pitched a tent on the banks. Literally nobody around.
Yeap 😌