Are you the adventurous wonderer or the soul who returns year in and year out to the same destination without broadening your horizons?
For the unconventional tourist, finding destinations that excite by merely reading about them needn't be a challenge. The challenge is picking one to focus on. If you are not into solo travel, finding a soul companion with the same quirky inclinations to go with you will be the drama.
The destinations below are not the only ones where you can experience fascinating cultures, have the place to yourself because of their remoteness, or be a wildlife voyeur. But they all have in common the fact that they are not overrun with tourists. If you open your mind to the idea of traveling for new experiences instead of ‘ho hum’ vacations’ of been there done that, then research less visited countries without tourist traps and far from the maddening crowds that allow you to truly connect with local communities and embrace the adventure.
The Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Where the sands sing when the wind blows, snow leopards roam the Tost Mountains, dinosaur fossils hide in the ‘Flaming Cliffs’, and there are more horses than people. The Gobi Desert has the anomaly of an ice field in the valley of the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains.
Sleep under the stars in a traditional ger, ride a camel over sand dunes, watch eagle hunters, and horseback over the endless steppes. You need to love meat, not be fussy about toilet arrangements, and relish your interaction with the nomads amidst the unending natural beauty of the Gobi Desert.
Nunavut, The High Canadian Arctic
Think cold, freezing temperatures in a wonderland of wild critters. For the escapist soul into raw adventure, the High Canadian Arctic is smothered in wandering icebergs, frozen sea ice, jagged cliffs, and endless tundra views where isolated villages of the indigenous Inuit people can only be reached by plane or boat. It covers one-fifth of Canada and almost reaches the North Pole. Few people call Nunavut home, but plenty of wildlife (polar bears, caribou, grizzly bears) romp around while beluga, narwhal, and walrus lurk beneath the freezing sea. This destination is for the hunter, the fisherman, or those intrepid wanderers into hiking, dog sledding, snowmobiling, and kayaking. You will definitely have bragging rights if you go to Nunavut for its white magic, as it’s one of the most remote regions in the world.
Sumba, Indonesia
With new exclusive retreats on the Island of Sumba, you won't be alone. But, you will be amongst only a handful of souls wishing for a unique experience. Larger than the island of Bali, Sumba is the place to hire a car and get lost in its beautiful environment. From hidden lagoons to wild horses kicking up sand along deserted beaches, surf breaks that roar, and lush hills graced with natural swimming holes, Sumba has more buffalos on the roads than cars. The island is split into two parts, east and west, with the indigenous people of each area steeped in very different old traditions. The signature thatched, pointy-roof homes appear like something out of a crazy fairytale, creating photographic moments unlike anywhere else.
Benin, West Africa
Considered to be the birthplace of Voodoo, visiting Benin is best done on a small tour with like-minded people due to its lack of tourist infrastructure, political climate, and hard-to-get-around dramas. Also, with a tour specialist, you may experience sights that otherwise would not be on your radar. Oozing superstition and an ancient culture surrounded by myths and magic, Benin is probably not for the faint-hearted. It's a French-speaking country, so you will hear very little English. Explore the ancient stilt village on Lake Nokoue, known as Ganvie, with a history embedded in the slave trade. Check out the vibrant city of Cotonou, where you can meander the Vodou Fetish Market (maybe buy some take-home souvenirs for a planned ritual). Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Abomey, a city in the north known for its Royal Palaces. Chill out on one of the long palm-lined beaches, or take a wildlife safari in Pendjari National Park. If you are bent towards the dark side, visit Ouidah to witness a Voodoo ritual.
Other destinations worthy of consideration to avoid the mundane tourist include the Falkland Islands, where the wildlife is the boss of the land, or the Faroe Islands between Norway and Iceland, and places such as Moldova and North Macedonia.
Gail Palethorpe, a self proclaimed Australian gypsy, is a freelance writer, photographer and eternal traveller. Check out her website Gail Palethorpe Photography and her Shutterstock profile.
