Underrated travel destinations offer all the beauty, adventure, and culture without the overwhelming crowds. (And, usually, without the sky-high prices.) Some of the best experiences I’ve ever had traveling have been in places I wouldn’t have expected to love so much!
Getting off the beaten path can be so rewarding, so if you’re looking to uncover some lesser-visited locations, add these gems to your bucket list. From remote islands and vast deserts to coastal towns, these stunning spots around the world prove that it’s worth venturing beyond the trodden tourist trail.
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The list of underrated travel destinations
- Faroe Islands, Denmark
- Socotra, Yemen
- Newfoundland, Canada
- Luang Prabang, Laos
- Huacachina, Peru
- Raj Amapat, Indonesia
- Sossusvlei, Namibia
- Ilulissat, Greeland (Denmark)
- Uzbekistan
- Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
- Kefalonia, Greece
- Knysna, South Africa
- Doha, Qatar
More about these 13 underrated travel destinations for adventurous globetrotters
Here are some of the world’s most beautiful places — underrated travel destinations that somehow still fly under the radar.
Faroe Islands, Denmark
Great alternative to: Iceland
Getting to the Faroe Islands: The best way is to fly to Tórshavn from Copenhagen, Reykjavik, Bergen, Paris, or London.
The Faroe Islands are a remote archipelago most known for their rugged cliffs, misty fjords, and puffins. While they’re technically part of Denmark, locals have their own language and unique culture. It takes a little extra effort to get here, and it’s not exactly a budget destination, but I promise the trip is well-worth it!
You’ll need to rent a car to get around and visit charming villages that feature houses with grass-covered roofs and dramatic waterfalls like Múlafossur (pictured). If you’re an adventurous eater, make sure you book a table at Ræst in Tórshavn.
These islands’ remote beauty provides an escape from the crowds found in nearby destinations. But make sure you tick this off your bucket list soon. The secret is out and they’re becoming more well-known.
Socotra, Yemen (one of the most underrated travel destinations out there)
Great alternative to: I don’t even know. It’s so unique. But a quieter and more adventurous alternative to hot beach vacation spots like Bali.
How to get to Socotra: It’s not easy! You need to book your flights through a Socotra travel agency. And there are very few flights (via Abu Dhabi or Sana’a) per week.
Those intrepid (and wealthy) enough to visit always describe Socotra as otherworldly. It’s probably not what comes to mind when you picture the Middle East, but this little island is worth getting off the beaten path to see. It’s home to some of the strangest plants on Earth, dragon’s blood trees (pictured), which kinda look like weird, giant umbrellas. And Socotra is the only place you’ll find them!
The beaches are empty, the water is ridiculously clear, tourism is still pretty limited, and it’s generally safe. However, always look up current travel advisories before planning your trip, as Yemen is sometimes a high-risk destination to visit.
Newfoundland, Canada
Great alternative to: Banff National Park
How to get to Newfoundland: Fly from any major city in Canada, or catch the 8-hour ferry from Nova Scotia.
Newfoundland’s coastline is home to rugged landscapes and tiny fishing villages that offer a glimpse into the island’s unique maritime lifestyle. Even the accent here differs from the rest of the country — and sounds a little Irish.
Gros Morne National Park is known for its fjords and towering peaks, but it’s about 8 hours from St. John’s, Newfoundland’s capital and Canada’s most easterly city. However, to snap a pic in the town of Dildo (yes, you read that correctly), it’s just an hour-long drive through the province’s scenic landscapes.
Stop at the Quidi Vidi Brewery and stroll through the hilly neighbourhoods to check out the colourful houses in the capital. The Cape Spear Lighthouse has some dramatic vantage points not to miss.
Luang Prabang, Laos (one of my personal favourite underrated travel destinations)
Great alternative to: Chiang Mai
How to get to Luang Prabang: Take the slow boat from Chiang Rai, Thailand to Luang Prabang. It takes two days and is pretty uncomfortable on board if I’m honest. But it was a great experience. Otherwise, fly to Laos’ capital, Vientiane, and catch a two-hour train north.
This small town in northern Laos is one of my favourite underrated travel destinations in South East Asia! It has that perfect mix of history, culture, and nature, and way fewer crowds than Thailand.
Monks in orange robes walk the quiet streets at sunrise for Sai Bat (morning alms), which you can watch if you’re willing to wake up early enough! Kuang Si is probably the most beautiful waterfall in Asia and easy to get to by tuk tuk. There’s also a little cave to explore, so make sure you bring good shoes.
Huacachina, Peru
Great alternative to: Macchu Pichu
How to get to Huacachina: Catch a Peru Hop bus from Lima to Huacachina with an overnight stop in Paracas on the way down.
A true desert oasis, Huacachina is a tiny village surrounded by massive sand dunes and one of the most unique places in South America if you ask me. Go sandboarding, take a Mad Max-level dune buggy ride, or dance the night away at the Wild Rover hostel.
Make sure you hit Paracas on the way from Lima to Huacachina for a great wildlife spotting boat ride. You’ll see seals, penguins, pelicans, and more at this underrated travel destination. And if you have time, go a little farther south to Nazca to learn about some larger-than-life geoglyphs that were created thousands of years ago.
Raj Ampat, Indonesia (Not likely to remain one of the most underrated travel destinations for long)
Great alternative to: Bali
How to get to Raj Ampat: Fly to Sorong, catch the ferry to Waisai, the capital of the regency. From there, you’ll want to take some day trips to the smaller islands or find a nice remote hotel to stay at to immerse yourself in paradise.
If you love snorkeling or diving Raja Ampat is a stunning destination that might even make you forget you’re in the fourth-most populated country in the world. These remote islands in eastern Indonesia are home to some incredible marine life, and the dramatic limestone cliffs are incredible.
This area is a bit harder to get to than some of Indonesia’s more touristed spots, but that also means no crowds, no traffic, and no overpriced beach clubs.
Sossusvlei, Namibia
Great alternative to: The Sahara Desert
How to get to Sossusvlei: Fly into Windhoek and rent a 4×4 car for the ultimate road trip around the country.
I say Sossusvlei, but honestly but honestly the whole country of Namibia is one of the most underrated travel destinations out there.
But Sossusvlei is home to some of the tallest and most dramatic sand dunes in the world… including one named “Big Daddy Dune,” lol.
Take a 10+ day road trip and you can see more than just the dunes. Drive along the Skeleton Coast — so named for the whale bones and shipwrecks scattered along the coast — and spot incredible wildlife from cheetahs and meerkats to oryx in Etosha National Park.
Ilulissat, Greenland (Denmark)
Great alternative to: Iceland
How to get to Ilulissat: Fly from Greenland’s capital city, Nuuk, or Reykjavik, Iceland.
This tiny town sits right next to one of the world’s most active glacier fjords, meaning you’ll see massive icebergs casually floating past while you explore.
You can take a boat trip to see the glacier (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) up close, watch the northern lights with zero light pollution, or go dogsledding. Keep your eyes peeled for seals, arctic birds, and whales — regular visitors to this peaceful destination.
Uzbekistan
Great alternative to: Marrakech or Istanbul
How to get to Uzbekistan: Fly direct to the capital, Tashkent, from major cities like Doha, Dubai, Moscow, Tokyo, and many more. (I was surprised by how many cities have direct connections to Uzbekistan!)
Uzbekistan isn’t a country you hear about often. But that’s all the more reason it should be on your list of underrated travel destinations to visit! The Registan in Samarkand is one of the most stunning squares in the world, with massive blue-tiled madrasas — if you’re like me and drawn to blue like a moth to a flame, you’ll be in heaven.
The whole country is underrated, and you’ll find beautiful mosques all over from Tashkent to Bukhara and Khiva. Since it’s still under the radar, you won’t have to fight for the perfect Instagram shot. Make sure you visit the Chimgan mountains for a hike to explore the country’s stunning, untouched nature.
Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
Great alternative to: Costa Rica
How to get to Ometepe: Fly into Managua, make your way to Rivas (near San Juan del Sur) and catch the one-ish hour ferry over to the island in the middle of a lake.
This was by far my favourite spot in Nicaragua. The island is made up of two volcanoes, which already makes it one of the coolest places in Central America. (However, Volcan de Fuego in Guatemala gives these volcanoes a run for their money.)
Take on the 10-hour hike up Concepción, kayak to monkey island, or cool off by rope swinging into the Blue Lagoon. Punta Jesús Maria is a stunning black volcanic sand beach (pictured). Most people go to Léon, San Juan del Sur, and Grenada, but that extra journey over to Ometepe will be a dream.
Kefalonia, Greece
Great alternative to: Zakynthos
How to get to Kefalonia: Fly directly from Athens, or catch the ferry from Zakynthos.
You can’t really go wrong when choosing any Greek island. They’re all stunning! But you’ll have to fight other couples for a good view of the famous sunsets in romantic Santorini, and you’ll wait in line to get a photo at the viewpoint over Shipwreck Beach in Zakynthos. Instead, head across to lesser-visited Kefalonia.
This island has hidden caves, adorable coastal towns, and stunning beaches with some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean. Myrtos Beach is spectacular and you won’t have to deal with cruise ship crowds. Make sure you visit the Melissani Cave around noon to get the best views of the sun shining through the natural skylight.
Read more: How to Get from Zakynthos to Kefalonia
Knysna, South Africa
Great alternative to: Cape Town
How to get to Knysna: Fly into Cape Town and drive about 6 hours east along the coastal Garden Route (usually over a few days).
Knysna is a beautiful must-stay along South Africa’s Garden Route. The town sits on a lagoon with nice hiking trails, boat tours, and fresh seafood at local restaurants. While Cape Town is packed with tourists, Knysna has a much more relaxed vibe and some of the most scenic coastal views in the country. I felt very safe and like I could relax a bit more than in Cape Town.
Don’t get me wrong though, you should definitely visit Cape Town, too. Knysna is just a more relaxed place to hang out for a few days. Keep your eyes peeled for seals, whales, sea otters, and dolphins when you’re on the water. And visit the Knysna Elephant Park if you want to spot some gentle giants on the road towards Plettenberg Bay.
Read more: Garden Route Highlights Not to Miss
Doha, Qatar (One of the easiest underrated travel destinations to visit)
Great alternative to: Dubai
How to get to Doha: Hamad International Airport is a major transport hub if you’re flying any long distance between the US/Europe and Africa/Asia.
Doha is a super underrated destination for anyone wanting to visit the Middle East. It also couldn’t be any easier with the Qatar Stopover Program, which let’s you extend your layover for 1-4 days if you’re flying with Qatar Airways.
The National Museum of Qatar is my favourite museum in the world both inside and out. It’s architecturally beautiful and you can spend hours learning about different aspects of Qatar’s geography, culture, and natural history. The Museum of Islamic Art is also stunning, and you’ll love getting lost in Souq Waqif. I live for karak (tea), loved every dish I tried, and felt safe everywhere I went. Can’t recommend it enough!
Note: There is a strict ban on alcohol in Qatar (more serious than I found in some other Muslim countries like Morocco or the UAE). So Doha is not a party destination.
Read more: All About the Qatar Stopover Program