Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023
Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Hidden Gems of the Balkans
For many travelers, the Balkans remain an undiscovered and underrated region of Europe. But beneath the surface of recent conflicts and stereotypes lies a culturally rich and breathtakingly beautiful area waiting to be explored. From pristine beaches on the Adriatic coast to medieval fortresses nestled in rugged mountains, the Balkans offer hidden gems for those willing to venture off the beaten path.
One such overlooked destination is Sarajevo, Bosnia. While most visitors to the Balkans flock to tourist-friendly Croatia, Sarajevo charms with its bustling Baščaršija bazaar, diverse religious sites like the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, and turbulent history memorialized in places like the Sarajevo Tunnel Museum. Meandering the cobblestone streets sampling local cuisine like burek and čevapčići provides an authentic glimpse into life in the region. After experiencing the city's energy, take a quick day trip up to bobsled on Trebević Mountain for Instagram-worthy views overlooking the capital.
Nearby Montenegro is another under-the-radar gem, specifically the Bay of Kotor. This winding bay feels like a Scandinavian fjord with towering cliffs plunging into azure waters. Medieval stone villages dot the bay, exemplified by the well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage site of Kotor. Climb the fortress walls for sublime vistas across red-roofed buildings and out to the glittering Adriatic Sea. For outdoor adventure, kayak around mussel farms near Perast or brave the steep hike up to Castle of San Giovanni for a sweeping perspective of the bay.
Venturing farther south, Lake Ohrid straddling the border between Albania and North Macedonia remains surprisingly absent from most Balkans itineraries. Considered Europe’s oldest lake, it dazzles visitors with its turquoise waters, tucked-away medieval churches like St. Naum Monastery, and a lively waterfront promenade in Ohrid Town. Beyond the main hub lies peaceful villages like Lin and isolated beaches waiting for intrepid travelers willing to take the path less traveled. Don't miss a boat trip to secluded bays like Gradište for swimming in the crystal clear, though frigid, lake waters.
For wine lovers, theIlok wine region in eastern Croatia's Danube Valley offers an under-the-radar alternative to tourists flocking to Dalmatia. Picturesque vineyards cascading down rolling hills to the Danube River yield little-known indigenous varieties like Graševina. Many family-run wineries offer tastings in their cellars, while the medieval hilltop town of Ilok charms with wine cellars carved into its fortress walls. Nearby is the majestic Vukovar water tower, standing as a reminder of Croatia’s difficult past.
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- Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Hidden Gems of the Balkans
- Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Undiscovered Islands in Indonesia
- Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - The Other Side of Mexico
- Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Off the Tourist Trail in Morocco
- Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Lesser-Known Wonders of India
- Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Go Wild in Botswana
- Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Remote Regions of Patagonia
- Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Unexpected Delights in Eastern Europe
Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Undiscovered Islands in Indonesia
Dotting the equator like emeralds tossed across blue velvet, Indonesia's 17,000-plus islands offer intrepid travelers endless opportunities to wander off the beaten path. While Bali and Java attract hordes of tourists, the Indonesian archipelago still hides deserted beaches and remote jungles waiting to be discovered beyond the obvious hot spots.
Take the Bangka Islands, an obscure cluster east of Sumatra. Pulau Bangka draws predominantly domestic tourists with its palm-shaded beaches and tin mining heritage. Neighboring Belitung sees even fewer visitors and dazzles with granite boulders strewn across white sand beaches framed by jungle-draped granite peaks. Charter a boat to explore Belitung’s most remote beaches before returning to the island’s laidback capital Tanjung Pandan to sample local seafood like sate ikan kakap (grilled red snapper).
Or head east to the Togean Islands, where verdant jungle slopes down to cobalt and sapphire waters ideal for diving and snorkeling. This remote island chain sitting in the Gulf of Tomini sees few foreign tourists, offering an authentic slice of Indo culture. Base yourself in Kadidiri Village and arrange trips to majestic waterfalls slicing down from jungle-clad cliffs. Take a bangka boat to explore forested islands like Taupan for world-class underwater scenes teeming with coral, turtles and endemic fish.
Papua also promises intrepid travelers spectacular scenery and fascinating tribal cultures without the crowds. Raja Ampat, an island paradise in Indonesia’s far eastern region, dazzles with over 1,500 islands and some of the world’s best diving. Liveaboards are ideal for scuba enthusiasts to ply the rich waters, while eco-lodge resorts like Misool Eco Resort cater to landlubbers with jungle trekking, birdwatching and beach lounging. Ancient tribal traditions endure on Papua’s interior, including elaborate sing-sings with feathered headdresses and body paint. Fascinating Asmat culture thrives along jungle rivers flowing to the Arafura Sea.
While challenging logistics limit tourism in Maluku, these exotic ‘Spice Islands’ warrant the effort for intrepid travelers. Don a sea-kayak to explore the watery horizons around Wakatobi National Park or Ternate, crossing a equatorial boundary rich in unique marine life. Ambon and Banda host nutmeg plantations and colonial forts. But Maluku’s highlight is the spectacular bay of Palau Banda Neira, rimmed by towering volcanoes, with iconic cottages on stilts beckoning beyond its coral beaches.
Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - The Other Side of Mexico
Beyond the beach resorts of Cancun and Cabo lie lesser-known sides of Mexico waiting to captivate intrepid travelers. Venturing inland reveals beguiling colonial cities steeped in history and cuisine that deserves global fame. Outdoor enthusiasts find remote wilderness teeming with exotic wildlife. And ancient cultures thrive little changed for centuries in traditional villages scattered across vivid highland landscapes. Mexico’s tourism industry focuses heavily on sun, sand, and coastlines. But look inward and prepare for your preconceptions to be delightfully dismantled.
Take the bewitching city of San Miguel de Allende, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Mexico’s central highlands. Cobblestone streets lined with vividly painted colonial mansions unspool toward ornate churches like the Gothic Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel. Galleries like Bellas Artes sell art from Mexico and beyond, while sidewalk cafes serve up hearty fare like enchiladas topped with flavorful mole sauce. Nearby, the El Charco del Ingenio botanical gardens showcase cacti and native plants across 210 acres of canyon wilderness right near town. San Miguel exudes old-world romance and creativity, offering boutique inns, cooking classes, and vibrant Día de Muertos celebrations come autumn.
In Oaxaca, masterful flavors blend indigenous ingredients with Spanish techniques and Arab spices in iconic southern dishes like tlayudas, a giant toasted tortilla lavished with beans, cheese, avocado, and meat before your eyes. Sip smoky mezcal at its source across the arid Valles Centrales valley studded with 320 varieties of agave. Trek out to ancient Zapotec ruins like Mitla and Monte Albán, adorned with intricate stone carvings, to immerse in Mexico’s rich indigenous history. Oaxaca emerges as the cultural heart of Mexico.
The surreal landscapes of Guanajuato also enchant visitors. The UNESCO-listed town of Guanajuato unfurls down steep, narrow alleys winding past brightly painted buildings in unlikely places. Nearby, the Pozos mining village captivates with abandoned haciendas and shaft entrances offering haunting underground excursions. But Guanajuato’s most stunning site is Las Pozas near the town of Xilitla, where eccentric poet Edward James sculpted concrete stairs, columns, and bridges that seem to melt into the jungle. This surreal sculpture garden hidden in the wilderness exemplifies Mexico’s ability to surprise.
Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Off the Tourist Trail in Morocco
Beyond the snake charmers of Marrakech and camel treks into the Sahara, Morocco tantalizes with a mosaic of lesser-known destinations for travelers keen to veer off the beaten path. Lose yourself in the labyrinthine Fes el Bali, explore remote rock carvings in the Atlas Mountains, and find tranquility in coastal Essaouira. This North African kingdom captivates with a timeless medina culture and striking landscapes from desert to mountains to coastline.
“Fes was the highlight of our trip to Morocco,” enthuses travel blogger Chris Backe. “With endless alleyways that all look alike, getting lost is part of the experience.” The car-free Fes el Bali - the old walled section of Fez dating to medieval times - claims the world’s largest continuous medina. Don't miss the Chouara Tannery, where animal hides have been processed for a millennium, before shopping for rugs, ceramics and other handicrafts still made using traditional methods. Chris suggests, “Splurge on a guided tour on your first morning to get your bearings.”
Morocco’s Middle and High Atlas Mountains also beckon—especially for hikers and rock art enthusiasts. “Trekking to little-visited Berber villages beneath snow-capped peaks provided my most memorable experiences,” writes travel blogger Anna Lysakowska. She recommends the lower foothills out of Marrakech, the cedar forests near Azrou, and the alpine scenery around Imilchil. Test your legs on Morocco’s highest peak, 13,671-foot Jebel Toubkal. More intrepid trekkers can seek out 10,000-year-old rock carvings in the High Atlas, including those near Tinghir and along Wadi Saguia. “Having a guide with Tuareg contacts helped immensely for locating more remote sites,” Anna advises.
Finally, coastal Essaouira charms with its lively fishing harbor protected by Portuguese ramparts, surf beaches whipped by Atlantic swells, and a breezy Bohemian vibe that enchanted the likes of Jimi Hendrix back in the day. “Essaouira seemed so removed from the intensity of Marrakech and Fes, yet remains quintessentially Moroccan,” American expat blogger Cynthia Popper enthuses. Wander the pedestrian-only medina before feasting on freshly grilled sardines at the port as gulls circle overhead. For peace, escape to beaches like Sidi Kaouki or Diabat north of town, where Atlantic swells draw surfers and windsurfers while camels amble across golden sands backed by Essaouira’s whitewashed walls. With far fewer visitors than its coastal counterparts, Essaouira remains Morocco at its most relaxed.
Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Lesser-Known Wonders of India
Beyond the Taj Mahal and Rajasthan’s “Golden Triangle,” hidden corners of India still remain largely undiscovered by tourists. Venture into the northeastern states or down the Western Ghats range, and you’ll be richly rewarded with surreal landscapes, vibrant tribal cultures, and blissful solitude.
“I was awestruck by Majuli Island in Assam,” recounts solo traveler Akanksha Redhu. Accessible only by ferry across the Brahmaputra River, this is the largest river island in the world. Amid vivid greenery sit age-old satras (monasteries) where monks practice masked Vaishnavite dances. Meet Mishing tribespeople in stilt bamboo houses along marshes rife with migratory birds. Local artisans use cotton nettle and banana stems for weaving and pottery passed down generations. Majuli's simple pleasures include savoring fish curries, being poled in a canoe through lush wetlands, and glimpsing endangered river dolphins.
South India’s dazzling Western Ghats also entice off-the-beaten-path travelers. “I fell in love with Wayanad in Kerala, an area most tourists bypass,” says travel blogger Archana Singh. Amid mountains patrolled by regal tuskers and leopards lie enchanting waterfalls, spice gardens overflowing with black pepper and cardamom, and jungle treks to Edakkal Caves with ancient petroglyphs. Ramble down dirt tracks through paddy fields dotted with areca palms to interact with local tribes like the Kurichiyas. From forest cottages and treehouses, wake to an avian orchestra from Malabar parakeets to flashy Malabar trogons.
Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Go Wild in Botswana
"We were absolutely blown away by the incredible diversity and sheer density of game in the Okavango Delta," recalls Derek Boshoff after exploring the watery wilderness system created by the Okavango River spreading across the Kalahari Desert. Myriad safari lodges and camps throughout the Delta offer mokoro dugout canoe excursions, bush walks with San guides, and game drives to observe huge herds of elephants, zebra, giraffe and buffalo up close from open-top 4WD vehicles. "Drifting past hippos in our mokoro as African fish eagles circled overhead was an unforgettable highlight," Derek adds.
Beyond the Okavango lies the vast Central Kalahari Game Reserve, where Debosh Boshoff ventured on guided bush walks to admire primitive rock paintings and track the Kalahari's legendary black-maned lions. "Spending nights around the campfire under endless stars was a humbling experience, as was interacting with nomadic San groups," he recalls. Contrasting ecosystems teem with wildlife--from salt pans and grass savannahs to fossilized river valleys and rolling dunes.
For the ultimate immersion in unspoiled wilderness, Derek recommends Khwai River and Moremi Game Reserve north of the Okavango. "Moremi especially blew us away with huge herds of buffalo and elephant families at every turn--even tree-climbing lions!" The reserves border Chobe National Park, where one can also glide along the Chobe River observing massive elephant herds and tremendous variety of birds attracted by the waterway.
Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Remote Regions of Patagonia
Stretching across the expanses of Chile and Argentina, Patagonia dazzles as one of the world’s last true wildernesses, where snow-capped peaks pierce icy blue skies and glaciers stretch down to fjords abundant with marine life. Most visitors flock to famed parks like Los Glaciares and Torres Del Paine. But devoted wanderers can still lose themselves in Patagonia’s more remote corners, tracing routes of early explorers across the ends of the earth for encounters with ancient cultures and close communion with nature.
“Trekking the Dientes Circuit through Tierra del Fuego was the most challenging yet gratifying adventure I’ve undertaken,” recounts solo hiker Alice Morrison. This stunning five-day route scales the jagged Dientes de Navarino mountains, where Alice often wandered alone with only guanacos and Andean condors for company. She traversed high passes with panoramic views of the Beagle Channel, glimpsed glaciers carving their way through dense forests, and passed turquoise tarns that reflect the mountains like mirrors. “The pristine wilderness and raw natural beauty left me breathless,” she says, “This trek epitomizes the magic of Patagonia.”
Devoted climbers dream of the obscure Cerro Torre, a sheer granite needle that juts up from Patagonia’s ice fields. Mountaineer Colin Haley pioneered new routes up its precipitous flanks, spending weeks camped on glaciers waiting for optimal conditions. “Cerro Torre demands technical skills and endurance,” Colin cautions, but the reward is joining an elite few who have summited one of the world’s most challenging peaks. Nearby, legacy climbs like Fitz Roy and Chalten also beckon.
Cruising the Chilean fjords delivers close encounters with penguins, sea lions, blue whales and other marine life. Intrepid travelers can island-hop aboard cargo ships like the Navimag Ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales. “Being the sole passenger on the multi-day crossing was surreal,” says solo wanderer Amélie Blanc, “I had the whole deck to myself spotting dolphins, whales and seabirds.” Luxury cruisers also ply less-traveled fjords like Ultima Esperanza and Alberto De Agostini. Excursions kayak to remote glaciers or watch whales bubble-net feeding.
Off the Beaten Path: 5 Underrated Destinations to Visit in 2023 - Unexpected Delights in Eastern Europe
Beyond Western Europe’s tourist hordes lies a mosaic of culture and unspoiled countryside in Eastern Europe that captivates independent travelers. “Poland absolutely charmed me with its history, natural beauty and pride,” enthuses American travel blogger Cynthia Popper. Starting in bustling Kraków, she wandered the massive main square Rynek Główny, still lined with medieval architecture and horse-drawn carriages. After admiring Gothic churches and indulging in creamy zapiekanka sandwiches, a day trip took her to Auschwitz for a somber yet vital reminder of Poland’s WW2 sacrifices. An overnight train whisked her to Zakopane nestled in the Carpathian Mountains, where she hiked alpine trails, sampled smoked cheese oscypek, and soaked in thermal pools tucked in the woods. Cynthia says, “The natural splendor and resilience of the Polish people left an indelible impression.”
Croatia dazzles independent travelers with over a thousand islands dotting the Adriatic Sea. “Sailing between Croatia’s islands aboard a chartered boat was a dream,” says Derek Boshoff, who explored gems like the walled town of Korčula, chic Hvar Town, and the sparsely populated Elafiti Islands car-free gems where boats are the main form of transport. Medieval alleys lined with al fresco cafes meander up to Renaissance cathedrals, while pine forests and olive groves scent the interior. From the coastal paradise of Croatia’s Dalmatian Islands, Derek took an overnight train inland to star-shaped Karlovac and the stunning Plitvice Lakes National Park, whose 16 turquoise lakes linked by waterfalls seem surreally vivid.
Lesser-known corners of Romania also beckon intrepid Europhiles. “We fell in love with Sibiu, an unsung Transylvanian gem with a marvelously preserved historic center,” says tourist blogger couple Kyle and Bianca. Cobblestone streets below pastel-hued Gothic façades unspool toward imposing squares flanked by sights like the Brukenthal Palace gallery. They took day trips to majestic hilltop citadels like Corvin Castle, with towers and turrets piercing the clouds. Romania’s Carpathian Mountains dazzled with snow-dusted peaks and glacier lakes ideal for summer hikers. But the highlight was tracking European brown bears emerging at dusk in remote hideouts with local guides—an unforgettable wildlife encounter.