Discover the World, Off the Beaten Track

We’re lucky enough to live in a world with an abundance of incredible places to explore. Despite this, even with the world at our feet, so many of us tend to veer towards visiting tourist hotspots, instead of discovering lands less travelled for ourselves. Although, if given the chance, all countries should be visited at some point in our lives, exploring those that are not teeming with tourists can often be a much more authentic experience. From saving money to experiencing local cultures, here are just a few reasons to visit a non-touristy destination.

Whether you’re setting off on your gap year or simply embarking on the family holiday of a lifetime, discovering unspoiled lands is a promising notion, yet so many travellers flock to locations that have been favoured by likeminded people for many years previously. They may be desirable places to visit, but areas in Thailand and Australia, for example, are now overrun with tourists and young travellers “discovering themselves”, making it hard to truly escape from the stresses of everyday life at home. If you’re struggling for ides for places unknown, companies such as Encounters Travel specialise in destinations that are relatively unspoilt, allowing you to make your own uncover the highlights of several must-see countries.

Avoiding so called tourist “honeypots” means you are free to discover the true culture of your chosen destination or yourself, sampling local delicacies, encountering traditions and avoiding the tacky souvenirs being thrust into your palms by touts. Spending your travels away from these areas means you’re likely to save yourself no end of money. Yes, there are likely to be certain places where it will still cost a small fortune to eat or stay, but more often than not you’re likely to discover a whole host of hidden gems that are frequently more accommodating to visitors than those swarming with tourists. Do a little research and you will stumble upon low cost luxury accommodation and some of the most incredible food you’re ever likely to sample.

For those of you who prefer a quieter holiday and whose dream vacation means avoiding other tourists at all costs, then a non-tourist destination may be your idea of heaven. Spending time getting lost and stumbling your way through the local dialect is an endearing thought, yet it is something we so often don’t experience. It may prove to be more of a challenge than you’re used to, but there are plenty of advantages too, especially if you prefer to be left to your own devices when travelling the world.

If you wish to experience of the true culture and traditions of a country for yourself, without the hustle and bustle of a more popular destination, then ensure your next trip is to one of the world’s lesser known beauty spots.