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Overshadowed by the larger nearby cities of Prague, Vienna, and Budapest, this European capital has been experiencing a quiet renaissance. With its compact, walkable old town, its imposing Baroque castle on a hill above the river, and its variety of museums and galleries, Bratislava is well worth a day trip but could easily fill several days.
You’ll want time to sample Slovak food like bryndzové halušky (potato and cheese dumplings), seek out the quirky street sculptures dotted around the city, and enjoy the views from the “UFO Tower” above Most SNP, the iconic bridge crossing the Danube. And if you want more castles, 1,000-year-old Devin Castle, just a few miles outside Bratislava, is an important archaeological site.
Bratislava is easily accessible from Vienna, an hour by train or 1.5 hours by ferry. Public transit within the city is easy, too. And it’s one of the least expensive major European cities that use the Euro as currency.
While Koh Samui is one of the most-visited places in Thailand, there’s a quiet paradise just to the east – Ang Thong National Marine Park. Lying between Ko Samui and the mainland, this archipelago of 42 uninhabited islands is so stunning, it was the inspiration for Alex Garland’s novel The Beach.
The islands can only be reached by boat from Koh Samui or Koh Pha Ngan. To avoid the crowds on the larger boats, hire a speed boat (or even better, a private charter) which will allow you access to hidden coves and beaches.
For even more seclusion, stay overnight in a tent or bungalow on Ko Wua Talap, the main island. Once the day-trippers leave, you’ll have the place almost to yourself.
Zambia is known as the birthplace of the walking safari. Conservationist Norman Carr began offering this experience to guests at Chibembe Safari Camp in the late 1960s. Tracking animals on foot and exploring the bush and its wildlife up close is very different than sitting in a vehicle.
While Zambia is far from the only place to offer walking safaris these days, there are other advantages. Even though it’s teeming with wildlife, including the “Big Five”, Zambia is less well-known and less crowded than destinations such as Kenya, Tanzania, or Zimbabwe.
For the ultimate walking safari, head to South Luangwa National Park, one of Southern Africa’s most renowned game reserves. Or go on a water-based safari in the Lower Zambezi and spot wildlife from a canoe or boat. And no trip to Zambia is complete without a stop at spectacular Victoria Falls.
Bolivia shares many famous attractions with its neighbors, such as Lake Titicaca (which it shares with Peru), the Pantanal (which it shares with Brazil), and the Amazon rainforest (which it shares with both). Its Uyuni salt flat is just as surreal as Chile’s Atacama. And yet, Bolivia is one of the least-visited countries in Latin America. It’s also one of the most affordable.
While the tourism infrastructure is less robust than its neighbors, Bolivia’s bus network is well-developed (though with such varied terrain, flying is more efficient). And where else can you visit the world’s highest lake, the world’s highest capital city, the world’s biggest salt flat, and the world’s biggest tropical wetlands all in one country?
Vietnam’s hill tribes are well known for their traditional handicrafts and colorful costumes. Travelers flock to regions like Sapa to hike between villages and learn about the local culture. But this popularity has meant a loss of authenticity, with some “villages” being created just to cater to tourists.
For a more genuine experience, head to Ha Giang Province in Vietnam’s far north. There’s still an untouched quality to these villages, home to ethnic groups such as Hmong, Tay, and Dao.
Says World Nomads’ own Meghan Nelson, “The Ha Giang Loop was the highlight of our trip to Northern Vietnam. I can’t overstate how unique and diverse this province is. We spent four days winding through lush mountains and rice fields, swimming in caves and under waterfalls, and getting a glimpse of how remote ethnic minorities live. No two days were the same, as the scenery and people seemed to change around every turn.”
To get there, take a bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang City. From there, hire a licensed local driver to take you around by motorbike (be sure to wear a helmet). It’s also possible to do a jeep tour.
Occupying the toe of Italy’s boot, Calabria may be one of the only places along the country’s southern coastline where you can still find gorgeous beaches without crowds. The scenic “Coast of the Gods” along the Tyrrhenian Sea lives up to its lofty nickname, while the town of Tropea, perched on a cliff above the sea, was named Italy’s most beautiful village in 2021 – no small achievement.
And that’s just one of its coastlines – there’s also the Ionian Sea on the other side.
But there’s more to Calabria than beaches. The region is also home to three national parks, filled with rugged mountains, canyons, and lakes. Calabrian culture is a rich blend of Greek and Byzantine influences and strong folkloric traditions.
Yet, despite these charms, Calabria remains relatively undiscovered – for now.
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With sandy beaches, world-class surf breaks, and rainforests filled with tropical birds, monkeys, and other wildlife, Nicaragua offers many of the same draws as Costa Rica, its more popular neighbor to the south.
In 2025, these little-known Nicaraguan treasures will be easier to discover and enjoy. A new coastal highway, the Carratera Costanera, is currently being built along the Pacific shoreline – it will help improve access to excellent surfing in spots like San Juan del Sur, Playa Remanso, and Popoyo. Near Popopyo is Wildlife Reserve Río Escalante-Chacocente, one of the world’s most important beaches for sea turtle nesting (events known as arribadas, where huge numbers of Olive Ridley turtles arrive at once to lay their eggs, take place between July and December).
Sandwiched between Italy, Croatia, and Austria, Slovenia has many of the same things to offer – majestic alpine scenery, charming, red-roofed coastal towns, excellent food and wine. But somehow, Slovenia has stayed off the radar.
For adventure lovers, the Soča Valley offers rafting on ice-blue rivers, canyoning, and hiking. I had my first-ever paragliding adventure here, soaring above Kobarid (the adventure capital) and the Julian Alps.
The picturesque, car-free coastal town of Piran has been likened to Venice without the crowds. (This region was ruled by Venice for centuries, and it shows.) Lake Bled, with its iconic island chapel, has been featured in many an Instagram post, but Lake Bohinj, a few miles further on, offers a more tranquil experience. And as long as you avoid the summer high season, Ljubljana, the capital, is refreshingly crowd-free despite its lovely Baroque buildings and lively culture.
Mexico’s “Happy Coast,” which stretches along the Pacific from Puerto Vallarta to Manzanillo, is a place of abundant natural beauty, home to pristine beaches, dense jungle, and vast nature preserves. It has remained untouched due largely to its inaccessibility (the closest airports are a 4-hour drive away). That will change with the new Chalacatepec Airport in Jalisco. Inaugurated in late 2024, the airport will initially cater to chartered flights, though there are plans to open it to international commercial flights.
Will this mean the Costalegre will be unspoiled no more? Fortunately, development here has happened with an eye to sustainability, with resorts and communities working together to protect the local biodiversity. If you go, you can do your part by choosing eco-friendly, low-impact resorts and operators.
Chilean Patagonia is best known for the cathedral-like peaks of Torres del Paine and for the iconic W Trek that circles its base. But this epic national park has gotten overrun in recent years. Fortunately, there are a multitude of other parks to choose from. Chile’s “Route of Parks” features 17 parks along its 1,700 miles, all strung like pearls between the mountains and coast. Crowds are fewer here, but the landscapes are no less spectacular.
The next park to join the route will be Cape Froward, the southernmost point of mainland South America. This is Chile’s newest national park, a sub-Antarctic region housing a number of endangered species, including huemel deer and sei whales. It’s also the ancestral territory of the indigenous Kawésqar people. Travelers who make the journey will be surrounded by raw, rugged nature and ancient culture. What they won’t be surrounded by is tourists.
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