5 Unexpected Travel Destinations That Will Make You Feel Like an Explorer
Everyone knows what the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum look like. Even if you’ve never been there, you can picture them instantly. But ask someone about Svaneti, Socotra, or the Udo-jingu Shrine, and most people will only nod politely. And that’s exactly why you should go.
5 Unexpected Travel Destinations That Will Make You Feel Like an Explorer
Everyone knows what the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum look like. Even if you’ve never been there, you can picture them instantly. But ask someone about Svaneti, Socotra, or the Udo-jingu Shrine, and most people will only nod politely. And that’s exactly why you should go.
1. Svaneti, Georgia What it is: a high-mountain region in the Caucasus where time seems frozen.
How to get there: fly into Tbilisi or Kutaisi → 6–7 hours by car through mountain passes. Best time: summer for hiking, winter for skiing. Budget:flights from $180–240 round trip. Guesthouses: $20/night.
Risks: steep mountain roads, heavy snow in winter can cut off villages.
1. Svaneti, Georgia
What it is: a high-mountain region in the Caucasus where time seems frozen.
How to get there: fly into Tbilisi or Kutaisi → 6–7 hours by car through mountain passes. Best time: summer for hiking, winter for skiing. Budget: flights from $180–240 round trip. Guesthouses: $20/night.
Risks & challenges: narrow mountain roads, occasional landslides, and heavy snow in winter that can isolate villages for days.
2. Udo-jingu Shrine, Japan
What it is: a Shinto shrine inside a seaside cave on the island of Kyushu.
How to get there: fly into Tokyo/Osaka → domestic flight to Miyazaki → bus. Best time: spring or autumn. Budget: international flights from $700. Domestic flight: $70–120.
Risks & challenges: it’s off the beaten path, so expect a full-day trip. English is rarely spoken in the area — Google Translate will be your friend.
2. Udo-jingu Shrine, Japan
What it is: a Shinto shrine inside a seaside cave on the island of Kyushu.
How to get there: fly into Tokyo/Osaka → domestic flight to Miyazaki → bus. Best time:spring or autumn. Budget: international flights from $700. Domestic flight: $70–120.
Risks & challenges: it’s off the beaten path, so expect a full-day trip. English is rarely spoken in the area — Google Translate will be your friend.
3. Socotra Island, Yemen
What it is: Earth’s closest match to a sci-fi planet
How to get there: charter flights from Cairo or Abu Dhabi. Best time: October–April. Budget: flights $950–1,200 round trip. Organized 7-day tour with guide, transport, and camping: $2,000–2,500.
Risks & challenges: Yemen is politically unstable — travel only with trusted operators. Infrastructure is minimal: rough roads, weak cell service, almost no internet. Bring your own medical kit and comprehensive travel insurance.
3. Socotra Island, Yemen
What it is: Earth’s closest match to a sci-fi planet.
How to get there: charter flights from Cairo or Abu Dhabi. Best time: October–April. Budget: flights $950–1,200 round trip. Organized 7-day tour with guide, transport, and camping: $2,000–2,500.
Risks & challenges: Yemen is politically unstable — travel only with trusted operators. Infrastructure is minimal: rough roads, weak cell service, almost no internet. Bring your own medical kit and comprehensive travel insurance.
4. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
What it is: the world’s largest salt flat that turns into a giant mirror after the rains.
How to get there: fly into La Paz → overnight bus/train to Uyuni. Best time: January–March for the “mirror effect.” Budget: flights $1,200–1,500 round trip. 3-day jeep tour: $150–250.
Risks & challenges:altitude sickness is common at 3,700 meters. Night temperatures drop below –10°C. Sunlight reflects intensely off the salt — sunglasses and sunscreen are essential.
4. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
What it is: the world’s largest salt flat that turns into a giant mirror after the rains.
How to get there: fly into La Paz → overnight bus/train to Uyuni. Best time: January–March for the “mirror effect.” Budget: flights $1,200–1,500 round trip. 3-day jeep tour: $150–250.
Risks & challenges: altitude sickness is common at 3700 meters. Night temperatures drop below –10°C. Sunlight reflects intensely off the salt — sunglasses and sunscreen are essential.
5. Faroe Islands, Denmark
What it is: windswept North Atlantic cliffs, waterfalls, and turf-roofed houses.
How to get there:flights via Copenhagen or Reykjavik. Best time: June–August. Budget: flights $550–700. Accommodation $120–150/night.
Risks & challenges: the weather changes 10 times a day — expect sudden fog, rain, or gale-force winds. Transportation is limited; renting a car is almost mandatory. Prices are close to Iceland’s — beautiful, but not cheap.
5. Faroe Islands, Denmark
What it is: windswept North Atlantic cliffs, waterfalls, and turf-roofed houses.
How to get there: flights via Copenhagen or Reykjavik. Best time:June–August. Budget: flights $550–700. Accommodation $120–150/night.
Risks & challenges: the weather changes 10 times a day — expect sudden fog, rain, or gale-force winds. Transportation is limited; renting a car is almost mandatory. Prices are close to Iceland’s — beautiful, but not cheap.
Why these trips are worth it?
No lines, no souvenir megastores, no “tourist-only menus.” Just raw, unfiltered landscapes and authentic experiences. These are journeys you’ll tell stories about for years — because unlike Paris or Rome, your friends won’t say, “Oh yeah, I saw that in someone’s Instagram story.”
Why these trips are worth it?
No lines, no souvenir megastores, no “tourist-only menus.” Just raw, unfiltered landscapes and authentic experiences. These are journeys you’ll tell stories about for years — because unlike Paris or Rome, your friends won’t say, “Oh yeah, I saw that in someone’s Instagram story.”