Our world is full of wonderful places where few tourists venture. Tucked away in countries near and far, there are many places that don't get much attention. Let's change that and give them some focus today shall we?
1 Huacachino, Peru
An incredible oasis village in the dunes of the deserts of Peru. An amazing place to go sandboarding.
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2 Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
One of the most charming medieval towns in Europe.
3 Þingvallavatn Lake, Iceland
An off the beaten track destination to go scuba diving.
4 Lord Howe Island, Australia
Stunning scenery and deserted beaches - what's not to love? And only 400 visitors allowed each year.
5 Kidron Valley, Israel
Dominated by Mar Saba a Greek Orthodox monastery and also the ruins of Old Ma'rib Sheba (also called Saba), a kingdom mentioned in the Old Testament and the Quran.
6 Alter do Chao, Brazil
The town straddles the Amazon rainforest and a stunning beach known as the Island of Love. Only a few meters from the beach is a huge lagoon, Lago Verde, home to myriad animals and which can only be explored by canoe.
7 Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland
Hard to pronounce and just as hard to get to, but Ittoqqortoormiit is totally worth the effort. This small, colorful town sits by the longest glacial river system in the world.
8 Leptis Magna, Libya
The site is one of the most spectacular and unspoiled Roman ruins in the Mediterranean
9 Albarracín, Spain
A beautifully preserved medieval village in Northern Spain. The prehistoric rock paintings in the cliff-foot caves of the Albarracín Cultural Park and the “Picaportes” (door knobs) are both worthy of visits.
10 Hinatuan River, the Philippines
The waters of the Hinatuan River on the Philippine island of Mindanao are crystal clear blue and ideal for snorkelers and divers. The saltwater river is nicknamed the "Enchanted River" because it appears to run from the middle of nowhere.
11 Apostle Islands, USA
The group of 22 islands lie off the Wisconsin shore of Lake Superior. They are riddled with caves, and during the winter visitors can see frozen waterfalls and icicle-filled chambers.
12 Namaqualand, South Africa/Namibia
An arid region covering 600+ miles in South Africa and Namibia. Every spring it becomes one of the most surreal landscapes on Earth when the barren area suddenly fills with orange and white daisies.
13 Saint Pierre Et Miquelon, Canada
It may be in Canada but this little island is a self governing territory of France. Francophiles will love the mash up of French and Canadian culture as well as the lovely scenery.
14 Chefchaouen, Morocco
The blue town in Northern Morocco is a favorite haunt of painters and poets.
15 Crooked Forest, Poland
One of the great mysteries of nature. In the Wry Forest in Nowe Czarnowo near Gryfino, 400 pine trees grow with a 90-degree bend at the base - and nobody knows why.
16 Bastei Bridge, Germany
Probably not a scenery you would associate with Germany. Also nearby is Lilienstein, one of several small mesas in Saxony where it’s surreal to watch the fog roll over the landscape.
17 Pangong Tso Lake
The water of this narrow saline lake in the Himalayas between India and Tibet are incredibly clear and provides beautiful reflective views of the mountains.
18 Rangiroa
This ring-shaped atoll in French Polynesia is known for oysters that produce black pearls. A magnificent place to see marine life, it has some of the world's best scuba diving, and visitors can see dolphins, manta rays, green sea turtles, and hammerhead sharks.
19 Svalbard, Norway
Svalbard is an archipelago between Norway and the North Pole. Visitors come to see Its whaling and fishing villages to see polar bears, reindeer, and marine mammals and to marvel at the glacial landscape which includes some stunning waterfalls.
20 Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania
UNESCO Heritage Listed Selous is actually the second largest reserve in Africa. It's twice the size of Denmark, and largely unexplored as only 20% is open to visitors.
21 Chichilianne, Rhone Alps, France
The charming village is overlooked by Mont Aiguille.
22 Nosy Be, Madagascar
A stunning island paradise with a vibrant and friendly culture.
23 Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
Simien Mountains National Park includes jagged mountain peaks, valleys and the simian mountains themselves. This is home to the endangered species of the Ethiopian wolf, the walia ibex, several species of baboons and wild cats and over 50 species of birds.
24 San Miguel De Allende
The rather artsy city town in Central Mexico is a UNESCO World Heritage site and dates back to at least 1542.
25 Dingle Peninsula, Ireland
Where all the magic and mysticism of Ireland comes to life.
26 Liechtenstein
This European microstate between Switzerland and Austria is home to just 35,000 people and is one of the world's richest places based on gross domestic product per capita. There's a fairy-tale castle where the royal family lives, and a tiny army.
27 Monegros, Spain
A badlands area of Northeastern Spain, Home to the annual Groove Parade festival - a bit like the Burning Man Festival.
28 Time Landscape, NYC, USA
Tucked away in a corner of Lower Manhattan. Alan Sonfist has created a garden of trees and plants that existed in New York before the Europeans came. A living time capsule, so to speak.
29 Saba, Netherland Antilles
One of the most unusual Caribbean islands. There are no beaches, only 4 villages and the airport is the world's shortest commercial landing strip.
30 Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog, Belgium/the Netherlands
One of the quirkiest places in the world. Although technically inside the Netherlands, the twin villages contain more than two dozen areas belonging to Belgium, a legacy of the Middle Ages, when rulers sold off parcels of land. It's like a Russian-doll village with bits of one country inside another inside another inside another. You can walk along a street and cross about five borders in under 60 seconds.
31 Togiak National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA
Amazing scenery, an extinct volcano, lakes and rivers, Inuit villages and wondrous wildlife - the River Igushik may even inspire you to learn how to fish.
32 Mergui Archipelago, Myanmar
One of the most unspoiled places on Earth. Pristine beaches, clear waters - it's a divers paradise and kayaking between the islands is pretty special too.
33 Tikal, Guatemala
See magnificent Mayan ruins without the crowds.
34 Hallstatt, Austria
Considered to be the oldest still-inhabited village in Europe, it has evidence of inhabitants since prehistoric times.
35 Bocas Del Toro, Panama
A stupendous tropical destination off the usual radar. And it's close enough to make a side trip to the Panama Canal.
36 Kep, Cambodia
A favorite place of the French colonialists in the 1900s but then ignored. Rumors are it's been rediscovered. Get there before the crowds.
37 Lofoten Islands, Norway
My next destination! An archipelago off the coast of Norway that lies within the Arctic Circle. It's the world's largest deep water coral reef and is home to wildlife like otters, moose, puffins, and more.
38 Rumbur Valley, Pakistan
Visit with the humble Kalash people who live simply, without electricity, phones, and newspapers.
39 Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve, China
The fascinating mountains that were the inspiration for Avatar.
40 Cerro Negro, Nicaragua
Imagine boarding down the black sandy slopes of a volcano in the middle of Central America - and it's still active.
It's your turn now. Where have you been off the beaten track you think we should know about?
