Are you looking for off the beaten track spots to visit in 2020? Then you’ve come to the right place.
New research has uncovered some beautiful off the beaten track destinations for you to start planning your next adventure.
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Here are five bucket-list-worthy off the beaten track destinations that will kickstart your wanderlust…
1. Nusa Penida, Indonesia
For those with adventure coursing through their veins and searching for spots off the beaten track, Hostelworld has predicted that Nusa Penida, in Indonesia, could be the number one spot for this year. This has been predicted due to the fact that interest in Nusa Penida rose by a significant 610% between 2018 and 2019.
Nusa Penida is located southeast of Bali. There is a ferry that leaves multiple times per day from Sanur (East Bali). This island is popular for short visits or long-term stays. Seasoned travellers recommend striking a good balance when visiting. Don’t only stay for a matter of hours so as just to have a glimpse of all the sights, but rather spend between 2-4 days exploring all that the island has to offer.
Nusa Penida is the largest and most remote of the three Nusa Islands and is most well known for its cliff that’s shaped a bit like a T-Rex. It’s also one of the best places to see the majestic and elusive manta rays. Nature lovers are also likely to spot the Bali starling there too.
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2. Surat Thani, Thailand
Surat Thani is a medium-sized, working-class city located in the same province as more the more popular island cities, Koh Samui and Koh Panghan. Don’t let this allow you to pass the gems in Surat Thani by.
Here, backpackers and leisure travellers alike can experience real Thai culture, street food, deserted beaches, secret waterfalls and an array of colourful temples.
Surat Thani is truly off the beaten track, and feels like you’re in another world, but also close enough should you want to explore other more well-known sights in Thailand. Take a scenic 2-hour ferry ride to the popular Koh Samui.
Chaiya is an undiscovered fishing village worth exploring, where rubber tree groves grow and you can discover various temples and ancient ruins.
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3. Siargo Island, Philippines
This stunning island that is in the shape of a teardrop was named the best island in the world in early last year, according to Conde Naste Traveler readers.
The island is completely covered with palm trees and has a considerably tiny population of just 200,000. It’s not overrun with tourists, and makes an ideal destination for some peace and quiet whilst you’re exploring. It’s not that easy to get to as Siargo Island does not have its own international airport. To get there you would need to fly to Manila, Singapore, Seoul or Hong Kong, and then transfer onto a propeller plane for a final two-hour flight.
Siargo Island has also recently seen a 181% increase in bookings because of its untouched feel, as well as its sandy beaches and peaceful forests. It is also considered the capital of surfing in the Philippines.
4. Ha Giang, Vietnam
Ha Giang is a province in Vietnam that borders China. It is known for its beautiful rice-fields and limestone covered mountains. Bikers will love the varying routes that are available. Vietnam has some of the best motorbike routes in all of Asia. The mountain pass that leads into the province of Ha Giang is a winding road that took locals over seven years to build. The mountain pass is aptly named Happiness Road and winds in and around mountains for 165km.
Take in beautiful sights, from the vantage point aptly names Heaven’s gate as it is located 1500m above sea-level.
Another stunning and off the beaten track sight to behold is the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark in Ha Giang. It is listed as a member of UNESCO Geopark Network.
Dong Van features a vast area of limestone which covers most of the four provinces of Ha Giang.
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5. Vanuatu, Oceania
Vanuatu is as off the beaten track as you can get. It is a collection of about 80 separate islands, that span over 1300 kilometres. Whichever island you end up going to- it’s only a short flight from Australia, so it’s easy enough to get to.
If there’s anything that captures the unique beauty of Vanuatu, it’s the blue holes. These holes are like portals into another world. Circular freshwater pools are formed by underground streams that have slowly cut their way through limestone to reach the surface. You can kayak from one island to the other to see this natural phenomenon.
Another one of the 80 islands is Espiritu Santo. This is where Champagne Beach is found, and no it doesn’t just have a cute name for fun and no purpose. The beach is in the shape of a half-moon with powder white sand and the turquoise waters prove enchanting, but there’s another reason that this is one of Vanuatu and the world’s most famous beaches.
At low tide, the shallow waters fizz and bubble with an effervescence like the finest French bubbly. This is created by tiny gas bubbles as they escape the volcanic rock below, this phenomenon makes every day feel like you’re swimming amongst millions of tiny stars.
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