10 Underappreciated Travel Destinations As Alternatives To Overtourism
by Roger Sands · ForbesOvertourism has reached a critical point, leading to overcrowded hotspots and a strain on local communities. There have been reports of locals throwing water at tourists in Barcelona, and Venice can be more cruise ships than culture.
Intrepid Travel has released its annual ‘Not Hot’ list, a refreshing take on the ‘where to go’ lists, spotlighting destinations that are underrated and underappreciated. The list addresses the need for more responsible travel practices and to help reduce the pressure on popular destinations. It inspires worldly travelers to discover different and unique experiences throughout the globe, with communities that can truly benefit from having more visitors.
Statistics reveal that 80% of travelers visit 10% of the world. So basically, the majority of travelers are mostly going to the same spots at the same times of year. It doesn’t need to be this way. The destinations on the Not Hot list are alternatives to the places with tourist taxes, and frustrated locals. They help you go beyond the typical tourist traps, appealing to those eager for new experiences and more meaningful adventures.
This year marks Intrepid’s most comprehensive ‘Not Hot’ list to date, including third-party stats, trends and local insight in regions that are seeking to encourage travel in 2025. The list includes alternative regions in popular countries like Morocco, where the Anti-Atlas Mountains are often missed by visitors, and emerging destinations like Pakistan, where neighboring countries have commanded most of the spotlight. In contrast to tourist taxes, crowded viewpoints and frustrated locals, travelers to these ‘Not Hot’ list destinations can expect trips that forge meaningful connections far beyond the typical tourist experience.
Not Hot list of 10 Underrated Gems for 2025
Disko Island, Greenland (over Iceland)
While Iceland drew over 2 million visitors last year, Greenland welcomed under 150,000. With new tours and an international airport coming in 2025, Greenland is becoming more accessible. Located off the west coast of Greenland, Disko Island is itself is a volcanic Island (the youngest in Greenland) with wonderful mountains. Some of the nature is breathtaking. Surrounded by icebergs and whales, visitors can hike glaciers by day and unwind in a local lodge overlooking Disko Bay at night.
Accra, Ghana (over South Africa)
Despite its rich culture and stunning scenery, less than one million people visit Ghana every year, less than half of that of South Africa. The Eastern Region of Ghana is a rich blend of dramatic landscape, historical relics and traditional cultures.
Sainshand, Mongolia (over taking flights)
Tourist itineraries in Mongolia mainly go to the Southern and Middle Gobi provinces to visit the just the touristy highlights. Eastern Gobi offers unique insight into true Mongolian Buddhism. Visitors can stay in locally-owned accommodations, sample regional specialties, such as buuz (steamed dumplings) and Zagsgal tea. If you have time on your hands, locals recommend the two-to-three-hour hike out to Khar Uul (Black Mountains), south-west of town.
Cape York, Australia (over Syndey)
The journey to Cape York (Pajinka), at the tip of Australia’s northern frontier is widely undiscovered by domestic and international travelers, with untouched landscapes and endless outdoor adventures such as fishing and camping. Home to more national parks than anywhere else in Queensland, the peninsula houses a variety of landscapes, from lush rainforests to tropical savannas and vibrant coral reefs.
Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan (over Nepal)
While Nepal attracts around two million trekkers each year, fewer than 20,000 people come to Pakistan for adventure tourism, despite having three of the world’s great mountain ranges – Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindu Kush. A mountaineer’s paradise awaits in the Baltistan region, often called Little Tibet. Trekkers follow well-marked trails crossing glacial streams and pastures, staying at guesthouses and receiving full support from local porters, guides and camp cooks.
The Adirondacks (over the Smokies)
This vast six-million-acre gem isn’t a national park but boasts charming towns and breathtaking mountains set to become particularly magical for peak fall. In 2025, a new rail trail will connect Lake Placid, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake, perfect for cross-country skiing in winter and biking in summer. Charming small towns dot the landscape, each with its own unique character and attractions – from craft studios and caving adventures to museums and farm-to-table restaurants.
Anti-Atlas, Morocco (over Marrakech)
Over seven million tourists traveled to Morocco during the first half of 2024, but unlike well-known areas, the Anti-Atlas region remains one of the least-visited parts of the country. Home to picturesque villages and lush oasis valleys, its unique landscape features granite boulders, red-lava flows and stunning palm groves make it a hidden treasure worth exploring.
Rupununi Savannah, Guyana (over Costa Rica)
Despite its natural attractions and unique cultural heritage, Guyana remains one of South America's least visited countries. A vast grassland region in the southwestern part of the country. Safaris offer the chance to spot iconic species such as jaguars, giant anteaters and harpy eagles or explore the complex network of lakes and rivers that are home to giant river otters.
Oslo, Norway (over Stockholm)
Most travelers to the Nordics miss Oslo, the capital of Norway, on their way to its famous Scandinavian siblings. Dubbed the ‘Newest Capital of Nordic Cool’, the quirky city offers unique character with floating saunas, green spaces, museums, artsy communities, diverse architecture, international cuisine, wild swimming spots and a dynamic nightlife scene. Just 30 minutes from the city, travelers can reach the Nordmarka forest, offering opportunities for great hiking, biking, skiing and sailing.
Maldonado, Uruguay (over Portugal or Mexico)
The City of Maldonado presents one of the most varied and beautiful geographies in Uruguay. Artists, restaurateurs and winemakers are transforming the streets of Garzón, a once-forgotten village. Beyond the dunes toward Garzón, 30 minutes by car north of José Ignacio, lies a flourishing new wine region whose rolling hills are lined with olive groves and vineyards that hint at Tuscany. The Dragons' Headquarters is another important building everyone should see. Its construction was completed in 1797 and it houses historic-cultural vestiges that take visitors on a journey back in time.
To support the development of tourism in these destinations, Intrepid has launched brand-new trips in four of the Not Hot locations featured, a 10-Day Intrepid Greenland Expedition, a 15-Day Benin, Togo and Ghana Adventure, an 11-Day Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure, and an 11-Day Cape York & Torres Strait Explorer. These are all in addition to Intrepid’s 10-Day Pakistan trekking trip which first ran in 2024.