These Alternative Destinations Will Breathe New Life Into Your Bucket List

Swap the big sights for these

It's not always the famous places that will wow you so why not put somewhere a little different on your wish list? Swerve the usual suspects and seek some of the world's lesser known landmarks instead. Here are some of our favorite savvy travel swaps.

Swap tropical island life in the Maldives for the Philippines

The Maldives are beautiful beyond doubt but everyone knows that. Seek out the lesser-known isles of the Philippines instead for tropical beauty by the bucketful (turquoise waters, white sand, swaying palms) but on a smaller budget. El Nido, a region and archipelago in the north of Palawan island, is as gorgeous as they come with some lovely resorts for lazing and lagoons for snorkeling in too.

Swap tropical island life in the Maldives for the Philippines

Wilder Dimakya Island, part of the Coron municipality in northern Palawan, is another jewel. Located in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the island's snorkeling and diving are exceptional. Dimakya's shores and forests are also home to some intriguing wildlife from colonies of fruit bats to hawksbill and green turtles that come here to nest. Hiking trails lead up to the island’s highest spot, Eagle’s Point: go at sunset to watch the bats leave their roost.

Swap surfing in Cornwall for waves on the west coast of Ireland

While Cornwall gets board-to-board with surfers in summer, the waters along Ireland’s west coast are wonderfully quiet. The rugged coastline certainly doesn’t lack good waves or wow factor – it’s in prime position for Atlantic breakers with some of its monstrous waves attracting pro surfers. It has some gorgeous beaches and excellent surf schools to suit all levels to boot.

Swap surfing in Cornwall for waves on the west coast of Ireland

Sligo on the northwest coast of Ireland is a top surf spot with some cracking beaches such as Strandhill, not to mention great bars for après-surf action. Lahinch in County Clare is another with its wide sandy beach and surf schools – the seaside resort is set along the breathtaking Wild Atlantic Way.

Now read about driving the Wild Atlantic Way

Swap the Grand Canyon for Copper Canyon

Considerably bigger than its northern neighbor’s Grand Canyon, Mexico’s Copper Canyon is actually six canyons formed by rivers on the western side of the Sierra Tarahumara. It’s known as the Barrancas del Cobre and is in the northwestern state of Chihuahua.

Swap the Grand Canyon for Copper Canyon

For an unforgettable experience, take the Copper Canyon railway which trundles along for around 400 miles (644km) over 16 hours. Constructed to connect the Pacific Ocean with Mexico’s central desert territory and Chihuahua, it goes past the canyon and reaches altitudes of 8,000 feet (2,428m). Expect some extraordinary views of the natural wonder and more.

Swap Uluru for Mount Batur

Australia’s giant, sacred sandstone rock might be the highlight of the Outback, but Mount Batur in Bali is no less dramatic or spiritual. This brooding volcanic peak, known locally as Gunung Batur, is one of Indonesia’s most sacred mountains and just happens to be extremely photogenic as well.

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Swap Uluru for Mount Batur

It's also possible to climb Mount Batur. To experience the peak at its best (and escape the heat), set the alarm for 2am and head off on the sunrise trek. You’ll be rewarded for your early start with the serene sight of the soft morning light shimmering on Batur’s volcanic lake. Not to mention the life-affirming views.

Swap Greek island-hopping for sailing in Croatia

With more than 1,200 islands and islets to choose from – not to mention the whole length of the glittering Adriatic coast – you’ll be spoiled for choice as to where to drop anchor in Croatia. This pretty harbor at Supetar on the island of Brac is a good place to start.

Swap Greek island-hopping for sailing in Croatia

If you want to stick to the mainland, sail north towards the city of Zadar. It’s one of the most appealing cities along the Adriatic coast, with a charming old town to potter around, Roman ruins and lively restaurant scene. It has some gorgeous beaches too and lots of nearby islands for day trips.

Now read more reasons to put Zadar on your wish list

Swap gorillas in Uganda for a Namibia safari

Namibia has many jaw-dropping landscapes including not one but two deserts: the Kalahari and Namib desert. Discover the wild creatures that make their homes here including the elusive black rhino. The country is home to nearly a third of the world's population of the black rhino, which you're most likely to spot in Etosha National Park in the northwest of the country. The park also has lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas and two kinds of zebra.

Swap gorillas in Uganda for a Namibia safari

In the southern part of the Namib Desert, Sossusvlei is a spectacular salt pan surrounded by soaring dunes that are more like mountains. Explore this remarkable place where you can spot herds of oryx as well as ostrich, springbok and gemsbok. Predators like the spotted hyena and the brown hyena also inhabit the parched region.

Swap the Great Barrier Reef for Belize's beautiful waters

Give Australia’s beautiful and fragile Great Barrier Reef a break and take your diving or snorkeling gear to this small corner of Central America instead. Belize has some rewarding dive sites including its most famous, the Blue Hole. The giant submarine sinkhole regularly comes top of divers’ lists.

Swap the Great Barrier Reef for Belize's beautiful waters

Belize lays claim to having the largest barrier reef in the Northern and Western Hemisphere, which is a UNESCO-protected site. It's also the second largest barrier reef in the world and is home to an incredible variety of colorful coral and more than 500 species of fish.

Swap Kilimanjaro for Mount Fuji

Japan’s highest mountain is an active volcano and one of the country’s most sacred sites. If you want to get close to its summit, plan your trek for anytime between July and early September. Climbing the peak is forbidden at other times when the trails are closed.

Discover the world's most beautiful mountains

Swap Kilimanjaro for Mount Fuji

The mountain's snow usually disappears by late June, but be aware that the temperatures at the top often drop below freezing even in the summer. Fuji is a stratovolcano and Japan's highest peak at 12,388 feet (3,776m).

Swap Paris for Bordeaux

An elegant city on the banks of River Garonne, Bordeaux is France’s wine capital and one of the country’s most alluring places to explore. The port city has a wonderful old town where wandering around its narrow cobbled lanes is a delight. You’ll have a huge choice of wine bars where you can try the latest vintages too.

Swap Paris for Bordeaux

The city's revitalized riverside area has become one long pleasure garden with cafés, shops and parks lining the promenade. It also has some fabulous new museums, such as the Museum of the Sea and Seafaring and the striking Cité du Vin. This futuristic building houses an interactive wine museum with tasting room.

Read about more alternative European city breaks

Swap Bolivia's salt flats for Chile's Atacama Desert

If Bolivia’s huge stretch of salt flats are a bit too blindingly white for you, head west of the Andes to Chile’s Atacama Desert. This 600-mile (965km) plateau in the country's north is the driest place on Earth – apart from the polar regions – and utterly spectacular.

Swap Bolivia's salt flats for Chile's Atacama Desert

Arid though it is, the Atacama is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna that somehow manage to thrive here. Pretty flamingos can be seen on the salt flats as can the vicugna, a cousin of the llama. The region is also one of the world's top stargazing locations due to its high altitude and dark skies.

These are America's best spots for stargazing

Swap wild camping for a night in a bothy

There’s something to be said for pitching a tent in the middle of the wilderness, but a night in a bothy is something else. Scattered throughout remote parts of Scotland, bothies were used to house itinerant farm laborers. Now anyone who happens to come across one can just spend the night for free.

Swap wild camping for a night in a bothy

There’s a catch though. You can’t book them and you never know who else might turn up. And don’t expect anything as luxurious as water or heating. It's a bring-your-own-everything affair.

Swap kayaking in New Zealand for the Ardèche

Lose yourself in one of Europe’s most dramatic canyons as you kayak along the Ardèche River in the Rhône-Alpes region. The Ardèche Gorge is among southern France’s most awe-inspiring sights and it’s an exhilarating experience paddling along its 26 rapids and through the Pont d’Arc, a large, natural rock arch.

Swap kayaking in New Zealand for the Ardèche

Limestone cliffs tower a thousand feet (305m) above the Ardèche River as it meanders through the sinuous gorge. You’ll also find plenty of relaxing places for a spot of wild swimming as you explore the spectacular canyon.

Swap Machu Picchu for Choquequirao

While Peru’s most famous Inca site typically receives thousands of visitors every day, its near neighbor Choquequirao is just as captivating but practically empty. It takes about two days of trekking and wild camping to reach these impressive ruins, but it’s worth the effort.

Swap Machu Picchu for Choquequirao

Remote as Choquequirao is now, it won’t stay like that for long. There are plans to build a cable car directly to the ruins, which will run to and from the town of Kuiñalla and make the archaeological site more accessible. So enjoy its tranquillity and seclusion now before the crowds inevitably ascend.

Now discover some amazing ruins overtaken by nature

For a colorful carnival, swap Rio for Venice

While Rio de Janeiro’s exuberant carnival is a feast of colorful floats and dancing, the Venetian version is a fantastically ornate affair. Don’t forget to don a mask if you really want to get into the spirit of things at the Carnevale di Venezia, a tradition which began in the 13th century. The lagoon city has some wonderful stores that craft traditional Venetian masks.

For a colorful carnival, swap Rio for Venice

The carnival typically takes place in February. While other carnivals have street parades, Venice has its own impressive procession along the Grand Canal where traditional boats take to the water and parade along to the district of Cannaregio. It also has a masquerade ball where party-goers wear elaborate 18th-century-style costumes.

Swap Japan's snow monkeys for Madagascar's lemurs

Monkeys are cute, but lemurs are even cuter – and considerably rarer. Wildlife-rich Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa, is the only native home to these adorable primates. The island has over 110 species, including a new species of the mouse lemur which was recently recognized in its northeastern forests.

Swap Japan's snow monkeys for Madagascar's lemurs

Watch the lively creatures in the forests as they do all sorts of wonderfully bizarre things, including singing like a whale and bouncing along the ground as if they're dancing. Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park and Ankarafantsika National Park are good places to start spotting.

Swap a US road trip for Scotland's North Coast 500

While the US has Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway, Scotland has the sweeping North Coast 500. This scenic 516-mile (830km) circuit begins and ends at Inverness Castle, taking in six regions and stunning scenery at every turn.

Swap a US road trip for Scotland's North Coast 500

If you’ve ever wanted to really get under the skin of northern Scotland, this is the ultimate road trip. Plan in plenty of stops to hike around the majestic mountains, lochs and glens of the Highlands, explore little villages along the coast and seek out secluded beaches for a leg stretch. The route passes many of Scotland's most incredible heritage sites too.

Love this? Read our guide to Scotland's Kintyre 66 road trip

Swap Italy for a food tour through Vietnam

Italy is about as good as destinations get if you're a foodie, but for flavors and scenery of a different kind look to southeast Asia. Discover Vietnam one bite at a time by exploring the street food stalls of cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, devouring delicacies like pho (rice noodle broth) and banh xeo (seafood-stuffed crepes) as you go. It's a delicious way to get to know this beautiful country. 

Swap Italy for a food tour through Vietnam

The country's little back-alley street stalls and vibrant food markets are the best places to seek out local produce and try traditional dishes like freshly fried spring rolls, rice paper rolls bulging with shrimps and herbs and bun cha pork patties. Sign up for a cookery course and you'll return home with some treasured recipes.

Swap cycling in Amsterdam for Strasbourg

The Dutch have shown the world how to create a bike-friendly city, but they’re not the only ones. Strasbourg, one of the prettiest cities in France, has made the bicycle king in its mainly pedestrianized historic center. Miles of bike lanes wind past Strasbourg’s medieval half-timbered houses and along the Ill River.

Swap cycling in Amsterdam for Strasbourg

Don’t just stop at Strasbourg though. The capital of the Alsace region, which borders Germany, is part of a 1,240-mile (1,995km) bicycle route that goes through the Rhine Valley and into the Vosges Mountains. It's a gorgeous place to cycle with its winding country lanes, rolling farmland, vineyards and medieval villages.

Swap the souks of Marrakech for Essaouira

For a change from the hectic pace of Morocco’s most popular city, head to the Atlantic coast and chill out on the beaches of Essaouira. It has become a hip alternative to Marrakech, with a brightly colored fishing port and long sandy beaches that are a magnet for windsurfers.

Swap the souks of Marrakech for Essaouira

The seaside city has an atmospheric medina, protected by old walls with bustling souks to explore. But even these souks are a much more laid-back experience, with wider lanes and a much less frenetic ambience than you’ll encounter in Marrakech.

Discover more good reasons to visit Essaouira

Swap the Orient Express for The Ghan

It’s not just Europe that has epic train journeys along historic rail routes. Australia’s Great Southern Rail – known as The Ghan – takes you through the heart of the continent, from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Adelaide in South Australia. It's one of the world's greatest railway journeys.

Swap the Orient Express for The Ghan

As the train makes its leisurely 1,851-mile (2,979km) journey, you’ll spend four days being transfixed by Australia’s changing landscapes including South Australia's stunning Flinders Ranges. You’ll also have the chance to stop and explore the fascinating outback towns of Alice Springs and Coober Pedy along the way.

Discover more of the world's most luxurious train journeys

Swap Angkor Wat for Prambanan

Dodge the crowds around Cambodia’s massive temple complex and head to this sprawling ninth-century Hindu temple complex in central Java instead. It’s the largest of its kind in Indonesia, and one of the biggest in southeast Asia. The whole compound has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dedicated to Brahma Vishnu and Shiva, the site has more than 244 temples which are a marvel of intricate carvings that tell the stories of these Hindu deities.

Swap a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia for Rajasthan

Watch the mesmerizing landscapes of Rajasthan unfold beneath you as you gently float above the Indian state in a hot air balloon. Look down and see the Pink City of Jaipur and the seemingly endless Thar Desert. Make sure your hot air balloon safari includes the city of Pushkar, with its 400 temples and a holy lake.

Now take a look at the world's most incredible hot air balloon rides