The world’s most famous wonders are worth seeing, but sometimes it’s wonderful to go off the beaten path and see areas that are simultaneously natural and cultural wonders. When looking for a great travel destination, you don’t have to stick with the same old popular sites highlighted in guidebooks for decades.
Many of the world’s best-kept secrets can be found in even the most obscure locations. Instead of going to the spot you’ve heard about a million times, go to one of the hidden gems around the world and have an experience you’ll never forget. Surprisingly, it’s easier than you might think to come upon beautiful spots in the world around you.
Indeed, while everyone has a favorite getaway, it’s about time these sites get the exposure they deserve. Let’s take a look at some of the secret getaways in the world.
1. Roatan, Honduras
If you desire peace but don’t want to sit around doing anything, then Roatan is the place for you. There aren’t many beach lovers who have heard of this island in Central America, but that’s only because they haven’t been exposed to it yet.
As one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean for scuba divers and snorkelers, it is home to the Caribbean’s largest barrier reef, numerous tropical resorts, and gorgeous beaches that lie at the shore of warm cerulean seas populated with tonnes of marine life.
Even if individuals don’t wish to invest all of their time in the water (paddle boarding and sailing), they’ll discover an infinite amount of other activities. These include enjoying golf surrounded by breathtaking views, heart-pounding zip line trips across the jungle, and stunning parks filled with waterfalls.
2. Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Mostar, a little medieval town in Bosnia & Herzegovina, is a photographer’s and wildlife lover’s ideal destination in the Balkans. Tourists can witness adventurous residents leap over the Stari Most Bridge, look up at stunning old Turkish buildings, and take a refreshing dip in the neighboring Kravice waterfalls while snaking along the Neretva River valley.
Since its development as an Ottoman frontier outpost and later as an Austro-Hungarian city between the 19th and 20th centuries, Stari Most bridge, from where young people on the verge of adulthood would typically dive, has been rebuilt after it was entirely decimated in the 1990s conflict.
Even though it was blasted inside out and bullet-ridden, this city still has a lot to offer visitors, with its blue river, exquisite minarets, and gleaming white stone, as well as the remnants of its tragic history.
3. Bergen, Norway
Bergen, Norway’s most gorgeous city, is less well-known than Oslo but is just as beautiful, if not more so, as it is nestled in the mountains and gives stunning views of the surrounding water. Since it’s been gaining more and more attention recently, you might want to go earlier rather than later if you want to appreciate it without too many tourists.
You can walk from the Bergen Aquarium to the Floibanen Funicular within only 20 minutes in this very vibrant city, but you might need to add some additional time to take in the city’s street art. You may visit the fascinating Troll Forest by riding the Floibanen cable car to the summit of Mount Floyen, which is home to the fearsome woodland creatures called trolls, who are legendary in Scandinavian mythology.
Another must-do activity in Bergen is a boat ride around the fjords to take in the stunning scenery.
4. Ostuni, Puglia, Italy
One of Italy’s most beautiful little towns, Ostuni, lies on a mountaintop just five kilometers from the Adriatic Sea’s turquoise waves. When exploring the medieval city’s network of streets, lanes, staircases, and arches, you can see that it was constructed without a design. However, it also allows for an exciting journey.
It is easy to get lost between the gleaming white buildings in the southern heat, lightened by the rare geranium pot and the occasional cactus. A dead-end awaits if you go one way; the sapphire sea may be visible if you go the other. There is a 15th-century Gothic cathedral at the city’s highest peak, which is unusual in this region since most churches are either Romanesque or Baroque.
There are a plethora of boutiques and touristy shops nearby that offer everything from cheap clothing to a $3 bottle of wine and everything in between.
5. Margaret River, Australia
Western Australia’s Margaret River region is a well-known destination for Australians, but most tourists tend to stay to the eastern side of the country, visiting locations like Perth, Melbourne as well as the Great Barrier Reef, despite the region’s numerous gorgeous beaches and abundance of sunshine. This area, however, has a lot to offer, including several breathtaking caves.
There are three caverns in this region, Mammoth, Jewel, and Lake, all conveniently accessible and well-known for their stunning formations, making it one of the greatest spots to explore in Australia for caving. Before entering one of the world’s most spectacular caves, travelers to Lake Cave must first descend a stairway and take in the sights of a prehistoric vanished world.
With its 19-foot-long straw stalactite, Jewel Cave is one of the most impressive tourist caves in the world; the natural daylight seeping in through the opening helps in providing it with a more “livable feel,” as well.
6. Battambang, Cambodia
Battambang, sometimes known as the “Rice Bowl of Cambodia,” is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of nearby Siem Reap. Despite the absence of gorgeous beaches, a vibrant capital city, and Angkor Wat, there are other Buddhist temples and beautiful monuments to explore.
Several rental shops provide bicycles for rent so you can get out and explore the local countryside on two wheels. This journey will take you to humble dwellings and monasteries that reverberate with the sounds of singing.
River kayaking and “bamboo train” rides, which zip through forest greenery, rattling across small bridges as well as past rice terraces, are just two of the many unique experiences available in Battambang.
Learn About More Secret Getaways In The World With Irina Bukatik
Irina Bukatik is a food blogger who loves traveling around the world. Her passion for trying out cuisines of the world has led her to discover secret getaways in the world that are a must-see for traveling enthusiasts. Get in touch with her and share your traveling stories along with some secret getaways in the world that you might have come across.