Unusual guide
This unusual vacations guide takes you on a journey of eclectic adventures, one of which is guaranteed to wow you into doing something different.
Unusual vacation destinations guide
Every year we hear about a new and undiscovered destination, tipped to be the next big thing to see before it’s spoiled when everyone else goes. The problem with this kind of tourism is that many countries, newly arrived on the travel scene, are unable to manage the sudden influx of visitors, leading to problems with overtourism.
One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.![]()
– Henry Miller
The kind of unusual destinations we like to explore challenge our preconceptions of places and leave us wanting to know more. It’s less about the latest travel trend and more about seeing another side of countries often underrated or misunderstood. Travel with a local guide and you’ll gain an insight into local cultures, stay in family homes or traditional camps, or get an expert explanation of the wonderful native wildlife. So go against the flow of footsteps and discover somewhere really off the radar. These aren’t your average bucket list destinations; these are countries for the curious traveler.
Our Unusual destinations Vacations
Guianas tour, small group
A unique tour of Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana
From
£7895
15 days
ex flights
Small group Albania vacation
An incredible history set against a rugged landscape
From
US $1779 to US $1949
10 days
ex flights
Albania cycling vacation
A wild and rugged corner of the Balkan Peninsula
From
US $1849 to US $2249
8 days
ex flights
Georgia & Armenia cultural vacation
Journey to the furthest reaches of Europe
From
£3325 to £3660
16 days
ex flights
Tunisia vacation, tailor made
An immersive full circuit tour of stunning Tunisia
From
US $4100
12 days
ex flights
Sao Tome & Principe vacation
A wonderful break on the tropical isles, Sao Tome & Principe
From
£4150
14 days
inc UK flights
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Our top Unusual destinations Vacation
Chad vacations, expedition to the Ennedi
Tubu nomads, desert crocodiles and the Sahara's best scenery
From
£3999 to £4149
15 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2023: 16 Oct
2024: 14 Oct
2023: 16 Oct
2024: 14 Oct
Travel Team
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What does an unusual destination vacation look like?
Small group vacations
Unusual destinations are often misunderstood, if known about at all, and traveling with a local, knowledgeable guide is often the best way to uncover the area’s secrets and start up conversation in the communities. Groups are kept small to guarantee interaction with your guides, who will be keen to share their insights and in depth understanding of the culture and geography. It also means you’re more likely to meet other travelers with similar interests, similarly intrigued by an unconventional choice of vacation. Most tours will be focused on outdoor or cultural activities, such as a culture and festival vacation in Bhutan or a walking and wildlife vacation in Romania, so it’s good to know you’ll be with like-minded people. Keeping things small allows you to be accommodated by locally owned guest houses, or to stay in traditional tribal camps, and get around remote areas or wilderness without disturbing the wildlife.Tailor made vacations
Tailor made vacations offer you the opportunity to make the most of your time in an unusual destination you’re likely to only ever visit once, like Oman or Colombia. Whether you want to spend more time in one place than another, do something different or stay a little longer, your tour can be tailored to suit, or you can even drive yourself.Self drive vacations offer you the freedom of the open road, but with the indispensible local knowledge that means you know where to stop and how long each journey will take, taking you along the more scenic routes while also ensuring you don’t spend too much time on the road. In short, they do the hard work for you. They’re great for exploring friendly destinations like Tasmania, where you get to stay in small and unique, locally owned B&Bs that may only be accessible by car but can’t cater to larger tour groups. They’re also tailor made, so many of the sights and stays will be so far off the beaten track you’re unlikely to find them in a typical tourist brochure, and you’ve always got the security of 24-hour assistance.
Family vacations
You may be surprised, but some unusual destinations can be brilliant places to take the kids. Borneo, and much of Malaysia, is made for family vacations, featuring child-friendly resorts and fascinating furry creatures. Adventure loving little ones can join shorter walks – specially tailored for shorter legs – and experience the spectacular scenery of Bhutan. Georgia and Armenia will amaze junior history buffs, while you can wear them out with everything from kayaking to horse riding. Oman offers camel trekking and wadi bashing (4x4 drives through dried up riverbeds) – but long bumpy roads aren’t best for kids (or anyone) who get car sick. Romania is a living fairytale of castles, spooky stories and bears, while traveling in Tasmania is made easy with the flexibility of a self drive tour and very kid-friendly food.Some destinations are more appropriate for older teens, often due to altitude, weather, or the type of activities on offer. Madagascar is not well-suited to young kids due to risk of stomach upsets, bug bites, long and arduous roads and hot weather and, for this reason, many tour companies don't accommodate them. Older, active teens (aged 14 onwards), on the other hand, will have a fantastic time kayaking, camping, hiking and spotting fluffy lemurs.
More about Unusual destinations
When it comes to unusual destinations, you have a world of choice. To help guide you in the right direction, here are our top 10 unusual destinations – try one for your next vacation.
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