Overtourism in the world's most popular spots is only getting worse. The antidote? Going off the beaten track.
Have you spent hours lining up for the Louvre? Narrowly avoided a crowd crush at the Trevi Fountain? Or perhaps sat down at a restaurant in Greece, only to hear a table full of Australian accents next to you bemoan Sydney property prices?
You're not alone.
"Eighty per cent of travellers visit just 10% of the world's tourist destinations," says Erica Kritikides, the general manager of experiences at Intrepid Travel.
Overtourism is straining the globe's most popular spots. For travellers, it's sucking the joy out of visiting those destinations. It's also damaging natural environments and driving property prices up for locals.
There is a better way. By seeking out the world's lesser-known destinations, you can discover the new, get under the skin of local life and sate your curiosity - all without a selfie stick in sight.
But how do you find these untapped gems? That's where Intrepid comes in. The small-group global travel specialist has released its 2026 Not Hot List, an expertly curated collection of 10 under-the-radar destinations ready to open their doors to the world.
Each destination attracts relatively few international visitors, but with new investments, experiences and improved infrastructure, they're getting ready for more travellers. And they're places where conscientious travellers can have a positive impact with their tourist dollar (not to mention a far more enjoyable holiday).
Here are five of the most exciting spots on the 2026 Not Hot List. Get inspired, and head to Intrepid for the full list.
Sierra Leone has a lot of natural assets going for it, including beautiful beaches, rainforests and national parks. It also offers adventure sport opportunities such as surfing and diving. So it makes sense that this West African nation last year launched a 10-year tourism strategy in a bid to position itself as a leader in sustainable travel.
The country's crown jewel is Tiwai Island, a wildlife sanctuary that has just been inscribed as a world heritage site. Travellers on Intrepid's new eight-day trip to Sierra Leone will spend a night at Tiwai Island, giving them the chance to soak up its untouched splendour and spot the many native species that live there, such as the pygmy hippopotamus.
Step aside, Berlin. Europe's new cultural hotspot is Oulu, a city just below the Arctic Circle in Finland that was named a European Capital of Culture 2026 for its exciting art galleries and cultural centres.
But that's not all it has going for it. Oulu is also currently playing host to a series of Arctic Food Lab events: open-air dinners that showcase the mind-bending possibilities of gastronomy in one of the world's most extreme climates, such as crisps made from fish skin, and nettle grown in the Arctic.
Like to hike? More than 90% of Kyrgyzstan is covered in mountain ranges, making it ripe for lacing up the boots.
This Central Asian nation is vying for its share of the globe's adventure travellers with the launch this year of a sustainable tourism program, which aims to welcome more visitors while preserving the nation's cultural heritage. As part of this program, Kyrgyzstan has expanded the Kyrgyz Nomad Trail, a grassroots trekking network in the Tien Shan mountain range, by an additional 1000km of trails.
You can set off on a guided 10-day trek through the Tien Shan mountains with Intrepid's new trip through the region, which will take you past snow-capped mountains and alpine lakes, before putting you to bed in traditional yurts. Just imagine how fresh the air is.
El Salvador's beaches have started getting some much-deserved attention lately. But what's still yet to be discovered by many travellers is Ruta de las Flores, a scenic road in this Central American nation's highlands. Translating to Flower Route, Ruta de las Flores is fringed by beautiful wildflowers in spring.
But the road isn't just photogenic; it's also the perfect place to sink into Salvadoran culture. Ruta de las Flores connects five charming cobblestoned towns, rich in street art, grand churches, incredible coffee and bustling local life. Keen? Intrepid is launching a new tour in 2026 that weaves through Ruta de las Flores as well as Guatemala and Honduras.
Sure, you might have been to Croatia. But have you been to Vis Island?
While this European nation is grappling with overcrowding in its more popular destinations, Vis Island has been protected from the masses. With no airports or cruise stops, and modest, locally owned accommodation, Vis welcomed just over 27,000 visitors in 2024 - a tiny fraction of the 21.3 million people that visited Croatia.
Surrounded by the Adriatic's sparkling blue seas, it's every bit as beautiful as Hvar, Split or Dubrovnik. To make it easier to get there, Intrepid is adding Vis to its eight-day Explore Croatia trip in 2026. Go now, before everyone else does.