Summary

The article presents five under-the-radar destinations that offer unique and breathtaking experiences away from the hustle of over-tourism.

Abstract

The piece discusses the phenomenon of "revenge tourism" and the impact of social media on popularizing travel destinations, leading to overcrowding. It suggests an alternative by highlighting five lesser-known, beautiful locations that have so far escaped the spotlight: Socotra in Yemen, known for its alien-like landscapes and unique flora; the "Gateway to Hell" in Derweze, Turkmenistan, a burning crater that has been alight since the 1970s; the Faroe Islands, a self-governing archipelago with stunning natural beauty; Turaif/Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where snowfall occurs in winter; and the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, ideal for stargazing due to its low population density and clear skies. The author emphasizes the untouched nature of these places and the need for pre-planning to visit them, while also noting the increasing awareness and tourism growth in some of these locations.

Opinions

The author criticizes the role of social media in turning once-peaceful destinations into crowded tourist spots.
There is a sense of competition among travelers to one-up each other's experiences, which the author finds tiresome.
The article conveys a desire for more authentic and personal travel experiences, away from the masses.
The author implies that the beauty of these destinations should be appreciated quietly and perhaps not shared extensively on social media to preserve their current state.
There is an appreciation for the unique and contrasting experiences these destinations offer, such as snow in the Saudi Arabian desert and bioluminescent beaches in Socotra.
The author suggests that the effort required to visit these places, including pre-planning and obtaining approvals, is part of what makes the journey worthwhile.
There is a subtle warning that some of these locations, like the Faroe Islands, are gaining popularity, which could change their current unspoiled state.

Want to Visit Beautiful Places Minus the Tourists? Check Out These 5 Lesser-Known Gems

Visit these places before they are spoiled by over-tourism

Dragon blood trees of Socotra Island. Pic Credits: Andrew Svk Unsplash

Revenge tourism is on. Everywhere I plan to go, stays are sold out, and flights are expensive. Once I reach the holiday destination, it is full to the brim with tourists. I squarely blame Instagram for it. And movies. And YouTube. And all other possible social media platforms which have made these locations a must-travel just to stay relevant in one’s social circle.

After all, everything we humans do is competition in the end. “Oh, you been to Italy? I just came back from Switzerland. It is much more beautiful than Italy.”

“Oh, you traveled Turkish Airways? I uploaded a reel on Insta on how amazing the Emirates experience is.”

Oh, you did sparty in Budapest? We did a nice one in Iceland whilst looking at the northern lights, it was beyond words.”

Then don’t use words. Don’t even use pictures or videos. Keep it to yourself.

Whenever you want to take a break from traveling to places filled with tourists, check out the below list. These are 5 heart-achingly beautiful places that are spared by Instagram & tourists (so far).

1. Socotra, Yemen

Socotra- Also known as the most alien-looking place on Earth is an Island off the coast of Yemen. It is touted to be one of the most unusual and isolated places on Earth (till the time Insta army finds this). 1/3rd of the plants on this island are said to be unique and are only found on Socotra.

The island is full of unique stuff to do and explore. Bright white beaches in daylight, bioluminescent beaches at night, hikes to Firhmin forest full of dragon blood trees, rarest of birds and fishes, to climbing the crocodile hill; Socotra is filled with out-of-earth experiences.

Traveling to Socotra is not easy and requires lots of pre-planning and approvals. Check out welcome to Socotra and adventures of Nicole for detailed information.

A closer view of Dragon Blood Tree. Pic Credits: Andrew Svk Unsplash

2. Gateway to hell, Derweze, Turkmenistan

There was a random crater in Turkmenistan. It was creating too much Methane for some reason. In the 1970s Soviet geologists decided to burn the crater so as to consume methane and finish it off. To date, that crater is on fire.

This crater is called a door/gateway to hell. It is located in Derweze village, in the middle of the Karkum desert, in Turkmenistan, around 300kms away from the capital, Ashgabat.

The best time to view this fiery crater spewing cannon balls and fire is at night. Camping at night for star gazing and viewing this co-incidental marvel is the norm. The novelty of the place ends with a desert Sunrise.

Gateway to Hell. Pic Credits : Wikipedia

3. Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands is a miniature version of Iceland. Windy, cold, sparsely populated with beautiful topography around. It is a self-governing archipelago comprising 18 volcanic islands between Iceland and Norway.

It has a breathtaking natural beauty that gives competition to its next big brother next door (Iceland), so much so that I had a hard time selecting a photo from Unsplash and Pexels.

Finally selected this photo! Pic Source: Dylan Shaw Unsplash

But Beware! Instagram has taken cognizance of this beautiful Island and tourism is slowly building up. For the last 2 years, Faroe Island has received 100,000+ visitors each year.

4. Turaif/Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a desert. Saudi Arabia is one of the hottest places in summer. Saudi Arabia gets snow in winter.

All 3 statements are true! Yes, Saudi Arabia is an oxymoron, in the sense that it is an extremely hot desert, however, some areas have snow in winter.

Turaif & Tabuk region in the north of Saudi Arabia, bordering Jordan gets a good amount of snow in winter. You will find many locals flocking to enjoy the snow, but it is a must-visit place as it is just beyond imagination that you could experience snow in Saudi Arabia!

5. Star gazing in the Gobi desert, Mongolia

Mongolia is a large country with 3 million people which gives it an extremely low-density population. Add to it low pollution, and you get a perfect scene for star gazing activities.

Tour operators are the simplest way of exploring Mongolia including star gazing activities. Comfortable camps in the midst of the Gobi desert, watching open, clear skies full of stars seem to be a one-of-its-kind experience. Add to it yak milk vodka (Akhri), a Mongolian specialty, you are looking at a fun and fabulous night!