MomSkoop
Ever dreamed of escaping the crowds and finding a slice of paradise all to yourself? While famous landmarks draw millions of visitors yearly, our planet still guards amazing places that few travelers discover. These hidden gems offer authentic experiences without the tourist traps and selfie sticks. Pack your sense of adventure as we explore 13 spectacular destinations that remain wonderfully under the radar.
1. Faroe Islands: Nordic Wilderness Untouched
Halfway between Iceland and Norway float 18 volcanic islands with more sheep than people. Green mountains plunge dramatically into the Atlantic, creating a landscape that feels almost mythical in its isolation.
Villages with grass-roofed houses dot coastlines where puffins outnumber tourists. The islands’ remoteness has preserved both nature and culture in remarkable ways.
Hiking trails offer solitude even in summer, while local restaurants serve traditional fermented lamb without a hint of tourist pricing. Visit between May and August for the best weather, but bring layers – the mercurial climate changes by the hour.
2. Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica: Where Mist Meets Magic
Suspended between earth and sky, this mystical ecosystem thrives in perpetual fog at 4,600 feet above sea level. Ancient trees draped in moss and orchids create an otherworldly atmosphere as clouds literally roll through the forest.
Unlike Costa Rica’s more famous beaches, Monteverde remains relatively uncrowded. Wooden suspension bridges let you walk through the canopy alongside hummingbirds and howler monkeys.
Local guides can spot well-camouflaged creatures most visitors miss – from tiny glass frogs to elusive quetzal birds. Morning visits offer the best wildlife viewing, though nighttime tours reveal a completely different cast of nocturnal characters.
3. Socotra Island, Yemen: Earth’s Most Alien Landscape
Isolated in the Arabian Sea for millions of years, Socotra evolved plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth. Dragon’s blood trees with umbrella-shaped crowns dot landscapes that more closely resemble science fiction than reality.
Political challenges have kept mass tourism at bay, preserving both the island’s biodiversity and Socotri culture. Local tribes maintain traditions dating back centuries, living largely as their ancestors did.
Visitors camp on pristine beaches where bioluminescent plankton illuminate shorelines after dark. Getting here requires determination – flights are limited and often canceled – but those who make the journey experience our planet at its most wonderfully weird.
4. Giethoorn, Netherlands: The Village Without Roads
Nicknamed ‘Dutch Venice,’ this fairytale settlement was built on peat islands connected by over 170 small wooden bridges. Instead of streets, emerald canals wind between thatched-roof cottages and flowering gardens.
Residents travel exclusively by boat or on foot, creating a peaceful atmosphere free from traffic noise. While day-trippers occasionally arrive from Amsterdam, few stay overnight, leaving evenings blissfully quiet.
Rent a whisper boat (electric) to explore at your own pace, or join a local family for tea in gardens that have won national awards. Winter transforms Giethoorn completely as frozen canals become natural ice skating paths connecting the village’s scattered homes and small restaurants.
5. Huacachina, Peru: Desert Oasis Surrounded by Towering Dunes
Rising from Peru’s coastal desert like a mirage, this tiny village surrounds a natural lake fringed with palm trees. Massive sand dunes – some reaching 500 feet – create a golden amphitheater around the unexpected pool of water.
Local legend claims the lagoon formed when a beautiful princess fled from a hunter, her tears creating the oasis. Just 100 permanent residents call this surreal landscape home, though adventure seekers occasionally arrive to try sandboarding.
Sunset transforms the environment completely as dunes shift from yellow to deep orange before darkness falls. Climb to a dune summit before dusk to witness this color show, then enjoy freshly caught seafood at family-run restaurants serving traditional Peruvian cuisine.
6. Procida Island, Italy: Mediterranean Color Without Crowds
While Capri and Positano overflow with visitors, this tiny fishing island remains authentically Italian. Pastel-colored houses stack like delicious gelato scoops along narrow streets too small for tour buses.
Fishermen still mend nets each morning in the harbor before heading out to sea. Their daily catch becomes lunch at family trattorias where menus change based on what boats bring in.
Beaches here lack fancy facilities but offer crystal waters without rental chairs packed like sardines. The island starred in ‘Il Postino’ but somehow escaped the resulting tourism that transformed similar filming locations. Visit in May or September when the weather remains perfect but Italian vacationers have returned to work.
7. Bagan, Myanmar: Ancient Temple Plains at Sunrise
Over 2,000 Buddhist temples and pagodas scatter across plains beside the Irrawaddy River, creating one of archaeology’s greatest treasures. Dating from the 11th-13th centuries, these brick structures survived centuries while the wooden palaces and homes around them vanished.
Hot air balloons drift silently over the landscape at dawn, offering breathtaking views as first light illuminates thousands of spires. Unlike Cambodia’s Angkor complex, Bagan receives a fraction of the visitors despite similar historical importance.
Local villages continue traditional crafts including lacquerware production using techniques unchanged for centuries. Explore by e-bike to reach distant temples where you might find yourself completely alone among structures that have watched over this land for nearly a millennium.
8. Svaneti, Georgia: Medieval Mountain Fortresses
Guarded by Europe’s highest mountains, this remote region preserved a medieval way of life well into the modern era. Stone defensive towers – built by families for protection during centuries of invasions – still dominate villages accessible only by precarious mountain roads.
The Svan people maintain distinct traditions, including polyphonic singing recognized by UNESCO. Their cuisine features dishes found nowhere else in Georgia, like kubdari meat pies and tashmijabi cheese-potato blend.
Hiking between villages offers spectacular alpine scenery without the crowds of the Alps. Summer brings wildflower meadows beneath glaciers, while winter transforms the region into an emerging ski destination with pristine powder and minimal lift lines.
9. Comporta, Portugal: Barefoot Luxury on Endless Beaches
Just 90 minutes from Lisbon lies Portugal’s best-kept secret – a stretch of pristine Atlantic coastline where rice fields meet sand dunes. Wealthy Europeans hide away in understated beach houses, creating an atmosphere of casual exclusivity without pretension.
Straw-roofed beach bars serve freshly caught seafood on tables set directly in the sand. Despite growing whispers about its charm, development restrictions have preserved both nature and the area’s low-key character.
Wild dolphins frequently appear offshore while storks nest atop abandoned barns. Visit midweek even in summer to find miles of beach with barely another footprint in sight, then enjoy sunset dinners at family-run restaurants where reservations remain unnecessary.
10. Iya Valley, Japan: The Lost World of Ancient Samurai
Deep in Shikoku’s mountainous interior lies a valley so remote it became the final refuge for defeated samurai clans. Mist-shrouded gorges and vine bridges crossing rushing rivers create a landscape straight from Japanese mythology.
Traditional thatched farmhouses cling to impossibly steep slopes where elderly farmers still tend terraced fields by hand. The region’s isolation preserved folk traditions long vanished elsewhere in Japan.
Ancient vine bridges – some dating back 800 years – still connect villages separated by deep ravines. Modern cables now reinforce these structures, though crossing still requires courage as river waters churn visibly between wooden slats. Stay in a renovated farmhouse to experience rural Japanese hospitality without another foreign tourist for miles.
11. Kuelap, Peru: Cloud City of the Chachapoya
Perched 10,000 feet above sea level, this massive stone fortress predates Machu Picchu by 500 years yet receives less than 1% of its visitors. Built by the ‘Cloud Warriors’ of northern Peru, its massive walls enclose over 400 circular buildings on a mountain ridge.
Archaeologists still debate how ancient people transported millions of limestone blocks to this remote location. Unlike Machu Picchu’s precisely cut stones, Kuelap’s walls incorporate elaborate decorative elements including animal figures.
A recently installed cable car has made access easier, though the site remains blissfully uncrowded. Cloud forests surrounding the fortress host rare orchid species and spectacled bears. Morning visits often find the ruins emerging dramatically from mist, creating an almost mystical experience.
12. Sark, Channel Islands: Europe’s Last Medieval Fiefdom
This tiny island between England and France banned cars in 1898 and never changed its mind. Residents and visitors alike travel by bicycle, horse-drawn carriage, or on foot along unpaved lanes bordered by wildflowers.
Sark maintained feudal laws until 2008, making it Europe’s last remaining fiefdom. The absence of street lights earned it designation as the world’s first Dark Sky Island, offering astronomical views increasingly rare in populated areas.
Coastal paths wind along dramatic cliffs where seabirds nest by the thousands. Local cuisine relies heavily on seafood and produce grown in the island’s fertile soil. Summer weekends can bring day-trippers, but overnight visitors experience magical evenings when stars appear with extraordinary clarity above landscapes little changed for centuries.
13. Majuli, India: Disappearing River Island of Ancient Monasteries
Nestled in the mighty Brahmaputra River lies the world’s largest river island – a place where time moves differently. Accessible only by ferry, Majuli preserves cultural traditions dating back to the 15th century in monasteries called satras.
Monks perform ancient dance-dramas using masks crafted by island artisans. Environmental challenges from river erosion have reduced the island to half its original size, creating urgency around experiencing this unique cultural landscape.
Villagers live in bamboo houses raised on stilts to survive annual flooding. Rice cultivation dominates the landscape, with farmers using methods unchanged for generations. Visit during winter months when weather is pleasant and cultural festivals showcase traditions rarely seen by outsiders.