If you love traveling to remote places around the world, you may be feeling the urge to find new and different natural wonders to add to your bucket list. There are many more destinations that offer adventure, wildness, and natural beauty without tourists.
The places listed below may be worth adding to your travel bucket list as they are a bit off the beaten track and not necessarily on the radar of the average traveller. Each represents a happy medium between heavily trodden and unattainable.
Mongolia
Few large places are as wild and rugged as Mongolia. It is a land of endless steppes, forested mountains, and extreme deserts. Mongolia’s tourism infrastructure is still developing, but access issues and relative isolation are what attract many travellers.
There are many unique cultural experiences: historical sites related to Genghis Khan, staying with nomadic families in their traditional tents, and horseback riding. Wildlife watching and bird watching in Mongolia are amazing.
Vietnam
The unique birds, wildlife, and landscapes of Southeast Asia Unique biodiversity can be found in the cloud forests, jungles, limestone hills, and wetlands of Vietnam. In recent decades, a disproportionately high number of new vertebrate species have been discovered here. Enjoy the scenery and cultural delights as you search for endemic birds and other wildlife in the Vietnamese wilderness.
Ha Long Bay gets a lot of attention from travellers and rightly so, but for nature lovers, there are many more places to explore in this beautiful country.
Poland
As well as fascinating Polish castles, beautiful cities, and impressive wartime sites, this country contains some of the best and last bits of wilderness in Europe. Many of the wildest areas are located in the north-eastern tip of Poland, although the High Tatras lie in the southwest. Visit Poland for a great mix of Europe’s fascinating human and natural history.
New Caledonia
Biodiversity hotspot New Caledonia has existed for millions of years since it was once connected to Australia. The flora and fauna here reflect the ancient world of Gondwana. A forest of giant tree ferns and the odd Araucaria pine is home to reptiles, butterflies, and more than 20 endemic bird species, including the rare Kagu.
The beautiful lagoon that surrounds New Caledonia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the snorkelling here is world-class.
Chile
Chile is about 2,600 miles (4,300 km) from top to bottom. A wide range of ecosystems can be explored here, from the world’s driest desert to temperate rainforests to the windswept glacier fields of the southern tip. Great food and culture that’s as immersive as Australian betting sites can be enjoyed as you experience the natural wonders of Chile.
Guyana
Compared to many other South American destinations, Guyana is off the beaten path for many travellers. However, it is an incredibly attractive destination for nature lovers in the world. The Guyana Rainforest is the largest continuous strip of lowland forest on the planet. The pristine quality of this ecosystem combined with the amazing Neotropical birds and wildlife found here creates a unique experience.
However, Guyana is definitely for the more adventurous traveller. Consider joining a group tour of the country instead of traveling alone.
