Trailblazing travel: 25 off-the-beaten track places to visit in 2025

Blaze your own path next year by considering these underrated destinations that are overlooked by most Australians but offer fresh and often more meaningful travel experiences.

With the new year upon us, many of us are planning where we want to head next. Be the person at the dinner table telling stories about intrepid journeys to far-flung lands, from the vast landscapes of Mongolia to the wild beauty of Norway’s Arctic North. Why not swap out your favourite destination, such as Bali, for an off-grid paradise like Sumba. Or simply take a detour while visiting iconic destinations, such as Barcelona, to stay in a new hilltop hotel overlooking the charming medieval town of Girona. We understand travelling to largely undiscovered places can be a vexed issue, but by spreading the love and load of tourism in a respectful way, we can also have a positive impact on these communities. Here’s to happy, mindful travelling in 2025.

1. Madeira, Portugal

Well known for its fortified wine, this Portuguese island is closer to Africa than Europe but has drawn comparisons to Hawai’i for its lush interior landscape, dramatic ridges and coastlines, and crystal-clear seas.

Madeira is paradise for keen walkers, with more than 1000 kilometres of tracks following 15^th-century stone irrigation systems known as levadas all over the island.

Dominating the luxe accommodation landscape, Savoy Signature is a collection of seven properties around the island, with its most recent openings The Reserve, a luxe and exclusive stay within Savoy Palace, and laid-back boutique hotel NEXT.

2. Girona, Spain

Located in Catalonia on the Costa Brava, Girona is a quieter alternative to nearby Barcelona. The medieval city is a rabbit warren of winding, narrow streets and comprises one of the best-preserved Jewish quarters in Europe.

Elevating your experience here literally and figuratively, the new five-room Hotel Esperit Roca is perched atop Sants Metges mountain.

The luxe stay harmonises with the surrounding environment through its natural design and boasts sprawling views over this enchanting city.

3. Sumba, Indonesia

Just 50 minutes by plane from Bali lies an off-grid paradise of dense jungle, unspoiled surfing beaches and plateaus of rice paddies. Slated as the new Gili or Komodo islands, Sumba is a natural beauty with rich Indigenous culture.

Many of its residents live in traditional huts and practise Marapu, an endemic religion that follows ancient practices such as animal sacrifice and rituals performed by shamans.

While this island feels lost in time, the new modernist Design Hotel, Cap Karoso, brings contemporary design and cultural experiences with luxury hospitality.

4. China

Aussies have been timid to return to China post-pandemic. But a recent poll by the Global Times Institute found that nearly one-third are interested to learn more about a country that, in recent years, has been bathed in a negative light. And there’s never been a better time with the announcement of a handy 30-day visa-free travel policy for Australian citizens.

What visitors find beyond its mega cities and world-famous sites is a country blessed with dramatic landscapes of mountains, gorges and meandering rivers, ancient tribal villages, millennia-old temples, Imperial palaces and 59 World Heritage sites.

5. Dolomites, Italy

The wildly beautiful Dolomites in the northern Italian Alps is now home to Cammino Retico, a seven-day hiking trail that does a 168-kilometre loop through soaring limestone peaks, across plateaus, undulating valleys and past alpine lakes.

Along the way, hikers can stay in more than 50 accommodation options in the 10 remote villages the route connects to, from a farm stay in Cesiomaggiore to a villa within the walled city of Feltre.

6. Seychelles

Made up of 115 tiny islands off the East African coast, Seychelles is a paradisical scene of white-sand beaches, azure waters and lush vegetation punctuated by palm trees.

Considered the Galapagos of Africa, it’s a biodiversity hotspot with raised coral atolls, including the Aldabra, which is home to more than 150,000 giant tortoises, and underwater reefs reaching depths of the Grand Canyon.

Venture to this staggering region with Aqua Expeditions, which will cruise to rarely visited destinations such as the Seychelles and Tanzanian Islands in East Africa for the first time in 2025.

7. Batumi, Georgia

Wedged between Europe and Asia, Georgia is a country of contrasts. Its landscapes range from semi-arid deserts to Europe’s highest mountain range, it has a blend of medieval history and Soviet influences, is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world, and is the birthplace of wine.

Drawing design mavens to the Black Sea gem of Batumi – a port town and one of UNESCO’s Creative Cities – is the recent opening of ROOMS, a 1970s-style bolthole in a renovated 19^th-century building in the town’s historic quarter.

8. Rwanda

The recent opening of Bisate Reserve is another reason to add the East African nation of Rwanda to our travel lists. This luxe four-villa lodge is an evolution of Wilderness Rwanda’s Bisate experience near Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas.

Expert-guided gorilla encounters, nature trails and birdwatching are some of the experiences on offer, with every stay anchored around conservation, contributing to reforestation and rehabilitation initiatives, local community upliftment and the preservation of mountain gorillas.

9. Chiloé Island, Chile

Off the coast of Southern Chile, Chiloé Island is the second largest island in South America. Its intense biodiversity from verdant forests to rich wetlands drew the attention of Charles Darwin and its isolation has shaped a unique cultural identity.

With a design inspired by the colourful stilted fishing houses, known as palafitos, luxury hotel Tierra Chiloe has a shingle-clad exterior that is typical on the island with locally made handicrafts, carvings, rugs and the like filling its interior.

10. Tonga

Award-winning wildlife photographer Craig Parry has pointed his lens towards Tonga for more than a decade and he wants to share the magic with other passionate adventurers and photographers in 2025. Parry will join guests on two small-group tours from Vava’u that include guided whale swims to capture majestic humpbacks underwater as they migrate through the Kingdom of Tonga.

11. Adirondack, New York, USA

The Adirondacks is a vast wilderness region in northern New York, which has often been overlooked for its more famous neighbour the Catskills. But a new rail trail is shining the spotlight on this region of glacier-carved mountains, conifer forests and shimmering lakes.

The multi-use Adirondack Rail Trail covers 54 kilometres between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake, and will accommodate bikes, wheelchairs and strollers as well as snowmobiles, cross-country skis and snowshoes during winter.

12. Colorado, USA

Astronomy enthusiasts, tin-foil-hat wearers or anyone with a curiosity about our galaxy should add Colorado to their travel wish list.

One of the planet’s best stargazing destinations, the state is home to 11 DarkSky International Parks, six DarkSky International Communities, and even a UFO watchtower in the San Luis Valley, which is deemed a hotspot for alien activity.

13. Mongolia

It’s a destination on the rise with millennial travellers increasingly seeking out untouched experiences. Intrepid has curated a Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure that enhances accessibility for these explorers.

The 11-day adventure traverses Mongolia’s vast landscapes and dives into its rich cultural heritage and nomadic culture, taking in its beauty from the steppes of Khustai National Park to the dunes of the Gobi Desert.

14. Amazon, Peru

The Amazon – its snaking river, dense rainforest and exotic wildlife, including macaws, howler monkeys and jaguar – is the stuff of travel dreams. Abercrombie & Kent helps travellers realise this dream with the launch of its luxe Peruvian Amazon riverboat, Pure Amazon, in 2025.

The all-new boutique boat will offer three- and four-night cruises along South America’s mightiest river. Pinch-me experiences include guided nature walks to spot sloths, paddling on lagoons in search of the elusive pink river dolphins, fishing for piranhas and visits to remote Amazonian communities are included.

15. Pakistan

Pakistan, a seldom-visited part of the world, is emerging as a spectacular trekking region, home to five of the world’s highest peaks, as well as narrow valleys and teeming rivers.

Daring to venture to this geographically forbidding place – where the locals are warm and welcoming – Intrepid has launched a 10-day tour that treks through the Karakoram Mountains.

16. Southern India

Southern India has long been an antidote to the steamy north, with travellers and locals seeking respite on beaches such as Goa and in the serene backwaters of Kerala, a colossal web of waterways dotted with languidly moving kettuvallams (houseboats), which you can experience with CGH Earth’s Spice Coast Cruises.

On the east coast, the city of Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) was listed as one of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel experiences for the year ahead for its Gallic architecture, French history, spiritual centres and coastline.

17. Lithuania

Lithuania is rich in natural beauty with its diverse landscapes including forests, lakes, sandy dunes and the Baltic Sea. It’s also a feel-good place to travel to with its capital Vilnius named the European Green Capital of 2025 for its strong commitment to sustainability.

The country in northeastern Europe is also known for prioritising the happiness of its residents. promoting initiatives concerning clean air and water, biodiversity preservation and green spaces, of which more than half of the city is covered with; the other half is packed with cobblestoned laneways and spires.

Its second-largest city Kaunas has also recently earned a UNESCO designation for its unparalleled Art Deco architecture.

18. Malta

For a small island nation, Malta sure packs a punch. This laid-back Mediterranean idyll lies 80 kilometres to the south of Italy and experiences some 300 days of sunshine a year.

There are three inhabited islands, Gozo, Comino and mainland Malta and its fortified capital Valletta is one of Europe’s smallest and most walkable capital cities.

Join Explore Worldwide’s eight-day Malta and Gozo Discovery to delve into the rich history of the capital and enjoy languid time on unspoilt Gozo.

19. Norway

Norway has become nirvana for those seeking a slower pace of travel, untamed landscapes and hyperlocal experiences. The Salten District in the Arctic North is a stand-out for ‘natural therapy’.

Salstraumen leans heavily on its natural beauty and local produce, with Manshausen Island the very definition of wild luxury.

Its main hub, Bodø, was given the title of European Capital of Culture for 2024 for its flourishing performing arts scene and lively network of small bars and restaurants.

20. Whanganui, NZ

Across the ditch, this UNESCO City of Design is a storied place with a creative legacy, from historical Maori art and craft to the visionary architects who created the city’s landmarks.

After its $70 million redevelopment, Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery – which holds more than 8000 items of national and international significance – has reopened after almost a decade of anticipation.

21. Hamburg, Germany

To liken a hotel to a bunker would usually suggest a drab experience but it’s anything but in Germany’s second city.

St Paul Bunki is a 50-metre-tall former Nazi bunker in Hamburg housing REVERB, a colourful Hard Rock Hotel, a food-sharing restaurant with live music, funky bar and cafe.

It’s centrally located to explore the cool city of Hamburg, an affluent city nestled between the River Elbe and the North and Baltic Seas that boasts a happening nightlife.

22. Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is an intoxicating mix of old and new. Its city skylines are dominated by blue-domed mosques, piercing minarets, intricately tiled mausoleums and bustling bazaars that contrast with cosmopolitan buildings and a mélange of cultures and ethnicities due to a political and social shift after Soviet rule.

Travelling the ancient Silk Road trading route from Tashkent to the blue-tiled city of Samarkand, then onto 2000-year-old Bukhara is the stuff of bucket lists.

Crooked Compass is a boutique tour company specialising in off-the-beaten-track tours, with 10 itineraries that cover Uzbekistan’s treasures and one that takes in the wonders of the five ’Stans.

23. Namibia

Named for the ancient Namib Desert, which stretches along its entire 1500-kilometre coastline, Namibia is a vast and sparsely populated land, home to the rugged wilderness of Damaraland and the Kalahari Desert teeming with resilient wildlife.

Australian touring specialist Wendy Wu Tours has just launched its first foray into this diverse African nation.

The 12-day tour includes highlights such as a safari in Etosha National Park, a visit to semi-nomadic Himba village and the otherworldly red dunes of Sossusvlei.

24. Costa Rica

Travel + Leisure named Costa Rica its Destination of the Year for 2024. But Americans are already in the know (three out of four tourists here are from the United States). Yet few Australians have experienced la pura vida (the pure life) of Costa Rica. This country is blessed with dense rainforests, pristine beaches, and thriving national parks.

It’s a cultural melting pot, from the Costa Rican cowboys or ‘Sabanero’ inland to the vibrant Afro-Caribbean cultures on the east coast. And, up on the North Pacific coast, countless beaches and a host of new luxury resorts, including the Andaz at Peninsula Papagayo and Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique (slated to open in March) make for the perfect sun-and-sand escape.

25. Bacalar, Mexico

Just south of the sugar-white coastline of Tulum lies the quieter enclave of Bacalar. This laid-back town with simple comforts is within reach of the Lagoon of Seven Colours, named so for its staggering hues. Here you can swim, kayak and unwind in the overwater hammocks, or snorkel the stromatolites around the edge of the adjoining Cenote Cocalitos.

Alongside the lagoon, sustainably built Boca de Agua offers ‘treehouse’ accommodation nestled in lush jungle. Bacalar is around a 2.5-hour drive from Tulum, but the new Maya Train, which operates between Cancún and Campeche, will eventually connect through to Tulum and Bacalar – so travellers can easily hop between the paradisiacal destinations of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Need more inspiration? Here are the 50 greatest travel experiences to have on the planet right now.