Ends of the Earth

There are still hidden gems out there, if you know where to look

In many ways, the Earth is small. With the speed and ease at which we can travel, it seems there is no corner of the planet that hasn’t been discovered. Especially with the post-pandemic surge in “revenge travel,” not only are people flocking there, but you’ve seen your friends’ selfies from there on Instagram. Yet there remain a few destinations that make for hidden travel gems, authentic, off the beaten path and not yet swarming with tourists.

Basque Country

Straddling Northern Spain and southwestern France, this area preserves a unique culture with a language that predates the arrival of Indo-European languages in the Bronze Age. Bilbao is home to the Guggenheim Museum and a lively mix of old and new architecture. San Sebastian is a foodie paradise known for its pintxos (the Basque version of tapas) and great beaches. On the French side, Biarritz and other towns are havens for water sports and soaking up the sunshine.

Sri Lanka

To the southeast of India’s southern tip, Sri Lanka is an island of many cultures and some of the best beaches in Asia. Its hill country is full of lush tea plantations, and there is no shortage of activity for animal lovers and thrill-seekers. Emerging in the last two decades from a long civil war, the country has made tourism a key part of its economy. Tour companies like The Fabulous Getaway show visitors to the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean” why that strategy is working so well.

San Blas Islands, Panama

Off Panama’s Caribbean coast, this chain of 365 islands features unspoiled beauty with soft white sands and crystal-clear waters. The snorkeling and diving are first class, and the indigenous Guna people offer visitors the chance to see traditional villages and take home handcrafted souvenirs. Short hikes to scenic viewpoints offer panoramic vistas of the surrounding islands dotting the endless seas. Blue Parallel provides sailing adventures through the islands.

Laos

The “Land of a Million Elephants” also sports lush rainforests and remote mountain villages preserving an older way of life. Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring temples, colonial architecture, and a bustling night market. Travelers can rest their heads at the luxurious Amantaka, housed in French colonial buildings. Part of the Golden Triangle of Southeast Asia, the area pairs well with adventures in Northern Thailand.

Belize

It has some of the best diving in the world, including one of Jacque Cousteau’s favorite spots, the Great Blue Hole. It’s about as easy to get to as Cancun, it has a treasure trove of Mayan ruins, and it just so happens that English is the official language. Fans of Francis Ford Coppola’s movies or his wines will enjoy the Family Coppola hideaways that pair well for a beach and jungle adventure.

Namibia

You can see several of the traditional safari animals in Namibia, but you’ll also see stunning, stark waves of sand dunes and the foreboding Skeleton Coast, which the indigenous San people call “The Land God Made in Anger” and seafaring Portuguese called “The Gates of Hell.” Namibia is also a birder’s paradise, with more than 700 species flying about. Tour operators like Wilderness Safaris showcase the amazing landscapes and wildlife of the country.

Tasmania

If Australia isn’t isolated enough for you, see what you think of its least populous state, separated from the mainland by 150 miles of the Bass Strait. With little light pollution, it’s one of the best places in the world to gaze at the night sky, with frequent glimpses of the Southern Lights. National parks make up a significant portion of the land, with mountains, gorges, and rivers providing beautiful vistas everywhere you look.

Oman

As its petrostate neighbors in Saudi Arabia and the UAE have transformed themselves into tourist destinations, Oman remains a more laid-back hidden gem. Resorts such as Six Senses Zighy Bay and Jumeirah Muscat Bay are wellness oases where the mountains give way to beautiful blue waters and wide, sandy beaches. They might just be a couple of hours from the glitz of Dubai, but they might as well be a world away.

Svalbard

A Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, Svalbard is one of the best places in the world to see polar bears, and it’s also home to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which stores seeds from crops planted all over the world to preserve them in case of catastrophe. Lindblad Expeditions offers cruises around the islands and others to the north of mainland Norway for those who want to catch a glimpse of Arctic wildlife.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

A British Overseas Territory between Antarctica and South America, the islands are uninhabited save for non-permanent contingents of scientists. What they lack in people they make up for in penguins, with large colonies of king, Macaroni, and various other penguins making their homes there. An abundance of other sea birds make the islands an Important Bird Area as designated by BirdLife International. Companies like Quark Expeditions and Atlas Ocean Voyages visit the islands regularly.