by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:25 PM ET, Wed September 10, 2025
Are you ready to walk the road less traveled in order to have a positive impact as a globetrotter?
If so, read on, because Intrepid Travel has just released its annual ‘Not Hot’ list, a yearly tradition designed to spotlight 10 lesser-known locations globally that are ready to welcome more travelers.
The goal of the annual list is two-fold: In addition to potentially easing the overcrowding challenges once again facing many well-known locations (and the drain on resources in these global hotspots), the list aims to bring attention to destinations that are missing out on the economic and cultural benefits that tourism can bring.
“While a handful of headline destinations receive millions – even tens of millions – of visitors each year, many remarkable places go virtually unnoticed by mainstream tourism,” Intrepid’s General Manager of Experiences, Erica Kritikides, writes in the list’s executive summary..
Intrepid’s annual Not Hot List “seeks to inspire travelers to discover different and unique experiences, with communities that can truly benefit from more visitors,” adds Kritikides.
Topping this year’s Not Hot list are new locations like Tiwai Island in Sierra Leone (in the No. 1 slot) and the Tien Shan mountain range in Kyrgyzstan (coming in at No. 2). The list also includes a sprinkling of new locales in well-known destinations, such as Sierra Norte in Mexico (No. 3) and Vis Island in Croatia (No. 4).
The common thread through all the destinations on the list is that they currently attract relatively few international visitors. According to the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, satellite data suggests that 80 percent of travelers visit just 10 percent of the world's tourist destinations.
But with new investments, experiences and improved infrastructure being introduced or announced, Intrepid has deemed the places on its Not Hot list “ready – and deserving – of more travelers.”
To help facilitate the arrival of more visitors, Intrepid has also just announced brand-new trips to six of the locations featured among this year's 'Not Hot' destinations, including Sierra Leone, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Turkey, Romania and El Salvador, which you can read more about here.
Read on for the full rundown of the must-visit locations for 2026.
2026 'Not Hot' List
1.Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone
A recently launched 10-year tourism strategy marked a bold plan to attract international travelers and recast the country as a leader in ecotourism, writes Intrepid.
At the heart of this transformation is Tiwai Island. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2025, it’s renowned for its diverse populations of animals and part of the Gola Forest National Park.
2.Tien Shan Mountain Range, Kyrgyzstan
Long traversed by nomads, yet little-known by outsiders, this trekking paradise is finding its rightful place on the radar of adventure-seekers around the world, says Intrepid.
Dominating the landscape, Tien Shan Mountain Range stretches across China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Here, hiking means more than just spectacular scenery – it’s an immersion into local nomadic life.
3. Sierra Norte, Mexico
Deep in the Sierra Norte mountains of Oaxaca lies one of the most compelling examples of Indigenous-led tourism in the world: the Pueblos Mancomunados, according to Intrepid.
This cooperative of eight self-governing Zapotec villages operates under a community-led model that shares profits equally and limits visitor numbers.
Trails remain pristine, the forest is cared for and young people have economic reasons to stay and invest in their future.
Vis Island in Croatia is among the 10 'Not Hot' destinations for 2026, places that could benefit from more tourism. (Photo Credit: Courtesy Intrepid Travel, Vis Tourist Board)
4. Vis Island, Croatia
As Croatia steers visitors away from overcrowded destinations, Vis Island is emerging as serene refuge ready to welcome more travelers, explains Intrepid.
Having learnt from its neighbors, Vis has shaped an approach to tourism grounded in small-scale, local experiences that celebrate the island’s unspoiled charm and slower pace.
Southeastern Anatolia in Turkey is among the 10 destinations on Intrepid Travel's 2026 'Not Hot' list. (Photo Credit: Courtesy Intrepid Travel, GoTurkiye)
5. Southeastern Anatolia, Turkey
Driven by a national push to showcase the region’s cultural and culinary heritage, Southeastern Anatolia is poised for a tourism revival, says Intrepid.
No secret to locals, but still off the beaten path for most foreign visitors, the area is dotted with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and cities like Sanliurfa and Gaziantep are deeply invested in attracting more visitors.
6. Arunachal Pradesh, India
Despite towering Himalayan peaks, ancient monasteries and diverse tribal cultures, Arunachal Pradesh’s remoteness and strict permit rules have long kept it in the shadows of India’s northeast.
That’s beginning to change with the launch of a refreshed tourism strategy. At its heart is a commitment to community-based travel, with authentic homestays and locally-led experiences that give travellers a unique insight into local life.
7. Via Transilvanica, Romania
Dubbed the ‘Camino of the East’, and with 170 kilometers of new paths opening in 2026, Romania’s long-distance Via Transilvanica walking trail is helping position the country as Europe’s next great walking destination, according to Intrepid.
Weaving through villages, ancient forests and 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites, it's been intentionally designed to share the economic benefits of tourism more widely.
8. Ruta de las Flores, El Salvador
El Salvador is gaining attention as one of the world’s fastest growing travel destinations with government-backed initiatives helping to drive tourism growth.
But beyond the world-class surf beaches, active volcanoes and ancient Mayan ruins, the Ruta de las Flores remains one of the country’s best kept secrets.
Oulu, Finland is one of the 10 locations globally that was included on Intrepid Travel's 2026 'Not Hot' list. (Photo Credit: Courtesy Intrepid Travel, Visit Oulu)
9. Oulu, Finland
Perched on the delta of the Oulujoki River and surrounded by untamed wilderness, Oulu’s a dynamic, forward-thinking coastal city just below the Arctic Circle in Finland. And as the newly dubbed ‘European Capital of Culture 2026’, it’s attracting visitors through a bold cultural program that fuses climate science with creative expression, seizing the opportunity to champion environmental awareness.
10. Great Basin National Park, United States
As proposed budget cuts loom over America’s National Parks, this under-the-radar spot packed with natural beauty reminds us of what’s at stake.
Home to ancient bristlecone pines, snow-fed alpine lakes and some of the darkest skies in America, Great Basin National Park offers a rare kind of national park experience that’s vast, quiet and still largely untouched by mass tourism.
Visiting now is not just a quiet getaway – it’s a vote of confidence in the places that protect America’s most profound natural environments.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
