After a long couple of years, where travel was at best limited if not curtailed altogether, there has been a surge in people hopping on planes to rediscover the wider world. For those who are looking to go a little further off the beaten track, here are the best places to check out – just don’t tell anyone.
Short long-haul
Travel has definitely recovered following the pandemic, says Sabrina Mahony, TD Active Holidays product manager. “We are busier than ever post-Covid. After two years of not being able to travel, our customers are getting excited to discover the wider world again.” She says that the types of destinations people are booking have changed, although the old classics such as the Camino de Santiago are still popular. “We are seeing a lot of interest in going ‘short long-haul’ to destinations such as Morocco and Jordan, which are such a different experience to a European holiday but do not have as long flight times as traditional long-haul.
“We also saw a number of our customers making up for lost time and booking holidays going to out-of-the-way bucket list destinations, with holidays to Peru, Nepal, Borneo and Malaysia going ahead this year. For 2023 we expect this trend to continue, and we are seeing a lot of advance interest in many of our long-haul holidays such as to Vietnam or Cuba as our customers look for new and exciting destinations to visit.”
Getting off the beaten track
Is there such a thing as a real “off the beaten track” holiday? Absolutely, says Brendan Breen, managing director at Oroko Tailored Travel. “We have a very small proportion of customers who want to get completely off the beaten track. There are places you can go where you need really good ground operations to ensure people have a good holiday. It’s not for everyone – but it’s doable.” He says that Papua New Guinea and Mongolia are very far off the beaten track, and the destination depends on how far off-track people want to go. “The conversation is about what do you want out of the holiday rather than where do you want to go. Do you want culture, adventure, hiking, or food – then we can get to the ‘where’. If you consider places like Uganda – it’s an amazing destination, the wildlife where you can spot chimps and gorillas in the wild and do amazing safari experiences in places that are really out of the way.”
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When travelling off the beaten track, get ready to go on a holiday that offers you a wealth of unexpected travel experiences and takes you away from the crowds to something completely new and exciting, says Mahony. “It is a great way to step out of your comfort zone, immerse yourself in the local culture and learn about the country and its people and really get to the heart of a destination. It is absolutely still possible today.”
Some of the more adventurous locations that travel agencies are booking include Namibia, which is underappreciated, says Breen. “It’s a stunning country, with a population of two million in a country about four times the size of France. It has stunning sand dunes, deserts, beautiful roads with rock formations, and safari – in fact, the only desert elephants in the world are in Namibia.
“You can go to the desert with an expert and do an afternoon tour where the expert introduces all the creatures of the desert to the children. It’s also a great place to go paragliding or parachute jumping. It has a great mix of natural beauty and contrast in scenery, and then also has an adventurous feeling.”
Mahony says that for those looking to go further afield Borneo offers unspoilt landscapes, beautiful beaches, biodiverse rainforests and native wildlife, including of course Borneo’s most famous resident the orang-utan.
Closer to home but still lesser-known
For those who’d rather not take a long-haul flight, there are plenty of options closer to home. In Spain for example, Extremadura is a region that has amazing natural resources, culture and traditions, says Rubén López, managing director of the Spanish Tourist Office in Dublin. “This is a region that allows travellers to connect with nature, gastronomy and its people through experiences and unique events, such as the Mérida International Classic Theatre festival or the Cheese Route.
“It’s also a safe place, from a health point of view, due to its demographic characteristics, its landscapes, its open-air leisure activities and also the huge effort the regional government and the tourist sector have [made] in order to adapt to this pandemic.” In Extremadura, you can be a cheesemaker or even a shepherd for a day, visit cheese factories or cured ham drying factories, enjoy nature in its purest form and watch the Iberian pigs running free and eating acorns on the Dehesas (oak tree meadows), says López.
“You can also visit olive oil mills and learn how the olive oil is made using traditional ways. Wineries and endless experiences are waiting for you in Extremadura, all of them accompanied by stunning nature, breathtaking heritage and wonderful food experiences.”
Albania is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets, with rugged coastlines, towering snow-capped peaks, lush national parks, Unesco World Heritage sites and authentic local charm, says Mahony. “This Balkan country is definitely an undiscovered gem. Similarly, the rarely visited Transylvania at the heart of the Carpathian Mountains, offers impressive landscapes, stunning mountains and historic medieval towns and castles. It’s a must-visit for any outdoor enthusiasts.”
Demographic differences
Is there a difference between the different demographics booking more adventurous trips? Breen says yes. “Couples tend to be in two groups – the honeymoon, younger couple, no strings attached people, who are more budget conscious than the older couples. It might be a special trip such as a honeymoon, or other special occasion. So, while they want luxury, they’re not at the upper end of luxury. So, we would have younger couples looking to combine relaxation and adventure – Maldives, South Africa, Tanzania and Zanzibar, which also provides that relaxation element at the end.
“Older couples are looking for more adventure. We sell interesting trips to empty nesters – where the kids have finished school or college and have more time on their hands to do more, to do bigger trips that would take them off the beaten track – Antarctica, America, Namibia, Botswana, Vietnam.”
Breen says that in Vietnam there’s a huge variety, a real combination of culture, history, food, archaeology and architecture.
Older couples are more likely to have more time and more flexibility for their trip, as well as a better budget, says Breen.
Really there is no particular group that is looking for an off the beaten track adventure, just those with a passion for travel and a sense of discovery, says Mahony. “However, after so many years of isolation, we are seeing a lot of solo travellers joining our group holidays, particularly our walking holidays, looking to travel with like-minded travellers and build long lasting friendships and memories along the way.”