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Meaning of off the beaten path in English

Off the beaten path.

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meaning travel off the beaten path

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Definition of beaten

  • aweary [ archaic ]
  • burnt-out
  • knackered [ British ]
  • loggy
  • pooped [ slang ]
  • tuckered (out)

Examples of beaten in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beaten.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English beten , from past participle of beten "to beat entry 1 "

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beaten

beaten biscuit

  • off the beaten path
  • off the beaten track
  • weather - beaten

Dictionary Entries Near beaten

Cite this entry.

“Beaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beaten. Accessed 7 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of beaten, more from merriam-webster on beaten.

Nglish: Translation of beaten for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of beaten for Arabic Speakers

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Idiom:  off the beaten path

idiom off the beaten path

Idiom:  off the beaten path / off the beaten track

  • Thinking or doing something different than the usual things people think or do
  • Going where other people normally don’t go

* Off the beaten path is more often used in American English and off the beaten track is more popular in British English but both are commonly used idioms.

If you go off the beaten path or track, it means you are going to a place or doing something that is not very popular or well-known.

If it's going to a particular place, it is usually a place that is away from the usual tourist destinations or activities.

If it is related to doing something that is not very popular then it's often doing something in a different manner or way.

definition of a path

Now, let's try to visualize this idiom so that it will be easy to remember.

The word "beaten" is the past participle form of the verb "beat", which means to hit or strike something.

If hundreds of people walk along the same ground or grass, the ground will be beaten many, many times by different people's feet. As a result, a path or track is created.

If you go on a hike in the woods, there is often a "beaten path" and it is much easier to walk along. But if you go off this path, it might be more difficult to travel over but you might also be able to discover something interesting that you would not see if you stayed on the main, well-traveled path.

Example sentences

—  Instead of backpacking through Europe, I went off the beaten path and spent a year traveling through Africa.

—  People who go off the beaten path usually gain the most valuable experience.

— We were so tired when we got to Paris that we actually just  decided to explore some of the smaller neighborhoods off the beaten track . I liked it better than visiting museums.

— Everyone knows that the best food in town is off the beaten track . Why don't you explore some of the local restaurants that aren't as well-known?

— Jane is an artist who creates work that is off the beaten track . What I like is that she uses unusual materials and techniques.

— Tomorrow's hike up to the mountain peak is off the beaten track . We'll have to scramble over some big rocks, but the views from the top are absolutely breathtaking.

— The museum exhibit was located in a small town off the beaten path , but it was definitely worth the trip.

— In a world where everyone is trying to fit in and be like everyone else, it's refreshing to see someone who is brave enough to be off the beaten track and be true to themselves.

— The chef's menu was off the beaten path , featuring unusual combinations of ingredients that created a unique and unexpected flavor profile.

— The museum's exhibit was off the beaten path , showcasing the work of little-known artists from around the world.

— The artist's latest exhibit is so off the beaten track , it consists entirely of sculptures made from discarded bubble gum.

— We stumbled upon a charming little bookstore that was off the beaten path and spent hours browsing the shelves.

— I prefer to shop at local markets and boutique stores that are off the beaten path rather than big chain stores.

— We followed a small hiking trail off the beaten path and the scenery was breathtaking. The problem was we got lost for five hours and I will never ever do that again.

—  The author's writing style is  off the beaten path , which makes her books stand out from others in the same genre.

— The company's marketing strategy is very off the beaten path , relying on social media influencers and unconventional advertising methods.

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meaning travel off the beaten path

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Legal Nomads

What does Off the Beaten Path Really Mean?

Written by Jodi Ettenberg Personal Musings , Travel Narrative Last Updated on December 13, 2023

travel off the beaten path

I took the subway back from downtown Manhattan to Brooklyn early this week.

The R train pulled into Union Square but as I was about to step in, I turned and saw the long line of people waiting for the Q express and thought better of it. Sure enough, the Q sputtered into the station as soon as the R departed.

As it turned out, the express train was anything but.

The train stopped between stations frequently, lurching foward and then stopping again. Heavy sighs from the passengers, squished to the gills. All of us crunched together, separate sardines on a commute home.

I looked around me and wondered what people’s stories were in this mishmash of humanity on a late Monday in New York.

I was dressed for meetings in a skirt and silk top and boots; no one giving me a passing glance would think I lived elsewhere, that I had spent the past 3+ years roaming the globe.

One never knows what lies beneath the outer layers.

travel off the beaten path

As the train ground to a halt for what must have been the 20 th time, the giant hairy arm of my neighbour knocked over the woman across from me. We were all clustered around the pole on the train, but only he was oblivious. Lost in his music, or simply uncaring, he kept elbowing her in the face as he moved.

Several minutes passed. Five, six.

Still stopped on the Brooklyn Bridge, my neighbour still stuck smelling the arm of the giant to her right.

I turned to her and suggested she start pulling his arm hairs out, one by one.

She giggled.

The man across from us stifled a laugh.

More time passed, but we did not move.  Six of us were standing in star formation, each joined together by the metal pole affixing us to our allotted subway places, grounding us for the duration of our ride home.

There’s a funny sort of intimacy that bubbles to the surface when you’re motionless in the subway; you can’t help but actually start noticing details instead of vaguely staring past the person in front of you. Your straphanging neighbours cease being random strangers and start to take shape into real people, with quirks and personalities and stories.

After several service announcements (“broken subway is broken”) and still wedged on the Brooklyn Bridge, the woman to my right cocked her head in my direction and whispered “since I’m not going to pull arm hairs out, tell me – what’s  your  life story.”

So I told her.

And she told me hers, and then we both raised our eyes to the man across the way, who shrugged and volunteered that he was from Florida, had just moved here to take a job after years of freelancing.

“I thought the train was supposed to be fast?” he asked.

We nodded, commiserating.

What does Traveling “Off the beaten path” really mean?

I often receive emails asking for suggestions about where to visit that’s off the beaten path.  People who write to say,“I know you put these places on your blog, but where are the secret  places, the ones that no one else knows about?”

Oftentimes these readers are looking for a connection to others that feels special or sacred, something different. A story that we can look back on and tell the story to friends at home. “And then, she invited me to her family’s house and I ate with them, staying late into the night!”

But do we really need somewhere away from all the tourists to get that feeling of sincere invitation or “authenticity”?

Every Sunday in Chiang Mai I took take my motorbike to the night market to get a massage and grilled pork and sticky rice.

It was a routine that made Sundays the best of the week, full of smoky meat and sharp, spicy sauce and followed by an hour of someone beating up my legs and back. And in the middle of the hustle and bustle, the fluid movement of near and far, I always felt like I was in another world from the endless stream of tourists flowing by.

I would go to the same woman every week and while she worked her magic we’d make fun of the random outfits on those walking by, or berate the men working there for teasing the youngest girl on staff.

The song and dance between her and the other masseuses was overstated and comical, slapstick humour and lots of laughs. By the time I left Chiang Mai, I was showered in hugs and given bags stuffed with food to take on my onward journey.

how to find anywhere interesting

And yet, when people ask for suggestions to Chiang Mai, they don’t want the night market. They want something different, something that sets their visit apart from the others.

Like an everyday commute in New York, you don’t need the social clout of stepping outside the quotidien to have memorable experiences.

Nothing I experienced in Chiang Mai is because I’m special, or because I befriended people specifically. It was simply a matter of genuine, human interacting. You only need to look at the people around you – truly look, communicate, smile.

The rest falls into place.

Three days before my ride to Brooklyn, I took the subway to the Lower East Side for the Restless Legs travel reading series.

Three Frenchmen were lost, and given that I’m from Montreal , I jumped in to help them figure out where they wanted to go next. They stayed on the platform, and as I boarded the train, a woman next to mejoked that she ought to have learned French in high school. (Let’s just say these Frenchmen weren’t hard on the eyes.) Originally from Russia, she lived in New York for some time. She was surprised to hear of my travels through Russia and Siberia . This initial banter turned into a long discussion about the politics of Russia and Siberia and an invitation to her family’s house for dinner.

None of these stories make me unique, and none are truly outside the confines of what’s normal for everyday human interaction.

So why is it that when I tell people about my new subway friends, their jaws drop and they say “why don’t I meet people on the subway?”

While it’s true that I’ve become more open to these random connections by virtue of my travels, I had similar experiences prior to quitting my job to travel the world . Perhaps it’s the same thing that has me winding my way through cities in search of markets and food instead of sights to see; I’m fascinated the most by the interaction between people.

To those who write to say they’d love to travel but aren’t yet ready to go, I suggest that they get outside of their comfort zone, even in their own hometown.

You want to get off the beaten path? Start small, then take your show on the road.

It’s an excellent start.

And when people write me to ask for isolated places, I do send them a list. But I also suggest that they remain open to the panoply of human interactions as they move through their days.

Yes, I love to get away from the tourists and the many people who travel for travel’s sake, but it’s not always about the most far flung places. In the middle of the busiest cities you’ll find those same connections and new friendships.

About The Author

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Jodi Ettenberg

Jodi is a former lawyer turned award-winning travel writer and photographer who shares resources and stories from a decade of eating and living abroad. Jodi's expertise has led to features in the New York Times, National Geographic, BBC Travel, CNN, The Guardian, and more. Jodi also has celiac disease, and her longform gluten free guides and translation cards (over 6000 cards sold!) have helped fellow celiacs eat safely as they travel.

Following a lumbar puncture that left her disabled in 2017, Jodi's work has shifted to focus on curiosity, chronic pain, and the challenges we all face when life changes drastically. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the Spinal CSF Leak Association. Please see the About page for more.

84 thoughts on “What does Off the Beaten Path Really Mean?”

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I want that pork NOW. lol

Jodi, (just a recommendation), have you considered a different color for the links than the normal font color?

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Hi Nima, I tried out a few other colours when I redesigned the site, but I liked the subtlety of leaving them the same colour – more as an optional link-through, instead of a required link. Appreciate the suggestion though! Yes, that pork is fantastic – Sundays never seemed so good :)

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I want that Pork too!

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Beautifully written post and a thought provoking question to ask. I would venture to guess that the best off the beaten path experience have to do with people and moments with others rather than a location or undiscovered place. Sure, off the beaten path places are those where there aren’t as many tourists. However, maybe “off the beaten path” is actually a metaphor for authentic and this is what people really want. So maybe people want experiences with real people and away from tourists.

It’s funny that you talk about your own town or places close to home. How often do people travel to find these “off the beaten path” experiences yet miss out on so many of the same wonderful experiences that they could be having in places close to home? Maybe “off the beaten path” says more about our mindsets and what we need than it does a destination that we are looking for. Travel seems to trigger the desire for those type of experiences but maybe living life every day to seek “off the beaten path” experiences is actually about changing how we choose to engage the world around us moment by moment.

Have no idea if this makes sense but I stream of consciousness approach here to kind of figure this out as I go. :)

Thank you for the comment, Jeremy. I agree that the expression is representative of what tourists want these days – it’s part of why I get so many emails asking for those (or “authentic”) travel recommendations. It’s a mindset more than anything, and I think starting to travel certainly engages that perception, allowing us to embrace it and focus on it, even in our hometowns.

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I agree with Jeremy. And I think travel opens people up to become more adventurous (whether they like it or not) and it then goes home with them, making them more open to unusual experiences everywhere. When people say they want to travel ‘off the beaten path’, it’s synonymous with wanting original/unique experiences rather than just sight-seeing tours. But you can only really create them yourself by being open to try new things or being a bit more daring than the majority.

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my “off-beaten-path” often not too adventureous. Usually it’s a place where I see a smile and get a good coffee. I ended up visit that place every day and forget my travel plan. I have soft spot for people with warm smile and I tend to stop there.

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This totally reminded me of a place I found in Barcelona, Spain that when I happened to walk down some dark alley, off some weird street where I was just wondering aimlessly…towards an open door that had beer…. I met a really nice bartender that wanted to practice English…I continued to go back to that same place….day after day after day. If you ask me where it was now…I could not even give you a clue. Those were the things that I love when I travel…it is the people. I get so worked up that I may miss something…and really, every time it works out just fine. I got so sick of seeing Cathedrals, museums, etc. I wanted to meet the people. I have to remember that it is not the Cathedrals, museums, bookshops, etc that I remember it is the people!

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My last tweet was about this SAME concept. Sometimes I feel guilty when traveling because I don’t go that far off the beaten path. The truth is I like being around people who speak English, and get bored super easily when I go too far off the trail. My blog post was actually entitled “Am I a Bad Traveler?” I’ve come to the realization that as long as you’re satisfied, it doesn’t matter how far off the path you get.

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Great post Jodi! I couldn’t agree more! Off the beaten track means doing things you haven’t done before. Talk to a stranger, travel without a reservation, quit your job, start a business, dance on the street, eat something new, whatever it is for you. And every time you do it, find out that there are so many other people that are doing it to. And when you feel it isn’t so special and exciting any more, start the next thing.

Thanks Ruurd. Lovely to get a comment from you, given that you were a part of my initial days on this trip back in 2008! I think your characterization is spot on – pushing those boundaries and taking that step toward the unknown (the mindset or the physical act of doing so) is what makes the experience your own. That’s as ‘authentic’ as it gets!

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A well-used path is one where thousands of feet have beaten down the grass and weeds so that only dirt is visible; it is worn and easy to see. To go “off the beaten path” means to (dare to) go places which are uncommon, unusual, or more adventurous–places the average folks don’t try to (or want to) go.

Hi Alan, welcome to Legal Nomads and thanks for the comment. It’s true that technically ‘off the beaten path’ is somewhere where others have noted dared go, or where it’s difficult to visit or experience, but my point was a more philosophical one. Ultimately, in the search for that uncommon place we sometimes lose sight of the forest of all those micro moments that make up the whole of what makes travel exciting. While I understand the drive toward different, sometimes it’s equally as satisfying or exciting to look around you no matter how popular the path might be.

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Yet another great, thoughtful post, Jodi.

To me, getting “off the beaten path” just means doing something or going somewhere that pushes you slightly out of your comfort zone, like you said. It has to be slightly more strange than familiar. Because that’s when you are challenged and can get the most out of the experience. But, like you said, you don’t have to go halfway around the world in order to have this sort of experience. It can be striking up a conversation with a stranger on a subway, or signing up for an improv class when you’re terrified of being on the stage.

Like you said, I think we’re ultimately just looking to make connections. But I think a lot of wannabe travelers just assume that those connections can only be had away from home.

Hi Amanda, thank you for sharing your thoughts on the subject. Connections are what many of us seek, near and far – it’s part of what makes us all human, after all. As you’ve reiterated, I don’t think you need to get too far away from your own home to get that kind of ‘fix’ – you only need to keep your mind open to meeting and learning from those you encounter. Have a great rest of the weekend and safe travels to you too!

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I’ll go to the Sunday night market in Chiang Mai. I don’t care whether it’s on the path or off the path… good food, good ppl, I’m there!

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Gorgeous sentiment. And one I fully agree with.

Yes, “off the beaten track” is psychological. The beaten track is the way other people behave, governed by their decisions – and that applies to us as well. Stepping outside those grooves we beat into the world with our feet…that’s how to get there, whether by leaping on a plane or deciding to walk instead of taking the bus.

This really comes home to me when I have visitors. The best way to see your home town/city with new eyes is for new eyes to come visit you, forcing you to do the tour guide thing, and I always find the mark of time upon the things I’m showing people. “Oh, well, this used to be a restaurant but it’s gone now….ah, they’ve blocked this road off”. I realise the habits, the tracks I’ve fallen into.

All it takes is a step in a new direction, or a “hai” at a stranger. Agreed. :)

That’s precisely right – it’s always noticeable to show people around your own town, to reinvigorate what you’re used to under the umbrella of a visitor’s newness. Glad you enjoyed the post!

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I find the seemingly mundane everyday experiences to be the most fascinating in any country I travel to. Lovely post Jodi!

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Awesome post! I couldn’t agree more. People think that “exploring” must stop once they return home. But you can travel ANYWHERE in the world, even your hometown.

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For me, sometimes it just means going somewhere that is commonly overlooked, but it does not have to be far or in the middle of nowhere.

People just want to have a sense of adventure and most of the time it just comes from your inner feelings…And then it snowballs to – having a great find….or meeting new friends and forming new relationships.

Or if you are already with friends, your fun and adventurous self just rubs off with the rest of the group, and you all end up having a grand time! =)

Hi Glenda, I think that’s right. And as so many of these comments affirm, the mentality matters more than the destination. Safe travels to you too.

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Great post, as usual, Jodi. I think this ability to find “adventure” anywhere can definitely be learned. I would never have considered striking up a conversation at the beginning of my travel-life, but now I do it all the time. The more you do it, the less uncomfortable it will be.

I struck a conversation with a French guy in Chicago because I love France and ended up showing his friend from Rome around Detroit the next day. You never know what might happen when you start a conversation.

That’s very true, and as you’ve noted those random connections often lead to a chain of other interactions and meaningful friendship. Ruurd, for example, who commented earlier? He and I met in line for an ATM in Bariloche, and then weeks later he walked into my hostel’s common room at midnight with friends, in the north of Chile. We ended up travelling as a group to Santiago and seeing a football game and joking about how those meetings and greetings and random hellos end up turning into something more profound as time goes on. Thanks for reading, as always! :)

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Enjoyed this post Jodi. I’m of the same mindset. “Off the beaten path” has become somewhat of a cliche nowadays. Having spent years traveling around the world, we’ve now found that traveling around our big Canadian backyard has given us the same reward that previous “exotic” adventures did. At it’s core, its about doing things differently and constantly challenging your perceptions.

Thanks Cam. It’s that challenge that remains the most difficult, right? I’ve certainly found myself needing a break from the travels themselves, and sometimes I don’t want to challenge myself – I just want to rest up! But to those who think you need to get far away, I challenge them to try and look for the same thrill as they go about their lives, in addition to their far-flung adventures.

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I love this article Jodi. You are so right – off the beaten path does not necessarily mean some secret place. It can be right in front of you in a crowded city. We just have to be open to the experience.

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Lovely post, & I agree. Honestly, when I get questions about where people should go that “no one knows about,” it takes everything in me to keep from replying, “the people who LIVE THERE know about it – does that not count?”

The part about being more open to these kinds of encounters & conversations after traveling resonated with me, too. I feel like that’s one of the more useful gifts travel has given me – I’m more open to serendipity.

Hi Jessie. Thanks for the RT, too. You and I have talked about this in person, and I’m glad to see your comment here. The philosophy or remaining open to the randomness is what I was aiming for here, and serendipity is an excellent way of synthesizing the general feel. You never know who you’ll meet or who you will learn from and that’s what makes life so exciting.

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love this – my off the beaten path are things that make me happy – food, books, food shopping, coffee, helping people. :)

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I completely agree, I love traveling off the beaten path (hence my site’s title), but I also think this definition is so broad that it can cover almost every corner of the planet. I can’t even start listing all the offbeat places I’m discovering right in my hometown. Ok, I admit, I do come from a godforsaken village, abd when I come back from my travels I feel a bit a tourist, but sometimes even locals are amazed of the sites I went to see half an hour drive away. Sure, offbeat places are easier to find in an unknown village in the Himalayas than at the Taj Mahal, but what if you meet a camel farmer who lives just behind the Taj and you have the chance to have dinner with him and his family? That’s a great experience to me, and as you explained clearly, it’s more a matter of attitude than actually strive to find the off-the-beaten path.

Hi Angela, I find the same in New York, where I’ve lived for years but of course it isn’t my hometown. I’ll often take born and raised NYers to tiny street eats or restos they’ve never heard of, likely because so much is easy and accessible that they stop looking. The experience, as we define it, has less to do with the genuine isolation of a place and more to do with the sheer difference of the experience. In the case you listed, having dinner with a camel farmer and his family is so out of the ordinary for you and me and many others that it raises the experience to something offbeat and off-the-beaten-path. As you’ve said, you don’t need to be far away to get that feeling of difference. Thanks for reading!

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Some good points. And delicious looking pork and rice.

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Wow, I love this post in all sorts of ways. I was joking with some friends last week (new friends I have met since moving to New Zealand in January) that I hate large parties, but I can talk to any random person on the street. I think traveling forces us to open up in these ways, especially traveling alone. I have found myself recently yearning for connection, even though I have friends here now, I still find myself alone a lot, and while I tend to enjoy it, sometimes it is nice to be around others. These little moments of interaction, of sharing life while sardined together, are the best. They remind us, over and over again, just how much we all have in common.

Also, I love how you started this post about how everyone on the train has a story. I often walk down the street wondering about everyone’s story. The Rugby World Cup is happening right now in New Zealand, and while I know nothing about Rugby, I love the stories it is bringing to the country. Thanks for posting this. It brought me a huge, huge smile.

You make a very interesting point, which is that a series of experiences like those I’ve described do tend to make the quotidien more hollow, since you’ve connected to things more deeply than most people. Since many don’t look at the world as a series of interconnected links, that rapport is lacking and often (I think) contributes to the culture shock many of us feel in returning home after a long time abroad. I felt this way after coming back from Myanmar to Thailand; my days were so concentrated with new experiences that I felt like I was a fish out of water when I returned to Bangkok. This faded, of course, but it was initially jarring – and unexpected.

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Nice post, Jodi. It reminded me a post recently by financier/physicist/scrivener Emanual Derman where he says: “Because beneath the quotidian city the romance of an immigrant past in which everything is amazing and open to you is always lurking. Mundane people have romantic stories in their past. And romantic people have to do mundane city things.”

Of course, people say that New Yorkers are famously taciturn, but I would guess that it’s more a prisoner’s dilemma suboptimal equilibrium and you will be rewarded for some gregariousness in the cattle cars rattling beneath the streets of old New York.

That’s a wonderful quote, Jacob. Thank you for sharing.

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“Off the beaten path.” I honestly hate this phrase. It’s empty in meaning and using it implies there is this fixed physical path that all of us can walk on or veer off of. It’s more a mental, subjective concept for me — less a physical place and more, as Mike said, something psychological. It’s more about my attitude or approach, and/or my comfort zone (and stepping out of it), and has less to do with hunting for the “exotic” and the “authentic” in faraway or secluded places. “Going off the beaten path” could simply mean walking on 5th Street to downtown San Francisco from my house, instead of 2nd Street (my usual route). And my “beaten path” is different from yours, and everyone else’s.

On another note, I like the moment on the subway you describe, as it reminds me of those mundane-turned-memorable encounters I seem to experience at unexpected times with strangers: when I’m riding the bus, standing in line for coffee, or fishing for the right change in foreign currency at a kiosk…

Sure, taking time to trek to a remote coast of an island with no tourists is certainly amazing (and I’d never complain about doing stuff like this), but I seem to learn more about myself and how I relate to people in everyday situations in places like a crowded subway car. (And actually, those are the types of little moments I like writing about.)

I think many people (including many LN readers, if the comments here are any indication!) would agree that it’s a psychological connotation and not a physical one. As you’ve said, both near and far can be replete with opportunities like the ones I described or the bus rides you’ve alluded to here. What matters most is that you are open to this relativity and connection, and not as much that you are geographically elsewhere.

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Great post!

We were just pondering this general theme on a walk here at home base (Seattle).

Specifically, we were discussing whether or not we need to make more of an effort to do more off-the-beaten-path sorts of things when we travel. We spend so much time on the road that we kind of feel as though we’re obligated to stretch in this regard.

Talk then shifted to the benefit of off-the-beaten-path experiences in well-traveled places. We decided to do an immediate “mini-experiment.” We decided to return home from our walk in a way other than our usual path. Guess what? We came across a multi-acre protected forest area that we didn’t know existed. Embarrassingly… about a mile from our home.

Experiment successful.

We like the idea that off-the-beaten-path is right where you are. Whether you’re looking for unique travel experiences, friends, conversations, food, etc.

There’s always something new to uncover right under your own nose.

Hi Kent! Nice to see some NVR representation here – glad you enjoyed the post :) As you’ve said, right under your nose can be extremely satisfying or new or unique, if only you take the time to look. Nice to hear your experiment was successful in this regard. Safe travels to the both of you!

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This is a great piece. I have found that getting out of my comfort zone to interact with people during my travels has definitely enriched the experience. Those simple conversations or shared laughs have meant more to me than some of my attempts to get “off the beaten path.”

That’s exactly how I feel. Thanks for stopping by!

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What an insightful post my friend. I couldn’t agree with you more about how interactions with the people no matter where you are, can be just as or more fulfilling than seeing one more tourist sight on the old bucket list!

This article brought back memories of my last trip to Florence when my partner was sick for two days. While he slept and in between my periodic “rounds,” I ventured off to places by myself but it wasn’t until dinner that one night that I truly discovered it’s the people that add the “local flavor” wherever you are. I met the owners of a little restaurant who took me on a tour to meet “Mama” in the kitchen, one of the chefs, seated at a beautiful cafe and received exceptional service all night long! Then, as I began to eat, folks around me started talking to me and before we knew it, dinner was over and we were all exchanging info.

This was one of my most favorite off-the-beaten-path adventures and one that I seek out on every trip!

Thanks for such an awesome post!

Your experience is often the type of story I recount in explaining why I enjoy solo travel. Because I’m alone often, I’m more open to those connections. That’s not to say two people can’t be open to them, but rather that if you are actually talking to someone else, you might be missing some of these connecting opportunities. It’s nice to get a bit of both as you roam. Glad you enjoyed the post!

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I think it’s being willing to take off your headphones, get your nose of your book and open up to the world. I’m just as guilty as anyone as staying within my “comfort zone” even when I’m halfway across the world–but I find that when I manage to turn off my distractions, smile and start a conversation, that’s when I manage to find people who are willing to open up to me as well :) Great story–it reminds me of reading in the Melb newspaper of hearing one tram driver tell his tram to turn to the person next to them and say hello…even if it didn’t become lifelong friends, at least it reminded everyone that the people crowding you on your commute home are real people too!

That’s a great story – and good on the tram driver for encouraging meaningful interaction on his watch. That’s actually how Pam started WDS in Portland too, telling all of us to turn to the person nearest to us and give them a big hug. A split second of awkwardness followed by 500 people breathing a sigh of relief. Very effective!

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My whole being “shouted” “yes!” when I read this! Finding myself stone broke and unable to travel over a year and a half ago now I decided to look around me as if I was a stranger to my island, and now I can’t believe how little I knew before! I’ve met people I never would have met if I’d had another mindset. Even walking my dog, for example, I have interesting conversations every week. There are times I smile at another dog owner and say “Hola,” and they ignore me, and I just feel sorry for them, not opening up to new possibilities!

Thank you Linda! The mindset is what matters and those who are open to meeting new people benefit the most. Thanks, as always, for reading :)

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Nice post, Jodi! I like how you wrote about being more open to talking with people. Since travelling i have felt the same way. Well, I was never shy but I am much more willing now to go and talk to people, find out what they are doing, how they are. I love talking to all the people in our neighborhood here in Chiang Mai, asking them how their days are, how their families are, etc. It is fun to learn Thai from them, they love quizzing me when i come back! I love waving to the people in the neighborhood on the way home and having them recognize my face and wave back. And THESE are the authentic travel memories I hold dear. There are many stories where we have been ‘taken in’ by someone and experienced something ‘different’ but I also love the relationships that I am forming that are, well, normal. Getting out and interacting is what we need to do. To me, that is a bit off the beaten path.

Monique, our story is a perfect indicator too – we only met because we decide to start chatting at breakfast, which led to biriyani and of course the rest was history! I enjoyed spending time with you in Chiang Mai or Burma or wherever in part because you love watching everything; you pay attention to all the little hiccups that make a place special. I’m sure you’ve got a multitude of stories now that you’re teaching in Thailand – can’t wait to hear about them when I’m back!

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I think off the beaten path is more of a state of mind than an actual location. It means going where you didn’t anticipate to go, both physically and mentally. It means letting travel take its course without too much extra thought.

I so agree with JoAnna. A few months back I was a bit down and really stumped to find anything worth writing about (despite what I said previously), and a fellow blogger pointed out to me that things I do, see and experience in daily life might seem exotic to folk living, say, in northern Canada, because all our lifestyles are different and we can all learn from each other.

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This is wonderful, Jodi. So well said. I think what people are really looking for are “out of the ordinary” experiences, and you can have those anywhere, with the right openness, attitude, and patience. And let’s face it, there will come a time when there are no more “secret” places left on Earth–they will all have been thoroughly explored and written about–and what then, if you’re an “off the beaten path junkie”? Outer Space?

Hilariously, my brother and I have a “continent war” – whoever gets to all the continents first, wins. He keeps trying to throw outer space into the mix but I am standing firm. ;) Yes, secrecy is a relative term, and as even the more remote places become accesible, the original “social clout” of getting there is less important. What matters, then, is the experience, and as you’ve said it’s far more about attitude than anything else.

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Wow, Jodi. Why have I only now found this blog? Your words are incredible… They speak so much wisdom and truth and create such vivid images with your descriptions.

I’m about to start my ‘lifelong’ travels in 5 weeks time and you’ve pretty much summed up exactly how I feel about ‘off the beaten path’. I do think experiences come with not trying so hard to be “different”. It comes with observation and really just talking to those people around you and getting to know them. :)

Thank you Ceri. Thrilled you’ve enjoyed the site and that you found it resonates with you. Best of luck to you in your upcoming travels, and may they be filled with experiences like these.

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I so enjoyed reading this! As someone who loves to travel and a psych major, people and different cultures amaze and astound me. I meet people on the subway, in coffee shops, everywhere here in New York, even meeting one of my boyfriends through one of these interactions! My friends are often amazed at my openness and ease at meeting and talking to other people, but I’ve realized that it is just about being aware of the actual stories within each individual around you. I’m glad other people have these connections as well, because I feel like it’s one of the most important things about human life. I appreciate you bringing this to light. Thank you again!

Thank you Aakriti. I’m glad you enjoyed the post and that you feel it resonated with you. The combination of studying psychology and seeing it in action as you travel must be a rewarding one indeed. Safe travels to you and thanks for reading!

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Hi Jodi. I just hooked on your site, especially with this theme. Being from a developing country, people still often ask me where to go once your here. I thought being in a developing country was ‘off the beaten track’ enough. Guess not. I have the same question. What is off the beaten track? With so many people and easier ways to travel, is there really a place yet to be discovered? And the question is, with the convenience we gain everyday, are we really ready for the real ‘off the beaten track’ experience. My definition is, to see what the common people can not. It could be in a bus, tram, or in your own neighborhood.

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I agree with Lauren.When you travel you meet new people and learn the habits and customs of every country you visit… i love travelling…

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Is there really any “hidden” gems any more? The problem with the gems are that someone tells someone who then tells their friend who then blogs about it and that gem is gone. Especially when one gem means something completely different to someone else, for example just finding a lighthouse for me is an awesome experience but that is due to my Mum loving them rather than anything special. Hence it is not going to be as special when I tell someone to hike along a deserted track to get the same view. Thanks for sharing!

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Great post. I agree that sometimes the “hidden gems” and off-the-beaten-path places are right in front of us, and there are great experiences to be had if we are aware of them.

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Manhattan is so beautiful in Jnauary..I was there in 2004 and snowed….so beautiful….thanks for the photos..

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Wow loved the post. Doing something makes each place special and unique to you gets you off the beaten track more than going somewhere “secret”(which hundreds of other people know about). thank you for defining what off the beaten track actually is not what most people think it is.

Thank you Ryan! Glad you for reading and I’m happy to hear the post resonated with you. Safe travels!

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Your post is so true! Off the beaten path for me is reaching past my comfort zone – leaving my beaten path (9-5 everyday grind)and getting out to explore, experience and discover the rest of what the world has to offer.

I’m glad the post resonated with you, Kimberly. Yes, definitely pushing limits – that’s the key (in my mind, at least) to getting off your own personal path. Safe travels to you!

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When I travel of the beaten track, I usually meet only few tourists and adventures. The infrastructure is not the best and sometimes not even minibuses cover the “road”. Of the beaten track could also mean for me to be independent and organize the trip myself. Going on a bicycle tour with friends with only a map and ask local people for the direction. Of the beaten track could also be buying a “guide book” to avoid the places in the guide book :-)

I think you’re missing my point :)

I am not quite sure, if I missed it completely. Your article is great and I think you project “off the beaten path” to discover and to open up for new things, take new paths and be open minded to people. When I travel, as I described, I do the same, just in a different environment. For me talking to tourists and fellow travelers is a routine, a routine like leaving the house and going the same road every day. I go out without a plan and I am open to spontaneous chats, invitations and discoveries. Letting the path decide my direction.

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I agree, wholeheartedly. In people’s rush to discover the “hidden gems” and “places no one has been before”, I feel like they have forgotten that these experiences can happen anywhere. Just today I walked a different route to work and discovered a beautiful, multi-coloured home that I have never before seen — “off the beaten path” in the city I have called home, on-and-off, for 10 years. Thanks for sharing this story and for encouraging all of us to look for those undiscovered hidden gems in our daily lives. xx

Thanks Veena! The point was ‘off the beaten path’ is an internal thought process more than an outer place, and if you’re not in the state of openness that connecting to others requires, you can go as far away as you’d like but potentially come up empty. Glad you liked the piece! :)

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I saw you shared this post on your facebook page and thought I’d want to read it later. I am glad I did. Beautifully written and so full of meaning. I really value human interaction and to me it even is slightly pointless to talk about off the beaten path places, especially in big cities like New York, London or Rome where pretty much everybody comes from somewhere else. Besides, what does it matter? We all have a story to share, and chances are that we don’t really need to go to a remote place that tourists will never find to actually hear that story. I have had some of the most interesting and local experiences in the most touristic destinations, just because I sat on a bench and exchanged a few words with the person sitting next to me, leading to a lovely conversation. Again, great post!!

Thank you Claudia! Glad that the post resonated :)

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Everyone is too locked into the every day hustle. For me off the beaten path is going for a hike. It get’s me away from people. I’ve scene the most amazing things on my hikes. When I’m out a tourist location and want to escape, I look for a trail. People need to look for the genuine experiences that resonates with them.

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I moved to Greece many years ago and reading your post I realized I felt living off the beaten track for all those years in my new home country. Maybe because I am a foreigner which has learned to speak Greek, I open up much more easily to people than I did in my home country. And definitely Greeks open up more easily to me, as they still see me as a foreigner. This has resulted in numerous conversations I would never have had in my home country. Every day I still hear new things and see a world different than I grew up in. My life definitely feels like I am living off the beaten track.

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Well-written Jodi, So did you take up the Russian lady’s invite and go to her place for dinner? My experience has been when you actually take people up on those types of invites—the ones you make and agree on while tacitly acknowledging they’re unlikely to ever take place—is when the real “off-the-beaten-path” experience happens and the connection goes from ephemeral to life-long. In other words, always take people up on their invites to their homes! (Unless they look like they might eat you…)

Yes, I did. As you’ve said, those are the experiences that bloom into something a lot more substantial in terms of learning and memory.

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Idioms Meaning

Idioms Meaning

Get off the beaten path

meaning travel off the beaten path

The phrase ‘get off the beaten path’ is a figurative expression that refers to the idea of taking a different approach or route than the one that is expected or more commonly used.

I wanted to have an adventure, so I decided to get off the beaten path and explore an uncharted area.

Why don’t we get off the beaten path and try something new?

I’m tired of going to the same places, let’s get off the beaten path and find something different to do.

The idiom ‘get off the beaten path’ first appeared in the early 19th century in the United States. It was likely derived from the idea of a horse or wagon that veers from a well-worn road and goes into uncharted territory.

What does ‘get off the beaten path’ mean?

It means to take an unconventional or unexpected approach or route as opposed to the one that is typically used.

Can this phrase be used literally?

Yes, it can be used both figuratively and literally.

off the beaten track/path

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Off The Beaten Path Definition

(idiomatic) In a secluded location; in a place which is not frequently visited or not widely known .

(idiomatic) To a secluded location; to a place which is not frequently visited or not widely known .

Off The Beaten Path Sentence Examples

This prom jewelry collection is off the beaten path of vintage jewelry and yet is very elegant.

It goes off the beaten path and is the road less traveled.

That means that you will always get the inside scoop on cool, off the beaten path places to check out while you're in town.

Get ready for a taste of cultural immersion as you are taken off the beaten path and into the reality of Chinese culture.

In other words, be prepared to search around for something slightly off the beaten path.

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  • off-the-beaten-path
  • off-the-beaten-track
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  • off-the-chain
  • off-the-charts

off the beaten path

  • 1.1 Pronunciation
  • 1.2.1 Synonyms

English [ edit ]

Pronunciation [ edit ], prepositional phrase [ edit ].

  • 1915 , B. M. Bower , chapter 10, in Jean of the Lazy A : Jean had thought that the prowler might be some tramp who had wandered far off the beaten path of migratory humans.
  • 2005 December 30, “ Microsoft Confirms Windows Flaw ”, in Time : Only a small group of websites, well off the beaten path of most surfers, contain the malicious code.

Synonyms [ edit ]

  • off the beaten track

meaning travel off the beaten path

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meaning travel off the beaten path

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The ultimate guide to travelling off the beaten path

In this article we will discover a different kind of travel, far from the classic tourist destinations and "best places to visit in..." Let's travel off the beaten path.

meaning travel off the beaten path

Joanna Joanna Roams Free - Ethical and Responsible Travel

Aug 16, 2023

off the beaten path

When planning trips people usually turn to guidebooks and blogs. Those often suggest a certain route with stops at the same touristic hotspots. However, there is so much more to every country.

Whilst all travel can be a fulfilling and incredible experience no matter where you go and what you do, travelling off the beaten track can fill you with even more fulfilment and excitement.

It is a great way to step out of your comfort zone even more, become a more experienced traveller, immerse yourself in the local culture and learn about the country and its people. By omitting tourist hotspots, you also don’t contribute to over tourism and get to explore places without any crowds or entry fees.

A more fulfilling and satisfying travelling experience is possible with a little bit of experience and a dash of bravery!  

How to travel off the beaten path

meaning travel off the beaten path

I have travelled to some off the beaten path locations and have done some things that you will not find in a guidebook. I would like to share my tips with you!

In this guide you will learn:

1. What is travel off the beaten path?

2. why travel off the beaten path.

3. How to find the locations?

4. Things to consider prior to your adventure.

Traveling off the beaten path is going to places that are undiscovered by mass tourism . It is finding ‘hidden gems’ and exploring them. It is going to places that are not in guidebooks or blogs.

It is an immersive way to travel, where you get to see how locals live when the tourists are not around and seeing the country through the eyes of the local. It is a conscious way to travel, where you are more mindful of your journey and come out with a richer awareness of the country.

It is travelling with a purpose – to grow and expand your horizons. It is traveling that every Worldpacker would enjoy!

meaning travel off the beaten path

When I travel, I always enjoy fully soaking in the places that I go to. I always want to fully immerse myself in the culture and the customs. Otherwise, I feel like I haven’t really gotten to know the country and I don’t feel satisfied.

Don’t get me wrong. Even if all you do is follow the touristic route and only stop at the hotspots, and do the ‘’top things to do’’ … That’s okay!

You can travel the way you want to and the way you feel comfortable! But getting off the touristic path is a great way to truly get to know the country that you’re exploring.

Travelling like this might not be for everyone . It is more challenging. More scary, sometimes even risky. Going to places where there are no signposts, no internet and no other travellers will be more challenging.

You will be forced to step out of your comfort zone, and this is rarely comfortable. But that is when the growth happens.

However, if you’re on Worldpackers , chances are that you would enjoy this kind of adventure. It’s normal to feel anxious about it, and for me it’s just a sign that I should do it! Perhaps this is something you’ve been wanting to do for a longer while but didn’t know how.

3. How to find those "off the beaten path" locations?

1. Volunteer with Worldpackers.

2. Follow local travellers.

3. Befriend locals.

4. Join Facebook groups for expats.

5. Choose your accommodation based on location.

meaning travel off the beaten path

Volunteering with Worldpackers

No doubt volunteering with Worldpackers is one of the best ways to travel off the beaten path. It is also one of the safest, so great if you’re just beginning.

Choose ‘ home stay ’ in ‘volunteering opportunities’ and use keywords such as ‘local’ or ‘community’ for opportunities where your host will be a local family.

This might place you in a town or a neighbourhood far away from tourist attractions and hostels, making it easier for you to connect with the locals living in town, like this amazing experience in Japan.

In addition to this, your host family might even be generous enough to show you around their area and take you to undiscovered spots. Simply tagging along with your host while they are doing their daily errands will show you a different side of the country.

  • Become an English teacher in Tanzania and discover the little known town of Kigamboni.
  • Help with the conservation of a natural paradise in the jungles of Northern Peru .
  • Give a hand with daily tasks at a local homestay in beautiful Malaga, Spain .

Follow local travel content creators

You probably follow a lot of travellers on your Instagram already, but try to focus on finding travel Instagrammers that are from the country you want to travel in . They are more likely to know all the hidden gems.

You can find those Instagram accounts by searching for hashtags such as #visitpanama, #travelnicaragua or #lovecostarica. Use the ‘recent’ tab to find lots of profiles. Focus on finding a local and explore their page to find something that you have not seen before, it might as well be an undiscovered gem!

Pay attention to profiles suggested by Instagram, mentions and tags in that person’s profile.

There are also Instagram accounts that are run by tourism boards for example @peru.destinations. Those often reshare posts by other Instagrammers. Although most often those will be of the popular spots, it can still lead you to local travel Instagrammers or a spot that you have not known about before!

Apart from Instagram, Youtube is another great place to find some inspiration. Using keywords such as ‘off the beaten path’ or ‘hidden gems’ and spend some time watching few vlogs.

If possible, you can also read blogs in the local language, using translator if needed.

You can even send a message to your favourite accounts and ask them for recommendations!

Which brings me to my next tip…

Befriend locals

Hanging out with the locals is my favourite way to find hidden gems! Your local friends might not only tell you about those places but perhaps even take you there and spend time with you. This way, you really are getting the local experience.

You can even simply ask any local what their favourite place in the area is. Ask your hostel receptionist, bartender, fruit vender or the next person that chats you up.

Personally, I love to use Couchsurfing and Worldpackers to connect with locals. Using those websites will connect you with people that will be very happy to host you, show you around and connect with you on a personal level ensuring cultural exchange on both sides.

Many locals enjoy having visitors around and would be happy to show you around and share their admiration for their country with you.

More so, if you’re travelling in non-touristy places the locals will appreciate your presence and the fact that you choose to visit their area and financially support their communities (which is another great reason to travel to less popular destinations!).

I know this might seem like a scary step, and sometimes the language barrier might make it seem impossible. You can use google translate to make it easier (and more fun!).

For more on this topic, you can read:  5 actionable ways to live like a local while traveling   and  Why you should travel like a local (even if it scares you) .

meaning travel off the beaten path

Join Facebook groups for expats

This will connect you with yet another variety of people that might have deep knowledge of the area.

Type in the name of the country that you are interested in followed by ‘expats’ and ask for suggestions of hidden gems. Since expats most likely love to travel too, they would have explored the area already, so the chances of them knowing some hidden gems are high.

Expats will most likely speak English too, and perhaps will be willing to join you on some adventures. This might be a great concept if you don’t yet feel ready to go off the beaten trail completely.

Use ‘map’ filter when booking your accommodation

You can use this tip on websites such as Airbnb, Booking or Hostelworld and even Worldpackers. Simply have your results displayed on a map and pay attention to the ones that are further away from the hotspots.

When looking for accommodations off the beaten track I find Airbnb to be my favourite. That’s because I find the experience more personal, and I often bond with the host as well and sometimes become a part of their family.

I used this tip in Peru and I’ve found myself in a little village 40 minutes moto taxi ride away from the main town. As I was exploring the area, I could see a family celebrate birthday of one of the kids. They sang, danced, and laughed and as they seen me walk past, they waved at me and invited me for a cake! I got to spend two hours playing with the kids and conversing with the family. It was a very authentic experience, that I wouldn’t find if I stayed in a backpacker’s hostel.

I have used all the tips above to find my off the beaten path spots so far. Generally, engaging with the locals is the best way. ‘Travel like a local’ is a slogan I think about when I think about traveling off the beaten path. Therefore, spark up the conversation with the bystander, sign up to Couchsurfing, or join your Worldpackers host on their next errand trip!

4. Things to consider prior to your off the beaten path adventure

Now that you know what travel off the beaten path is and how to do it , I want to share some of the things you should consider before you set off for your adventure:

1. It requires more research and planning.

2. Consider going with a guide.

3. Could be riskier.

4. Can get lonely.

5. Could make you into a hardcore traveller!

meaning travel off the beaten path

It requires more research and planning

Since your location will be off the tourist trail you probably won’t find any information about it in a guidebook. The information you will find on the internet might be very limited, not in English or not updated.

You should plan your journey thoroughly and consider things like:

1. There might not be direct transport to your destination . You might have to combine different types of transports to get there. This means the journey might take a longer. Make sure that you set off early so that you have a full day to get there, and you do not get stuck or lost somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the dark.

2. There might not be any ATMs , so make sure you have more than enough cash on you to pay for bus tickets, taxis or a bottle of water.

3. Signal might be non-existent or very weak . Make sure that you have your maps downloaded. Maps.me is always a great help if I have no internet connection, as it allows you to download the maps and use them offline.

I do my research by reading or watching whatever is available on the internet. I also ask a lot of people if they know something about that place and try and gather as much information as I can.

Always have a plan B and note accommodations on the way just in case things do not go to plan.

Guide might be needed

Since the attractions will likely not be signposted and they might be hard to find on maps, using a local as a guide is a good idea .

A local guide that knows the area well will lead you to your desired location. This way you will get there safe and without getting lost.

My favourite way of finding a guide are Facebook groups. Simply, find a group for travellers in your destination. There you will find locals offering their guiding services. Those guides usually work as freelancers. Contact a few and explain that you would like to see places that aren’t touristic and see what they can offer you.

A good guide will have a website or a social media account where you will be able to read some credentials. If not, I would advise against working with them and instead choose someone that has satisfactory reviews or has been recommend to you.

Could be more risky

Traveling to places that are not frequented by tourists can come with some risks.

It is important that you ask locals if they know this area and if they consider it safe. Ensure that you are aware what the dangerous parts of the country are and perhaps reconsider going there, unless you will be accompanied by a trusted guide and already have some experience traveling.

Be extra cautious in those areas and use your common sense to avoid going into areas that do not seem safe. Ensure that you let someone know where you are going, with who and for how long.

meaning travel off the beaten path

Could get lonely, especially if you are travelling solo

As most people prefer to follow the tourist trail, you might not see many other foreigners in off the beaten trail destinations. For some of you this might be great, but many travellers like to spend time with other tourists.

You won’t find any backpacker’s hostels in your destination. Depending on your style of traveling, this might not be something you will enjoy, so do take this into consideration.

With no other foreigners around, locals might not be accustomed to visitors in their towns, you might get more stares and feel out of place which might make you feel uncomfortable.

In situations like this, a warm smile and a "hello" in their language could go a long way. When you express genuine interest and are open, the locals will be much more inclined to make you feel welcome.

You might become a hardcore traveller!

meaning travel off the beaten path

Since you will be traveling to places that people haven’t seen or heard of before, you’re bound to receive some amazing reactions from your friends, family, or your followers!

Taking the road less travelled will make you a more experienced, confident, and fearless traveller . Those experiences will truly make you grow and only fuel your love and passion for travel.

Furthermore, travelling beyond the tourist path is extremely exciting and addictive! It might become your new favourite way to travel, and you might never want to go back to the traditional way of travelling.

Some experiences can even be life changing . Those experiences will give you something to talk about for years to come and create lifelong memories.

Hopefully this guide has not only explained how to travel off the beaten path but also inspired you to give it a try. 

Keep reading: Top 15 beautiful and cheap countries to travel in the world  and  Best hidden gems in Europe .

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Joanna Nowak

Joanna Roams Free - Ethical and Responsible Travel

Hey! My name is Joanna, and I have been travelling full time for over 3 years now. During my travels I like to explore the social, political and economic affairs of the countries I visit. I love to learn more about locals and their lives in their homes. I love to dive deep and get off the beaten path to see what the country is really like when the tourists are not looking. I value and always prioritise responsible and raw travel that leaves positive impact on the society and myself.

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meaning travel off the beaten path

May 10, 2023

Terraria is an adventure game similar to Minecraft in that you may dig, battle, explore, and construct! https://terrariagame.io

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Home » Budget Travel » Why You SHOULD Travel Off the Beaten Path (2024)

Why You SHOULD Travel Off the Beaten Path (2024)

My friend, write your own story. Always.

That is why I travel off the beaten path. Because this is MY story.

The problem with the over-touristed world that we live in is that we get used to the convenience. Life-defining experiences are a commodity, spiritual wisdom is auctioned off to the highest bidder, and, ultimately, you aren’t writing your own story: you’re just sold somebody else’s.

The truth is, amigos, that the best things in life have to be earned. 

  • That’s why the sunrise you just hiked 10 kilometres for steals your breath away just a little more deftly.
  • That’s why crossing a border by land brings an extra sense of giddy glee that catching another flight never could.
  • That’s why a long hitchhiking journey always feels so more satisfying than another long haul on the bus.
  • And that’s why the doobie at the end of the long hitch tastes just that much better.

This post is something of an off the beaten path travel guide. I’m going to tell you my favourite offbeat travel destinations around the world and what you need to do to prepare for them.

But more importantly, I want to inspire you. The world is so big and so beautiful and there are so many life-changing experiences waiting for you out there. But you’ll never find them if you never leave the tourist bubble.

This isn’t an article to decry the easily and over-stomped tourist trail, but it is about why you SHOULD travel off the beaten path.

There are great things waiting out there for you. You just have to earn them.

girl in a pink top with travel tattoos looking at mountains

What is Offbeat Travel?

Top off the beaten path destinations, your off the beaten path travel guide: last few tips.

Offbeat travel is my happy place. I’ve travelled a lot of places in my long and decorated career as a budget backpacker . And A LOT of them have been fairly busy with touristic action…

But the places that truly resonated with me the most in my travels? They were the places far from the taxi cabs and ticketed attractions. They were the places where I nary saw another tourist at all (and, sometimes, nary another soul).

Look, the first thing I want you to understand is that offbeat travel is NOT adventure travel. You’re going to hear me talk a lot about cic, raw, off-the-Richter adventures because that’s ma homeboy; that’s my style and that’s how I like to travel off the beaten path.

But you don’t have to go glacial trekking in Greenland seeking the last woolly mammoth to be an offbeat traveller. Offbeat travel is simply travel that…

  • Takes you off the tourist trail and away from the hotspots the tourists frequent.
  • Takes you right out of your comfort zone.

Y’know, volunteering in a foreign country (for example) usually IS travelling off the beaten path. You’re generally far from any tourist hubs, living with a local community, and doing something you’ve never done before. 

A crew of unusual tourists volunteering in Vietnam

Maybe you’ve never picked tea or built a swamp cottage or milked a goat but pretty soon you’ll be doing all three! At the same time! And you’ll look damn fine why you do it.

Similarly, busking, dumpster diving, and pitching hammocks in parks across the European continent is certainly no high-altitude, high-octane adventure, but it’s damn sure offbeat. Wear a funny hat while you’re at it: unusual tourist status achieved!

The meaning of offbeat travel is not to go toe-to-toe with the ghost of Evil Kneivel on who can do the stupidest thing quicker. Off the beaten path travel is an experience open to EVERYONE; all you need is a curious heart, a dash of bravery, and a willingness to venture in the opposite direction that the Insta influencers are telling you to go.

At the end of the day, if you were going backpacking in New Zealand and instead of immediately jumping on a tourist charter to Milford Sound, you instead hitchhiked to Fortrose for a southeastern sunrise, that’d be offbeat travel. 

Where the fuck is Fortrose?

That’s my whole damn point.

meaning travel off the beaten path

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And Why Should You Travel Off the Beaten Path

Because it’s the best way to travel. There – I said it (again). That’s your spicy hot take of the month.

It’s good to be open, understanding, and level-headed to all perspectives on travel, of course. But sometimes, you just gotta drop the pansy-ass wishy-washy shit and say what you really think!

Offbeat tourism is the BEST type of tourism. Because it doesn’t really feel like tourism.

Here’s the dirty little secret people in the tourism industry don’t want you knowing: tourism is fucked. It’s a necessary evil of our world, capitalism, and the economics of local communities, but we’re living in the age of rampant overtourism made only worse by an unquenchable society-wide thirst to maximise every tiny experience (and then boast about it on their socials). And travelling glued to your phone isn’t fixing anything either.

The damage is starting to show.

Tourist trails don’t produce sincere and authentic travel experiences: they produce itineraries. And the locals on these tourist trails aren’t bursting with excitement to greet another foreigner: they smile and nod hoping that it will increase the tip they receive.

But the jaded disposition against tourists melts away once you make the effort to really explore a country. Sincerity is rewarded with sincerity.

traveling as a couple dating abroad

Another backpacker in Byron Bay will ALWAYS be ‘just another bloody tourist’ . But jump on the ferry and scoot on over to the west coast of Tasmania and the response will be very different…

“Crikey! What the hell you doin’ down here, mate? …Can I buy you a beer?”

Often, when we travel off the beaten path, it can feel like the Gods of Backpakistan are favouring our bold moves. But really, people are.

People see a lone foreigner getting lost a long way from home and a long way from glitzy hotels and overcrowded beachfronts and they want to be kind to them. They want to show them their home and give a wayward traveller a point of connection.

And, ultimately, you can rock up for a Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan or another ditzy selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower, but you wouldn’t be writing your own story then. You’d just be doing what all the other tourists do.

Offbeat tourism is the best kind of tourism because it’s NOT tourism.

It’s travel.

Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

That’s why offbeat travel is the ULTIMATE form of travel, but it’s not necessarily why I travel off the beaten path. (At least, not entirely.)

Growth begins at the edge of your comfort zone: this is the whittler’s blade that I’ve carved much of my adult life with. This is the mantra that underpins The Broke Backpacker Manifesto and ideology as a whole.

I like travelling off the beaten track, but I ain’t a busker and it’s been a long time since I volunteered. I travel raw and I travel in a way that challenges me physically and mentally.

For the longest time, I was a grade-A hustler of the budget backpacking arts. Sleeping rough, hitchhiking, travelling overland, travelling with barely any money , and scraping by on my own wits and ingenuity to achieve my goals; these activities were my daily routine.

I kept pushing from one obscure travel destination to another. India taught me a lot; Venezuela dealt me some harsh truths. Myanmar was like stepping back in time. Iran was irresistible. And Pakistan?

girl at rush lake backpacking in pakistan

I wanted to be the very best (like no one ever was). But not as a traveller; as a person.

See, the more I pushed myself, the more I realised I was getting stronger. Physically, sure, but emotionally and mentally – that’s the most important thing. That’s exactly why I was travelling in the first place.

The trekking, the motorbiking, the sleeping in caves: these things aren’t necessary for breaking off the tourist trail. But I think it’s fair to say that a lot of offbeat travellers are drawn to these kinds of epic adventures (and, coincidentally, bombin’ mountains).

Maybe we’re just loose cannon adrenaline junkies, but I like to think more poetically. I like to think that when go the places and the things that scare us, our hearts beat harder and faster. And we can feel it.

And we know that we’re growing.

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Right, so now you know why you should kick that tourist trail to the curb and head to pastures more wacky and wild! So… where are those pastures?

Honestly, there are still heaps of undiscovered holiday destinations (or, at least, semi-discovered) and offbeat tourist attractions around the world waiting for your keen adventurer’s eyes. However, one of the points I really want to drive home with this article is that you can travel off the beaten track ANYWHERE. You just have to make a concerted effort to leave the tourist bubble and backpacker hubs.

Besides, if you’ve been around The Broke Backpacker’s neck of the woods at all, you already know what my top recommendation is going to be…

girls sitting on top of a 4wd car in green meadow in pakistan

I know I said that offbeat isn’t adventure travel, but let’s be real: the two are made for each other. They go together like peas and carrots. And Pakistan is that creamy mash that you mix that shit into!

Pakistan is a MUST-VISIT offbeat destination for any and all lovers of adventure travel, world-class trekking, fucking unreal mountain ranges, insane motorbike romps, or just some delish charas and chai.

I first explored Pakistan on a backpacking trip in 2016 back when it was easily one of the most off the beaten path travel destinations in the world. Online info was scant and every day was an adventure into the unknown!

These days, Pakistan is progressively climbing its way onto people’s radars (which is exactly why you need to get yo’ ass over there NOW). It just goes to show that these incredible offbeat travel destinations blow up for a reason, and then they don’t stay offbeat for long!

Pakistan is defined by its mesmerising landscapes, the people and their unrelenting warmth, and, of course, the hiking opportunities that left me with a sense of inner-contentment that I still don’t find anywhere else in the world. Pakistan is a home to me, and it’s the reason I endeavour to inspire people to travel to the places that might seem frightening: to find that same feeling.

Sometimes, the places we’re told not to go are the most beautiful of all.

484 pages with cities, towns, parks, and ALL the out-of-the-way places you will WANT to know. If you truly want to discover Pakistan , download this PDF .

meaning travel off the beaten path

Mmm, segue, amigos! For Iran to Pakistan, I’m feeling another peas and carrots metaphor. Maybe it’s just like good sex to even better sex!

Iran is a perfect example of why so many of the off the beaten path travel destinations that we’re told not to go are EXACTLY where you SHOULD go. It’s also a perfect example of why offbeat travel doesn’t need to have adrenaline-pumping adventures attached.

When I say that disengaging from the tourist mumbo-jumbo leaves you with a more authentic travel experience, this is why. A local in Iran doesn’t see a foreign traveller and immediately think, “Argh, an infidel. We must behead them in the streets!”

They get giddy with elation at the chance to meet a foreigner. They think:

“Shit, this person could have gone anywhere. Thailand, Paris, Berlin… But they came here. They must really genuinely be interested in Iran and my home…

Two Persian woman offering an offbeat traveller some sweets

Iran is not a slam-dunk of world-class adventure tourism material (although it’s bloody beautiful). It’s a chance to travel somewhere with an intoxicating culture, unbelievably hospitable people, and a deeply complex history and society that somehow adds to the beauty (despite what elements you may disagree with).

Travelling Iran is an opportunity to see the world with your own eyes through the power of offbeat travel. You find your own truth through experience. I promise you: the lies we’ve been told by the media are just that.

It’s an exquisite country, one of my all-time backpacking heavyweight champions, and the fact that it’s still one of the cheapest destinations for an off the beaten path vacation is just a little bit of corn on top.

Y’know… to go with your peas and carrots.

Central Asia

Get in before it booms! I’m telling you – the Central Asia boom is coming.

The Stan brothers of the Great Steppes of Eurasia bring both adventure travel, overland travel AND offbeat tourism in droves… because there is barely any tourism! Ever wanted to just ride a horse, hunt wildlife, and drink vodka under the stars? Well, you do now, so get your ass to Central Asia!

Specifically, Central Asia encompasses:

  • Turkmenistan

Of these, Kazakhstan arguably boasts the most entrenched tourism scene (but you’re really stretching the meaning of ‘entrenched’ ). Meanwhile, backpacking in Kyrgyzstan is a phenomenal experience with landscapes that genuinely do leave you stunned that such a pristine gem could still exist.

Yurts on a flat backdropped by snowcapped mountains in Kyrgyzstan - - next undiscovered holiday destination

Central Asia (and particularly Kyrgyzstan) were creeping up pre-pandemic as some of the best off the beaten path travel destinations to plan your next trip to. Now, with the world beginning to slowly open up, you have an entire region of low population density and heavenly landscapes borderline unexplored by foreign tourists desperate to show you what they got.

Ever wondered why the Celestial Mountains are in Kyrgyzstan? Because it’s outta this fucking world.

A Few More of My Favourite Offbeat Travel Destinations

Because three just wasn’t enough! The world is abundant with wicked off the beaten path destinations; you just gotta put your traveller pants on.

Landscape in Georgia - best off the beaten path destination near Europe

The Caucasus region is the kind of place that when you tell people where you went, they say: “Oh cool, what’s that taste like?”

Specifically, the Caucasus region includes:

  • Azerbaijan (although I have it on good authority that Azerbaijan is a bit dull).

Mixing unreal landscapes with an ever-growing growing digital nomad scene and an old as balls (and, at times, dark as balls) history, the Caucasus is set to boom. And if it doesn’t? Well… that’s even better!

A misty castle at sunrise in Slovenia - offbeat tourist attraction in Eastern Europe

Travelling Western Europe is top-notch! Except you’re paying top dollar for what is, by far and large, more of the same – relative normalcy (but with better wine).

Scoot yo’ patootie over to the east side of Europe, however, and you get something much more beguiling. Cheaper, grittier, and cut just a bit rougher around the edges, Eastern Europe beckons all offbeat travellers souring the continent. Particularly…

  • Backpacking across Eastern Europe .
  • And an adventure travelling the Balkan countries .

There are still offbeat travel destinations in Europe and they do tantalise the senses. Things get wilder over there – take a party hat.

Local boys paddling a canoe beneath a mountain in Venezuela

I visited Venezuela sometime after it all went to shit but before it went even more to shit. It’s a good example of how going to the real  ‘Do Not Go’ zones can reap the ripest rewards.

Venezuela is a whole other world – an ecstatic culture and vibrant people walled off by the unjustness of the world. It’s certainly less than accessible right now, but when the opportunity arises, go to Venezuela.  You won’t be disappointed. (To clarify though, don’t go at the moment – it is simply too dangerous.)

Trekking in Myanmar

Another country that, tragically, is less than accessible right now. But when Myanmar does begin to shake itself off once more, do consider going on a backpacking trip there .

Myanmar is a chance for the Southeast Asia experience that once was when Southeast Asia could still be considered travelling off the beaten path. The mouth-watering food, the humbling architecture, the diversity of the land – these are all good reasons to visit Myanmar. But really, the true pull is the people.

People are happy – they smile. They’re far from cynical. They’re delighted just to meet a foreigner, and then to talk to one too? Mind. Blown.

It’s good vibes in Myanmar.

A Palestinian woman with a flag behind her at a protest in Palestine

Israel is a guaranteed good time. Hummus, joints, and husky-voiced locals with perfect sculpted abdominal muscles (feeding you hummus and joints). But travelling Israel is a dichotomy; it breaks the heart as much as it feeds it.

Seeing Palestine is another world unto itself. It’s a mindfuck for the uninitiated; it chews up your sense of what people are and what they are capable of. And at the end of that, you’re still left with the realisation that you’re travelling a region filled with kind people and kinder moments – the same as anywhere else.

Always write your own story. Don’t run away from the things that might hurt to know, see, and understand. There’s growth in all things you learn.

Insanely cute wombat photographed in Tasmnia - an offbeat destination in Australia

Tassie is also a worthy reminder that you don’t HAVE to start throwing darts at a world map and score a country you can’t pronounce to find your next offbeat destination. Even the heavily touristed and  heavily structured countries of the planet still offer some wild adventures.  You just have to be ready to look for it.

Trek, hitch, volunteer, meet locals and go on the adventures they offer. Motorbike, kayak, or buy a goddamn hovercraft! Just leave the taxi, leave the Contiki tours, and LEAVE the tourist bubble. The world still has many secrets.

meaning travel off the beaten path

The Broke Backpacker cannot in good conscience encourage you to travel there while it remains under Taliban rule. However, we can encourage you to consider its awesome history and incredible people. Once upon a time, Afghanistan was a legendary stop along the OG Hippy Trail – and one day it will rise again as an incredible place to visit.

Its mountains call to be trekked through by donkey; its chai invites you to sit down and talk with the people in the streets. The bazaars and the market life – and even the skiing – wait patiently to be explored once again. Once again, the wilds of Afghanistan will welcome you.

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That was a test: of course you need a headtorch. You might be careering headfirst into the jaws of danger, but you’re damn well at least gonna see where you’re going while you do it!

Packing as an Offbeat Traveller

Get yourself some top-quality backpacking gear ! Truthfully, I wouldn’t ever leave on an offbeat travel adventure without a few of my trusty sidekicks.

While there are plenty of ways to offbeat travel, budget backpacking, unexpected adventures, and journeys off the well-trodden tourist trail all tend to share the same space. No offbeat adventure is complete without the adventure essentials:

Osprey Aether AG 70

Osprey Aether 70L Backpack

Ya can’t go backpacking anywhere without a blasted backpack! Words cannot describe what a friend the Osprey Aether has been to The Broke Backpacker on the road. It’s had a long and illustrious career; Ospreys don’t go down easily.

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Feathered Friends Swift 20 YF

My philosophy is that with an EPIC sleeping bag, you can sleep anywhere. A tent is a nice bonus, but a real sleek sleeping bag means you can roll out anywhere in a and stay warm in a pinch. And the Feathered Friends Swift bag is about as premium as it gets.

Grayls Geopress Water Bottle

Grayl Geopress Filtered Bottle

Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator – so you can enjoy a cold red bull, or a hot coffee, no matter where you are.

meaning travel off the beaten path

Petzl Actik Core Headlamp

Every traveller should have a head torch! A decent head torch could save your life. When you’re camping, hiking, or even if the power just went out, a top-quality headlamp is a MUST. The Petzl Actik Core is an awesome piece of kit because it’s USB chargeable—batteries begone!

packable travel medical kit

First Aid Kit

Never go off the beaten track (or even on it) without your first aid kit! Cuts, bruises, scrapes, third-degree sunburn: a first aid kit will be able to handle most of these minor situations.

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Travel Offbeat, Live Upbeat

And hit every downbeat.

You SHOULD travel off the beaten path. You SHOULD leave the itinerary at home, alongside your hesitation, and travel somewhere that both frightens and excites you. Because that is how we grow .

I firmly believe that travel is for everyone – that it should be accessible to everyone. You don’t need much money to travel, but you do need the courage to walk your own way.

You see, the problem with conventional tourism is that it tells you how to travel. It’s an industry built on selling pre-meditated adventures as entirely unique experiences. If you walk the tourist trail, you’ll visit many countries in your time…

But you won’t travel any of them.

But travel is for EVERYONE, and so is offbeat travel. You don’t have to scale the Karakoram peaks or unearth the subaqueous depths of the Mariana Trench to break off the beaten path. You only have to willing to go your own way. And find your own answers to the questions that you have.

And write them down. It’s a big and boldly beautiful world still filled with many secrets for those who are willing to search for them. There are a lot of good stories waiting to be told…

A young travelling couple on a long icy road in Norway seek new undiscovered holiday destinations

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Samantha Shea

Samantha Shea

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I couldn’t agree more!

I love getting off the beaten path, and to go to less touristic places! Like you say…You get the more authentic experience when you don’t stick to the typical routes or sights! Thanks for sharing your views and destinations!

Thanks for the words !!

Wich cosy affordable fun beachtown would u reccomend to live for some months !? ( we are a minimalist couple+small todler) 🙂

Thats where hitchhiking is the best…and no pre-booked hotels!!! Damn those gap year kids and western tourists, waving/spending their money like its a never ending role of toilet paper, not meeting the locals and seeing the ‘beaten to death’ tourist sites ????

The core appeal of Africa to me is always the people so it’s best to start with places you can speak the language. I speak French so it has given me more options. Travelers with a attitude of just wanting to tick off a list of sites to visit are probably going to be disappointed in many countries. I’ve no doubt you can appreciate that it’s the journey and people you meet on the way that are the most important thing. It’s easily the most demanding continent to travel in and especially once you get off the beaten track transport is often hot dirty uncomfortable and unreliable. In some countries to don’t even need to be anywhere remote to experience that. You can always talk to anyone on transport unlike my home England. For English speakers, of the countries I am familiar with, Uganda is a good start – plenty of wildlife and scenery options without the numbers of tourists you’ll find in Kenya or Tanzania. I love Sudan, it’s got some historical sites and the people are super friendly and respectful – no hassles or rip offs. I’d always recommend the Voodoo festival in Benin, January 10 th every year for something completely different. There’s loads of posts about many African countries on my blog, by all means check it out I’m happy to answer any questions

No mention of Africa – sub Saharan Africa is by far and away the most off the beaten path part of the world. I’ve never even seen a white person in some countries and in many of those they’re generally not tourists. I’m currently three months in to my fourth stay in Ivory Coast and have never seen a tourist outside the capital. As much as I share your enthusiasm for Pakistan and Iran I’ve actually made closer friends in Africa. There’s great traditions of hospitality in most places and most people are only too happy to talk to strangers. Also if you want to test your comfort zone it’s definitely the place to travel

Hey Graham, it’s true that Africa-coverage here is woefully inadequate – that’s just because neither myself nor anybody on my team has been to Africa recently. I’m planning a trip to Botswana next year, but till then we try to only cover destinations we have recent first hand experience of. Definitely keen to get any insights you have on epic places to explore out there though!

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meaning travel off the beaten path

How to Travel Off the Beaten Path for Unique Travel Experiences

Janice Waugh

September 6, 2023 by Janice Waugh

meetup.com is a great resource to help you meet locals when traveling off the beaten path

Traveling off the beaten path adds an additional layer of excitement to a trip. Mixing with the local culture as opposed to just looking up at marvellous structures and architecture, delivers unique travel experiences.

You know what you're going to get when you visit the Eiffel Tower. You never know what great surprises await when you go beyond the “top ten best things to do in _____” list.

Other benefits of traveling off the beaten path include:

  • A slower pace.  Whether it's because you're staying longer in one place or because your destination is a small town infrequently visited, your pace as a traveler will slow down. You'll return home more relaxed than if you had traveled as a typical tourist.
  • Friendlier people. When you're in a busy, touristed area, the locals can be a little exhausted by tourists and sometimes not particularly hospitable. Beyond those areas, locals have more time for tourists. They are more friendly. Chat and learn the local history and find out what homegrown entertainment is happening while you're there.
  • Quirkier events.  Lobster suppers, pancake breakfasts, grape harvests, and more: big cities and small towns both have their festivals and events. The difference is that when you're in a major city, you're likely one in a hundred thousand and the event is slick. When you're at a local event in a less common destination you may be one in a thousand and you can feel the love that the volunteers have put into it, making the most with limited resources. It's a great experience.
  • Less expensive options. Whether it's the cost of a meal or a room, it's less expensive to travel where there are fewer tourists. 

image, bologna, travel off the beaten path

How to Choose an Interesting but Less Touristy Destination

Here are tips to help you find unusual and extraordinary destinations that are not on everyone's bucket list.

  • Read this post :  How and Where to Travel to Avoid the Crowds for suggestions on destinations that are not overrun by tourists.
  • Google “Alternatives to _______”. If you're looking for alternatives to incredibly touristy destinations such as Paris, Thailand, Banff, etc., google them! The first page will give you lots of options for travel off the beaten path.
  • Travel by theme . Whether you want to learn something (I've been choosing travel destinations to practice speaking French) or participate in something (my husband, Simon, travels for poetry festivals) your interests can easily introduce you to new and lesser-known places.

image, coffee shop, unique travel experiences

Enjoy Unique Travel Experiences Off the Beaten Path

  • Talk to locals . Locals do not go where all the tourists go yet they are often overlooked as a fabulous source of unusual travel information. Is it because they are not always easy to engage? When you're traveling solo, this is not necessarily a challenge. I'd say that at least 50% of the time that I'm in a coffee shop alone, I start talking with a local and they are happy to share their knowledge. But you don't have to be outgoing for this to happen. Ask the service person in a shop, a barista or bartender, or your B&B host what they do for entertainment or on the weekend and you'll get some unexpected suggestions.
  • Walk and get lost . Walking and getting lost is so underrated. Of course you have to be careful and stay safe. You need to have some sense of where you're going. Study a map for a bit and then put it away. Wander off the high streets and down the side streets to see smaller cafes, community gardens, and other places where people gather.
  • Tap into the Greeter network . The International Greeter Association is one of my favorite resources for travel. Look for your destination and see if they have a local greeter service. Most cities do. Then sign up, declare your interest, and let a local show you around. When asked for my interests, I say that I want to see the Greeter's neighborhood. I end up out of the tourist areas and often enjoy quite unique travel experiences.
  • Use Meetup.com . This can be a direct line to meeting locals when you travel off the beaten path. Before going to a destination, I often check to see which are the most popular Meetup groups in the city. In Hong Kong I discovered that it was a hiking group. So I signed up and joined them for a half-day hike that I loved but was incredibly challenging. Read  Meetup.com Got Me Hiking in Hong Kong: And It Was #$@&%*! Hard!
  • Use public transportation . When I was in Dubrovnik I was first stunned and enamoured by the walled city and then overwhelmed by the tourists. Argh! So I hopped on a local bus, the one with the most meandering route I could find according to the map. It took me through neighborhoods where I could see how people lived and it ended up at a major park where I sat and observed two family picnics, one being a birthday celebration.
  • Travel slow . It can take a while to get beyond the major attractions of a destination. To get under the skin of a place, try to spend at least a week. You need a different rhythm to your travels when you travel slow. From my three-day minimum per destination for touring travel I have to jump to at least a week for slow travel.
  • Try a homestay . Stay with a local family and you'll almost always be off the beaten path. You'll get to see how the family lives, how they organize their lives, eat their meals, and shop–a real window into life at your destination.

image, woman walking quiet street paris, unique travel experiences

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OFF THE BEATEN PATH

What is the meaning of the expression off the beaten path, english teaching for english language learners (ell) who are learning english as a second language (esl) or english as an additional language (eal), definition:.

– a place that is not popular and where few people go

– a place that may involve exploration and possible hardship (or difficulty)

When we travel, I don’t like to see the tourist attractions. I prefer to go  off the beaten path. 

More English expressions and phrases

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Boundless Roads

23 Amazing Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel Destinations

Sunset in Guam - off the beaten path travel

Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of those links, I may earn a commission at zero cost for you. Please see my  disclaimer policy  here and my privacy policy here.

Wondering what are the most amazing off-the-beaten-path destinations to visit?

I asked fellow travel bloggers to share their favorite ones and the result was this massive guide to all the best unique destinations worldwide.

I hope they will inspire your wanderlust as they did to me. Here you will find many incredible destinations that you may never think about.

So without further ado, let’s dive into it.

Table of Contents

The Coolest Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel Destinations to Visit in 2023

1. guam – oceania.

Sunset in Guam - Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel

An off-the-beaten-path destination that’s located in the Northern Pacific Ocean is the small island of Guam.

This island is known for its gorgeous beaches, verdant interior, and vibrant culture.

And since there are plenty of cheap public transportation options available, it’s relatively easy to navigate around the island, making it an excellent destination for solo female travelers to explore.

When visiting Guam, there are lots of natural attractions that you can enjoy! For example, a crowd favorite is Tumon Bay, where you can admire the picturesque views of crystal-clear waters. Or, to get a closer look at Guam’s lush interior and observe the native wildlife, hike along one of its numerous trails.

Swimming and snorkeling are also a must if you’re looking to have some fun in the water. However, you’ll want to do this on the northern side of the island to avoid crowds scaring away marine life.

For those interested in visiting the small island, fly into the Guam International Airport. And anytime is a good time to go because the island is fortunate enough to experience consistent tropical weather year-round. So if you’re looking for an exciting less frequented destination to explore this year, consider a trip to Guam!

Contributed by Kristin from Global Travel Escapades

2. Maine Coast  – US

Maine Coast

The state of Maine is wonderful but underrated, with hundreds of miles of beautiful coastline and lots of bucket-list hiking trails in places like Acadia National Park.

There are also a total of 65 historic  lighthouses in Maine  to see along the coast, and some of them will let you climb to the top of the light tower, while others will even let you rent the keeper’s house and stay overnight at the lighthouse, which is a great experience!

Summer is possibly the best time to visit Maine if you’re looking for the nicest weather, although spring can also be good if you really want to avoid crowds.

The most beautiful time to visit Maine would probably be during the fall foliage season, which usually peaks in October. The leaf colors are amazing during the fall!

Maine is one of the safest states in the U.S. so it’s also great for solo travelers or anyone looking for a safe place to vacation.

You can fly into the city of Portland if you want to get started sightseeing right away, or the Boston airport also has lots of flight options, which may be better in some cases. Overall, Maine is a great choice for underrated adventures!

Contributed by David & Intan from The World Travel Guy

3. Transylvania, Romania

Transylvania landscape

If your idea of “off the beaten path” includes giggles and exclamations of “wait, is that a real place?” when talking about it, Transylvania should be on your list.

Transylvania, a vast interior region of Romania, is home to a dizzying variety of breathtaking landscapes, folklore, and traditional arts. 

Although is off the beaten path, the tourist infrastructure is robust, and it’s easy to navigate, and there are plenty of places to stay for every budget.

For solo female travelers, Transylvania offers the opportunity to travel to an “exotic” destination while still enjoying the safety and comfort of traveling within the European Union.

Transylvania offers charming old towns, awe-inspiring castles, opportunities for outdoor adventure, and an assortment of incredible  Romanian foods to try .

Although modern Transylvania won’t live up to the myths created by American cinema, you will find one of Europe’s largest bat colonies, unique Transylvanian architecture, and an incredible depth of culture and folklore.

Transylvania is a year-round travel destination, however, travelers should avoid visiting during Halloween when this budget-friendly destination suddenly gets very expensive and very crowded with tourists. 

Buses are the most popular transportation in Transylvania, but  traveling by train in Eastern Europe  offers an opportunity to travel slower and enjoy the journey. 

Contributed by Lynli Roman from WanderBig.com

4. Jardin, Colombia

Jardin Colombia - best off-the-beaten-path travel destinations

Jardin, Colombia is a small town deep in the jungles of coffee country. It is a 3 to the 4-hour bus ride from Medellin, along roads that wind through the mountains.

The bus drops you close to the center of town, and you can easily walk to your accommodation.

The surrounding countryside is beautiful- with fields of palms, coffee and banana all around. You’ll also find some excellent local restaurants offering everything from tacos to Italian. 

Jardin has a lovely central square that is lined with coffee shops, a central cathedral, and beds of roses.

Enjoy a cup of coffee at Café Macanas, then head out to explore the local area. This is a small, walkable, safe town for solo travelers. 

One of the best  things to do in Jardin  is to visit a coffee farm- you’ll see the coffee plants, pick some beans yourself, learn about how they are processed, and then taste some coffee yourself.

Run by 5 th  generation farmers, Finca Los Angeles is a great coffee farm to visit. They will help you arrange a taxi to and from their farm. 

The best views of the town are from the Mirador Cristo Rey. It’s a lovely hike up if you are up for a stroll, or you can take a car or tuk-tuk up, you’ll see them buzzing around the main square.

There is a small café at the base of this Christ statue overlooking the town. You can sit with fresh juice or the dessert of the day and marvel at the town below you. 

Closer to town, don’t miss the Reserva Natural Jardín de Rocas. These loud, odd-looking birds are the national bird of Peru.

To visit the red-headed rocas, also called cock-of-the-rock, head south on Calle 9. Just before the bright yellow bridge, turn down a steep road. You’ll see a wooden door to the preserve on your right.

Ring the call button and a woman will let you in and take a small admission charge for your visit. The garden is usually open from 3-5:30 in the afternoon when the birds are most active. 

The best time to visit Jardin is in the dry season, which is from December to February, and from July to September.

It rains a lot in Jardin, so you’ll notice all the café tables are overhand on the main square. Carry a rain jacket with you for any surprise showers.

Contributed by Cynthia Matthews von Berg from Sharing the Wander

5. Olomouc, Czech Republic

Olomouc - Chech republic

Olomouc , the sixth largest city in the Czech Republic can be found in the Eastern part of the country and gets usually overlooked by tourists.

The city with a uniquely beautiful historical center has everything one might want to see in Europe, yet without crowds.

Olomouc’s heart is made up of two interconnected Squares. There’s a stunning city hall and a UNESCO site of 20 years – the Holy Trinity Column built in the 18th century. The whole city center is dotted with incredible fountains – the oldest comes from the 17th century!

What’s more, the city center is encircled by greenery. There are wild parks, groomed parks, botanical gardens… There are so many angles to Olomouc! 

You can find cafés of all styles, Baroque churches, lots of street art, and a unique smelly variant of cheese called Tvarůžky.

Olomouc is a student city – students represent a third of the inhabitants. That becomes apparent, especially in summer. There’s still a lot going on, just with fewer people. It’s a real balm for the soul especially after visiting Prague in summer.

It’s easy to get to Olomouc from Prague by direct train – it takes up to 2.5 hours. Once there, you can even walk everywhere, or hop on a tram. Olomouc is safe for everyone including solo female travelers.

Contributed by Veronika from Travel Geekery

6. Gdansk, Poland

Gandsk - poland

While not many people may put Poland at the top of their list, the city of Gdansk makes for an excellent off-the-beaten-path destination!

This small city sits right near the Baltic Sea and is perfect for those who love to spend their time walking and enjoying the sights.

The architecture of the Old Town truly makes the city a hidden gem. There are plenty of  things to do in Gdansk  as the city also holds a lot of history.

When you visit, you’ll learn that Gdansk is the amber capital of the world, so you will find many stores selling authentic amber jewelry pieces and collectives.

You can also visit the Amber museum inside the city, to find out the history and many interesting facts about this natural phenomenon. Gdansk is a very safe and walkable city. It is well connected by public transport, but most of the time you will only need to walk, as everything is in or around the Old Town.

While summer is always a great time to visit, Gdansk is also a lovely destination for fall, as it tends to be pretty sunny and has perfect timing to see the fall colors.  

Contributed by Jori from The Tejana Abroad

7. Big Island, Hawaii, USA

Kona Big Island Destination Checkoff

The Big Island of Hawaii is less popular than the islands of Ohau and Maui , but it has so much to offer and is a very special place to visit with volcanoes, rainforests, and unique black, green, and white sand beaches.

The winter months of December to April are the best months to travel to Big Island due it its warm temperatures, as compared to the freezing winters elsewhere.

Winter is also the whale-watching season and an opportunity to see majestic whales. 

Flying to the Kona International airport is the best way to reach Big Island. Getting a rental car is the best way to explore Big Island.

Big Island is a great destination for solo female travelers as most popular places are always busy with tourists, thus making it safe to explore. 

Most tourists stay in the beach town of Kona or the resort area of Waikoloa. There are a lot of  things to do in Kona  like snorkeling with the manta rays, visiting the National Historic sites to learn about Hawaiian history, and hiking the Captain Cook Monument.

The town of Hilo is in the eastern region of the Big Island and has amazing rainforest hikes to see waterfalls like the Akaka falls and Rainbow falls. 

The Volcanoes National Park has a lot of unique hikes like the Kilauea Iki trail. The black and green sand beaches in the southern part of the island are very unique to Big Island and worth the drive. 

Contributed by Anu Agarwal from Destination Checkoff

8. Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan

Central Asia is an up-and-coming travel destination. And, Uzbekistan is at the heart of it, rich in history, culture, and culinary delights.

Recently opened to the world again, the cities of Uzbekistan were once key parts of the Silk Road.

As such, the design of the cities and the cuisine represents a fusion of cultures also influenced by Uzbekistan’s Soviet past. It really is a place like no other.

Getting around the country is easy with its cheap and convenient train network. Tashkent is the industrial capital that was once a Soviet stronghold.

Take a trip to the markets and visit the TV tower for sweeping city views.

From Tashkent, you can take the train to 3 beautiful Silk Road cities: Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva.

All are full of stunning temples, complexes, forts, and towers that can be wandered for hours.

Make sure you check out the Registan in Samarkand, the Ark of Bukhara, and the walled old city of Khiva.

Come with plenty of spare room in your bag though, you’ll definitely want to pick up a few souvenirs.

Gorgeous hand-made pillows and blankets as well as traditional clothing, ornaments and keepsakes, all make for great gifts to others or yourself.

The  best time to visit Uzbekistan  is in late spring when the temperatures are pleasant but not sweltering and attractions aren’t yet crowded.

Uzbek locals are kind and welcoming to international visitors and the country feels safe. Although, there isn’t really a backpacking scene yet or any hostels outside of Tashkent.

That said, Uzbekistan’s tourism industry is only going to grow. With good accessibility to neighboring countries, Central Asia is really putting itself on the map as the next big travel destination. 

Contributed by Zoe from zoegoesplaces.com

9. Georgia 

Georgia

Georgia, the country, is a beautiful place to explore and an excellent choice for solo female travelers.

It’s affordable; the Georgian people are friendly and welcoming; the food and wine are fantastic, and getting around by local transport is simple, albeit a little scary, on some of those windy mountain roads. 

Begin your journey in Tbilisi, Georgia” s capital. Explore the fascinating old town, take the cable car up to the Narikala fortress, and then wander back down past waterfalls to the famous spa district. 

On your way back down, be sure to visit Tbilisi’s beautiful botanic gardens.

From the city, head up to the mountains around Kazbegi for some great hikes and snowy vistas. It’s possible to visit Kazbegi as a day trip, but to appreciate the region truly, spend a few days in the mountains. 

And while you’re there, be sure to visit the Gergeti Trinity Church, high up in the mountains.

Then head south to Sighnaghi , a gorgeous little town in Georgia’s Kakheti region, an area famous for its wine.  

Visit the local wineries, explore the town’s narrow streets, and admire the incredible vistas with the Caucasus Mountains as a backdrop.  

The best time to visit Georgia is during spring or autumn. Winters can be brutally cold and summers stifling hot. 

Contributed by Sarah from Life Part2 and Beyond 

10. Alausi Ecuador

Devils nose hike

Alausi is a beautiful mountain village that is nestled picturesquely in the Chimborazo Province of Ecuador .

Most travelers visit Alausi as a LONG day trip from the colonial city of Cuenca to take the zig-zagging ride on the Devil’s Nose Train. For those who love to get off the beaten path, this traditional town warrants much more than a few hours.

Alausi is considered to be one of Ecuador’s “pueblos magicos,” a program that helps bring awareness to overlooked cultural areas in the country.

Alausí is charming, inviting, and safe for solo female travelers. The walkable streets are colorful and a delight to stroll.

There are many incredible  things to do in Alausi . Adventurous travelers can opt to hike the breathtaking trail to the Devil’s Nose, rather than hop on the train.

Stop in one of the many local shops selling handmade artisan goods and the daily indoor market offers fantastic and authentic Ecuadorian cuisine.

Relax in one of the inviting plazas, or appreciate the many spectacular viewpoints, like the Mirador San Pedro.

The best time to visit Alausi is on a Sunday when the entire town turns into a bustling and lively outdoor market.

Communities from all across the province come to sell anything and everything you could possibly think of and eat at the plentiful food stalls on the streets.

Alausí is spoiled by being surrounded by untouched beauty. Take a day trip to the pristine lakes of Lagunas de Ozogoche.

Advanced trekkers can experience the remote and isolated first three days of the Great Inca Trail.

The challenging trail follows the ancient Inca road system to the Ingapirca ruins.

Contributed by Megan from Packing up the Pieces

11. Yerevan, Armenia

Yerevan Armenia

Yerevan is the capital city of Armenia. At different times Armenia fell under the rule of various other nations, including Roman, Turkish, Persian and Russian rule.

Elements of each period can still be seen and felt today in Yerevan. 

The city is a perfect blend of traditional Armenian culture and history against modernization. It’s budget-friendly and vibrant, and generally safe for solo females.

Yerevan is where many tourists will enter the country, and deserves a spot on every  Armenia itinerary .

From the historic Blue Mosque to the stunning Republic Square to the somber Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex, there is a lot to see here.

And, though a relatively obscure travel destination, there are plenty of tourist sights within walking distance of the city center.

The summers in Yerevan can be sweltering, and winters can see snow. Therefore, the best time to visit is during the spring and fall.

During these months, the weather is pleasant for exploring the city. If you head outside of Yerevan, this is a great time for hiking and camping, too.

The best way to get around the city is by rideshare apps or taxis. For long distances, travelers can grab a spot in shared vans called marshrutkas .

And, if you are able, the best way to explore farther corners is by rental car.

Contributed by Monica from This Rare Earth

12. Eguisheim, France

Eguishem

At the foothills of the Vosges mountains in eastern France, lies one of the most off-the-beaten-path travel destinations, Eguisheim. 

This quaint town is known for rows of colorful medieval houses, pristine hiking trails, and endless vineyards.

It even holds the title of the most beautiful town in France. There’s no denying that it’s small, but there are so many  things to do in Eguisheim .

Not only that but it’s perfect for solo female travelers. 

Meander along the cobblestone streets and stop in a traditional brasserie for some hearty Alsatian cuisine.

Or rent a bike and explore the lush vineyards that surround the village. Then, if you’re feeling adventurous, bike or walk the Route des 5 Châteaux.

You’ll pass the Three Castles of Eguisheim as well as two other impressive ruins.

It’s an uphill climb, but your efforts will be rewarded with magnificent views over the region.

Of course, no trip to Eguisheim is complete without sampling a glass of Alsatian wine. There are several wine cellars and restaurants that offer tastings in town. 

While it is a year-round destination, the best times to visit are from May to June. 

During these months houses are decorated in hanging baskets full of red, pink, orange, and white flowers.

It looks like a fairytale. Then, to get to Eguisheim, you’ll first need to get to Colmar. The nearest international airports are in Paris and Basel.

And from there, trains run regularly to Colmar and take one to two hours. Buses and taxis are available at Colmar’s train station with an average travel time of about 15 minutes.

Contributed by Jen from Dabbling in Jet Lag

13. Jaffna, Sri Lanka

jaffna street art

If you wish to travel off the beaten path in Asia, then head to Jaffna, a hidden gem on the northern shores of Sri Lanka.

Leaving behind painful memories from years of civil war and unrest, Jaffna is making its way towards becoming a coveted travel destination. 

Jaffna is a treasure house of history, culture, and natural beauty. There are many amazing  things to do in Jaffna  including visiting the colonial Jaffna Fort that is 400+ years old and checking out the Public Library, a place that stands as a poignant reminder of Jaffna’s turbulent past. 

You can hop through numerous Hindu temples in Jaffna. The prettiest ones are the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, Naguleswaram Temple, and the Nagapooshani Amman Temple on Nainativu island.

For an insight into local culture, be sure to head to the Yalpanam local market where you can shop for local food and palmyra handicraft as well as spot some stunning street art. 

The best time to visit Jaffna is from January – March when the weather is cool and dry. However, if you’d like to experience the festive spirit, visit Jaffna in August when locals celebrate the 25-day Nallur Annual Festival. 

The easiest way to get to Jaffna is by train from Colombo. You can also do a road trip from Colombo to Jaffna. The road trip is dotted with beautiful vistas and can take 9 – 10 hours. 

Contributed by Soumya from Stories by Soumya

14. Cadiz, Spain

Cadiz Andalusia

One of the most underrated destinations in Spain is the southern city of Cadiz. In fact, it is the oldest continuously inhabited city in western Europe.

In the shade of Seville, it has all the Andalusian charm of the capital of Andalucia, but on top of that, it is a coastal city with a laid-back atmosphere.

Among the locals, you can hear them refer to the province as  Cadifornia  due to the great surf and there is no arguing that there are absolutely breathtaking  beaches in Cadiz .

The best season for enjoying the beaches is between June and October/November. Besides that, Cadiz boasts enchanting cobblestoned streets, a stunning cathedral, a Roman Theater, and you can climb the 45-meter-tall Tavira Tower for sweeping views of the city and its coast.

This is the only remaining watch tower that is open to the public. But Cadiz also boasts a whole lot of green space and is perfectly walkable.

While you always have to watch up for pickpockets in crowded areas, Cadiz is a fairly safe city to travel to for solo female travelers and there is a number of vibrant hostels to connect with other travelers.

There is no airport in Cadiz, but there is a train connection from both Seville and Jerez de la Frontera which are the closest airports.

Contributed by Linn Haglund of Amused by Andalucia

15. North Macedonia

North Macedonia

North Macedonia is probably the most underrated and overlooked country in the Balkans (or even in Europe) yet it offers plenty to see and do.

While the majority of tourists who actually decides to visit North Macedonia tend to stop only in the quirky capital Skopje and the stunning Lake Ohrid (one of the most beautiful places in the region), there are so many more great and diverse  places to visit in Macedonia .

You can enjoy their breathtaking mountains, ancient sites, centuries-old monasteries, charming towns, and unusual architecture and everything is scattered in a relatively small area, making it easy to see all the country has to offer.

Unfortunately, some of the sites are available only by car but even if you decide to rely on public transport only you still can see a lot.

North Macedonia is also one of the safest countries to visit, also for solo female travelers, with friendly and welcoming locals and a rather low crime rate.

And since it’s still not so popular you don’t need to worry about many scams aimed at tourists. The best time to visit North Macedonia is between May and September.

However, if you go there in late summer / early autumn you will be accompanied by the view of drying peppers and the smell of this roasted vegetable everywhere you go – it is the most common ingredient in the local cuisine, and September and October are months when the whole country is stocking it up for upcoming months. 

Contributed by Kami from MyWanderlust

16. Bari, Italy

Bari Italy

Bari is the beautiful seaside capital of Italy’s Puglia region and often flies under the radar compared to bigger cities, like Rome. 

Situated along the Adriatic Sea, Bari is a historically important harbor city that changed hands under many rulers, including the Romans.

Today, it is enthralling to wander the tangled streets of  Old Town Bari, as well as a stroll on top of the remaining sections of its defensive wall. 

Visitors will notice locals socializing in chairs outside their homes and enjoy smells emanating from households and tiny restaurants. 

The best things to do in Bari include admiring the architecture, learning about the history, and exploring the food scene. 

Old Town Bari is made up of a maze of streets, where there are hidden squares, beautiful archways, and ancient cathedrals to uncover.

To learn about Bari’s history, the best place to start is by visiting Bari Cathedral, which dates back to the 11 th  century. 

For 3 euros, visitors can even wander beneath the structure to see the ruins of an excavated Christian basilica, a mosaic floor, and part of a Roman road.  

Finally, Bari is a wonderful foodie city and a great place to do a food tour.  This is the perfect opportunity to try local specialties like focaccia, orecchiette pasta, and fresh octopus.

Visitors can reach Bari by flying into Bari International Airport.  While it is possible to rent a car from the airport, it might be better to take the 17-minute train and avoid the city’s crazy traffic.  

The best time to visit Bari is in late spring or early fall, when the crowds are thinner and the temperatures are not sweltering. 

Although Old Town Bari used to be known for rampant petty crime, the city has really cleaned up over the past decade and is perfectly safe to wander today. 

A solo female traveler would feel perfectly fine wandering the Old Town.

Contributed by Theresa McKinney From Fueled By Wanderlust

17. The Georgia Coast

Cumberland Island Georgia

The Georgia Coast is known for its beautiful barrier islands, and  Cumberland Island National Seashore  is one of the most untamed and secluded options of them all.

The island is only accessible by ferry, and no more than 300 visitors are allowed each day. It’s quite possible to go for a stroll along the beach and not even run across another person!

Even though the island is remote, it’s still quite safe for solo travelers.

The slim possibility of running across a wild boar or alligator is the biggest concern, but the ferry captain will provide helpful tips for avoiding them.

You can bring a bike across on the ferry to cover more ground on the island, but if you don’t, you’ll be exploring using your own two feet! Vehicles are for island residents only.

Cumberland was once home to some of the wealthiest families in America, and many remnants of their presence are still visible today.

Visit the Dungeness Ruins and the Plum Orchard Mansion to get an idea of how the Rockefellers lived or stay overnight at the luxurious Greyfield Inn, which was home to the Carnegies.

Its grounds are dotted with stunning Southern live oaks and the inn’s library is filled with first editions from the Carnegie family library. 

If you prefer less luxurious options, Cumberland Island also has two beach campsites and three options deep in the maritime forest.

Be sure to make reservations well in advance since campsites book up quickly!

Summertime is probably the worst time to visit; it’s uncomfortably hot and the “no-see-ums” (annoying biting gnats) are out in full force.

Note that August and September are peak hurricane seasons, and you will have to evacuate if one comes along.

The island is nicest in November and early spring. Since it’s a maritime forest, the island stays green year-round.

Contributed by Erin from Savannah first timer

18. Stanley, Idaho

Stanley - Idaho

The tiny town of Stanley, Idaho serves as the gateway to the epic Sawtooth Mountains, a range whose dramatic peaks rival the jaggedness of the Tetons. 

If you’re an outdoor lover, Stanley is perfect for you, given the sheer volume of hiking, camping, and other activities that will take you into the Great Outdoors.

So, as long as you’re a solo female traveler who doesn’t mind hitting the trail or pitching a tent on your own, Stanley will be perfect for you.

The area has countless hiking trails, many of which snake past one of the literally hundreds of glacial lakes in the surrounding valley.

For example, the Alice Lakes trail passes three stunning alpine lakes, climbs craggy mountain peaks, and provides sweeping views over the Sawtooth Valley. 

Once you’re done exploring its hiking trails, Stanley has something perfect to help you relax- hot springs!

You’ll find several picturesque and undeveloped hot springs sprinkled around Stanley, along the Payette and Salmon River, where you can soak in their steamy waters and take in the natural beauty around you.

To reach Stanley, fly into Boise and make the two-hour and 45-minute drive east along the Ponderosa Pines Scenic Byway.

The drive itself is absolutely jawdroppingly beautiful and you’ll pass several hot springs, like Pine Flats and Kirkham, that are worth a stop along the way.

Stanley has its charms, regardless of the season you visit, but unless you enjoy the snow and bitter cold, visiting from July through September will be your best bet. The skies will be clear and the temperatures perfect for exploring Stanley’s epic scenery.

Contributed by Jess of Uprooted Traveler

19. Nagaland, India

For an off-the-beaten-path travel destination head over to Nagaland, India.

Nagaland is a state located in northeast India. It became the 16th state of India in 1963. Numerous tribes live in the area and conflict between them and the government of India has been ongoing for many years.

While in Nagaland visiting the local tribes in the area is quite possibly the best experience to have there.

Plan to stay in the capital city of Kohima.  Native Stories  offers clean rooms at a fair price and ideal location.

You can reach tribes in the area by taxi and bus. Be sure you know how you’re getting back to Kohima *before* leaving. Arrange a return trip with your taxi driver and or make sure you know the bus schedule in advance. (Note that buses can be infrequent and undependable).

If you’d like to spend a night or two visiting a tribe, the best thing to do is talk to the chief and ask for a place to stay.

The chief will frequently offer you a place to stay with them. If not that, they’ll likely know a local within the tribe who would let you sleep under their roof.

As a worst-case scenario, plan to camp (or makeshift camp, ie sleeping outdoors) for a night or two.

Be advised that this isn’t a destination best suited for women traveling solo. Traveling in a group of three preferably with at least one male would be ideal.

Contributed by Chelsea from  Adventures of Chels

20. Ninh Binh, Vietnam

Vietnam Ninh binh

Vietnam is already a bit of an off-the-beaten-path destination in Southeast Asia, with most people choosing to visit Bali or Thailand.

However, Vietnam is an incredible place to visit, with delicious food, friendly people, cheap costs, and gorgeous landscapes.

In Vietnam, Ninh Binh is a hidden gem, seeing far fewer tourists than other cities and destinations.

Ninh Binh is special because it’s an area filled with rivers, streams, and waterways that are lined with cattails, rice fields, and lush tropical vegetation.

But, the real star of the area is the limestone mountains, known as karsts. These cliffs rise dramatically, providing a surreal landscape of winding waterways through narrow valleys.

Exploring this beautiful area on a boat tour is simply a must-do activity, and the local guides navigate you expertly to ancient shrines, through caves, and around these memorable vistas with skill. 

To round out your day in Ninh Binh , you have other amazing experiences to try, like climbing to beautiful viewpoints, exploring ancient temples, and admiring pagodas.

And to top it all off, the area is designed for exploration by scooter and cycling through the peaceful countryside. 

The most beautiful time to visit Ninh Binh is in June when the lotus flowers bloom. These pink blossoms are gorgeous and fill the lakes in the area.

For the best weather, visit in March and April or September – November, as you will have lower temperatures and be in the dry season. 

Contributed by Stephanie of The Unknown Enthusiast

21. Rodrigues Island, Mauritius

Rodrigues Island Mauritius

People often think that the island country of Mauritius constitutes only one island. Ooh boy, they’re missing out!

The archipelago of Mauritius comprises several other islands, but Rodrigues is the one that’s easiest to visit.

Many people – even Mauritians themselves! – think that two days on the second island is enough, but actually, there are tons of things to do in Rodrigues to warrant a four-month stay.

Rodrigues has a lagoon that’s twice as big as the island itself. Many activities are on the water, such as kayaking and kitesurfing.

This remote island’s biodiversity is incredible, with parks where you can learn about the Rodriguan megabats, medicinal plants, and giant tortoises.

The culture of Rodrigues is also unique within the context of the Mascarene islands; hotels organize traditional music and dance nights ( sega tambour ) and there are monthly sailing regattas in pirogues . 

It’s a small island where there’s little news and even less crime. It’s a good destination for traveling women to rest and recharge as it is quiet and safe.

If you’re staying longer than a week, people will quickly learn your face and name. It’s easy to travel around the island by rental scooter, bus, hitchhiking, or even on foot since it’s small.

The best months for learning how to kitesurf are June till August (winter) and the most beautiful month for blooms is mid-November till mid-December before the cyclones come.

Getting to Rodrigues can be done by domestic flight from Mauritius.

There is also a passenger/cargo ship called the Mauritius Trochetia , though it’s tricky to get a cabin and the schedule is irregular.

A one-way ship journey to the tiny island capital Port Mathurin takes three days.

Contributed by Iris Veldwijk from Mind of a Hitchhiker

22. Fujian Province, China 

Xiamen - china

Beautiful Fujian province, situated halfway between Hong Kong and Shanghai, is often overlooked by visitors to China.

That’s a pity, as Fujian is just gorgeous, with incredible food and fantastic cultural and natural attractions.

The lucky ones who visit Fujian usually start their trip in the coastal city of Xiamen. Xiamen is a major transportation hub with high-speed trains to the rest of China.

As the hub of Xiamen Airlines, the city is also well-connected to the rest of the world. 

Spend a few days exploring subtropical Xiamen’s artsy neighborhoods, colorful temples, gardens, beaches, hot springs, and the former treaty port on Gulangyu island. 

Leaving Xiamen, you’ll be indeed off the beaten path. Catch a bullet train to the  Wuyi Mountains  for a few days of hiking, bamboo rafting, and drinking some of the best tea in the world.

The Wuyi Mountains are home to hundreds of tea gardens growing the famous Da Hong Pao, Oolong, and Wuyishan Rock Tea between the domed peaks, so make sure to visit a teahouse to experience this quintessential part of Chinese culture. 

Another highlight when visiting Fujian province is the Hakka Tulou villages. These UNESCO-recognised villages are known for their unique doughnut shapes clan houses.

Spend a day or two in Yongding county and get a driver to take you for a tour of the Hakka villages.

A trip around the Hakka villages in rural China at its best – something that only a few foreign visitors get to see.

Fujian has a subtropical climate and can be visited year-round. March to June is tea harvesting season, so that will be the best time to visit the Wuyi Mountains. 

As elsewhere in China, Fujian is exceptionally safe, even for solo female travelers. 

Contributed by De Wet & Jin from the Museum of Wander

23. Muiden, the Netherlands

Muiden castle

An often overlooked gem in the Netherlands that is an incredible place to visit is the small town of Muiden. 

Muiden lies about a half hour outside of Amsterdam, making it a great choice for an afternoon away from the city during  your time in Amsterdam .

You can take a train from Amsterdam Central Station to Muiden, or you can even take a leisurely countryside bike trip there! 

The charming town of Muiden is the perfect place for travelers of all kinds from families to solo female travelers and beyond.

The town is walkable, so once you’re there, feel free to explore at your leisure!

The number one thing you want to do is tour the Muiderslot- or Amsterdam Castle. This medieval structure was built by Count Floris in 1280.

Today, the entire castle still stands, and visitors can walk the ramparts, climb up towers, and explore throne rooms and other castle areas. In addition, beautiful gardens and a moat surround the area. 

When you’re finished at Muiderslot, walk about five minutes down the stunning cobblestone streets toward the center of town. Here, you’ll find local restaurants and cafes with dining alongside the water.

While dining, you can enjoy the breeze, watch local passersby, and admire the swing bridge and boats that are always frequenting the Vecht. 

The fall or spring is the perfect time to visit Muiden. This is when tourists in Amsterdam and the nearby areas are at their lowest, but the weather is still refreshing and enjoyable. The blooms and water are especially beautiful in April and May.  

Contributed by Taylor From Traverse With Taylor

24. Tasmania, Australia

Bay of Fires, Tasmania

Australia is a very popular destination for nature lovers and those who love a road trip. If you want to travel to Australia and also get off the beaten path, then Tasmania is a perfect choice. 

The island state of Tasmania is located 240km off the south coast of Australia and can be reached by taking a 10-hour ferry ride from Melbourne.

You can also fly to Hobart or Launceston if you prefer to get there quicker.

A visit to Tasmania will reward you with unique and spectacular landscapes, untouched wilderness, and wildlife that can’t be seen elsewhere. 

Tasmania is a very safe place to travel and makes an excellent destination for solo female travelers.

The best way to see the highlights of Tasmania is by doing a road trip.

With a wide range of scenery and short drives between each stop, having your own vehicle will allow you to easily experience the best of Tasmania. 

Some of the top attractions that can’t be missed on a  road trip through Tasmania  are hiking Cradle Mountain, swimming in the turquoise waters at the Bay of Fires, taking in the incredible views of Wineglass Bay, coming face to face with a Tasmanian devil and so much more! 

Due to its southern location, Tasmania has a cooler climate than the rest of the country.

For the best chance of having warm and dry weather, you should plan to visit Tasmania during Australia’s summer, between the months of December – February. 

Contributed by Ann From The Road Is Life

25. Vis Island, Croatia

Vis Island Croatia

Even as Croatia becomes increasingly popular as a tourist destination, there is still an opportunity to get off the beaten path within the country.

Vis Island, Croatia is one of the lesser visited Croatian islands you can get to from Split. 

Vis Island only opened up for tourism in 1989, as it was formerly being used as a Yugoslav military base.

In more recent years, Vis Island was used to film the sequel of Mamma Mia in 2017!

The island has plenty to offer tourists, especially those who prefer a quieter scene compared with nearby Hvar or Brac which are known more as party islands. 

The easiest way to get to Vis Island is by boat. You can take a ferry or catamaran from the port of Split to Vis Island for 6.50 euros and arrive within a couple of hours. We booked our trips with Jadrolinija. 

The best way to get around the Island once you’re there is to walk, or rent a scooter or bicycle. If you want to travel to the other side of the island or a further distance for dinner you can get a taxi at one of the taxies stands around town. 

While visiting Vis Island, be sure to book a Blue Caves tour, spend some time swimming, and eat plenty of wonderful food.

Find a place that serves traditional peka dishes (be sure to book in advance as these dishes take time to prepare!).  

Contributed by Nausheen from Globe Gazers

Best off-the-beaten-path travel destinations: Final Thoughts

Pheww! Glad you made it through this long list of incredible off-the-beaten-path travel destinations.

I am sure you have found something that caught your attention to include in your bucket list.

On the contrary, if you think we have been missing something, please share it with us.

meaning travel off the beaten path

Founder and Editor

Isabella is traveler and animal lover, a former tourism professional with an multinational background that includes living and working in Jamaica, Antigua, Seychelles, Egypt, and Mexico, where she spent seven years. In 2017, she took a bold leap, leaving her fancy job in Cancun to embrace a nomadic lifestyle when she founded her travel blog Boundless Roads, with the purpose to help solo female travelers to live their best travel adventure, embracing their fears and choosing the roughed path. Today, she manages three successful travel blogs, balancing her digital ventures while exploring new places and photographing this beautiful world.

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Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

10 Best Off The Beaten Path Spots in the Lower Florida Keys

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  • Destinations

We were thrilled to get to explore some of the lower Florida Keys. It has always been a bucket list of mine to go to Key West. And, I also couldn’t wait to experience some of the other lesser-known Keys. Here are some of the best Florida off-the-beaten-path experiences. 

I was hosted for some of these activities, all opinions are my own. Special thanks to fla-keys.com

1. Parmer’s Resort – Little Torch Key

When we pulled into Parmer’s Resort on Little Torch Key, I knew we were in for a treat. There was no big sign announcing the place, no valet parking, and certainly no bellman hanging around. There was not much going on at all which is exactly what I was looking for. 

Our stay at this 44-unit waterfront resort situated on 5 acres was sublime. The sand beach was directly outside our front door, complete with huge comfy hammocks hanging beachside. 

We chatted with Todd, the charming property manager, who filled us in on the background of the resort.  Back in the 1970s, the resort was an old fishing camp. 

Since then it’s been extensively updated (with more updates coming) and has been transformed into a quiet and secluded family-friendly resort where you can relax amid vibes of not-so-long-ago summers in simpler times. This is Old Florida done right.

While you can fish off the dock, dip in the pool, and practice yoga onsite, this is a place of relaxation. After our drive up from Key West, we wanted nothing more than to chill out in the sun. 

meaning travel off the beaten path

Inside our two-bedroom cottage, we had a fully stocked kitchen with a full-size refrigerator and cute little stove. We relaxed on the couch and watched a movie while the breeze came in through the open patio doors. The night was calm and quiet and we slept soundly in our comfortable beds. 

For breakfast, we headed up to the dining area where a large breakfast was laid out. Parmer’s puts on a full breakfast spread for their guests each morning. I ate every bite of my toasted bagel and cream cheese, and the coffee was fresh and hot. 

Parmer’s is a quiet, clean, and cozy place to stay for a night or a week. They book up fast, with many regulars making next year’s booking as they check out. If you want a spot off the beaten path reminiscent of old Florida, this is your spot.

meaning travel off the beaten path

2.The Bent Prop Bar and Grill – Cudjoe Key 

Tiny Cudjoe Key is home to a new upscale dockside restaurant, The  Bent Prop Bar and Grill , where we were lucky enough to have dinner reservations. 

As we walked in we were led through the gorgeous inside dining area to our table outside. What a great space to enjoy a meal! We both ordered a glass of wine from an extensive wine list and settled in for a nice evening. 

I was hungry for fish and ordered the fresh catch of the day, blackened mahi-mahi with asparagus, lime rice, and coconut coleslaw. My companion chose the cream of crab chowder, and both entrees were irresistible. Had I not wanted seafood, I would’ve tried the classic spaghetti and meatballs featuring fresh pasta. The buffalo blue cheese brussel sprouts appetizer was intriguing. The crispy fried sprouts with hot sauce and blue cheese are right up my alley. We chose the burrata and tomato caprese. This super creative starter featured fresh tomatoes, burrata, toasted crostini, and balsamic, the perfect flavor hit.

With a daily happy hour and lunch and dinner service, come to the Bent Prop almost anytime to enjoy creative dishes in a relaxing waterside atmosphere. 

meaning travel off the beaten path

3. Baby’s Coffee – Key West 

As we chugged along Highway 1, our eyes feeling heavy from the previous night’s 

Duval-inspired fun, we pulled into Baby’s Coffee , on the outskirts of Key West. Recommended by several Key Westerners, this locally-owned coffee outpost is just what the doctor ordered for your coffee buzz. 

This local spot serves up all the coffee concoctions you love and roasts its beans, too. Our lattes were sensational.  Located at Mile Marker 15, they have grab-and-go sandwiches and other supplies you might need as you head through the Lower Keys. You can even take some frozen Kermit’s Key Lime Pie to go.

meaning travel off the beaten path

4. Grimal Grove – Big Pine Key 

Brand new experiences are few and far between these days, but that’s what you’ll get with the tropical fruit hunting tour at Grimal Grove in Big Pine Key. This 2-acre fruit farm and botanical garden grows all sorts of exotic tropical, and subtropical fruits and plants. Their focus is on the breadfruit and they’re working closely with the University of Florida in studying various aspects of the plant, including how it can be used to fight hunger insecurity as well as its potential health properties. 

We met the lovely Sara, at the gate of the grove, and she led us on a tour of the property. As we meandered through massive breadfruit trees, watched butterflies seemingly float in midair, and tasted raw plant seeds, we learned how Grimal Grove came into being under the direction of founder Adolph Grimal back in the 1950s and how it’s morphed under current owner Patrick Garvey. 

We grabbed a spot at the outdoor bar area and dug into a lush array of just-picked fruit including guava, dragon fruit, and starfruit. It was a treat to eat fruit fresh from the vine, and we even cut sugar cane and pressed it. This is how food should be. Even though it wasn’t yet noon, we topped things off with a vodka tasting, sampling 4 different vodka flavors, made with breadfruit, in partnership with Mutiny Island Vodka. A great ending to a unique culinary experience.

meaning travel off the beaten path

5. No Name Pub – Big Pine Key

This bar was packed at lunchtime when we walked in. Plenty of visitors have been here through the years if only to tack up their dollar bill to go with the thousands of others that cover every square inch of wall and ceiling space in the place. So the No Name Pub may not be quite as off the beaten path as it once was, but this kitschy spot is still worth seeking out. Grab a cold beer and a pizza while you’re here and watch out for the barstools – they’re super high. 

meaning travel off the beaten path

6. The Hemingway Home and Museum – Key West

Whether you’re a history buff or not, the Hemingway Home and Museum is worth your time. Hemingway was arguably the most prolific writer of our times and did much of his writing in his Key West home. The guided tour offers a fascinating insight into the psyche of this legendary adventurer. You’ll see his writing studio just as it was when he resided here in the 1930s. You can also get a look at the famed six-toed cats that meander around the grounds.

7. Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory – Key West 

A garden oasis amid a tropical paradise is what you’ll discover at the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory . Walk among the gorgeous grounds as colorful butterflies seemingly float in midair. Along with the multitude of butterfly species from around the world, be sure to take in all the glorious exotic plants and trees.   

8. Bahia Honda State Park – Bahia Honda Key

This spectacular Bahia Honda State Park is just waiting to be explored. We pulled off to explore for an afternoon as we drove from Key West north to Marathon. The park is over 500 acres of fun and includes some of the best beaches in the Keys, complete with calm water and excellent snorkeling. It’s one of the few places to explore both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico from the same locale. You may also spot sea turtles here as the park is a nesting ground for the wondrous creatures. 

9. Seven Mile Bridge Train – Pigeon Key

Learn about the history of Pigeon Key and take a fun tour over the Old Seven-Mile Bridge via a train. This guided tour offers a super scenic route along the bridge and a chance to walk through  the island and see historic buildings, many of which are on the National Register of Historic Places.

10. Key West Lighthouse and Keepers Quarters 

Trekking up 88 steps to take in the view may not sound like a big deal, but it’s not every day that you get to check out an authentic lighthouse. An even bigger deal is that a woman was the Keeper of the Key West Lighthouse when it opened in 1848. The views are incredible. Book a private visit at sunset for an extraordinary, over-the-top experience. 

Image of Sarah Morgensen

Middle East latest: US to build Gaza port to deliver food, medicine and aid as enclave on brink of famine

Joe Biden is to announce plans to build a pier on the coast of Gaza to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to the enclave. Meanwhile, Lord Cameron says a hostage release and ceasefire deal is "on the table" but is being held up by Hamas.

Thursday 7 March 2024 20:35, UK

  • Israel-Hamas war

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  • US to build Gaza port to increase aid deliveries as Palestinians starve
  • Dominic Waghorn: US enemies will make building port fraught with peril
  • Explained: Is famine about to be declared in Gaza?
  • Hamas holding up ceasefire deal, Cameron says
  • At least three sailors killed in Houthi missile strike on ship
  • Data and Forensics: What tracking data tells us about latest Houthi attack on cargo vessel
  • Live reporting by Brad Young

By Alistair Bunkall , Middle East correspondent

In a hospital in northern Gaza, it's been claimed 13 babies died of malnutrition in a single day last week.

A Sky News camera team has filmed inside the hospital, where treatments are being carried out by the torchlight from mobile phones because the electricity isn't working.

Mothers being treated there are said to be too malnourished to breastfeed newborn babies, further adding to the crisis.

It comes as Gazan families say they are starving, with aid agencies warning of a looming famine unless significantly more aid reaches the strip, with one charity saying up to 4,000 trucks of aid are needed every single day to make a difference.

Over the past fortnight, an average of just 102 food trucks have entered Gaza each day.

Read on here...

A UN expert has accused Israel of destroying Gaza's food system as part of a broader "starvation campaign".

Berating the UN Human Rights Council, special rapporteur on the right to food Michael Fakhri said: "The images of starvation in Gaza are unbearable and you are doing nothing.

"Israel has mounted a starvation campaign against the Palestinian people in Gaza," he added, saying that included targeting small-scale fishermen.

A Palestinian living in Gaza claimed earlier this week that people who tried to fish were fired upon. 

Aid officials have warned of looming famine, while hospitals in the isolated northern part of the territory say children have started dying from malnutrition. 

Yeela Cytrin, a legal adviser at the Israeli mission to the UN, called Mr Fakhri's allegations a "blatant lie". 

"Israel utterly rejects allegations that it is using starvation as a tool of war," she told the council and then walked out in protest. 

Earlier this evening, Sir Mark Lowcock, former head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told Sky News more than 30,000 people will likely starve to death and the biggest problem was the level of aid access allowed by Israel.

By  Mark Stone , US correspondent

This is a significant announcement but details are scant. The timing reflects the urgency of the humanitarian situation but it's also about politics.

"Port" is a somewhat misleading word to describe what the Americans intend to construct. It will take the form of a temporary pier or causeway that will allow aid to be offloaded from ships to trucks for distribution.

We are told it will take "a number of weeks to plan and execute" and that the forces required to complete the mission are either already in the region or will be moved there soon.

Importantly, American officials tell us that US boots will not be on the ground in Gaza but that the causeway can be installed from offshore. No more detail has been revealed.

All of this leaves plenty of unanswered questions and exposes deep failures in diplomatic leverage United States has over Israel.

Who will build the infrastructure that will be needed on the land end of the pier? Who will distribute the aid once it is offloaded? Who will manage crowd control and prevent stampedes which will be inevitable without considerable policing of the mass of people. How long will all this take?

Like the airdrop announcement last week, the port announcement represents a desperate policy decision that President Biden hoped never to have to make.

By Dominic Waghorn , international affairs editor

This is a big moment in the war. It is a sign that America does not buy Israeli claims they are getting enough aid into Gaza and it's the aid agencies and UN's fault it's not getting to where it's needed.

Joe Biden's patience with Israel has all but run out and he's now sending in his own military to make up for the shortcomings and failure of one of America's closest allies. 

And that move does not come without huge risks. 

Building a port in the middle of a war is fraught with peril. We are told it will not involve American boots on the ground, just forces at sea, but it is hard to see how the US will be able to guarantee the security of its forces.  

There are enemies of America in Gaza whose patrons in Iran would love to score points in a US election year by striking a blow against the American military.  

The decision self-evidently escalates and intensifies US involvement in the war, a mission creep that may not stop there.  

The other vital point to make is that this will take weeks to build, if not months, and the malnourished people of Gaza need feeding quicker than that.

US plans to build a port on Gaza's coast will be carried out in coordination with Israel, an Israeli official has said.

They said Israel welcomes and fully supports the proposal.

Meanwhile, a UN spokesperson said any additional aid was "obviously good", but land transport was more effective and more entry points need to be opened.

Building a port off Gaza is a signal to the Israelis they must permit greater access to the enclave, a former head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has said.

Sir Mark Lowcock told Sky News that without far more aid, there will be an "explosion" in the number of people dying.

After small children begin to die, as they already have, it will build "into an avalanche of death - and once it starts it is very difficult to stop", he said.

"The death toll from starvation and related diseases is going to be larger than the 30,000 people who are estimated to have been killed already by the bombs and the bullets."

He continued: "The biggest problem is access and access is controlled by the Israeli authorities. They haven't facilitated corridors or opening the crossings."

The only way to overcome the "chaos and desperation" when food trucks arrive is to flood the area with aid, which "is a decision for the Israeli authorities".

Plans for an aid port on Gaza's coast show the US does not believe Israel's claims that enough aid is getting into the territory, international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn  says.

But there will be challenges to build the pier - both in terms of security and time.

"This is a clear sign that America is not buying Israel's claims that enough food and aid is getting in because America is saying, effectively, 'If you're not going to do it, we're going to do it instead'," Waghorn says.

"It is a pretty clear riposte to the Israeli claim."

The pier will be a "challenge" to execute in a secure way, he says, given US boots won't be in the ground.

And aid agencies have warned "time is running out" before famine is declared.

"It is a pretty consequential move and obviously escalates American involvement in Gaza, which I think raises questions about what happens the day after this conflict is over," Waghorn says.

US correspondent Mark Stone  adds that Cyprus will be a major part of the operation suggests the British could take part.

"The British have a significant presence in Cyprus, so perhaps they will be involved."

The extent to which Israel is involved remains unknown, he said.

When World Health Organisation officials visited Gaza last week, they confirmed children had begun to die of starvation there.

Aid agencies and world leaders have consistently warned of the risks of famine in the territory since war broke out on 7 October.

They say not enough aid is being allowed through the border, but Israel says it has tried to speed up checking processes - and bottlenecks are beyond its control.

As the situation worsens in the north of the strip, authorities are conducting a famine review to assess whether one should be officially declared.

But what is famine, how often is it declared and what are hunger levels like in Gaza? Our explainer has the details:

We're receiving more details on US plans to help establish a temporary aid port on Gaza's coast.

It will provide capacity for hundreds of additional truckloads each day, administration officials have told our partner network NBC News.

Shipments will come via Cyprus enabled by the US military and a coalition of partners and allies, they said. 

Earlier this week, EU officials were in Cyprus to discuss the establishment of a maritime aid corridor with a platform at Larnaca.

Israeli officials could screen the goods at the city's port, the US officials said.

They said the Gaza pier will take a number of weeks to plan and execute.

The US forces required are either already in the region or will begin to move there soon. They will remain offshore.

Children in Gaza have taken part in a symbolic protest to highlight the plight of Palestinians facing hunger in the region.

The group of children staged a "funeral" and held up protest signs, some of which read: "What a shame this child died of starvation."

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Nancy Reyes

10 Hidden Gems in Jamaica: Off the Beaten Path Destinations

Hidden treasures in jamaica.

W elcome to the picturesque island of Jamaica, renowned for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. While many travelers flock to the popular tourist destinations, such as Montego Bay and Negril, there are numerous hidden gems waiting to be discovered off the beaten path. In this article, we will uncover 10 extraordinary destinations in Jamaica that offer an authentic and unique experience for the adventurous traveler. So, pack your bags and get ready to explore these hidden treasures!

1. Blue Hole Mineral Spring

Nestled in the scenic mountains of Westmoreland, the Blue Hole Mineral Spring is a natural wonder that should not be missed. This hidden gem offers visitors the opportunity to take a refreshing dip in a natural mineral spring, known for its healing properties. Surrounded by lush vegetation, the tranquil atmosphere of the Blue Hole Mineral Spring provides a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the more crowded tourist spots.

2. Reach Falls

Located in the lush and untouched John Crow Mountains, Reach Falls is a true paradise for nature enthusiasts. This hidden gem boasts a series of cascading waterfalls, crystal-clear pools, and exotic flora and fauna. Visitors can enjoy a refreshing swim in the pristine waters, explore the hidden caves behind the waterfalls, or simply relax and soak up the breathtaking beauty of the surroundings.

3. Port Antonio

If you're looking for a more off-the-beaten-path destination, Port Antonio is the place to be. This charming town on the northeastern coast of Jamaica offers a laid-back atmosphere and a rich history. Explore the historic Folly Mansion, take a leisurely stroll along the marina, or indulge in some local cuisine at one of the quaint waterfront restaurants. Port Antonio is also a gateway to stunning natural attractions, such as the Blue Mountains and the Rio Grande River.

4. Black River Safari

Embark on an unforgettable adventure through the mangroves of the Black River. This hidden gem is home to a diverse ecosystem of plants and animals, including the elusive American crocodile. Take a boat tour along the river and spot these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Don't forget to keep an eye out for the vibrant birdlife and other wildlife that call this area home.

5. Cockpit Country

If you're a nature lover seeking a truly unique experience, a visit to Cockpit Country is a must. This rugged and untouched wilderness is characterized by its limestone hills, deep valleys, and dense vegetation. Explore the network of hiking trails and discover hidden caves, underground rivers, and fascinating geological formations. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Cockpit Country and marvel at its untouched splendor.

6. Blue Mountains

Rising to an impressive height of over 7,400 feet, the Blue Mountains offer a serene and breathtaking escape from the bustling tourist areas. Take a hike through the misty peaks and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The Blue Mountains are also home to some of the world's finest coffee plantations, where you can learn about the coffee-making process and indulge in a cup of freshly brewed Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.

7. YS Falls

Located on the South Coast of Jamaica, YS Falls is a hidden gem that will take your breath away. This stunning natural attraction features seven cascading waterfalls, picturesque pools, and lush gardens. Take a refreshing swim in the natural pools, zipline across the waterfalls, or relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. YS Falls offers a tranquil and idyllic setting that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

8. Strawberry Fields Together

If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination that also supports sustainable tourism, look no further than Strawberry Fields Together. This eco-tourism resort is located in Robin's Bay, St. Mary, and offers visitors a unique blend of natural beauty and community empowerment. Explore the pristine beaches, participate in sustainable farming activities, or immerse yourself in the vibrant local culture. Strawberry Fields Together is a hidden gem that offers a truly authentic Jamaican experience.

9. Milk River Bath

For a truly relaxing and rejuvenating experience, make your way to the Milk River Bath. This hidden treasure is home to Jamaica's largest mineral spa, known for its healing properties. The abundance of minerals in the water is said to provide relief for various ailments, making it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Take a dip in the therapeutic waters and indulge in a soothing massage for a truly blissful experience.

10. Floyd's Pelican Bar

Nestled on a sandbar in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, Floyd's Pelican Bar is a one-of-a-kind destination that simply cannot be missed. This rustic wooden bar is a popular spot for locals and tourists looking to enjoy a cold drink, fresh seafood, and breathtaking views. Accessible only by boat, the journey to Floyd's Pelican Bar is an adventure in itself. Soak up the laid-back atmosphere, swim in the turquoise waters, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

As you can see, Jamaica is filled with hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or a deeper connection with the local culture, these off-the-beaten-path destinations offer an authentic Jamaican experience like no other. So, step off the tourist trail and embark on a journey of discovery to uncover the true essence of Jamaica.

The post 10 Hidden Gems in Jamaica: Off the Beaten Path Destinations appeared first on Things That Make People Go Aww .

Hidden treasures in Jamaica Welcome to the picturesque island of Jamaica, renowned for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality. While many travelers flock to the popular tourist destinations, such as Montego Bay and Negril, there are numerous hidden gems waiting to be discovered off the beaten path. In this article, we will uncover...

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  1. MUST-READ: Why You SHOULD Travel Off the Beaten Path (2023)

    meaning travel off the beaten path

  2. The ultimate guide to travelling off the beaten path

    meaning travel off the beaten path

  3. what you NEED TO KNOW about GETTING OFF THE BEATEN PATH

    meaning travel off the beaten path

  4. Idiom: Off the beaten path (meaning & examples)

    meaning travel off the beaten path

  5. 5 Reasons to Get Off the Beaten Path

    meaning travel off the beaten path

  6. 7 Tips To Traveling Off The Beaten Path

    meaning travel off the beaten path

COMMENTS

  1. OFF THE BEATEN PATH

    OFF THE BEATEN PATH definition: not known or popular with many people: . Learn more.

  2. Travel off the beaten path

    Definition of travel off the beaten path in the Idioms Dictionary. travel off the beaten path phrase. What does travel off the beaten path expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. Travel off the beaten path - Idioms by The Free Dictionary.

  3. Off the beaten path

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  4. Off the beaten path Definition & Meaning

    The meaning of BEATEN is hammered into a desired shape. How to use beaten in a sentence. hammered into a desired shape; much trodden and worn smooth; also : familiar; being in a state of exhaustion : exhausted…

  5. Idiom: Off the beaten path (meaning & examples)

    Example sentences — Instead of backpacking through Europe, I went off the beaten path and spent a year traveling through Africa. — People who go off the beaten path usually gain the most valuable experience. — We were so tired when we got to Paris that we actually just decided to explore some of the smaller neighborhoods off the beaten track.I liked it better than visiting museums.

  6. Going off the beaten path

    Definition of going off the beaten path in the Idioms Dictionary. going off the beaten path phrase. What does going off the beaten path expression mean? ... To travel off of the most commonly frequented routes or away from the most populated areas. I know you like going off the beaten path when you hike, but it's dangerous to wander through ...

  7. Off The Beaten Path: the Definition of this Popular Idiomatic ...

    The idiomatic phrase "off the beaten path" means a location of something or someone that is not in a central or highly populated area. The phrase "off the beaten path" was first appeared in writing in the year 1860. It was used in the sense to mean a path that had been well-traveled. A similar phrase "beaten track" was recorded in 1638.

  8. off the beaten path

    We decided to take a vacation off the beaten path and discovered a beautiful and serene beach. We wanted to try something off the beaten path, so we went to a small restaurant in the suburbs. Origin. This idiom is thought to have originated in the mid-19th century, when it was first used to describe outdoor activities such as hiking and camping.

  9. What does Off the Beaten Path Really Mean?

    Sure, off the beaten path places are those where there aren't as many tourists. However, maybe "off the beaten path" is actually a metaphor for authentic and this is what people really want. So maybe people want experiences with real people and away from tourists. It's funny that you talk about your own town or places close to home.

  10. Get off the beaten path

    Definition. The phrase 'get off the beaten path' is a figurative expression that refers to the idea of taking a different approach or route than the one that is expected or more commonly used. Examples. I wanted to have an adventure, so I decided to get off the beaten path and explore an uncharted area.

  11. off the beaten track/path

    From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English off the beaten track/path off the beaten track/path FAR a place that is off the beaten track is not well known and is far away from the places that people usually visit → beaten Examples from the Corpus off the beaten track/path • Appenzell really is off the beaten track. • Away from the Algarve, it's not hard to get off the beaten track.

  12. Off The Beaten Path Definition & Meaning

    Off The Beaten Path definition: (idiomatic) In a secluded location; in a place which is not frequently visited or not widely known .

  13. off the beaten path

    Prepositional phrase [ edit] off the beaten path. ( idiomatic) In a secluded location; in or to a place which is not frequently visited or not widely known .

  14. The ultimate guide to travelling off the beaten path

    Now that you know what travel off the beaten path is and how to do it, I want to share some of the things you should consider before you set off for your adventure: 1. It requires more research and planning. 2. Consider going with a guide. 3. Could be riskier. 4. Can get lonely. 5. Could make you into a hardcore traveller!

  15. Why You SHOULD Travel Off the Beaten Path (2024)

    The meaning of offbeat travel is not to go toe-to-toe with the ghost of Evil Kneivel on who can do the stupidest thing quicker. Off the beaten path travel is an experience open to EVERYONE; all you need is a curious heart, a dash of bravery, and a willingness to venture in the opposite direction that the Insta influencers are telling you to go. ...

  16. Go off the beaten path

    Definition of go off the beaten path in the Idioms Dictionary. go off the beaten path phrase. What does go off the beaten path expression mean? Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. ... To travel off of the most commonly frequented routes or away from the most populated areas.

  17. How to Travel Off the Beaten Path for Unique Travel Experiences

    Stay with a local family and you'll almost always be off the beaten path. You'll get to see how the family lives, how they organize their lives, eat their meals, and shop-a real window into life at your destination. Even in Paris, you can get off the beaten path. Read about how I explored the back lanes of a Paris neighborhood with a greeter.

  18. English Idioms & Expressions

    Definition: - a place that is not popular and where few people go - a place that may involve exploration and possible hardship (or difficulty) Example: When we travel, I don't like to see the tourist attractions. I prefer to go off the beaten path. More English expressions and phrases

  19. 25 Amazing Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel Destinations

    The Coolest Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel Destinations to Visit in 2023. 1. Guam - Oceania. An off-the-beaten-path destination that's located in the Northern Pacific Ocean is the small island of Guam. This island is known for its gorgeous beaches, verdant interior, and vibrant culture. And since there are plenty of cheap public transportation ...

  20. 10 Best Off The Beaten Path Spots in the Lower Florida Keys

    Parmer's is a quiet, clean, and cozy place to stay for a night or a week. They book up fast, with many regulars making next year's booking as they check out. If you want a spot off the beaten path reminiscent of old Florida, this is your spot. Glorious Views from our Cabin at Parmer's Resort

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    First, find an off-the-beaten-path destination that offers activities for everyone, minus the crowds. Second, use a credit card with a rewards program that helps simplify the whole process, like ...

  22. 14 Hidden Gems in the U.S. That Are Off the Beaten Path

    Discover the hidden side of America with our guide to 14 off-the-beaten-path gems. These under-the-radar destinations offer a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and quiet adventure.

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    Every travel bucket list should include those major cities that are sure to blow you away: Paris, Dubai, New York City, Sydney, the list goes on. ... Consider these eight off-the-beaten-path ...

  24. The beaten path

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    In the tapestry of Anita Phipps' life, education, travel, hobbies, and leisure seamlessly blend, creating a portrait of an inspiring American woman. Customer reviews. 5 star: 0%: 4 star: 0%: 3 star: 0%: 2 star: 0%: 1 star: 0%: How customer reviews and ratings work

  27. 10 Hidden Gems in Jamaica: Off the Beaten Path Destinations

    4. Black River Safari. Embark on an unforgettable adventure through the mangroves of the Black River. This hidden gem is home to a diverse ecosystem of plants and animals, including the elusive ...

  28. Off the beaten track

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