12 Less Visited Countries and Why You Should Go There Now
We travel to experience something
different, to go places our friends haven’t been and regale them with
our backpacking tales of far off countries when we get back, but these
days everyone seems to be on the same trail. If you’re looking to get
off the beaten track this year then maybe you should try one of these
countries.
Whether it’s due to
geographical location or a turbulent history, the following countries
have amazing sights and cultures to offer but have stayed under the
radar. This isn’t an exhaustive list and they aren’t necessarily the
least visited in the world (otherwise you’d be left with a list of tiny
islands and Liechtenstein) but they certainly might inspire you!
North Korea
North
Korea is one of the most secretive societies and one of the few
countries that are still under communist rule, so if you want to see the
‘last bastion’ of communism, now is the time to go. North Korea’s
nuclear weapons program has maintained its isolated position from the
rest of the world and the country is governed by the ‘Juche’ principal
of self reliance, handed down by the Kim Dynasty.
Almost
untouched by tourism, North Korea lets in very few westerners each year
and you enter strictly on the government’s terms with an approved tour
guide. Tour guides will tend to stick to their one-sided version of
history and will want to stick to the main sites, but if you’re prepared
for that then it’s worth doing. The only main transport hub to North
Korea is through Beijing, where you can catch a train or a flight to the
capital, Pyongyang. North Korea attracts people for its backwardness
and this country is certainly off the beaten track.
Myanmar
Otherwise
known as Burma, but officially called the ‘Union of Myanmar’ these
days, Myanmar is the authentic Asia. The country borders with Thailand,
India, Bangladesh, Laos, China and the Bay of Bengal and stretches from
the ocean to the Eastern Himalayan mountain range. Myanmar is ruled by a
military junta which wields absolute power, suppresses dissent and is
accused of gross human rights abuses. Myanmar is isolated by the
international community and so many travelers don’t go there, but the
gentle, hospitable inhabitants aren’t anything like the tyrannical
regime.
This mysterious and
undiscovered nation will make you feel like you’ve gone back in time;
it’s a breathtaking country with plenty of charm, but still very much
behind the modern world. Myanmar offers amazing beaches, snow-capped
mountains, jungle, ancient cities and Buddhist monuments.
Marshall Islands
The
Republic of the Marshall Islands is a string of narrow islands and
coral atolls in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and attained
independence in 1986. The US tested nuclear weapons in the Marshall
Islands after World War II and claims are still going on between the two
countries. The islands were first settled by the Micronesians, were
visited by the Spanish and British, colonized by the Germans and
occupied by the Japanese, but after several battles during World War
II, the U.S. seized them from Japan and in 1947, the UN made the island
group a U.S. trust territory.
The
capital atoll is Majuro, which houses the central government, most of
the country’s businesses, and an estimated 50% of the country’s
population. The Marshallese have adapted to the ocean environment and
are expert fishermen.
Bhutan
Bhutan
“The Land of the Thunder Dragon” is a landlocked country up in the
Himalayas and has borders with Tibet, China, Nepal, India and
Bangladesh. Living on “the roof of the world” the Bhutanese have kept
themselves to themselves for hundreds of years, and only recently
discovered cyberspace. Bhutan is a hiker’s paradise; a land of soaring
snow-capped peaks, alpine meadows and densely forested hills and ravines
with exotic flora and fauna.
Until
the early 60s Bhutan was only accessible on foot through Tibet or India,
so its no wonder Bhutan is a country less visited. Not only this, but
independent travel to Bhutan is prohibited, so all tourists must travel
on a pre-planned, pre-paid, guided package tour which becomes very
expensive. With a $200 per day minimum spending per person requirement,
this country is not for the budget traveler.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua
is the largest country in Central America, with the Pacific Ocean on
the West and the Caribbean Ocean on the east. Nicaragua has two big
lakes and one of them, Lake Nicaragua, houses the only fresh water
sharks in the world. It’s a country of action and adventure, where you
can surf the beach breaks, climb the volcano, trek the rainforest and
explore the colonial city of Granada.
Two
small islands in the Atlantic Ocean called the Corn Islands offer a
Caribbean vibe with white beaches, tropical blue waters, and magnificent
coral reefs. But this amazing country has remained under the radar when
it comes to tourism, probably because of the country’s instability; a
cruel dictatorship, civil war, earthquakes and hurricane Mitch. But
after decades of turmoil Nicaragua is now getting back on its feet and
is one of the safest countries in the Americas. You may want to get
there soon because its cheapness makes it a budget traveler’s heaven and
tourism is steadily growing.
Bolivia
Bolivia
is a well-kept secret- while many backpackers head to South America,
not so many visit Bolivia. This landlocked country in South America is
one of the most remote countries in the western hemisphere and is
sometimes known as the “Tibet of the Americas”.
It
is the poorest country in South America but rich in natural resources.
Most tourists flock to its neighbor Peru, but Bolivia offers an
authentic Latin American cultural experience and you could say it is the
most “South American”, with two thirds of the population being
indigenous in origin. You may have seen photos of their distinctive
dress; petticoats, ponchos and bowler hats. Bolivia boasts the highest
capital city, the highest lake in the world and the largest salt flats.
Algeria
Algeria,
in North Africa, is the largest country on the Mediterranean sea and
the second largest country on the African continent. Most of Algeria is
covered by the spectacular Sahara desert, with the population
concentrated in medieval towns in the oases. Most Algerians live on
the coastlands and live on 12% of the land.
Algeria
was originally inhabited by the Berbers until the Arabs conquered North
Africa in the seventh century. Staying mainly in the mountainous
regions, the Berbers resisted the spreading Arab influence, managing to
preserve much of their language and culture until the present day.
Independent travel is very difficult, however, and visits by foreigners
low, as a bitter civil war broke out in 1992, which ended up in the
death of more than 150,000 people. The situation has improved but there
are still odd violent attacks, so backpacking without a vehicle is
almost impossible.
Lebanon
Lebanon
is a small charming country in the Middle East on the Mediterranean
Sea, with cities that were major seaports and outposts in Phoenican and
Roman times. Years of military upheavals, civil unrest and a ban on
travel from the US until 1997 have meant that Lebanon remains off the
beaten track.
For those into winter
sports, Lebanon is great for skiing and snowboarding between December
and March. Lebanon is also a great place for sun-seekers who want to hit
the golden Mediterranean beaches in summer, nature lovers and those
interested in architecture and history. The ancient yet cosmopolitan
capital city of Beirut is known as ‘the Paris of the East’ and has
great bars, restaurants and clubs, but if you want to see the ‘real’
Lebanon you will have to venture outside the city.
This
ancient land, which features in the Old Testament and the writings of
Homer, offers golden beaches, alpine mountains and green agricultural
valleys.
Madagascar
Madagascar
is the fourth largest island in the world and lies off the south east
coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Around 80% of the animals and
plants on Madagascar are unique to the island and the diversity is
staggering; there are over 70 different species just of lemur!
If
you’ve seen the movie with the same name, you’ll know Madagascar is all
about the animals and the animals are weird; see the world’s smallest
and largest chameleons and the elephant bird, the biggest bird in the
world. Look out for the carnivorous pitcher plant and marvel at the
baobabs as you walk down Avenue de Baobab. The sugared coastline has
great snorkeling, is littered with shipwrecks and has some cool pirate
history.
Slovakia
Slovakia,
or “Slovensko” in the native language of Slovak, isn’t amongst one of
the most well-known destinations, but it is definitely worth paying
attention to. This central European country has everything from alpine
peaks, skiing, national parks, forests and rivers to gothic and baroque
towns, more castles and chateaus than you can ever imagine, and old-town
cafés in Bratislava.
Now that
Slovakia has joined the EU, emerged from the communist era and the
capital Bratislava is served with a bunch of low cost airlines including
Ryanair, Slovakia is becoming a great option for traveling. Although
prices have gone up it remains relatively cheap compared to the rest of
Europe.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia
and Herzegovina still bears the scars of the Yugaslav wars in the
Balkan region in the 1990s and in some regions the countryside is still
riddled with mines. But travelers are starting to put Bosnia and
Herzegovina into their itineraries as they realize it has stunning
mountain landscapes, a lively café scene in Sarajevo, historic
fortresses, old mosques, monasteries and Catholic shrines.
Bosnia
and Herzegovina bears evidence of the cultural and architectural
influence of two great empires; the country was first dominated by the
Turks for 500 years and then briefly by the Austria-Hungarians. The old
bridge in the city of Mostar is a highlight, and many people are drawn
to Bosnia and Herzegovina for the adventure sports such as river
kayaking, rafting, mountain hiking and climbing.
Rwanda
The
‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ is a lush country in Africa with a
relatively cool climate because of its high altitude, rolling hills,
grassy uplands, mountains, abundant wildlife, lakeshore beaches and
stunning natural beauty. The main attraction for travelers is that its
dense jungle contains some of the world’s last mountain gorillas, and
Rwanda is the best place to view them at close quarters. Rwanda became
best known from the movie “Gorillas in the Mist” and the mountain
gorillas are a major source of tourism.
Other
attractions include the savannah and plains wildlife in Akagera
National Park, the biodiversity of Nyungwe rainforest and the beautiful
lakeshore beaches around Lake Kivu. Rwanda is unfortunately usually
remembered for one of the worst mass genocides in history in 1994 but
don’t let that put you off. Visitors tend to avoid traveling to Rwanda
given its tumultuous history, but these days the country has taken leaps
and bounds towards recovery.
HUONG VIET TRAVEL – MEMBER OF PATA, ASTA, IATA
Add: 20 Nguyen Truong To Str, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel : (84-4) 37162149 Fax: (84-4) 37161738
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Add: 20 Nguyen Truong To Str, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel : (84-4) 37162149 Fax: (84-4) 37161738
E–mail address: sales@huongviettravel.com
Website: www.huongviettravel.com | http://www.aseantravelandtours.com | http://www.visavietnamonline.com | http://www.huongvietjsc.com
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