Off the Beaten Track: Intrepid Travel Reveals 2026's Top 10 Alternative Destinations

Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone, has been named as the top destination to visit in 2026 by Intrepid Travel's annual "Not Hot List," a round-up of the world's most under-visited places poised for tourism growth. Developed in collaboration with travel trend forecasting agency Globetrender, the list highlights international locations that have been overlooked by mainstream travelers, citing economic and cultural benefits of tourism.

Key Takeaways:

• Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone, tops the list due to its raw authenticity, dense jungle, rare flora and fauna, and boat cruises along the Moa River.
• The island was awarded Unesco World Heritage status in 2025, and a 10-year tourism strategy was launched in 2024, with direct flights departing from London.
• Meghan Verbeek, Intrepid's product manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, notes that tourism in Sierra Leone is still in its infancy, offering a rare chance to explore a destination untouched by mainstream tourism.
• Emerging destinations include the Tien Shan Mountain Range in Kyrgyzstan and India's easternmost state, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Vis Island, Croatia, was named the "perfect antidote to mass tourism," with new walking and cycling trails and the Museum of Issa opening in 2026.
• The Via Transilvanica, a 1,400km long-distance walking trail in Romania, made the top 10 as the continent's "next great walking destination."
• Oulu, Finland, a coastal city just below the Arctic Circle, is offering a year-long cultural programme "fusing climate science and cultural expression" and was named the "European Capital of Culture 2026."

Statistics:

• 1,400km: length of the Via Transilvanica walking trail in Romania
• 170km: new paths opening in 2026 on the Via Transilvanica trail
• 10 years: duration of Sierra Leone's tourism strategy launched in 2024
• 2026: year in which new walking and cycling trails and the Museum of Issa will open on Vis Island, Croatia
• 2025: year in which Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone, was awarded Unesco World Heritage status

Sources:

• Intrepid Travel
• Globetrender (travel trend forecasting agency)
• Unesco