These are the 'not hot' places you should be going to
With over tourism affecting more and more destinations, travelling responsibly is high on many people's priorities.
Add to that the desire to find the next hotspot, and a travel countdown with a difference has been released.
Intrepid Travel has revealed its annual Not Hot List, featuring 10 lesser-known destinations that it says deserve the spotlight for travel in 2025.
Intrepid's annual Not Hot List seeks to address overtourism by inspiring travellers to discover different and unique experiences around the world, with communities that can truly benefit from more visitors.
Intrepid is introducing four trips to some of the spots - Greenland, Ghana, Mongolia and Australia.
Here's the inspiring list of places.
10. Oslo, Norway
Most travellers to the Nordics miss Oslo on their way to its famous Scandinavian siblings, Intrepid says.
Dubbed the 'Newest Capital of Nordic Cool' by The Wall Street Journal, the quirky city offers unique character with floating saunas, artsy communities, diverse architecture, international cuisine, wild swimming spots, and a dynamic night life scene.
Just 30 minutes from the city, travellers can reach the Nordmarka forest, offering opportunities for great hiking, biking, skiing and sailing.
READ MORE: Japan travel tips: Essential guide for first-time visitors
9. Maldonado, Uruguay
This emerging new wine region whose rolling hills are lined with olive groves and vineyards that hint at Tuscany, has long been overshadowed by South America's wine giants says Intrepid.
"It offers art, gastronomy and culture, while also home to creative institute Campo, a residency programme for artists," Intrepid said.
8. Accra, Ghana
Accra in Ghana made it onto the list.
Intrepid is offering a 15-Day Adventure through Western Africa explores rarely visited spots in Benin, Togo and Ghana.
With stunning landscapes, vibrant art and unique culture, travellers will hear stories like those of the Fantasy Coffin Design Makers in Teshie-Nungua where skilled artisans craft elaborate "okadi adekai" (art coffins) symbolising continued passion into the afterlife, it says.
Travellers will also visit the Global Mamas in Jamestown, a fair-trade organisation supporting local female artists, and hike up Mt Agou, Togo's highest peak.
READ MORE: Aussie warns of domestic cruise mistake that's so easy to avoid
7. Anti-Atlas Mountains, Morocco
The Anti-Atlas remains one of the least-visited parts of Morocco, with picturesque villages and lush oasis valleys, and is somewhere tourists should visit, according to Intrepid.
The area is inhabited by nomadic Amazigh people, who lead a traditional way of life centred around agriculture and herding.
6. Rupununi Savannah, Guyana
Intrepid says that despite its natural attractions and unique cultural heritage, Guyana has long remained one of South America's least visited countries.
The Rupununi Savanna is a vast greenland offering a combination of natural beauty, wildlife, cultural experiences, and adventure.
Travellers here can visit Kaieteur Falls, the longest single drop fall waterfall in the world or stay at and learn about Indigenous Macushi and Wapishana culture at community-run ecolodges.
READ MORE: The best cruise lines for kids, seniors, or the whole family, according to expert
5. Sainshand, Mongolia
As part of its new rail range Intrepid is launching a new train journey along the Trans-Mongolian Railway, a lesser-known alternative to the famous Trans-Siberian route.
"This journey allows visitors to take in magnificent views of the Gobi Desert with stops at hard-to-reach places like Sainshand.
"Travellers will hike up the Mountain of Wishes, enjoy a meal with and learn about nomadic life with a camel herding family, and explore Buddhist caves where monks meditate for 108 consecutive days," it said.
4. Cape York
While Cape York attracts many Australian visitors, it remains relatively unknown on an international scale.
Intrepid has new trip brings travellers on a journey to the northernmost Australian tip in Queensland, along endless red dirt roads, fording rivers, and camping beneath star-studded skies.
"In Cape York, travellers will learn the traditions of both local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, who live side by side in the region," it said.
"Highlights include experiencing a Torres Strait Islander-guided tour of Thursday Island, crocodile sightings on an adventurous eco-cruise, and indulging in local seafood favourites."
3. Adirondacks, New York
This six-million-acre natural playground in upstate New York is larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, Grand Canyon, and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks combined Intrepid notes.
It is four hours from Manhattan and largely off international travellers' radars.
Coming in 2025, the new Adirondack Rail Trail will link the Tri-Lakes communities of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake.
Despite expansion, Intrepid says the area has remained committed to its strict conservation efforts, ensuring the wilderness remains protected for generations to come.
2. Disko Island, Greenland
Greenland's current tourism model is heavily focused on cruising in remote wilderness areas, away from the heart and soul of the islands.
Intrepid says its Greenland Expedition spotlights modern life above the polar circle in what it says is a great place to visit.
"Surrounded by the miraculous views of icebergs and whales breeching in the distance, travellers will experience the culture and history of local fishing towns, learn the centuries-old tradition of bone carving, and take guided hikes to traditional Inuit settlements," it says.
