Surprising holiday destinations Aussies are choosing instead of 'overdone itineraries'
Every year without fail, as the mercury drops and winter settles in, Aussies head overseas in droves, looking for warmer weather.
Bali and Europe are classic choices. But this year, Australians have some surprising destinations on their radar.
Recent data shows that Egypt, Morocco, and Peru are all on the rise as holiday destinations.
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Intrepid has seen a surge in bookings for their Egypt tours. Intrepid
According to Intrepid, bookings for tours in Egypt are up 170 per cent year-on-year.
With a rich history, fascinating culture, and warm weather, Aussies are choosing to head to this North African country for a different kind of holiday.
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Brett Mitchell, Intrepid Travel ANZ Managing Director, tells 9Travel that Egypt has made a major investment in tourism infrastructure, which has made it a far more accessible destination.
"New hotel developments, streamlined visa processes, and improvements to transport are all helping travellers move more confidently through the country and encouraging more Aussies to visit," he says.
Kazakhstan is a beautiful country in central Asia. Getty
Another surprising region where Aussies are setting their sights is Central Asia. In the past year alone, Australian bookings with Intrepid to Uzbekistan are up 65 per cent, Mongolia 128 per cent, and Kazakhstan a staggering 560 per cent.
Though they're not common destinations for Australians, travellers are choosing to explore so-called 'lesser-known' places.
"Travellers are looking to avoid crowds and overdone itineraries," says Brett.
In response, Intrepid has beefed up its offerings in these destinations, including six new trips in Central Asia.
Recently, 9Travel writer Sarah Swain wrote that Euro summer as we know it is over. With soaring temperatures and inescapable crowds, a jaunt through Europe in the summer months is no longer the fun and carefree rite of passage that it once was.
Cinque Terre crowds in Italy. Supplied
Instead, travellers are choosing to holiday in the shoulder months, or to skip the 'mainstream' destinations altogether.
That's why, perhaps, Intrepid has seen such a jump in bookings for their more 'off the beaten path' destinations.
Peru and Ecuador are also soaring in popularity.
"These destinations are still relatively affordable, less saturated with tourists, and include experiences that give people a real sense of connection to culture," says Brett.
Tours to Peru and Ecuador visit the famous Galapagos Islands. Intrepid
Of course, we don't need to head overseas to warm up in winter. Typically Aussies tend to head to Queensland for a domestic holiday in the cooler months, this year more of us have set our sights west.
The Kimberley, in north-western Australia, has also seen a bump in popularity, according to Intrepid.
Here, the daytime highs in winter average a balmy 28°C, there's plenty of sunshine, and the chance of rain is slim.
The Kimberley is a popular domestic destination. Supplied
Yes, Bali, Thailand, and Cairns will always remain at the top of the list for Aussie winter getaways.
But as tourism continues to skyrocket, don't be surprised if you see some unexpected destinations edge their way into people's travel wish lists.
