Every year, most of the people around the world cannot wait for the opportunity to take some vacation time and travel to a place where they can recharge their batteries by seeing and doing something exciting. While there certainly are locations that are a big bang for a long period of time, some of us still prefer to avoid the huge crowds of tourists and find a more peaceful spot for themselves. So, instead of aiming for Thailand or Iceland, you might want to look into some of the more under-the-radar locations that definitely have a lot to offer and are worth traveling to.

So, if you are one of those who are looking for alternate locations that are underrated, in this article, we are going to go over some of such spots, in order to help you decide whether at least one of them could be just what you are looking for.

Tasmania, Australia

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Located just off the southern Australian coast is Tasmania, an island that is becoming a modern Paradise for tourists who want to see breath-taking landscapes, get acquainted with a unique culture, and taste some of the local food and supreme alcoholic beverages such as wine and whiskey. The locals are very friendly and easy-going, so you are bound to be welcomed with open arms and have a great time.

To get to Tasmania, you need to take a flight from Melbourne that takes a bit more than an hour. You will be pleasantly surprised by the state’s capital city, Hobart. It is a lovely port city right under Mount Wellington, and it definitely has a lot to offer. Therefore, you should look into things to do in Hobart.

There are the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) and the historic site of Port Arthur for those who are interested in history, art, archaeology, and the like. If, on the other hand, you want to know more about the wildlife there, you should visit the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo, or cruise around Bruny Island where you can see dolphins, seals, and whales.

From Hobart, you should definitely go to the East Coast as well, especially the Freycinet National Park where you can take amazing hikes.

Luang Prabang, Laos

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One thing that is typical for modern times is fast travel. People tend to visit a variety of places at a fast pace, and, as a result, miss on quite a number of things. This is why Luang Prabang is a wonderful place to visit. It shows that slow travel is still practiced and cherished in some areas. It is a lot more peaceful than the neighboring countries – Vietnam and Cambodia.

Luang Prabang is located in a peaceful valley which is a meeting point of the two rivers – Nam Khan and Mekong. What you can find here is an amazing contrast between the architecture typical for Buddhist temples and the one brought during the French colonial times.

The Vientiane’s Wattay International Airport is close by, and it is being upgraded so that it becomes able to welcome a lot more tourists from all over the world. From there, you can take a bus to anywhere you need to be.

Atacama Desert, Chile

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If you feel like being an adventurer, the Atacama Desert is a place like you have never seen before. Elevated almost 8,000, the Atacama is a desert plateau that includes amazing landscapes such as geyser fields, salt flats with 18,000-foot volcanoes, sand dunes, mountain lagoons, and valleys that look like they are on the Moon.

The Atacama Desert is an amazing place for adventurous activities such as mountain biking, climbing up high volcanoes, and sandboarding. And, when you get tired, you can sit back and relax the wonderful sunset ripples all across the desert.

Crested Butte, Colorado

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When traveling to Colorado, most people consider visiting Aspen or Breckenridge. However, if you want to experience an under-the-radar location that offers some truly amazing opportunities, you should take a flight to the small airport located in Crested Butte. Now, this is a location that is pretty high up, so, that might be something you will need to get adjusted to. However, once you do, you will be able to try out some of the extremely entertaining activities, such as hiking, rock-climbing, and white water rafting. And, if you decide to visit during the winter, you can rent a cozy cabin and spend your time there, when you are not skiing or dog sledding.

Furthermore, Crested Butte is home to many exciting events during the whole year, such as Butte Bash College Ski Week, Crafted Tasting, or Mardi Gras.

Comporta, Portugal

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If Portugal is the country that you want to visit, then you might want to turn a blind eye to popular locations such as the capital city of Lisbon. Instead, you should try visiting Comporta which is a small group of villages located on the Troia Peninsula. This is another perfect spot for relaxation away from huge crowds. Comporta has spotless beaches surrounded by sand dunes and fields of rice.

Now, you won’t find that many hotels and restaurants there. This is, however, just fine if you want to spend some quality time in a peaceful, happy-go-lucky location.

Final words

Photo by John Westrock on Unsplash

There is no doubt that the world is full of extraordinary places for you to visit, and that the ones that are popular have become such for a reason. However, this doesn’t mean that there are plenty of under-the-radar locations that are just as amazing, only probably a little different in terms of booming tourism and hundreds of people swarming the streets.

Such alternate locations offer exciting things to do and amazing things to see, while being more cloistered than usual tourist locations, and providing you with an opportunity to spend a more peaceful time with family, friends, or on your own.