6 tips for exploring destinations off the beaten track

Travel is the greatest source of adventure and cultural experience in the world. In fact, more people than ever are taking the skies, seas, and roads, in search of the great travel experience. Indeed, it was revealed that 45% of travellers in 2018 have some sort of bucket list. However, one of the hardest decisions is deciding where you want to add to that bucket list. If you want something totally unique, you need to head off the beaten track, to places less explored. Use these 6 tips to help you explore the best destinations off the beaten track today.

A group of religious pilfrims were very keen to have their photo taken with me. Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India.

1. Use local tour guides

One of the best things to keep in mind when you are looking to get off the beaten track is to go with a local tour guide. This is a much better idea than going with a tour company because you can get a more authentic local experience this way. Not only that, but you will be able to support local economies, and be much more of an ethical traveller as a result.

2. Research unusual places

One of the best things to keep in mind is the fact that there are a lot of unusual places out there, and research can reveal some unexpected options. Whether your plan is island hopping across hidden bays and secret lagoons, or checking out the back streets of the big city, research is essential.

You’ll find the internet littered with guides, all offering their insight into some of the best kept travel secrets. For example, The Secret Traveller blog at 1Cover, has a whole guide on destinations that no one knows about, including the Lost City of Colombia and Zipolite in Mexico. Do your research to uncover those hidden gems!

3. Travel solo

These days, it is pretty clear that solo travel has become much more of a focal point for a lot of travellers. There is something so appealing about the freedom and independence of solo travel, and it is a great way to experience unique places. Squeeze Pod believes that 11% of the world’s population are thought to be solo travellers, which is a huge rise from what it used to be. Heading abroad on your own means you can go wherever you want, take the time to get on the road less travelled, and make sure examine some great destinations.

4. Hire a car

One of the most important elements of exploring places off the beaten track is to make sure you hire a car. You need to be mobile and you’ll want to be able to get from place to place easily. Being able to travel further, stop when you need to, and stay as long as you like, really enhances the experience of travel.

All of this becomes possible when you hire a car or vehicle in order to get around during your adventure. If you’re not a fan of driving a car, how about a scooter or moped instead?

5. Take your time

It is so important to take your time when you travel off the beaten track. You’re going to be going to places a lot of people may not have been to before, and you have to make sure you think about how you can make the most of this. Take the time to really enjoy the perfect travel experience. Don’t rush things, and really attempt to indulge in the true essence of the unknown. This is another reason why solo travel is one of the best ways of experiencing this.

6. Get lost

The best way to find places off the beaten track is to get lost and simply wander. Of course, you don’t want to get too lost, but it can actually be a good thing sometimes. So, it’s important that you do what you can to make sure you get lost and discover the lesser-known places of the world. This is a great way of discovering some of the more unique and unusual destinations across the globe and would definitely be recommended.

These are just a handful of the wonderful ways you can go about experiencing and exploring unique destinations and locations. Traveling off the beaten track offers a much more rewarding and enjoyable experience, and there are loads of things that can be done to enhance your travel adventure. If there are any important ideas you think we have missed, please leave a suggestion in the comments section below.