Ten underrated destinations you never hear about – but ought to

These countries never seem to show up on news or travel pages, but just because you’ve never heard of them doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit.

Kyrgyzstan

It’s the highest-ranked country by Lonely Planet in 2019, but few tourists (except Russians) visit it, despite Kyrgyzstan being one of the most scenic destinations on Earth. Its tourism slogan “So Much to Discover” is not wrong. Three of the mountains are more than 7,000 meters above sea level, and the mountains are dotted with beautiful lakes flanked by summer pastures where yaks graze. See discoverkyrgyzstan.org

Panama

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OK, you’ve heard of the Panama Canal, it’s high on your cruise bucket list, but what else? While neighboring Costa Rica is an eco-fanatic, Panama has similar rainforest highlands, frequented by monkeys and quetzals. It also has dual coastlines of the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. A highlight is the largely undeveloped, coral-fringed San Blas Islands, perfect for a Robinson Crusoe vacation. See tourismpanama.com

Bulgaria

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This little-mentioned country is supposed to have a large number of tourists, but only its Black Sea beaches attract the Eastern European crowd. Elsewhere, you can feel all the European culture and history in peace: Neolithic tombs, Roman ruins, the fortified former capital of Veliko Tarnovo, icon-strewn Orthodox churches, and Belogra with its snow-capped peaks in the background Ruins of Chik Fortress. Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe. See bulgariatravel.org

in swat

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This small kingdom between South Africa and Mozambique is better known as its predecessor Swaziland, its cousin but with similarly stunning mountain scenery and national parks such as Hlane and Mkhaya where you can see to large African animals. The accommodations are good, the hiking trails are well organized, the people are friendly, and the cultural traditions and colorful festivals are alive and well. See thekingdomofeswatini.com

Slovakia

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When Czechoslovakia amicably divorced in 1992, the Czech Republic (and Prague in particular) captured the attention of all tourists. While Bratislava, the capital on the Danube, does have transient tourists, the east of the country remains largely untouched by mass tourism despite its abundance of castles, wine regions, spas and beautiful historic towns. The High Tatras offer great hiking and good-value skiing. See slovakia.com

Uruguay

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Has Uruguay been in the news? Only during football championships. Nestled between far-familiar Argentina and Brazil, this safe, well-governed and friendly country has beautiful countryside and a thriving gaucho (cowboy) culture. The capital, Montevideo, is cultured and progressive. Punta del Este beach resorts are the party capital, but give way to endless unspoiled beaches and laid-back fishing villages. See uruguaynatural.com

Mongolia

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Though barely out of sight for tourists, Mongolia is one of the world’s last remaining regions of great wilderness, where savannahs, mountains, braided rivers and the Gobi Desert meet. With few towns and no roads, this is adventure travel at its best. Expect yaks and sheep, Buddhist temples, ancient rock art, top dinosaur fossil sites and gigantic glacial vistas. See mongolia.travel

Albania

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You can see Albania from the tourist-heavy island of Corfu, and although the Mediterranean coastline is similar to that of Greece, the Albanian Riviera has until recently caught the attention of sun-seeking Nordics. The mountainous country of verdant valleys and sapphire seas is rich in historical heritage, including the Greco-Roman ruins of Butrint and the Ottoman-era town of Gjirokaster, both on the World Heritage List. see albania.al

Senegal

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Seven World Heritage Sites, national parks, boulder circles, bird-filled delta lands, pink lakes, fertile beaches and major surfing spots along the tiny coast are all good reasons to visit this West African country. Goree Island traces the horrific history of the slave trade. The chaotic and colorful capital, Dakar, has a great music scene. See discoverenegal.com

ecuador

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While the Galapagos Islands are a prime destination for ecotourism and adventure cruising, mainland Ecuador is neglected. Yet its Amazon rainforest and Mindo cloud forest offer an alternative wildlife—monkeys, sloths, incredible birds—while the Andes offer stunning vistas on foot. Cotopaxi at 5,897 meters and Chimborazo at 6,263 meters are two of 14 volcanoes that line a 200-kilometre corridor near the capital, Quito. See Ecuador.travel

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