8 Underrated Countries You Should Visit in 2025
Looking for hidden gem destinations? Check out these 8 off the beaten track countries to visit.
While the crowds flock to Thailand or London, there are many off the beaten track travel destinations around the world where you can have a great vacation & authentic experience without tons of tourists. From the spectacular Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia to hidden beaches in Albania to the Northern Lights and dog sledding in northern Finland, here are our top picks for underrated countries to visit in 2025.
1. Bolivia: Hidden Gem Destination in Latin America
Spectacular Uyuni Salt Flats, magical Lake Titicaca, & Amazon Rainforest. Very affordable country.
Go to Bolivia if you like: Peru, Yellowstone, natural wonders, Crater Lake, Amazon rainforest, Brazil, Latin American culture, Pisco Sours.
Bolivia is teeming with culture and natural wonders, yet itâs much more affordable than most other countries in Latin America and feels very off the beaten path. Itâs the cheapest country to see the Amazon rainforest, and then it also has the stunning Uyuni Salt Flats, Lake Titicaca, hiking in the Andes mountains, and very friendly people. Itâs also the home to empanadas, fascinating Andean culture, a coca museum (!), and vibrant La Paz city. Weâve traveled to several Latin American countries, but we especially loved Bolivia for its charm and hidden gem feeling. We would go back in a heartbeat.
Top things to do in Bolivia:
The Uyuni Salt Flats (Salar de Uyuni) (see photo above) and surrounding red lakes, lagoons, moon-like landscapes, and geysers feel out of this world. There are 2 main options for seeing the salt flats and the area:
Do a day trip from Uyuni. This is a great option if you donât have a ton of time. This is a reliable day trip tour that I recommend. You get to tour the salt flats in a 4x4, visit the Isla Incahuasi island, & take amazing photos. If youâre in La Paz & want to do the whole thing in one day, this is a good tour from a reliable company.
Do a 3 to 5 day trip from Uyuni. The 3-5 day trip from the Uyuni salt flats to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile is a magical, once in a lifetime experience. You need to book a 4x4 tour company to take you on this trip. We recommend this tour for the 5-day option. Just note that the second night for EVERY tour that goes through here is in a cold hotel, so bring a warm jacket and hat.
You can also visit the area the other way around, from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile to Uyuni (we did).
đïž The City of La Paz is teeming with life as well. Visit the Plaza San Francisco and the Basilica and monastery. Itâs an excellent place for people watching and seeing the frescos and carvings. Try some of Boliviaâs best food & cocktails at Yati or a gourmet meal at Mi Chola.
More things to do in Bolivia:
đŠ Sapphire blue Lake Titicaca (see photo below). The gorgeous blue lake, which borders Peru, is definitely worth a trip. The best way to visit Titicaca is to go to Copacabana (not the one in Brazil), which is a charming Bolivian town on the lake thatâs a 3 hour bus or car ride from La Paz.
đ„ïž Option 1: Day trip. You can do this as a day trip from La Paz, which takes you to the lake and the lovely Isla del Sol (see below) & back. This is a good day trip tour we recommend.
đ„ïž Option 2: Stay in Copacabana. You can also stay a couple of days at the lake. Take a boat ride to the charming Isla del Sol, where you can hike around, and enjoy a pisco sour when you get back (theyâre very good).
đ Where to stay: We really LOVED this hotel, Las Olas (see below) there that has individual houses with suites and huge windows that look onto Lake Titicaca â itâs where we got engaged!
đł Amazon rainforest: Bolivia may be the easiest and cheapest way to see the Amazon rainforest.
You need to first get to Rurrenabaque, from which you can easily book tours to the Pampas (where you can see alligators and squirrel monkeys) or the jungle. Itâs much cheaper than if you book the same experience in Brazil.
đ„ Hot tip: Bring layers of clothing. The high altitude means that it can be warm in the sunny daytime, but very cold at night.
âïž Getting there: You need a visa in order to travel to Bolivia, but itâs easy to get in advance at a Bolivian embassy. There are direct flights from New York to La Paz, which is is an overnight 10 hour, 45 minute flight.
Getting around Bolivia: You can take buses to Lake Titicaca (Copacabana), Uyuni, or Rurrenbaque, or internal flights to Uyuni (around $125-150) or Rurrenbaque. Local buses to Copacabana cost around $3 and depart throughout the day from the La Paz General Cemetery. Direct buses depart twice daily (8am and 1pm) from from La Paz central bus terminal and cost around $7.
đ„ Hot tip: If youâre planning to visit any of these countries as a solo traveler, check out Maddieâs great tips of how to prepare.
2. Uganda: One of the Best Hidden Travel Gems in Africa
Fantastic safaris, gorilla trekking, hike with white rhinos, good weather year-round, and extremely friendly.
Go to Uganda if you like: Kenya, safaris, warm weather year-round, gorillas, Crater Lake, mountain hiking.
While everyone goes to Kenya or South Africa to safari, or maybe Tanzania, almost no one visits Uganda comparatively. And yetâŠ. Uganda is less expensive, its national parks are under visited but amazing, you can do gorilla trekking, and the people there are extremely friendly. I daresay, maybe the friendliest on earth. Yes, Iâm a bit biased since I lived there for 2 1/2 years, but it is a wonderful place & a very underrated country to visit in Africa.
Best things to do in Uganda:
đŠ Visit Kidepo National Park, where you can hear lions roaring at night & see cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, buffalos, & more. Kidepo gets far fewer visitors than Ugandaâs other national parks, so you get a more up-close, authentic experience.
đŠ Go mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest or Mgahinga National Park in southwestern Uganda. This is a really special experience, as you track the gorillas as they move around in the dense mountain forest. Mgahinga receives fewer visitors, so we recommend that park a bit more. Youâll need to book ahead of time, as this is a popular activity.
If you want to do a tour, the one below is great, and we recommend it. If you want to do arrange it yourself, you can also do that. Bea Adventurous recently did the Bwindi trip & has a great blog on how to do it.
More things to do in Uganda:
đŠ Walk around with white rhinos. A hidden gem is the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, one of the very few places in the world where you can track rare white rhinos in a sanctuary. If youâre in Kampala, the tour below is a great way to do this.
Relax on Lake Bunyonyi, a magical blue lake where you can paddle around in a dugout canoe, relax, and stay in a small resort. One of the deepest lakes in Africa, Bunyonyi is in Southwestern Uganda near the gorilla trekking sites, so you can combine the two activities.
â° Hike Mt. Elgon, a beautiful volcanic mountain that you can trek for 4 to 5 days, sleep in a cave under a waterfall, and explore the volcanic caldera. Sasha did this and it was a fantastic experience â we barely saw any other people. This is a very underrated, wonderful outdoor adventure that few people do in Uganda. Combine this with nearby Sipi Falls, a 225 foot (75m) waterfall in a spectacular setting. You need to book guides & porters with the Ugandan Wildlife Authority.
đ„ Hot Tip: Combine mountain gorilla tracking in southwestern Uganda with a visit to charming Lake Bunyonyi. And donât sleep on Kampala - itâs a vibrant city with many fun bars, world class Indian food and local roasted pork.
âïž Getting There: You now need to get a Ugandan visa in advance, but you can get one online fairly easily. There are direct flights to Entebbe, Uganda from London, Dubai, Amsterdam, and other cities.
3. Albania: A top European Underrated Country to Visit
Think Croatiaâs incredible coast & nature but at 1/3 the price.
Go to Albania if you like: Italy, Croatia, beautiful beaches, fjords, grilled meats, European history, pristine Alpine lakes, friendly Balkan culture.
Albania is one of the more off the beaten track places in Europe, yet it offers almost all of what Croatia does (and in some ways more) but at a fraction of the cost. Itâs a quite friendly country and one that you feel like you could stay in for a long time, between the beaches, mountains, and very affordable prices. And it definitely has the off the beaten path feeling: Albania receives less than half the number of tourists of Croatia. Itâs truly one of the best hidden travel gems in Europe.
Top things to do in Albania:
đ Long, white sandy beaches: Three beach towns we recommend are SarandĂ«, DhĂ«rmi, and Ksamil.
More things to do in Albania:
đ Go for a scenic drive: The Llogara Pass (pictured) is an out of this world drive in the mountains and water through the Llogara National Park.
â° Go hiking: Northern Albania is SPECTACULAR for hiking. The center is Theth, a town surrrounded 360 degrees by mountains. The Theth Waterfall, Valbona Valley National Park, the Blue Eye, and the famous Valbona-Thethi hike are all amazing.
â° Take a guided tour: This tour to the Albanian Alps is awesome. You get picked up in Tirana and then go to Komani Lake, Valbona Valley, and Thethi National Park. Totally recommend it to get in the mountain highlights!
đ„ Hot Tip: Albania is NOT in the EU Schengen Zone, so itâs perfect to visit if youâre doing long-term travel in Europe and need to get out of the Schengen for 3 months.
âïž Getting there & visa: No visa is needed U.S., U.K., or E.U. member country citizens.
Book a flight to Albania below. Direct flights from New York to Tirana, Albania will resume in 2025 with Air Albania.
You can also fly to another major European city and take a discount airline â several offer cheap flights, including Wizz Air, Ryan Air, Easy Jet, and others. You need a car to explore the country when you get there.
4. Ecuador: Underrated Country to Visit in Latin America with Mountain Climbing, the GalapagosâŠ
Climb some of the worldâs highest mountains without needing special training, see the Amazon rainforest, or scuba dive in the Galapagos.
Go to Ecuador if you like: mountain hiking and climbing, the Rockies, Sierra Nevada, Alps, the Caribbean, scuba diving, sea life, the Amazon rainforest, exotic bird watching, Costa Rica.
Ecuador kind of has it all â from scuba diving in the Galapagos Islands to high peak mountain climbing in the Andes to jungle adventures in the Amazon to beach towns on the Pacific. We really loved the fact that the capital Quito is surrounded by both high mountains and the rainforest, meaning you can do day trips from the city to hike gorgeous peaks and explore the jungle. And itâs still fairly off the beaten track, so enjoy it while that lasts!
Top things to do in Ecuador:
đł Rainforest/jungle adventure: There are amazing rainforests just a couple of hours from Quito that have jungle hikes with beautiful waterfalls and gorgeous tropical birds. You can take a day trip from Quito, this is a great, affordable tour that we did that does that. Or you canâŠ
Do a 3-day trip to the Amazon rainforest, which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We recommend the tour below, where you get to stay in a really cool Amazon lodge in the jungle, and hike around with a local guide. The guides, Bryan and Carlos, do a fantastic job, and we recommend them.
Galapagos Islands: Where to begin? The Galapagos is a world wonder. Go scuba diving, see giant tortoises, swim at beautiful beaches, and hike the Sierra Negra volcano.
More things to do in Ecuador:
â° Mountain hiking and climbing in the Andes: book a mountain guide and hike high Andes mountains within reach of Quito (we booked this one and highly recommend them). This is a wonderful experience â we hiked four mountains and made it to the top of three.
Keep in mind that the altitude is high â all above 10,000 feet, e.g. with Cotopaxi at 19,300 feet. So you need to take time to acclimatize. We failed in our final summit attempt at Cotopaxi (but had a blast). And we did make it to the top of a 17,500-foot peak called Iliniza Norte (pictured above), which was an incredible experience.
Explore Quito: Old Quito is charming with its historic churches and delicious food. The tour below is great & you get to see tons of the city!
See the Quilotoa Crater, which is such an amazing lake in a crater. This is a great guided tour to see it.
Eat delectable soups â e.g. at Las Sopas de Siempre â and delicious local fruits.
Ride the Teleferico to get a great view of the city.
đ„ Hot Tip: Combine an amazing scuba diving/snorkeling and island experience on the Galapagos with mountain trekking in the Andes.
đ„ Hot Tip 2: Make sure you allow enough time for acclimatization â a couple of days in Quito at least â if you plan to do mountain climbing.
âïž Getting there: No visa is needed. There are direct flights to Quito from Atlanta, Miami, and Houston in the US.
5. Ethiopia: One of the Most Underrated Countries to Visit in Africa
Fascinating castles & rock hewn churches, a volcano you can hike to, delicious food, fantastic local jazz.
Go to Ethiopia if you like: visiting historic places, particularly ancient churches, Israel, adventure travel, Yellowstone, hiking, spicy food, good coffee.
Ethiopia offers a fascinating, unique travel experience, and has far fewer tourists than South Africa or Kenya. Its historic rock-carved churches, castles, and natural wonders like geysers are completely different from other parts of Africa. And the delicious food and coffee⊠Weâve toured the country several times together, and Megnote is originally from Ethiopia. Here are some of our top recommendations for this hidden travel gem.
Top experiences in Ethiopia:
Lalibela: The 14th century churches rock-hewn in the northern city of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are an architectural wonder and are magical to see. Theyâre still active, so you can see a service & even take a tour from a local priest.
More things to do in Ethiopia:
Danakil Depression: The 3-day tour of the Danakil in Afar in the north is truly spectacular, making Ethiopia one of the most underrated countries to visit.
đ It includes a volcano trek â the closest you can get to an active lava lake in the world.
Yellowstone-like geysers: Danakil also has a geyser/hydrothermal system analogous to Yellowstone called Dallol, salt flats, and a visit to a fascinating âsalt mineâ where locals trek with a camel caravan for a week to gather salt from a lake.
đ Recommended tour: You have to book a guide (with a land cruiser) to see these areas because of permits, etc. We had a wonderful experience with this tour and recommend it. It got great reviews and did not disappoint. Day 1 takes you to the salt lake and hot springs. Then on Day 2 you do the amazing trek to the volcano. And then on Day 3 you see the totally unique camel caravans & salt âmine.â Itâs about $500 per person, which includes accommodation and meals.
â° Bale Mountains National Park: beautiful 4,000 meter mountains, glacial lakes, and the lovely Bale Mountain Lodge to stay in the park and have cocktails and watch the sunset.
đ„ Hot Tip: The tour of the Danakil Depression is one that youâll never forget â itâs truly out of this world. The tours now leave from Semera instead of Mekelle.
đ„ Hot Tip 2: Save a couple of days to explore Addis Ababa â thereâs great local jazz, fun bars, good new museums and parks, a good new zoo. Read more on our underrated cities blog.
âïž Getting there: You now need to get an Ethiopia visa online in advance if youâre not from another African country ($50), but this actually makes arrival at Addis Ababa airport much easier. Ethiopian Airlines offers direct flights from many locations, and itâs a decent airline.
6. Finland: Northern Europeâs Most Underrated Country to Visit
Highlights: See the northern lights without the crowds, have an authentic sauna experience, & watch reindeer racing.
Go to Finland if you like: Iceland, Northern Lights, architecture, Norway, saunas, Marimekko design, lake retreats, cross-country skiing.
While the crowds flock to the Norwegian fjords or Stockholm, Finland remains a fascinating, underrated country to visit among the Nordic countries. Weâve been to Finland twice and really liked soaking up both the Nordic culture and quiet, pristine nature. See the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in a much less touristy environment than Iceland, relax at an outdoor sauna and dip in a nearby lake, experience authentic Finnish culture, go dog-sledding, or go cross-country skiing.
The word sauna is actually Finnish, and going to an outdoor savusauna (smoke sauna) is a real highlight, including dipping in a frozen pond between sessions. Weâve been to Finland twice and really liked soaking up both the Nordic culture and quiet, pristine nature.
Top things to do in Finland:
Explore Helsinki: Helsinki is a fun city with great bars and restaurants, excellent fish, a world class art museum, and fascinating architecture and design scene.
âïž Helsinki also has some of the best coffee weâve ever had. Our favorite was Helsingin Kahvipaahtimo, but this coffee shop was a close second, or try these other very good cafes in Helsinki.
đœ Sample Finnish cuisine. For restaurants in Helsinki, we recommend:
đœ The authentic Finnish Restaurant Saaga, which has delicious reindeer, fish, and a cosy all-wood atmosphere.
đœ For a fancier restaurant, Finnish specialty KultĂĄ is fantastic, with 5 course meals & a world class wine list.
More things to do in Finland:
Try a âsmoke saunaâ: Go to the smoke sauna (savusauna) experience just outside Helsinki at KuusijĂ€rvi in Vantaa. Itâs phenomenal â youâre in the woods, you sit in a hot smoky sauna (not dangerous) and then dip in a cold lake and swap out. And itâs not expensive, only 13 euros per person.
See the Northern Lights: Skip the rather touristy Rovaniemi and take an internal flight to Ivalo, where you can do dog sledding, see the northern lights, do cross-country skiing, and watch reindeer races without large crowds of people. See our blog on the Ivalo experience here.
đ„ Hot tip: Consider going in March or April when you can still see the Aurora and experience snow and winter but without the bone chilling cold or darkness.
âïž Getting There: Finland is part of the EU Schengen zone. Book a Finnish Air direct flight to Helsinki from New York, Chicago, and LA.
7. Tanzania: Hidden Beaches, Safari, & Mt. Kilimanjaro
Go to Tanzania if you like: Kenya, South Africa, safaris, Caribbean beaches, Hawaii, mountain climbing, Ecuador, Switzerland.
When I (Sasha) lived in Uganda, I would always tell people to visit Tanzania. Weâve traveled there several times ourselves, both by road and plane, and loved the combination of beach, safari, mountains, and friendly people. And it definitely felt less touristy than neighboring Kenya. The spectacular beaches and vibrant Swahili culture are fantastic.
Best things to do in Tanzania:
đ Zanzibar beaches: This is one of our favorite islands in the world â weâve been 4 times. There are gorgeous beaches, and our top recommendations are Mtende and Paje, which are not so touristy and have gorgeous water. See our more detailed blog about Zanzibarâs best beaches here.
đ€ż The scuba diving is top notch here, and at certain times of the year you can see whale sharks (not dangerous) and sea turtles. See our beaches blog for our recs on the best scuba diving experiences.
â° Mt. Kilimanjaro: Kili is the highest mountain in Africa. You can hike to the top without technical mountaineering skills.
The normal trek takes 5-7 days. Donât do it in fewer days than that because you need to properly acclimatize. Otherwise you risk getting altitude sick and have to head down the mountain instead of summiting.
Recommended guide: This is a really good 7-day guided tour that I recommend. The price is reasonable, the food that the guides cook is quite good, and the guides are entertaining. Most importantly, the full week allows for you to have fun while acclimatizing, instead of struggling with altitude issues.
More things to do in Tanzania:
đŠ Safari: Tanzania has arguably the worldâs best safari park in the Serengeti.
The best time to go is the Wildebeest Migration, which is usually in late May or June, but thatâs also when big crowds come to the park, so thatâs a tradeoff to consider.
Zanzibar town (aka Stone town): is also fascinating, with small, windy streets. Itâs worth it for the doors alone (see below, photo by Patricia Hokororo).
Take a spice tour, a 1 to 2 hour tour where you see & sample the plants that make spices such as cloves, lemongrass, etc. Sensory memory of a lifetime!! We recommend the one below.
đïž Stay at the wonderful Emerson on Hurumzi hotel (formerly Emerson and Green). Itâs one of the most memorable hotels weâve ever stayed at in the world, with completely unique rooms, including breakfast on your own private balcony overlooking the town.
8. Montenegro: Underrated Southern European Destination
Highlights: Norway-like fjords, some of Europeâs best national parks, & lovely beach towns.
Go to Montenegro if you like: Norway, Croatia, Italy, beautiful beaches, fjords, grilled meats, European history, pristine Alpine lakes, friendly Balkan culture.
Montenegro, mostly unknown to the outside world, has incredible nature, with mystical fjords, crystal clear beaches, mountains just next to the sea, and charming historic towns. It isnât as cheap as Albania (but still less than Croatia), but it is charm, friendly people, much smaller crowds, and gorgeous nature make it a lovely place to vacation or spend an extended period. Montenegro is starting to become not as off the beaten path as before, so go soon before it gets off the hidden travel gem list!
Top things to do in Montenegro:
Gorgeous Lake Kotor in the mountains is a highlight, with an wonderful walking area in the old city of Kotor and water activities such as boating and paddleboarding on the lake.
â° Durmitor National Park is an excellent destination for hiking and exploring nature, or white water rafting. The great tour below takes you to the park and the wonderful Ostrog Monastery.
More things to do in Montenegro:
đ The coast, just down from Croatia, is phenomenal as well, including Ulcinj, which has a lovely old town with cobblestone streets and isnât as crowded as other cities. Sveti Stefan (pictured) is one lovely spot thatâs worth exploring â itâs a bit of a magical place. If youâre not staying there, you need to reserve a spot at one of the restaurants.
đ The famous beach town of Budva is awesome for nightlife, partying, and restaurants if you are looking for that, and has beautiful, if busy, beaches at Kamenovo, Jaz, and Becici.
đ„ Hot Tip: Like Albania, Montenegro is NOT in the EU Schengen Zone, so itâs practical to visit if youâre doing long-term European travel and need to exit the Schengen for 3 months.
âïž Getting There: No visa is needed for for citizens of the U.S., U.K., or E.U. countries. There are no direct flights from the U.S. to Podgorica, Montenegroâs capital, but you can either
Fly to Dubrovnik, Croatia and drive 2 hours from Dubrovnik to Budva; or
Fly to another major European city and take a discount airline â several offer cheap flights to Budva, including Wizz Air, Ryan Air, Easy Jet, and others. I highly recommend renting a car to explore the country when you get there because public transport isnât the best in Montenegro.
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