Amazing and crowd-free: 12 of the world’s most underrated countries
By Brian Johnston
The Seventy Islands are part of the Rock Islands of Palau.Credit: iStock
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It may seem that the world has not only been explored, but is now overwhelmed by tourist hordes.
Not true. While many destinations are thoroughly known, others – even in the midst of crowded Mediterranean Europe or adjacent to super-populated China – remain remarkably underappreciated.
No, that’s not an invitation to overwhelm them as well, more an entreaty to spread the benefit of tourism.
There are places modestly discovered by certain nationalities, but not yet by many Australians. Out-of-date or misguided perceptions, lack of marketing or little media attention (well, yes, until now), may be among reasons.
When was the last time you heard about Bahrain or Bulgaria in the news (which may be a good thing) or on a travel show? Do you know anyone who has been to Senegal or Cyprus?
Sometimes complicated flight connections don’t help, and certain destinations do require a degree of caution, so check the latest advice on Smart Traveller.
Look beyond the usual Australians horizons, though, and you’ll find outstanding countries that offer something different and may well be bargain-priced and uncrowded too.
Palau is a lovely example: it welcomed a modest 12,328 tourists in 2022, while Fiji had 50 times as many, and Bali 170 times.
Go those extra miles, sorry kilometres, make a little more effort, revive your spirit of adventure and you’ll discover places almost unknown to mainstream Australian travellers.
Here are a dozen fine destinations, each which come with full bragging rights, that you ought to consider (though do try not to tell too many people about them).
ALBANIA
Gjirokaster is one of Albania’s nicest old towns.Credit: iStock
Why would I go there? Well you may ask. Believe it not, Albania has emerged as a vogue destination with a Mediterranean lifestyle at 45 per cent less than Greece or Croatia – and far less crowded. This new holiday hotspot has an Adriatic coastline, medieval castles, ancient Greek and Roman ruins, and a sumptuously rugged interior. Lonely Planet listed it in its “Best in Travel” list in 2023.
Tell me more The Albanian Alps for hiking, Korce and Gjirokastra for the nicest old towns, Lake Ohrid for history and scenery. Be aware that Northern Europeans are starting to crowd the Albanian Riviera around Saranda; castle-topped Porto Palermo is the relaxed alternative for Mediterranean toe-dipping.
Don’t miss Butrint, an ancient-Greek trading city on a pretty peninsula on Lake Butrint, overlooking the Ionian Sea. Scattered monuments span 2500 years and include a Greek theatre, Roman mosaics, Venetian castle and atmospheric ruins of a forum and basilica.
Make it happen Emirates flies to Dubai with onward connections to Tirana with Flydubai. Buses are slow but the way to get around. See albania.al
URUGUAY
Independence Square, Montevideo.Credit: iStock
Why would I go there? Do we know Uruguay for anything other than a soccer (sorry, football) team? This modest country is overshadowed by Argentina and Brazil, but South American tourists, and some discerning ones from the US, appreciate its safety, organisation, friendliness, cowboy culture and many unassuming delights.
Tell me more Capital Montevideo, small but arty and progressive, is full of crumbling Art Deco and Modernist buildings. Head east for great beaches: Punta del Este is Uruguay’s glitzy Gold Coast, José Ignacio quiet and chic. Inland, farm-stays on the pampas offer a taste of the gaucho life.
Don’t miss Colonia del Sacramento, whose cobbled UNESCO-listed old town was founded by the Portuguese. Spend a happy day browsing boutiques and small museums, admiring vintage cars, walking to the lighthouse and relaxing over cocktails on a patio.
Make it happen LATAM flies from Sydney via Santiago to Montevideo, or you can be in Uruguay an hour out of Buenos Aires. Driving is relaxed, so rent a car. Uruguay is ranked the safest country in Latin America. See uruguaynatural.com
OMAN
Historic Nakhal Fort in Oman’s Al Batinah region.Credit: iStock
Why would I go there? The admirably low-key, comparatively tolerant Gulf state doesn’t have the glitz of the Emirates, but maintains its heritage and traditional culture and has a laidback lifestyle. Spectacular mountain, desert and coastal scenery culminates on the Musandam Peninsula, which has been likened to Norway’s fjords – albeit a rather hot, barren version.
Tell me more Muscat, with its 16th-century forts, humongous Grand Mosque, striking modern-Islamic architecture and buzzing souks, is a pleasant introduction. Then escape to ancient city Nizwa and into the high Hajar Mountains for spectacular hikes and four-wheel drive exploration. Bidiyah in the desert is popular for camping, dune bashing and lovely wadis. For accommodation, Anantara, the luxury hotels and resorts brand, operates two highly-rated though pricey properties in Oman near Nizwa and Salalah, the southern coastal city.
Don’t miss Oasis town Bahla southwest of Muscat, with its World Heritage fortress, mud houses and souk selling pottery and rugs, all enfolded in battlemented walls. Nearby 17th-century Jabreen Castle is also worthwhile.
Make it happen Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways fly to Muscat from Australia. October-March is the best season. Public transport is poor; best use a guide-driver or join a tour.. See visitoman.om
ARMENIA
Armenia offers sumptuous mountain landscapes.Credit: iStock
Why would I go there? For sumptuous mountain landscapes, ancient culture (Armenia was the first officially Christian country), some of the world’s oldest vineyards, and the hospitable people. Armenia remains uncrowded, although tourist numbers have increased 15 per cent annually for the last decade.
Tell me more Graceful capital Yerevan is 2,800 years old, so check out the museums before enjoying the buzzing restaurant and bar scene. Then get out to trek in Dilijan National Park or the Lesser Caucasus, where you’ll find the country’s holiest site Khor Virap Monastery, and the fabulously gorge-perched Tatev and Naravank monasteries.
Don’t miss Among gloriously unexpected sights are a first-century Roman-style temple at Garni, the Soviet-era spa town of Jermuk in a tranquil lake and forest setting, and the Armenian Alphabet Monument whose giant letters are scattered across a mountain-backed landscape.
Make it happen Emirates and Qatar Airways fly to Yerevan from Australia. Armenia is for adventurers: safe and inexpensive, but with modest accommodation, rough roads and few English speakers. See armenia.travel
PALAU
Fiji has 50 times the number of visitors to Palau, Bali 170 times the number.Credit: iStock
Why would I go there? This tiny, chilled-out Pacific republic east of the Philippines consists of the main island Koror and an archipelago of other marvellously spectacular limestone and volcanic islands soaked in turquoise and neon-blue lagoons. Incredible underwater life makes Palau a fabulous snorkel and dive destination.
Tell me more Blue Corner, German Channel and Ngemelis Drop-Off are ranked among the world’s best dive sites, and waters are studded with 60 shipwrecks. Kayaking here is beyond beautiful. Sightseeing on land is mostly about World War Two remnants, including memorials, bunkers, and rusting tanks and aircraft slowly being enveloped by jungle.
Don’t miss Uninhabited Eil Malk Island, where schools of harmless golden jellyfish migrate across a lake daily. Swimming with them feels like being enveloped in silken, jellied ribbons, and is one of the world’s most unusual wildlife encounters.
Make it happen Manila or Taipei are your best gateways for flights to Palau. Most hotels are in Koror; boat or helicopter tours take you to other islands. July-October is rainy season. See pristineparadisepalau.com
BULGARIA
The Roman amphitheatre in Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest cities, is still used for concerts.Credit: iStock
Why would I go there? Although Black Sea beaches attract Eastern Europeans, Bulgaria otherwise dodges Europe’s crushing crowds despite its bargain prices, splendid mountain landscapes, and dense history that has left behind Neolithic, Roman, Ottoman and Orthodox monuments.
Tell me more Ruined but inspiring Belogradchik fortress is backed by snow peaks, Arbanasi is a tranquil sixteenth-century Ottoman town with Byzantine-influenced churches, and former capital Veliko Tarnovo sits attractively above a curling river. Ancient Silistra sits pretty among orchards; nearby Srebarna Nature Reserve is a top bird-watching spot.
Don’t miss Plovdiv, one of Europe’s oldest cities with collisions of diverse historical architecture, a largely pedestrian old town, and hip Kapana bohemian quarter. It was a European Capital of Culture in 2019 and buzzes with cultural events; the Roman stadium is still used for music concerts.
Make it happen Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways fly to Sofia from Australia. Spring and autumn are best. Buses and trains are widespread but slow. Prices are 40 per cent below Western Europe’s. See bulgariatravel.org
SENEGAL
Historic Goree Island, former gateway of the Atlantic slave trade.Credit: iStock
Why would I go there? What’s not to like about a country in which “7 Seconds” singer Youssou N’Dour was tourism minister? Only Francophones have discovered this friendly and vibrant nation despite its flamboyant culture, seven World Heritage sites, plump surf beaches, great music scene and spicy cuisine.
Tell me more Petite Cote is the 100-kilometre beach-resort strip for sun-starved Europeans. Aussies will want to hit low-key Cape Skirring or devote time to laid-back, atmospheric Saint-Louis on the Senegal River. Capital Dakar is chaotic and colourful. Nearby is startling Lac Rose pink lake and historic Goree Island, former gateway of the Atlantic slave trade.
Don’t miss Niokolo-Koba National Park is home to elephants, lions and chimpanzees, while the creeks, wetlands and mangroves of the Sine-Saloum Delta are a twitcher’s delight, as is Langue de Barbarie National Park.
Make it happen Connect through Istanbul or via southern European cities such as Madrid, Milan or Lisbon. December-April is hot but dry. Be alert to petty theft, and get a yellow-fever vaccine. See discoversenegal.com
BAHRAIN
Bahrain is unpretentious, relaxed and little visited.Credit: iStock
Why would I go there? Been there, done Dubai? This tiny Gulf nation is also booming, with reclamation projects rising from the sea and skyscrapers heading ever upwards. World-class events include the Bahrain Grand Prix. Yet Bahrain is unpretentious, relaxed and little visited, and you’ll have far more chances to interact with locals.
Tell me more Capital Manama has shopping malls, craft centres and a lively restaurant and bar scene, especially around trendy Block 338. Al Fateh Grand Mosque has informative tours on Islam and mosque architecture. Not everything is new: Bahrain National Museum highlights cultural history, and you can visit ancient burial sites at Sar, traditional houses at Muharraq, and a Portuguese fort.
Don’t miss Al-Areen Wildlife Park, great for kids and showcasing Arabian desert creatures such as oryx, leopards, hyenas and gazelles. The walk-through aviary is aflutter with colour.
Make it happen Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways fly to Manama from Australia. October-April avoids scorching heat. Taxis or Uber get you around, and English is widely spoken. See bahrain.com
KYRGYZSTAN
Victory Park in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.Credit: iStock
Why would I go there? This land influenced by Turkic and Mongol cultures sits astride Silk Road trading routes. The hospitable, semi-nomadic lifestyle has barely changed in pastures under some of the world’s highest mountains. What Kyrgyzstan lacks in major historical sights, it makes up for in glorious scenery.
Tell me more You don’t have to go far to find outsized landscapes: right on capital Biskek’s doorstep, glacier-gnawed mountains rise to nearly 5000 metres in Ala-Archa National Park. To the east is huge Issyk-Kul Lake and high-altitude, emerald-green Ala-Kul Lake. Meadows are strewn with wildflowers and nibbled by yak herds.
Don’t miss Bishkek and Osh have a lively urban vibe. Osh’s Jayma Bazaar is one of the largest in Central Asia and filled with wonderful souvenirs of nomadic life, including rugs, leatherwork, hats, silver jewellery and horseshoes.
Make it happen The only options to Bishkek are through Seoul, Xian or Delhi; otherwise backtrack from Abu Dhabi. Go June-September for mountain access. Hire a guide-driver and expect modest accommodation. See discoverkyrgyzstan.org
CYPRUS
Cyprus is a melting pot of Mediterranean cultures.Credit: iStock
Why would I go there? Major Mediterranean cultures influenced Cyprus, including Greek, Phoenician, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman. The island – away from beach resorts – is a less-crowded version of Greece and Turkey, with similar age-old history and glorious scenery.
Tell me more Paphos is the most impressive ancient site for superb mosaics, but Kourion is fine too, and has a Roman theatre where classical plays are staged. Choirokoitia dates to Neolithic times: circular stone houses have a brooding presence and imposing location on a scenic, rocky ridge.
Don’t miss Cyprus is making a name for itself as a walking destination, so look beyond the coast and get in among the interior’s vineyards, olive groves, whitewashed villages and rugged hills. Springtime brings wildflowers and migrating birds. Top spots include the Akamas Peninsula, Avakas Gorge and Troodos Mountains.
Make it happen Emirates and Qatar Airways fly to Larnaca. Cyprus is well-connected to Europe on budget airlines. For simplicity’s sake, and for better hotels and infrastructure, avoid the Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus. See visitcyprus.com
MONGOLIA
You won’t find too many other tourists in Mongolia.Credit: iStock
Why would I go there? With only 3.3 million residents and a pre-pandemic peak of 640,000 annual tourists spread across 1.5 million square kilometres, you needn’t worry about over-tourism. Explore a vast wilderness where Gobi Desert dunes meet yurt-dotted steppes and high mountains for adventure travel beyond the package-tourist trail.
Tell me more Scenery is already splendid in Terelj National Park near capital Ulaanbaatar. Further away in Khugnu Tarna National Park dunes, lakes, mountains and yak-grazed grasslands meet. Orkhon Valley is the cultural heartland, with Buddhist monasteries and Mongol historical sites.
Don’t miss In the extreme west (you’ll have to fly) the glaciated Altai Mountains are a snowy spectacle. Toloo Lake is gorgeous. You can trek, horse-ride and meet Kazakh hunters, whose annual Golden Eagle Festival in Bayan-Olgii in October is unique, and barely influenced by tourism.
Make it happen Mongolian Airlines operates codeshare routes via Hong Kong from Melbourne and Sydney, and via Seoul from Sydney. Infrastructure is lacking; best join a tour. Watch out for Ulaanbaatar pickpockets. See mongolia.travel
BOLIVIA
The world’s largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia.Credit: riStock
Why would I go there? One of South America’s best value destinations doesn’t have its neighbours’ big-label sights, but makes up for it with extraordinary landscapes, colourfully dressed indigenous people, and quirkiness – capital La Paz has a Witch Market. Travel is rough, but scenic adventure pays a happy dividend.
Tell me more It seems you’ve strayed onto another planet amid the Salar de Uyuni saltpans and volcanoes of the Atacama Desert. Silver-mining town Potosi has flamboyant Spanish-era architecture whose terracotta roofs match the barren landscape. Elegant, whitewashed Sucre is UNESCO-listed for its old town and gardens.
Don’t miss Lake Titicaca northwest of La Paz, birthplace of the Incan world and bright blue against snow peaks. Festival-loving Copacabana is a good base from which to explore the Incan ruins and farmland of Isla del Sol and floating reed islands of the Uros people.
Make it happen LATAM flies from Sydney via Santiago to La Paz. May-October is best. Buses go everywhere and domestic flights are cheap. Avoid Santa Cruz and surrounding regions. See southamericatourism.com
FIVE ‘WHY WOULD I GO THERE?’ CITIES WORTH VISITING
Rabat, Morocco
Morocco’s orderly and conservative capital, where the recent quake was also felt, is missing the crowded chaos of Fes or Marrakesh. That’s no minus. Rabat’s genteel old town is bright with green and red doors encased in mosaic work, while the surrounding newer town has wide French-era boulevards and great coffeehouses. A revamped waterfront is capped by the fabulous new Grand Theatre designed by Zaha Hadid. See visitmorocco.com
Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
Three things make Salvador special: a lush tropical-coast setting and beaches, Portuguese-era old town lavish with forts, baroque churches and pastel-painted buildings and, most of all, its Afro-Brazilian population. This is a city of energetic African-influenced religions, festivals, music, dance and martial arts. You won’t find better street life, even if you have to be alert to pickpockets. See salvadordabahia.com
Albuquerque, US
Australians may know Santa Fe, but New Mexico state’s second (but largest) city has appealing Native American and Hispanic influences, good museums, an agreeable food scene and festivals of all sorts, with the International Balloon Festival in October a highlight. The surrounds are crisscrossed with hiking and mountain-biking trails, and you can visit several pueblos (Native-American settlements) and arty village Corrales. See visitalbuquerque.org
Guimaraes, Portugal
Portugal’s first capital has a well-preserved, World Heritage old town overlooked by a forbidding castle. Its Centro Cultural Vila Flor hums with artists’ studios and exhibitions, and shops sell local textiles, pottery and gold jewellery. With half its residents aged under 30, Guimarães is also one of Europe’s most energetic small cities, bursting with bars and nightclubs, and fizzing with festivals. See visitguimaraes.travel
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Its legendary name makes travellers tingle, but how many have been there? Well, maybe more soon, with recent infrastructure upgrades and monument renovations aimed at attracting international tourists. The former Silk Road trading city, dense with alleys of mud houses in which to get lost, has Central Asia’s most impressive buildings, including forts and glorious blue-tiled mosques, madrasas and mausoleums. See uzbekistan.travel
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