Swerve the obvious and discover the unusual with these unorthodox adventures, from remote hiking trails in Georgia’s Caucasus to an alternative island escape on Sumba.
If you’re a firm believer that ‘not until we are lost, do we begin to understand ourselves’, as cabin-loving Existentialist Henry David Thoreau once mused, you’ll likely love these paths less travelled. Here, comfort zones disappear and sights of the shore are lost, as the cosy and familiar fall away. Instead, you’ll hike trails untrodden, come into contact with customs new and see strange lands surface to shed fresh light. Leave routine to the rest of them. The ordinary can wait.
1. Glimpse Greenland’s wild west
Sea views don’t come much better than those you’ll see from the iceberg-shaped windows of Ilimanaq Lodge – where private terraces gaze out over Disko Bay. Part of what sets Intrepid’s Premium trips apart, this elevated Feature Stay appears on the Premium Greenland adventure alongside next-level experiences, such as exploring the UNESCO-protected Ilulissat Icefjord, where giant husks of ice peel off the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier. Trips to Disko Island and trails through the Inuit settlement of Sermermiut reveal another side to western Greenland.
2. Hike Georgia’s remote mountains
Georgia’s northwestern Svaneti region is fabled among hikers. Remote and hard to reach, many go in search of its clutch of Caucasus peaks, crisp mountain air and culture courtesy of the Indigenous Svan people. It’s for this reason the region made it onto 2027’s Not Hot List – Intrepid’s annual call to arms to covet offbeat places. Explore the area, including Mestia’s Chalaadi glacier and the meadows and mountain passes around Ushguli, on the Georgia: Trekking the Transcaucasian Trail trip.
3. Go deeper in Jordan’s Northern Highlands
You’ve seen the reds of Wadi Rum and the golds of Petra, but have you spied the greens of Jordan’s Northern Highlands? This fertile alternative to the country’s well-travelled desertscapes features on the new Jordan Uncovered trip, which explores the protected forest reserves of Ajloun, Yarmouk and Dibeen and connects with community beekeepers, cheesemakers and artisans. You’ll stay in local guesthouses, discovering why Jordan’s hospitality runs deep, as you explore this region, which warranted a Not Hot List nod this year.
4. See Rwanda from the saddle
The ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ presents a challenging prospect for cyclists. If you’ve got the legs for it, the 11-day Cycle Rwanda trip unlocks high-altitude national parks in chimpanzee-roamed Nyungwe and low valleys in the misty Virunga Mountains. You’ll tackle the gravelly paths of the Congo Nile Trail and a section of the UCI Road World Championship route, with glassine roads in between that’ll have you picking up speed. Switch to two legs for optional mountain-gorilla trekking to seal the experience.
5. Go slow in the Yukon capital
Formerly viewed as a hub to pass through, Whitehorse – capital of Canada’s Yukon wilderness and a Not Hot List nominee for 2027 – is now a destination in its own right. On the Wild Canada & Alaska trip, rather than zip through it, you’ll pause for two full nights to engage with daily life, exploring the city alongside a local Tlingit guide and member of Kluane First Nation. There’s also plenty of free time to take in nearby hot springs before heading out into the wilds.
Read more: 27 new Intrepid adventures for 2027
6. An alternative island escape in Sumba
Bali will seem a long way away when you’re visiting traditional Ratenggaro and Prai Ijing villages on sister island Sumba as part of the Indonesia: Sumba Island Discovery trip. If you’re not one for crowds, this adjacent Indonesia speck is the sort of place where you’ll get to play traditional games, learn local dances and take part in island-only farming activities. On Intrepid’s week-long trip, there are also wild swims at Waikuri Lagoon, picnics on the white sands of Puru Kambera and surrealist sunsets against the mangroves of Walakiri Beach.
7. Explore Mexico’s central heartland
Tequila? Practically impossible to resist when you’re touring the agave fields outside Guadalajara that produce the fun-loving drink. But that’s not the only curiosity you’ll uncover on the Central Mexico and the Sierra Gorda trip, which weaves through the colourful streets of Guanajuato via regional-music reveals and insights into Indigenous traditions, before rounding off in the seldom-seen biosphere reserve of Sierra Gorda – home to cloud forests and rare axolotls.
Read more: 9 ways to travel more responsibly next year
8. Stargaze in Kenya’s Samburu
Noted on the 2027 Not Hot List as an alternative to Kenya’s bigger parks, Samburu is a special kind of place. Here, as part of the 10-day Kenya Safari Adventure, you’ll aim to spot the ‘Samburu Special Five’ and get the chance to take part in an astro-tourism experience and bonfire storytelling session that blends cultural tales with astronomy and stargazing. Trips to a rhino conservancy in Ol Pejeta and birdwatching boat rides on Lake Nakuru within the Great Rift Valley also reveal a quieter take on Africa’s safari hotspot.
9. Discover the real Maldives
Behind the private-island resorts, there’s a different, more authentic, more local side to the Maldives. On the Maldives Beyond the Beaches adventure, you can discover it via home-cooked meals on Goidhoo island, lunches with Thuladhoo fishermen and guesthouse stays on Thoddoo island. In fact, boat rides and guesthouses are all of the local variety, meaning there’s plenty of time to connect with islanders – and a guided snorkelling trip to meet marine life, too.
10. Seek peace on Sri Lanka’s Pekoe Trail
Three hundred kilometres of carefully cultivated footpaths – that’s the promise of Sri Lanka’s newly minted Pekoe Trail, another notable Not Hot List inclusion for 2027. You can experience it on Intrepid’s Hike Sri Lanka’s Pekoe Trail, which tackles six standout sections of the long-distance footpath over 10 scenic days. Along the way, you’ll swerve busy sights in favour of pindrop-quiet highland scenery and sippable tea estates, where you’ll spend a starlit night camping in Tea Country.
Read more: Intrepid’s Not Hot List is here to inspire new adventures
11. Admire Norway’s winter wonderland
Knitted sweaters worthy of a Nordic crime drama are non-optional on the new Northern Norway in Winter adventure, which transports you to the far reaches of the fjord-flecked country at a time of year when temperatures drop and the sun rarely rises. When daylight does prevail, you’ll search for orcas and humpback whales in the remote Skjervoy archipelago, mush huskies on a snow safari, discover Indigenous Sami culture and rub shoulders with reindeer residents. If you’re lucky, the northern lights might further ignite the adventure.
12. Take a family trip to Taiwan
Who says grown ups should have all the fun? On the new Taiwan Family Holiday, kids aged five and up can skip the same-same all-inclusives and so-so theme parks in favour of crafting their own bubble tea in the country that created it. There’s a chance to learn how to make bao and beef-noodle soup, night-market visits and saunters along Shifen’s railway street, too. You’ll meet with the Indigenous Meixi people, take a bike ride around Sun Moon Lake and indulge in beach time on the sands of Baishawan and tropical Lambai Island, home to green sea turtles.
Launch a year of adventure by exploring Intrepid’s new trips for 2027 and beyond.
