{"id":88240,"date":"2025-12-01T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T01:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=88240"},"modified":"2025-12-10T02:46:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T15:46:43","slug":"the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/","title":{"rendered":"12 new offbeat adventures in lesser-known places"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Explore the path less travelled, with fewer crowds and the chance to connect with local communities on these new Intrepid trips that go beyond the norm.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fresh footprint-free mountain trails, ecotourism projects run by Indigenous people and spice-laden souqs in lesser-visited towns await you on these new Intrepid trips for 2026. On these adventures, travel isn\u2019t about ticking off the big sights, it\u2019s about human connection and the chance to give back, whether you\u2019re meeting a female chief in Sierra Leone, staying with remote reindeer herders in Mongolia or mixing up traditional drinks in Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-EL-SALVADOR_SUCHITOTO_98-YEAR-OLD-CIGAR-ROLLER-copy.jpg\" alt=\"A local cigar roller in El Salvador.\" class=\"wp-image-88266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-EL-SALVADOR_SUCHITOTO_98-YEAR-OLD-CIGAR-ROLLER-copy.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-EL-SALVADOR_SUCHITOTO_98-YEAR-OLD-CIGAR-ROLLER-copy-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-EL-SALVADOR_SUCHITOTO_98-YEAR-OLD-CIGAR-ROLLER-copy-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-EL-SALVADOR_SUCHITOTO_98-YEAR-OLD-CIGAR-ROLLER-copy-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-EL-SALVADOR_SUCHITOTO_98-YEAR-OLD-CIGAR-ROLLER-copy-1170x658.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-EL-SALVADOR_SUCHITOTO_98-YEAR-OLD-CIGAR-ROLLER-copy-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Meet locals while exploring El Salvador with Intrepid<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Take in the Flower Route of Central America<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>El Salvador\u2019s Ruta de las Flores made it onto Intrepid\u2019s <a href=\"\/not-hot-list\">Not Hot List<\/a> for 2026, for good reason. The \u2018Flower Route\u2019 \u2013 so called for its roadside wildflowers \u2013 is the highlight of the nine-day <a href=\"\/el-salvador\/discover-guatemala-honduras-el-salvador-166383\">Discover Guatemala, Honduras &amp; El Salvador<\/a> adventure. Over the course of one afternoon, you\u2019ll drive to a parade of colourful villages, stopping to take in coffee fincas, markets and murals. Even further off the typical trail, you\u2019ll have the option to cruise the Jaltepeque Estuary, spying kingfishers and herons among the mangroves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Visit the birthplace of baklava in eastern Turkey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s much more to Turkey than Istanbul. On the <a href=\"\/turkey\/eastern-turkey-explorer-166510\">Eastern Turkey Explorer<\/a> trip, you\u2019ll dig into a home-cooked lunch made by local women at Nahil Guesthouse in Sanliurfa. You\u2019ll also learn to make baklava in Gaziantep: a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and the birthplace and creation centre of the country\u2019s famous flaky pastry, which has protected status here. Wandering its streets, you\u2019ll peel back layers of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Kyrgyzstan-Tien-Shan-Range-Yrdyk-Lake-shutterstock-163346297-1.jpg\" alt=\"The Tien Shan mountain range in Kyrgyzstan.\" class=\"wp-image-88267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Kyrgyzstan-Tien-Shan-Range-Yrdyk-Lake-shutterstock-163346297-1.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Kyrgyzstan-Tien-Shan-Range-Yrdyk-Lake-shutterstock-163346297-1-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Kyrgyzstan-Tien-Shan-Range-Yrdyk-Lake-shutterstock-163346297-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Kyrgyzstan-Tien-Shan-Range-Yrdyk-Lake-shutterstock-163346297-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Kyrgyzstan-Tien-Shan-Range-Yrdyk-Lake-shutterstock-163346297-1-1170x658.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Kyrgyzstan-Tien-Shan-Range-Yrdyk-Lake-shutterstock-163346297-1-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Venture into Kyrgyzstan&#8217;s pindrop-quiet mountains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Tackle the Tien Shan mountain range in Kyrgyzstan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Of the central Asian \u2018stans, Kyrgyzstan \u2013 which is 90 per cent mountainous \u2013 remains one of the most mysterious. Step into its epic landscapes on the ten-day <a href=\"\/kyrgyzstan\/kyrgyzstan-trekking-tien-shan-trails-166514\">Kyrgyzstan: Trekking the Tien Shan Trails<\/a> trip, where you\u2019ll follow the nomads\u2019 trail through the foothills of the Terskey Ala-Too Range. With a local guide and support crew, you\u2019ll marvel at alpine lakes, meadows and frost-tipped peaks, looking out for golden eagles and mountain goats. At night, you\u2019ll sleep in traditional yurts under the glittering Milky Way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4.<strong> <\/strong>Escape to the far-flung Faroe Islands<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Too often overshadowed by their Nordic neighbours, the Faroes are new to Intrepid in 2026. On the five-day <a href=\"\/europe\/faroe-islands\/explore-faroe-islands-167287\">Explore Faroe Islands<\/a> trip, you\u2019ll start in Torshavn \u2013 one of the world\u2019s smallest capital cities \u2013 and wander its 14th-century streets, record stores and cafes selling handmade treats. Outside of the city, you\u2019ll witness nature at its most unspoilt, forging a path up Mount Slaettaratindur and taking a ferry to Kalsoy and Bordoy islands. Kalsoy was featured in the 2021 Bond film No Time to Die, its northern part doubling as devious villain Lyutsifer Safin\u2019s (aka Rami Malek\u2019s) lair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Read more: <a href=\"\/adventures\/the-goods-new-europe-trips\/\">13 new European trips and experiences<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Mexico-Oaxaca-local-traveller-plums-00004-5.jpg\" alt=\"Hike a village-to-village trail through the Sierra Norte with Intrepid.\" class=\"wp-image-88268\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Mexico-Oaxaca-local-traveller-plums-00004-5.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Mexico-Oaxaca-local-traveller-plums-00004-5-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Mexico-Oaxaca-local-traveller-plums-00004-5-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Mexico-Oaxaca-local-traveller-plums-00004-5-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Mexico-Oaxaca-local-traveller-plums-00004-5-1170x658.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Mexico-Oaxaca-local-traveller-plums-00004-5-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hike through Indigenous villages in Oaxaca&#8217;s highlands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Get a taste of Indigenous life in Mexico<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Pueblos Mancomunados (Commonwealth of Villages) are eight remote villages in Oaxaca, connected by more than 100 kilometres of rural paths and protected by a community ecotourism project. On the new five-day <a href=\"\/mexico\/hiking-mexico-oaxacas-indigenous-highlands-166393\">Hiking Mexico: Oaxaca&#8217;s Indigenous Highlands<\/a> trip, you\u2019ll meet the Indigenous Zapotec people, learn about their way of life, and marvel at caves, canyons and waterfalls along the route. You\u2019ll also meet Dona Martha for a workshop on using local plants to make pulque and tepache \u2013 two traditional Mexican drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Read more: <a href=\"\/adventures\/mexico-hiking-tour\/\">Hike through Zapotec villages in Oaxaca<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Uncover Transylvanian curiosities in Romania<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Transylvania \u2013 the spiritual home of all things spooky \u2013 is already an unconventional holiday destination. But the ten-day <a href=\"\/romania\/hiking-romania-transilvanica-trail-167293\">Hiking in Romania: Via Transilvanica Trail<\/a> trip dives even deeper into its quirky history. You\u2019ll be setting out on the Via Transilvanica trail: an ancient long-distance route maintained by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theintrepidfoundation.org\/\">Intrepid Foundation<\/a> partner, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theintrepidfoundation.org\/t\/tasuleasa-social-association\">Tasuleasa Social Association.<\/a> On the way, you\u2019ll see the Moldavian murals of the UNESCO-listed Sucevita Painted Monastery, and admire fine embossed details at the Painted Egg Museum in Vatra Dornei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Quark-Expeditions-Ocean-Explorer-boat-exterior-005.jpg\" alt=\"Cruise through the Arctic to see the 2026 total solar eclipse.\" class=\"wp-image-88271\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Quark-Expeditions-Ocean-Explorer-boat-exterior-005.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Quark-Expeditions-Ocean-Explorer-boat-exterior-005-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Quark-Expeditions-Ocean-Explorer-boat-exterior-005-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Quark-Expeditions-Ocean-Explorer-boat-exterior-005-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Quark-Expeditions-Ocean-Explorer-boat-exterior-005-1170x658.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Quark-Expeditions-Ocean-Explorer-boat-exterior-005-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Join an expert-led Arctic expedition to see the total solar eclipse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Witness the total solar eclipse in Greenland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Few things have the social (or social media) clout of seeing a total solar eclipse. On 12 August 2026, totality will occur at Scoresby Sound, a large fjord system of the Greenland Sea. It\u2019s so remote that very few will see it \u2013 except you and a handful of others on the epic 17-day <a href=\"\/greenland\/iceland-greenland-total-solar-eclipse-depth-ocean-explorer-167864\">Iceland to Greenland: Total Solar Eclipse in Depth<\/a> cruise, aboard a luxury Arctic ship with two Jacuzzis, a sauna, Zodiacs for on-land excursions \u2013 and Michael Zeiler, an author and eclipse expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Live with reindeer-herding families in Mongolia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tired of tech? It doesn\u2019t get much more off-grid than living with the Tsataan reindeer herders of Mongolia. The 14-day <a href=\"\/mongolia\/mongolia-expedition-reindeer-herders-166504\">Mongolia Expedition: Reindeer Herders<\/a> trip includes three days with the Tsataan, sleeping in an ortz (similar to a teepee), singing songs and helping with daily camp activities such as herding, preparing firewood, fetching spring water or milking reindeer. After your adventure, you\u2019ll have earned a couple days\u2019 relaxation at the pristine Khovsgol Lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Read more: <a href=\"\/adventures\/mongolia-reindeer-herders-experience\/\">Stay with Mongolia&#8217;s reindeer herders<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Peru-cusco-salkantay-mountain-shutterstock-535613323.jpg\" alt=\"Hikers on Peru's Salkantay Trek.\" class=\"wp-image-88269\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Peru-cusco-salkantay-mountain-shutterstock-535613323.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Peru-cusco-salkantay-mountain-shutterstock-535613323-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Peru-cusco-salkantay-mountain-shutterstock-535613323-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Peru-cusco-salkantay-mountain-shutterstock-535613323-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Peru-cusco-salkantay-mountain-shutterstock-535613323-1170x658.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Peru-cusco-salkantay-mountain-shutterstock-535613323-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Seek out an alternative to the Inca Trail on Peru&#8217;s Salkantay Trek<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Swerve Inca Trail crowds on Peru\u2019s Salkantay Trek<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Salkantay Trek at the heart of Intrepid\u2019s seven-day <a href=\"\/peru\/salkantay-trek-machu-picchu-166531\">Salkantay Trek &amp; Machu Picchu<\/a> trip, is the lesser-known, more challenging alternative to the Inca Trail, rising to the Salkantay Pass. It\u2019s breathtaking not only for its high altitude (4650m) but for the snow-cloaked mountains, plunging valleys and cloud forests you\u2019ll see on the way. On the penultimate day, you\u2019ll see Machu Picchu from a distance, a view not many get to witness. And once there, you\u2019ll have the chance to scale the towering Machu Picchu mountain for a unique perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Help Indigenous tribes with conservation in Indonesia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, you could go backpacking in Bali, but why not be original? On the new 12-day <a href=\"\/indonesia\/indonesia-expedition-sulawesi-toraja-tribes-166515\">Indonesia Expedition: Sulawesi &amp; Toraja Tribes<\/a> adventure, you\u2019ll go trekking on the island of Sulawesi, through emerald rice paddies and bamboo forests, meeting members of the Indigenous Toraja tribe. In Toraja villages, you\u2019ll share homemade meals, stay overnight at a traditional boat-shaped Tongkonan house and learn about burial traditions. At the Putondo community project, you\u2019ll also get hands-on with mangrove conservation or seaweed harvesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Read more: <a href=\"\/adventures\/the-goods-new-indigenous-experiences\/\">10 new ways to connect with Indigenous culture<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Sierra-Leone-Tiwai-Island-Boat-River-DMC.jpg\" alt=\"UNESCO-listed Tiwai Island in Sierra Leone.\" class=\"wp-image-88270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Sierra-Leone-Tiwai-Island-Boat-River-DMC.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Sierra-Leone-Tiwai-Island-Boat-River-DMC-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Sierra-Leone-Tiwai-Island-Boat-River-DMC-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Sierra-Leone-Tiwai-Island-Boat-River-DMC-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Sierra-Leone-Tiwai-Island-Boat-River-DMC-1170x658.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Sierra-Leone-Tiwai-Island-Boat-River-DMC-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Spend time on UNESCO-listed Tiwai Island in Sierra Leone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11. Meet a female chief in Sierra Leone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sierra Leone has emerged from the shadow of civil war to become one of West Africa\u2019s most exciting destinations. On the eight-day <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/en\/sierra-leone\/sierra-leone-adventure-history-culture-nature-167519\">S<\/a><a href=\"\/sierra-leone\/sierra-leone-adventure-history-culture-nature-167519\">ierra Leone Adventure<\/a>, you\u2019ll visit the newly UNESCO-listed Tiwai Island: home to more than 1000 plant species and mammals such as the African forest elephant and pygmy hippo. And in Boma, you\u2019ll meet one of the country\u2019s few female chiefs and learn fireside dances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">12. See another side of Saudi Arabia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On the new <a href=\"\/saudi-arabia\/saudi-arabia-expedition-asir-adventure-169327\">Saudi Arabia Expedition \u2013 Asir Adventure<\/a>, you\u2019ll discover riches of the cultural and natural kind in the province of Asir (also known as Aseer). You\u2019ll wander among heaped spices and woven bags at the Souq Al Thulatha, or Tuesday Market, in the city of Abha, and then dig into a home-cooked meal, with local dishes like haneeth: slow-roasted, fall-apart-tender lamb in spices. Out in the wild, you\u2019ll also pass waterfalls, juniper and pine forests on the trails around the town of Tanomah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Find out what else is new for 2026 with&nbsp;<a href=\"\/the-goods\">The Goods<\/a>&nbsp;\u2013 a collection of new trips and experiences to inspire a year of adventure.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"ipf-title\">Offbeat trips for 2026<\/h2><div class=\"product_wrapper ipf-has-title\"><div class=\"product\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;\" data-code=\"QBSD\"><div class=\"product-inner\"><div class=\"product-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/ipf\/QBSD.jpg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/qbsd\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-name\">Discover Guatemala, Honduras & El Salvador<\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-footer\"><div class=\"product-footer-left\"><span class=\"product-days\">9 days<\/span><\/div><div class=\"product-footer-right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/qbsd\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-btn\">View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;\" data-code=\"KFXR\"><div class=\"product-inner\"><div class=\"product-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/ipf\/KFXR.jpg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/kfxr\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-name\">Kyrgyzstan: Trekking the Tien Shan Trails<\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-footer\"><div class=\"product-footer-left\"><span class=\"product-days\">10 days<\/span><\/div><div class=\"product-footer-right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/kfxr\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-btn\">View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"product\" style=\"width:33.333333333333%;\" data-code=\"BMSC\"><div class=\"product-inner\"><div class=\"product-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/ipf\/BMSC.jpg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/bmsc\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-name\">Explore Faroe Islands<\/a><\/div><div class=\"product-footer\"><div class=\"product-footer-left\"><span class=\"product-days\">5 days<\/span><\/div><div class=\"product-footer-right\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/trips\/bmsc\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"product-btn\">View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore the path less travelled with fewer crowds and the chance to connect with local communities on these unusual new Intrepid trips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16318,"featured_media":88263,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3153],"tags":[3309,2761],"class_list":["post-88240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-goods","tag-goods-new","tag-promoted"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.3.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>12 new offbeat adventures for 2026 | The Good Times by Intrepid<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Connect with local communities on these unusual Intrepid trips, from hiking through remote villages in Mexico to staying with reindeer herders in Mongolia.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"12 new offbeat adventures for 2026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Explore the path less travelled with fewer crowds and the chance to connect with local communities on these unusual new Intrepid trips.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Good Times by Intrepid\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intrepidtravel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-01T01:30:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-09T15:46:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala-El-Salvador-coffee-finca-plantation-farmers-tree-shutterstock-1702113751-2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sarah Gillespie\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"12 new offbeat adventures for 2026\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Explore the path less travelled with fewer crowds and the chance to connect with local communities on these unusual new Intrepid trips.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala-El-Salvador-coffee-finca-plantation-farmers-tree-shutterstock-1702113751-2.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Intrepid_Travel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Intrepid_Travel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sarah Gillespie\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/\",\"name\":\"12 new offbeat adventures for 2026 | The Good Times by Intrepid\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala-El-Salvador-coffee-finca-plantation-farmers-tree-shutterstock-1702113751-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-01T01:30:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-09T15:46:43+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/4c743e5c2fbe51c7e620449014787ebb\"},\"description\":\"Connect with local communities on these unusual Intrepid trips, from hiking through remote villages in Mexico to staying with reindeer herders in Mongolia.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala-El-Salvador-coffee-finca-plantation-farmers-tree-shutterstock-1702113751-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala-El-Salvador-coffee-finca-plantation-farmers-tree-shutterstock-1702113751-1.jpg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080,\"caption\":\"Farmers in El Salvador.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"12 new offbeat adventures in lesser-known places\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/\",\"name\":\"The Good Times by Intrepid\",\"description\":\"adventure news\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/4c743e5c2fbe51c7e620449014787ebb\",\"name\":\"Sarah Gillespie\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/217fd0f5b0d1f20e2e82988a672a364158b5714dd91a8b7828f1ded84d51203d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/217fd0f5b0d1f20e2e82988a672a364158b5714dd91a8b7828f1ded84d51203d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Sarah Gillespie\"},\"description\":\"Sarah is a freelance writer based in Glasgow, Scotland. She regularly contributes to The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian and National Geographic Traveller.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/author\/sarah-gillespie\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"12 new offbeat adventures for 2026 | The Good Times by Intrepid","description":"Connect with local communities on these unusual Intrepid trips, from hiking through remote villages in Mexico to staying with reindeer herders in Mongolia.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"12 new offbeat adventures for 2026","og_description":"Explore the path less travelled with fewer crowds and the chance to connect with local communities on these unusual new Intrepid trips.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/","og_site_name":"The Good Times by Intrepid","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intrepidtravel\/","article_published_time":"2025-12-01T01:30:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-12-09T15:46:43+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala-El-Salvador-coffee-finca-plantation-farmers-tree-shutterstock-1702113751-2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Sarah Gillespie","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"12 new offbeat adventures for 2026","twitter_description":"Explore the path less travelled with fewer crowds and the chance to connect with local communities on these unusual new Intrepid trips.","twitter_image":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala-El-Salvador-coffee-finca-plantation-farmers-tree-shutterstock-1702113751-2.jpg","twitter_creator":"@Intrepid_Travel","twitter_site":"@Intrepid_Travel","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Sarah Gillespie","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/","name":"12 new offbeat adventures for 2026 | The Good Times by Intrepid","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala-El-Salvador-coffee-finca-plantation-farmers-tree-shutterstock-1702113751-1.jpg","datePublished":"2025-12-01T01:30:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-09T15:46:43+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/4c743e5c2fbe51c7e620449014787ebb"},"description":"Connect with local communities on these unusual Intrepid trips, from hiking through remote villages in Mexico to staying with reindeer herders in Mongolia.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala-El-Salvador-coffee-finca-plantation-farmers-tree-shutterstock-1702113751-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala-El-Salvador-coffee-finca-plantation-farmers-tree-shutterstock-1702113751-1.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080,"caption":"Farmers in El Salvador."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/the-goods-new-offbeat-travel-experiences\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"12 new offbeat adventures in lesser-known places"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/","name":"The Good Times by Intrepid","description":"adventure news","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/4c743e5c2fbe51c7e620449014787ebb","name":"Sarah Gillespie","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/217fd0f5b0d1f20e2e82988a672a364158b5714dd91a8b7828f1ded84d51203d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/217fd0f5b0d1f20e2e82988a672a364158b5714dd91a8b7828f1ded84d51203d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Sarah Gillespie"},"description":"Sarah is a freelance writer based in Glasgow, Scotland. She regularly contributes to The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian and National Geographic Traveller.","url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/author\/sarah-gillespie\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Intrepid-Travel-Guatemala-El-Salvador-coffee-finca-plantation-farmers-tree-shutterstock-1702113751-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4OQMK-mXe","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16318"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88240"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88240\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":89600,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88240\/revisions\/89600"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}