STARING UP AT THE EIFFEL TOWER, its impressive façade offering glimpses of the city through its in- Wayag Island, Raja tricately latticed iron design, one is challenged to marvel at this global wonder rather than ponder at how so many people can fit into such a small park at the same time. The streets of Paris are still “a moveable feast,” as Ernest Hemingway described them during his time in the city in the early 1920s. Only today, those streets are just a bit harder to navigate due to large crowds and over-tourism.
Many of the world’s most beloved destinations have been dealt a similar fate of crowded streets and ports, with Venice, Dubrovnik, Machu Picchu and even Angkor Wat all recently placing guidelines on how or how many tourists can visit throughout the year. While some popular destinations are exhaustingly inundated with travelers during peak and nonpeak seasons, the following lesser-known destinations sit on the other end of the spectrum, primed and eager for visitors to explore their exotic shores and experience the unreal encounters only available on their soil.
DIVERS MAY ALREADY be aware of this Indonesian archi- pelago, as it is home to one of the most remote and pristine reef systems in the world. Unlike its popular sister island Bali, Raja Ampat includes more than 1,500 small islands, cays and shoals. The name Raja Ampat translates to “the four kings,” represent- ing the four main islands of Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati and
Misool — each sparsely populated and containing an exotic mix
of white-sand beaches, verdant jungles, secret lagoons, mysterious caves and mushroom-shaped islets that dip gently into the glittering turquoise waters. Tourism only recently picked up on the islands, where the focus remains on sustainability and eco-luxury at top resorts like the Cove Eco Resort or the Papua Paradise Eco Resort, the latter best known for its sunset-facing overwater bungalows.
IT’S ONLY A SHORT HOUR flight from Argentina’s capital city to the chic Uruguayan beach town of José Ignacio, but the upscale and uncrowded vibe couldn’t be more different from its busy Argentine neighbor. José Ignacio’s understated luxury makes it the Hamptons for South Americans, where fresh catches of the day and hearty slices of grass-fed beef are cooked on open fires near the beach long after the sun sets. Visitors spend days wine tasting at the nearby vineyards, playing polo, surfing, relaxing on the beach or taking in the sights such as an authentic lighthouse open for visitors to walk up its spiral stairs for a panoramic view of the picturesque coastline.
SET IN THE FOOTHILLS of the Julian Alps, the tiny Slove- nian resort town of Bled is home to one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. Lake Bled, a glacial lake with a small island in the center, boasts all the charm of Lake Como and all the beauty of Lake Lucerne with none of the crowds. The area surrounding the lake proves an outdoor-lovers paradise, with options for canyoning, zip lining, soaking in the thermal waters or strolling through the mystical Vintgar Gorge. Take a pletna boat (a traditional boat dating back to 1590) to the center island on the lake to visit the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria. The church sits high on the island, exactly 99 steps from the shoreline, where tradition has it grooms able to carry their brides up all 99 of these stairs to the site of the bell tower are guaranteed a happy mar- riage for life. Don’t leave town without trying a slice of the famous Bled cream cake from Grand Hotel Toplice, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
ALTHOUGH SAM WALTON wasn’t the first to see the charming potential of Bentonville, Arkansas, his mark on the town makes it an unexpected destination today. Walton’s first five-and-dime in downtown Bentonville laid the groundwork for what would become one of the world’s largest multinational retail empires. As the official headquarters for Wal-Mart, Bentonville attracts a number of investors and entrepreneurs who give the town a big-city persona without losing its small-town appeal. The town also hosts the critically acclaimed Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, a cutting-edge 21c Museum Hotel, tons of avant-garde restaurants and an exploding music scene where big-name artists perform in intimate venues and craft brewing halls.
DURING SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL, visitors can access Muhu Island, a remote island in the Baltic Sea, via a passenger ferry from the mainland of Estonia, but during winter it’s an ice road that provides passage over the causeway. Muhu Island is laden in folklore and tradition, with Muhu hay and honey both prized throughout European spas for their restorative powers. The island’s most famous Muhu leib (rye bread) is made from a 120-year-old starter. Muhu Island’s quaint villages boast an airy ambience that rivals the neighborhoods of Montauk, and their stone fences lead to the famous Üügu Cliff and the pagan tombstones of St. Catherine’s Church. Visitors can enjoy a luxurious stay at Pädaste Manor, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, where the old stone hotel’s 15th-century roots sport a 21st-century upgrade.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK in South Africa, Etosha National Park in Namibia and Chobe National Park in Botswana tend to get all the attention from travelers booking a safari vacation, but the lesser-known Zakouma National Park in Chad is on track to become the next big safari destination. Half a century ago no one would dream of taking a safari anywhere near Zakouma, as poaching all but wiped out the animal population. Since 2010 the park made strides to reintroduce native species and wildlife while nearly eliminating poaching. With the most recent arrival of six black rhinos, the park earns its title as the closest Big Five destination to Europe.
ALTHOUGH KAKADU NATIONAL PARK is the largest national park in Australia, it only receives about 200,000 visitors each year … just 1 percent
of the numbers Sydney welcomes annually. The Northern Territory park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, marks the region where the aboriginal people have made their home for more than 65,000 years and have gifted the area with stunning rock art while preserving the terrain. About half the size of Switzerland, the park is one of the only places in the world that experiences six seasons: Gudjewg, Banggerreng, Yegge, Wurrgeng, Gurrung and Gunumeleng. The Cicada Lodge offers a luxury experience in this remote park and provides a great home base for those heading out on a crocodile-spotting river cruise or swimming in the (crocodile-free) waterfalls and waterholes.
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