80% of tourists visit the same 10% of places – these are the spots to go to instead

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Pakistan and Greenland are among some of the top destinations recommended for travellers who want to explore unique, overlooked and under-visited places amid the overtourism crisis hitting certain hotspots.

Many popular tourist destinations, such as Barcelona in Spain and Santorini in Greece, have been trying to tackle the damage caused by overtourism, whether that’s to natural landscapes or causing frustration for local residents trying to go about their everyday lives.

If you want to stay away from tourism congestion and find exciting adventures on paths less trodden, adventure travel company Intrepid Travel has come up with a Not Hot List, showcasing 10 lesser-known destinations that deserve more travel attention in 2025.

Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan, known for its impressive mountain regions and rich Buddhist history, topped the list. While it’s South Asian neighbours such as India and Sri Lanka command much of the tourism spotlight, Pakistan has plenty to offer adventure travellers keen to explore some of the world’s most imcredible mountain landscapes.

Home to five of the world’s highest peaks, Gilgit-Baltistan is nicknamed the ‘Third Pole’ for its imposing peaks, glaciers and valleys, making it a perfect destination for eager mountaineers and trekkers.

Another spot on the list was given to Disko Island, or Qeqertarsuaq, located off the coast of Greenland. The unsung destination is blessed with a beautiful volcanic scenery, complete with fjords, valleys and basalt mountains.

Like Pakistan, the country can somewhat be overlooked by its icy neighbours like Canada and Iceland, but the country, which only attracted over 141,387 tourists in 2023, has a lot to offer within its dramatic landscapes.

Intrepid is focusing on bringing tourists to the island to experience local Greenlandic culture, exploring its heritage, mythology and way of life in this pristine location.

The Not Hot List is Intrepid’s way of calling for a more even spread of tourism across the globe, highlighting how it can boost economies, expand cultural celebration and bring further opportunities for heritage and wildlife preservation.

The company hopes that travellers who visit places on the Not Hot List can expect to find meaningful connections to destinations rather than just having a typical tourist experiences.

The list was compiled by using third-party statistics, trends and local insights in regions that are hoping to boost travel in 2025.

Erica Kritikides, general manager of global product for Intrepid Travel, said that their “annual Not Hot List strives to bring travellers off the tourist track, and highlight destinations where tourism can bring outstretched benefits to the host communities”.

She added: “While promoting alternative destinations is a small part of the solution to overtourism, we remain committed to addressing the bigger issues through our product design.

“We are the antithesis of massive cruise ship and big-bus touring. Our group size is very small (average of 10 travellers), we only employ local leaders and almost exclusively use locally owned accommodation and suppliers.”

“Developing tourism in concert and consultation with host communities is the best way to combat the negative effects of overtourism.”

Here are the top 10 lesser-known destinations that deserve tourist attention:

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