One-Of-A-Kind Adventures Await At These Underrated Countries Around The World, According To A Frequent Traveler

Most travelers with packed passports can state the number of times they've been to Paris, Rome, Cancun, and other cities teeming with tourists, no matter the season. But for those who love a true adventure — and are too impatient to wait in long lines — there's a whole other world awaiting them across the globe. Some destinations, even in today's era of hyperconnectivity, remain hidden gems to the masses, only known to the locals who call them home.

I wanted to show our readers that there are plenty of wow-worthy experiences to be had in countries not usually featured in guidebooks, including one that offers lively cities and stunning mountains. So, I rounded up the most underrated nations around the world, ranging from Montenegro to Madagascar. In these countries, you can do one-of-a-kind activities like partaking in a nomadic culture and visiting the hottest place on the planet. I based most of this list on places I've visited that I felt offered the most unique and memorable experiences. Most of these destinations I stumbled upon by accident, which only proves that not all those who wander are lost.

Being next door to Peru, a popular tourist destination with more than 3 million visitors in 2024, Bolivia has long been South America's redheaded stepchild in the tourism industry. However, those who sleep on Bolivia are missing out. Here, you can experience stunning views, the highest lake in the world, and one of the most biodiverse places on earth. Plus, it's all affordable, as you can expect to spend just $40 per day. To boot, locals are extremely welcoming and lack the resentment that people living in more tourism-heavy countries sometimes have towards visitors.

One of the must-do experiences in Bolivia is to venture across the culturally and historically rich Lake Titicaca. I traveled through the lake on a trip to Peru, as it stretches through both countries. Across this peaceful, blue-green lake, I saw communities almost completely undisturbed by modern customs, living on islands that span 3,200 square miles.

This size makes Lake Titicaca the second-largest lake on its continent. On the lake's Isla Del Sol, visitors can see where the Inca empire came to be thanks to the sun god — hence the island's name. Another one-of-a-kind journey in Bolivia is the Salar de Uyuni, which is the largest salt flat on the planet. A visit here will have you swooning at the salt hardening upon the earth, leaving a seemingly endless view of Bolivia's postcard-worthy landscapes beyond.

When I moved to Europe, Croatia was not on my list at all. But a well-traveled friend convinced me to add Croatia to my itinerary, telling me it looked like Pandora from the movie "Avatar." And when I first set foot in Croatia — and started my journey at Krka National Park — I could see why. With eight national parks, all of Croatia's landscapes are bathed in crystal-clear waters and lush greenery. But at Krka National Park, visitors can see waterfalls like Skradinski Buk, which contains streams of roaring, plunging waters encircled by turquoise waters.

Even Croatia's man-made wonders are one-of-a-kind. The waterfront city of Split made me feel like I was walking into a history book, as its Roman palace isn't just for informative tours; it's for living. Now enmeshed in modern city life, Diocletian's Palace — dating back to 305 CE — is a hub of shops, apartments, and bars.

Crystal-clear beaches are also aplenty in Split, which is the second-largest city in the country. Whether you're looking for a secret hideaway or a bustling beach where liquor is flowing, you'll find it in Split. And when hunger hits, you won't have to look far for fresh seafood. I'll never forget gazing over the yacht-filled waters as the sun went down with a plate of whole fish before me, wondering how I found this magical place.

Forget a couple of rainforests, safari parks, and mountains. Ethiopia stands as a natural paradise all on its own, with otherworldly landscapes that look more like something out of a sci-fi flick than a place people can visit. One of the wildest places to see this in action is the Danakil Depression, which is one of the hottest, lowest, and parched spots on earth. Created by the shift of three tectonic plates, it's a severe environment with green acidic springs, salt lakes and pans, an active volcano, and one of the few active lava lakes in the world. Views of these ethereal spots make the Danakil Depression a geological marvel and one of the most jaw-dropping places on the planet.

Those who savor history without worrying about accidentally stepping into lava will also find wow-worthy sights in Ethiopia, thanks to Lalibela, a Jerusalem-inspired city with a distinct flair. Nearly a dozen underground churches were built here using volcanic rock. Another grand religious-focused carving in Lalibela is Asheton Maryam, a monastery built into the side of a cliff. Like the Danakil Depression, Lalibela is a tough environment that has long been difficult to maneuver, making it even more visit-worthy for those who love the road less traveled. Ethiopia has wide expanses of green, too, perhaps best gazed upon at Simien National Park. Endless, lush green valleys fill this park, surrounded by towering mountains and small villages.

Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia is underrated for now, but it won't be for long. It was only within the last few decades that this eclectic destination even opened to tourists, as it was under Soviet Union rule through 1991. But since then, some savvy travelers have seen how unique Kyrgyzstan is and the distinctive adventures that can be found here. For one, forget staying in a hotel or hopping on a tour bus. In this friendly culture, tourists can join the traveling Kyrgyz people, who move throughout regions so their cattle can graze. However, the ability for outsiders to join these communities for long is rare.

Expect to sleep in yurts, milk cows, make butter, drink delicious local tea, and more. Being that the Kyrgyz people have such a distinctive culture, visitors can also expect to see unique games played on horseback, like a bloody variation of polo with a decapitated goat. People here also utilize golden eagles, which they have tamed and trained for centuries. The practice continues here today, making it one of the few countries on the planet to do so.

However, since most of the country is over 4,900 feet, get acquainted with the altitude first. That altitude leads to even more wonder in Kyrgyzstan. The country is home to several outlandish Silk Road sites that make it difficult to believe anyone ever made it there, all located in difficult-to-access spots.

Travelers looking for one-of-a-kind wildlife should book a flight to Madagascar, which is nicknamed "the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean." Nearly all of the reptiles, mammals, and plants on this biodiverse hotspot are endemic to Madagascar. These include several types of lemurs, including the aye-aye, the largest nocturnal primate on the planet, as well as the ring-tailed lemur, the species you're most likely familiar with. Madagascar's foliage is just as eye-catching and distinctive. Madagascar is home to towering baobab trees, of which a half-dozen varieties only grow in the country. To see 25 of these trees in all of their otherworldly and ancient delight (they're nearly a millennium old), head to the Avenue of the Baobabs.

For even more natural wonders in this wild place, check out the crazy-cool Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. Within this park, pieces of limestone sprout upwards and intermingle with other geological formations as a result of a pushed ocean floor. It's a scene you'll be hard-pressed to find anywhere else on the planet, as well as the 11 types of lemurs that only live here. If all that exploring has you looking for a cool-down, you won't have to look far in Madagascar. This hidden gem is full of white-sand beaches surrounded by clear blue waters with colorful coral reefs.

Good things come in small packages, especially when it comes to tourism. Montenegro is just 5,333 square miles, which is one reason the masses aren't flocking here quite yet. However, every bit of those square miles packs a serious punch when it comes to Mother Nature's beauty.

Nearly a half-dozen national parks fill Montenegro, including Durmitor National Park, which is home to the deepest canyon in Europe. Within this canyon that stretches 1,333 miles, visitors can explore thrilling rapids, an unusual and ancient black pine forest, and looming cliffs. There are also a whopping 18 glacial lakes in the park. Another favorite is Lovcén National Park, which features scenic hikes and 200 types of birds.

For history, travelers should head to Kotor Old Town, which dates back to A.D 800 to A.D 900. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is chock-full of ancient churches, walls, and palaces, with the most standout historic site being St. Tryphon's Cathedral. Built in 1166, this pinkish Romanesque church, surrounded by cliffs, even houses one of St. Tryphon's bones. Another medieval town worth visiting in Montenegro is Budva, which is one of the most storied towns on the Adriatic coast. Or, you can visit this charming seaside town that makes for a scenic day trip. You'll be hard-pressed to visit Montenegro and not check out one of its 100 stunning beaches. Per the consensus, the best is in Budva.

My dad took me to Norway for my first-ever visit to Europe, where his mother was born and raised, and her family continues to live. Being the bratty kids that my sister and I were, we jokingly called Norway the "Sears of Europe" on our flight. Like you wouldn't head all the way to the mall and just visit Sears, why were we going all the way to Europe and not going to famous places like Italy, France, and England? But this gem of a country has nothing to do with a forgotten department store. Instead, I have been enthralled by its crisp weather, medieval cities, and breathtaking vistas every time I've visited.

In Bergen, which is known as the gateway to the fjords, life is all about the water. I loved wandering the waterfront of Bryggen Wharf, a UNESCO World Heritage site, sampling exotic meats like whale, reindeer, and moose from vendors selling wares in colorful buildings. But there was nothing like riding those fjords on a boat. Formed by glaciers during the ice age, these freezing strips of water weave among the country's colossal mountains. One mountain worth venturing to the top of is Mount Fløyen, which I reached via a funicular railway. From its apex, I gazed at Bergen, the second-largest city in the country, below. Smaller, quaint villages also await in this beautiful country in the Lofoten islands.

Slovakia is so underrated that I didn't even intend to visit. Instead, a Vienna, Austria, tour I was on included Bratislava, Slovakia, which is just an hour's drive away. This well-preserved medieval city ended up being my favorite spot on my entire Central European getaway, so move over, Prague and Budapest. We entered Old Town through the historic Michael's Gate, marked by Archangel Michael bringing down the devil at the peak. Once in Old Town, it's easy to get lost — in a good way — wandering around. You'll find restaurants, shops, galleries, and museums, all housed in buildings ranging from medieval to Renaissance styles.

The best part of Bratislava is all of its quirks, which make it clear this colorful city has a spirited sensibility. Several buildings have had cannonballs stuck in their walls for hundreds of years, while a bizarre statue of a man poking his head out of a sewer is a must-visit in Old Town. You don't need to be a city dweller to appreciate Slovakia, either. 

Countless hiking trails line this country's many mountains, making for a trek for people of all abilities — all of which end in amazing views. Or, trade your hiking boots for handlebars on the 1,800-mile Danube Cycle Path, which ventures through three countries, including Slovakia. If you ride far enough, you're bound to find age-old castle remnants, as Slovakia is full of them, some of which have been transformed into museums.

I didn't have Taiwan on my bucket list either. While booking our trip to Vietnam, we could include a few days in Taiwan, so my husband Mike and I figured, why not add another stamp to our passports? Unlike some touristy Asian countries I've visited, Thailand and Taipei (the capital of Taiwan) had few Westerners. That's how I knew we had stumbled upon a gem.

That was especially true when it came to food. Taiwan is known for having the best sushi outside of Japan, and we found that out firsthand, even when eating at a no-frills eatery. That was even before we discovered Taipei's famous night markets, where rows of hundreds of vendors line bustling streets closed to cars and sell everything from fried stinky tofu to braised meats. Even for adventurous eaters like us, some of the street eats tested our limits — in a good way. Mike loved the markets so much that instead of going to a restaurant for his birthday, we wandered Huaxi Street Night Market instead, which is especially known for its outlandish eats like snake meat and snake liquor.

Outside of Taipei, fans of beloved filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki's works like "Spirited Away" won't be able to take their eyes off the mountaintop village of Jiufen. Full of teahouses, red lanterns, a famous night market, and traditional architecture, it's widely thought to be a carbon copy of the town in which the animated film takes place.

I don't know how we landed on the choice to visit Vietnam one year, but I'm glad we did — and I never get sick of hearing people ask, "But why Vietnam?" The list of reasons I can offer them is endless, which is why people should stop flocking to Southeast Asia's over-touristed hot spots and visit Vietnam instead. For American history buffs, that list starts in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon. Here, the past of the Vietnam War is intertwined with modern life, from the buzz of millions of mopeds to the reconstruction of a tank sitting in front of Reunification Palace, which ended the war when it burst through the gates. Visitors can experience just a smidge of this for themselves at the nearby Cu Chi Tunnels, which were used by Viet Cong troops during the war.

Crawl through just a few feet of the tunnels and stay on the main drags, as landmines are still thought to be among the foliage, and feel what the young soldiers felt. After a foray through Ho Chi Minh City, see the tropical paradise that Vietnam is through Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site. With its clear blue waters and towering limestone formations covered in greenery, this spot puts the Amalfi Coast to shame. Da Lat is also within Vietnam, which is one of the underrated tourist destinations in Asia to add to your bucket list.

Those looking to see elephants, rhinoceros, and lions in their natural habitats often opt for countries such as Kenya or South Africa for their safari getaway. But Zambia trumps its counterparts in nearly every way, as it's cheaper, less crowded, and safer to embark on a safari here. Plus, travelers are likely to get a better safari experience, as guides have the best rankings on the continent. The areas to see wildlife cover more than 30% of the country. Also, the temperature is more moderate, so you won't be quite as hot while looking for leopards in their natural habitats. All of this makes Zambia one of the must-visit countries to add to your Africa bucket list.

Depending on when they time their visit to Zambia, travelers can also see the largest bat migration on the planet and one of the largest wildebeest migrations. Another one of Mother Nature's diamonds awaits at Victoria Falls, which is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. As the most expansive sheet of falling water on earth — as well as one of the world's largest waterfalls — it's a sight appropriately known as "The Smoke that Thunders."

Although there are 195 countries on earth, most travelers stick to the most brag-worthy spots such as Spain, Japan, and Australia. But I've found through my travels that although these popular tourist destinations are worth seeing, there's plenty more to experience — sometimes right next door.

I rounded them up based on which countries yet to be discovered by the masses have the coolest, most one-of-a-kind things to do, ranging from venturing through tunnels used by Vietnamese soldiers to seeing a town that looks like it's straight out of "Spirited Away." I discovered this information based on my personal travel experience as well as that from bloggers and travel guides.