As international travel gains momentum, a new kind of traveler is casting aside over-touristed cities and reporting back with enthusiastic dispatches about the unsung charms they’ve discovered in places where the food is fantastic, the cultural scene strong and crowds are scarce. These are the most out-of-this-world travel destinations that haven’t yet had their moment — from your new favorite cultural hotspots and long-lost caves to enchanted mountain ranges unspoiled islands.. The year you’ll finally find them? 2025.
Matera, Italy
Carved out of limestone in southern Italy, Matera is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. Its ancient cave dwellings, women flying white tissue- thin head scarves as they make their way through labyrinthine streets, rock-hewn churches set in a lunar landscape and houses clinging to crazy mountaintops feel like time has stopped. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it offers the historical richness and Mediterranean charm of Rome or Venice without the masses.
Faroe Islands, Denmark
Floating between dwarfing cliffs halfway between Iceland and Norway, the Faroe Islands are a land of wild wind, jagged peaks and emerald-stomached valleys where sheep munch on wiry grasses and plunging baysargue with sheer-walled fjords. Still untouched by tourists, this archipelago is great for hiking, bird watching and seeing the undisguised beauty of Nordics. Fishing villages and silence, photographers and lonely boys paradise.
Siquijor, Philippines
Here, where it is locally called the “Island of Fire,” folklore and tropical allure overlap at a witching hour. Boracay and Palawan attract international tourists, but the waterfalls, coral reef and mystic traditions in Siquijor make it one of Southeast Asia’s best-kept secrets. A trip can feature excursions to caves, pristine beaches and traditional healers.
Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone
For nature lovers, there’s Tiwai Island, a recently-designated UNESCO site on the Moa River. It is a sanctuary for threatened pygmy hippos and one of the greatest concentrations of primates in any corner of the planet. The eco-tourism here flows directly into local communities, and guided treks and boat tours take you through rainforest.
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
An island chain in West Papua, Raja Ampat is a slice of paradise for divers and eco-tourists. Beneath the turquoise waters here is the planet’s richest concentration of marine biodiversity, from coral gardens teeming with manta rays and turtles to little-known species. It is an otherworldly landscape — jungle and limestone islets above the surface.
Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico
This emerging wine region in Baja California has all the quality you’d expect from a sister of Napa Valley — with a more rustic Mexican twist. Boutique wineries, farm-to-table restaurants and desert vineyards make it a hot spot for gourmands looking to escape the hordes of tourists altogether.
Kasol, India
Kasol is a destination for the weary soul- tranquil, serene and known to be an ideal hop spot for backpackers. Known as the land of cafes and mini-Israel, Kasol has been serving so much good food (especially Israeli food) to us for years. More famously known as ‘Mini Israel of India’, the village combines Himalayan beauty with a rich Israeli culture evident in its cafes, wall art and food. Kheerganga walk for treks, Malana roads and camps by the riverside drool like no one else! With pine forests, misty mornings and starry nights at display, Kasol is one amongst the world’s most soulful hidden gems waiting to be explored.
Vis Island, Croatia
Away from the cruise crowds in Dubrovnik there’s Vis, an Adriatic idyll of vineyards, hidden coves and sapphire sea. The fact that it is relatively isolated has served to preserve its old-world charm and, with unending stretches of beach and seafood restaurants aplenty, is perfect for fans of the Mediterranean getaway.
Niue, South Pacific
A small coral island near Samoa, Niue offers pristine reefs, whale watching and cave exploring. It is one of the least visited and yet most rewarding island paradises in the Pacific, with just two flights a week and an entrenched local culture.
Georgia
Squeezed in between Europe and Asia, Georgia is a hospitable but untamed land of mountain monasteries, ancient wine culture and nail-biting hospitality. From Tbilisi’s vibrant art scene to the jagged peaks of the Caucasus Mountains, this nation is emerging as a destination for history and adventure in wild, untamed mountains.
Why Hidden Gems Matter
By visiting less-heralded places, visitors support local environments and spread tourism’s wealth more fairly. Travelers also enjoy more authentic, human experiences — unmediated by too much commercial presence. In 2025, these are hidden gems: new places to see that only disguise better ways of traveling — sustainably, intentionally and with profound connection.