PJ O’ Rourke’s subversive Holidays in Hell has a rather hilarious account of the famous gonzo journalist trying to get to then war-torn Lebanon in 1984 – by claiming he wanted to study the tourism industry there. He was half earnest in his attempt, wryly noting that despite the risk of looking down the barrel of a gun, Lebanon was “noticeably free of tour groups”, that hotel rooms were plentiful, the beaches were not crowded and no reservation was needed in the city’s most popular restaurant.
Things are decidedly different in Lebanon these days, of course. While the country now faces a large refugee crisis and houses at least a million Syrian refugees, its capital of Beirut is now enjoying a return to its former moniker as the Paris of The East. With that comes another set of issues—the typical thronging of tourists in Summer. The hotel rooms are fully booked, the beaches are crowded and yes, reservations are now needed in the best restaurants.
The more things change, the more they seem the same? Well, to a point. The seasoned traveller looking for an unfettered holiday destination will still have to get creative like O’ Rourke, though through far less risky circumstances. The real fear would be the social media-savvy tourist armed with a mobile phone and bragging rights for a favourite secret spot to be exposed to 200,000 eyes wide open and ready to follow suit.
At the risk of having the same happen to our own favourites, we now reluctantly hand over a selection of far-flung destinations that you would love for its smaller tourist footprint. Yes, some are harder to get to and can be rather unconventional. Tongues will wag ceaselessly. But the moments gained from being the true elite few to have experienced these places, are well worth the effort.
https://www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg/lifestyle/10-exotic-and-lesser-known-holiday-destinations-for-2018/
8 exotic destinations 2018
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Vanuatu
Getting to this South Pacific paradise (James A. Michener wrote Tales from The South Pacific there) from Singapore would take you anywhere from 18 hours to two days which is exceedingly good news for those truly looking to go off the beaten track. It is a collection of pristine emerald islands dotted with crystal blue holes you can swim in and magnificent volcanoes, some still active (a recent volcano eruption on Ambae had its entire population evacuated). The archipelago’s largest island Espiritu Santo is a draw—here, you can go on a trail ride by horseback through its mangroves. Or else, enjoy a sun-drenched romance in the midst of the world’s best scenery in Port Vila, Erakor or Irikiriki islands.
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Uyuni, Bolivia
Located ten hours south of La Paz on ground, Uyuni in the Bolivian Southwest must be the playground of the Gods. How else to describe its other-worldly landscapes? From the surreal, mirror-like Uyuni salt flats, the largest in the world (and where the amazing fight scene in The Last Jedi was filmed) to the blood-red waters of Laguna Colorada where pink flamingoes nest, to Laguna Verde’s near perfect mirror of shimmering green to the unusual rock formations of the Siloli Desert, Uyuni’s topography is distinctly diverse. A train cemetery and a desert named for Salvador Dali completes the surreal, alien experience. Hotels surrounding the Salar de Uyuni are no less exceptional with some made entirely of salt, furniture and all. There’s much ground to cover with a trip typically taking up to three days.
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Botswana
The ultimate safari experience is also one of the most strictly enforced when it comes to protection of wildlife. Anti-poaching and a ban on commercial hunting informs one of the fastest growing economies in the world and its forward thinking has helped to grow a sizeable middle class. Good governance has seen to it that you can revel in some grand sightings of zebras, elephants, leopards and more, in their natural habitats whether you are exploring the Moremi Nature Reserve, the Okavango Delta or making your way to the Kalahari. Luxury tents decked with the necessary creature comforts help ease the novice safari traveller into an experience of a lifetime.
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Colombia
Thanks to the Netflix hit Narcos, a slew of misinformation has reached the public sphere. But with half a century of civil war finally put to rest and the war on drugs effectively won, this could be the year for you to visit Bogota. When The Four Seasons sets up in Bogota along with a number of other luxury hotel chains, well, you don’t say no. More importantly, this is your chance to visit the fabled rainbow-coloured river of Caño Cristales, that had everyone transfixed on Facebook for a while. There’s also the Las Lajas Sanctuary that was the site of a Catholic miracle—the sanctuary itself looks like an act of God—a magnificent structure carved by the side of a ravine.
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Greenland
In an incredible scene from The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty, Ben Stiller longboards downhill across some amazing sights in Greenland. While we don’t recommend you skateboard down the length of Nuuk like Ben Stiller’s character, we do suggest visiting Greenland in summer like he did. It is nothing short of epic as you would have come at the height of Greenland’s Midnight Sun. There is also the rare chance to whale watch while surrounded by icebergs that are starting to calve in glaciers. Fields of flora in full bloom would make for some fairly decent photographs. Or else follow the Inuit trail with a hiking tour and get to know a different culture.
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Kumaon, Uttarakhand
The less frequented side of Uttarakhand in the Himalayas provides welcome respite from the heat and the crowds further south of India. A former British Raj-era annex, the region, which extends from the Gangetic plains up to Tibet, is famous for its colonial hill stations with houses that were build in that era now transformed into charming resorts. Modern, luxury digs like The Kumaon in Binsar and The Shakti Kumaon ensure that things don’t get too twee. Meanwhile, brace yourself for sweeping vistas of Kumaon’s rugged beauty, village walks, hiking trails and a chance to get in touch with your inner Sattva.
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Lebanon
Taking a leaf off of PJ O’ Rourke, Lebanon’s grand sights rival that of any of their Mediterranean neighbours. That its capital has since regained its reputation as a Paris of the East with the end of military unrest and civil war ending in relatively recent 1990, is impressive. Luxury and sophistication is at its hilt in Beirut—five star hotels abound in the city and areas such as Achrafieh and Gemayzeh attract a sophisticated party crowd. Equally fascinating is its ancient history, vestiges of which can still be seen in Tripoli where souks and hammams dating back to the Mamluk and Ottoman eras can be still be enjoyed. Those on a literary trail can visit Bcharre where you can visit the ancestral home of the poet Khalil Gibhran.
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Northern Cyprus
While the Greek part of Cyprus is a tourist mainstay, the less frequented Northern Cyprus, now occupied by Turkey, deserves some mention. Due to the UN buffer zone dividing Greek and Turkish Cyprus, with the island’s capital Nicosia split down the middle between both sides, the Northern side seems to have been trapped in time with its golden beaches, ancient villages and green landscapes. A modicum of luxury can be had, with resorts dotting the seaside town of Kyrenia with its movie-ready castle. Alagadi Beach nearby prides itself as the location for loggerhead and green turtle hatchlings in high Summer. Bellapais Village, made famous by Lawrence Durrell in his biography Bitter Lemons is worth a look as is the ruins of Salamis, an impressive archaeological site by the sea with buildings commissioned by Hadrian. Soli, purportedly where St. Mark was buried, still bear the hallmarks of the late Roman and early Byzantine ages.
(Related: How Colombia is becoming the next ‘it’ travel destination)