How To Avoid Traveling To Destinations 80% Of Tourists Visit

On September 12, Intrepid Travel released its annual Not-Hot list, highlighting 10 underrated destinations perfect for those seeking a break from the usual crowded tourist hotspots. As overtourism reaches a critical point—think locals throwing water at tourists in Barcelona—this list offers refreshing alternatives that ease the strain on overvisited places like Venice. Intrepid Travel’s President of Canada, Christian Wolters, is available for interviews to discuss the importance of responsible travel and how we can all explore more sustainably. Discover hidden gems and start planning your next meaningful adventure! We chatted with Erica Kritikides, GM of global product for Intrepid Travel, to learn more. —Noa Nichol

What inspired Intrepid Travel to create the Not-Hot list, and how do you hope it will contribute to addressing the overtourism crisis in popular destinations?

Intrepid has a long history of taking travelers off the beaten track on our trips, we’ve been doing it since we started running tours over 35 years ago. Not-Hot is our spin on the traditional ‘where to go’ lists. We know that some of the best places to visit are the ones that no one has heard of so instead of focusing on what’s trending and ‘hot’ for next year, we look to uncover those hidden gems that no one is talking about, but have a lot going for them, to give these places the spotlight they deserve.  

Our annual Not Hot List strives to bring travellers off the tourist track and inspire them to consider lesser-known destinations while helping to spread the benefits of tourism to places where it can have an outsized positive impact on communities and local economies. We recognize the reality of overtourism in some destinations and continuously evolve our trips to help disperse travelers to new and exciting places and provide opportunities to travel at different times of the year.  

With 80% of travelers visiting only 10% of the world, what do you think drives this behavior, and how can highlighting underrated destinations encourage more responsible and diverse travel patterns?

There are a ton of factors that drive a destination to the point of overtourism. Instagram and Tik Tok for one have made it easier than ever to search for new destinations but once they become viral, they fall victim of their own popularity, like Tulum or Bali.  

Meanwhile the bucket-list effect has been around for decades, and this also be a contributor. Everyone has their personal travel bucket list but there are certain destinations and attractions that commonly make these lists because of their popularity. People want to see places like Stonehenge in England or the Grand Canyon for themselves, with their own two eyes. They often hold huge significance culturally and reaching them can represent a personal achievement or milestone. This is totally understandable, but there’s so many cooler places that are also better for the environment and the communities who can handle the crowds and want our dollars. After all, no one wants to spend all that time and money to travel, just to be a tourist looking at other tourists. 

With overtourism dominating headlines this summer, we know that travellers right now are craving something unique over lining up for that same Instagram photo every tourist has. That’s why this year was also the year of the ‘destination dupe’, places that are less crowded and less expensive than their famous counterpart. By promoting these places, we can help travellers explore the world in a more meaningful way to avoid the pressure that comes with the impact of overtourism. 

Can you share a few standout destinations from this year’s Not-Hot list, and what makes these places unique compared to the more crowded tourist hotspots?

Absolutely, two that stand out for me are Greenland and Pakistan.  

• Despite having three of the world’s great mountain ranges – the Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindu Kush – including the second-highest mountain, K, less than 300,000 people visit Pakistan compared to over 2 million who head to Nepal. This disparity has stemmed from misperceptions, safety concerns, negative media coverage. Even the most well-travelled globetrotters have been missing out on this the region, but the tide is turning. There was a 115 per cent increase in foreign tourism in 2023, bolstered by recent policy changes that eliminated visa fees for arrivals from 126 countries, including the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand. 
• We see it as the world’s next big adventure mecca. It’s a true mountaineer’s paradise in the Baltistan region, often called Little Tibet. Intrepid introduced our Pakistan Mountains Expedition to make trekking this region more accessible than ever.  

Greenland’s beauty really speaks for itself but what we wanted to highlight in our Not-Hot list was one of the lesser visited communities that often gets missed.  

• Most of Greenland’s tourism scene centres around cruising past its epic Arctic scenery out in the remote wilderness. Surrounded by icebergs and whales, Disko Island is a remote and relatively unknown community that often gets missed by visitors, but it truly embodies Greenland’s pristine beauty. The ferry ride over to Island has even been nicknamed the most beautiful boat ride in the world and for good reason but on our new expedition, you get to actually stay overnight in a locally owned lodge that overlooks Disko Bay, after a day of glacier hiking. It’ just incredible and a really refreshing take on the Nordic Adventure, which has been dominated by Iceland in recent years.  

How does Intrepid Travel ensure that its tours and recommendations for these lesser-known destinations contribute positively to the local communities and ecosystems?

Developing tourism in concert and consultation with host communities is the best way to combat the negative effects of overtourism. 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. Our group size is very small (average of 10 travelers), we only employ local leaders and almost exclusively use locally owned accommodation and suppliers.  

Community-based tourism (CBT) not only gives you a real insight into local lives, but also ensures your travel experience makes a genuine difference to local people. We always carefully consider how we can benefit local communities when designing new trips.  

As travelers look for more meaningful and sustainable travel experiences, what advice would you give to those seeking to avoid tourist traps and embrace a more mindful approach to exploring the world?

When done right, tourism can be equally positive for both visitors and local people and businesses. My advice would be to consider what kind of experience you’re truly looking for, whether it’s a cultural experience, outdoor adventure or otherwise, and dive deep into your research. There are so many amazing alternative destinations to choose from that will give you a fresh take on the world if you’re willing to go beyond the classic bucket list attractions. You can also consider traveling to popular destinations during the shoulder seasons, if you can, to lessen the burden on communities dealing with the demands of peak season crowds. 

Here are a few more quick tips to consider if you do find yourself going to a hot spot: 

• Support communities by spending with small local businesses.   
• Always keep a destination’s culture front of mind. Do your homework and be aware of cultural sensitivities  
• Learn a few local phrases and do not assume everyone speaks your language.   
• Adopt a ‘slow travel’ philosophy. Stay longer when you travel, go deep versus traveling fast, far, and wide.   
• Lastly, be patient. Things do not always go to plan.