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A squirrel in Oulu, Finland. Photography: Aleksi Partanen.

Intrepid releases their 2026 Not Hot List

By Tiffany West

Briefly …

While the world’s most famous hotspots draw millions of visitors each year, many equally remarkable destinations remain overlooked. Intrepid’s annual Not Hot List is a call to curious travellers to venture beyond the crowds and discover places where tourism is not only welcome but transformative.

From Sierra Leone to Finland, the 10 destinations on Intrepid’s 2026 Not Hot list combine authenticity with ambition – showcasing community-led initiatives, cultural preservation, and investment in sustainable growth. This is travel with purpose – journeys that create meaningful connections while leaving a positive footprint.

The annual list is designed to introduce curious, conscientious travellers to lesser-known destinations that are ready to welcome more visitors next year, and where our presence can have an outsized positive impact. All of the destinations on the list currently attract relatively few international visitors, but with new investments, experiences and improved infrastructure being introduced or announced this year, they’re ready – and deserving – of more travellers.

The Not Hot List is developed with insights from Intrepid’s global product and operations experts in 32 countries, alongside travel trend agency Globetrender. The 10 destinations have been selected based on three key criteria: (1) less visited, with lower awareness; (2) demonstrating tourism readiness with new initiatives; and (3) with particular relevance in 2026.

The 2026 list features a combination of lesser-known regions in popular destinations such as Croatia and Mexico, as well as emerging countries like Sierra Leone and Kyrgyzstan, which international visitors have long overlooked.

“The 2026 list features a combination of lesser-known regions in popular destinations such as Croatia and Mexico, as well as emerging countries like Sierra Leone and Kyrgyzstan, which international visitors have long overlooked.”

“We know that 80% of travellers visit just 10% of the world’s tourism destinations and we recognise that we have a role to play in influencing that,” Erica Kritikides, General Manager of Experiences at Intrepid Travel told The Solo Traveller. “The selection criteria for our Not Hot List reflects an approach to tourism that we’ve long championed. While some destinations receive millions – even tens of millions – of visitors each year, many lesser-known places go virtually unnoticed by travellers. A key consideration when we’re developing trips is how we can spread the economic benefits of tourism more widely and how our presence in a destination can positively impact the communities we’re visiting.”

Whether it’s sharing a meal in a Zapotec village, stargazing at Nevada’s quiet skies, or learning the rhythm of nomadic life in Kyrgyzstan, the Not Hot List invites us to step off the well-worn tourist track and connect with communities that welcome strangers who visit with respect, genuine curiosity, and a passion for unique adventures and experiences.

The 10 destinations on Intrepid’s Not Hot List for 2026

Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone

Recently inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Tiwai Island (‘Big Island’) is rich in biodiversity and cultural encounters. Travellers can experience rainforest night walks and river cruises and visit the community-led wildlife sanctuary. The island is home to a population of pygmy hippopotami, over 135 different species of birds and one of the highest concentrations and diversity of primates in the world.

Beautiful green alpine landscape and the Tien-Shan mountains, Kyrgyzstan. Photography: Nantonov.

Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan

Long known to nomads but little to outsiders, Kyrgyzstan’s Tien Shan mountains are an undiscovered trekking paradise. Community-led experiences and an expanded 2,000 km Nomad Trail are drawing adventure-seekers to a landscape where culture and wilderness converge. Travellers can stay in traditional yurts (portable round shelters) and share meals with nomadic families, while trekking unspoiled routes with few other tourists.

Monte Albán is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site in the Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán Municipality in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. Photography: Siempreverde22.

Sierra Norte, Mexico

In Oaxaca’s remote highlands, Indigenous Zapotec communities are reshaping tourism on their own terms. The Pueblos Mancomunados model has preserved pristine forests and traditions for decades. A cooperative of eight Zapotec villages oversees a network of 100 km of uncrowded hiking trails, and offer immersive cultural practices, from temazcal saunas (using steam from hot stones and herbal infusions to promote cleansing and healing) to pulque-making (an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey plant).

Croatia’s antidote to overtourism, Vis Island offers tranquillity where authenticity reigns. Photography: Dreamer 4787.

Vis Island, Croatia

Croatia’s antidote to overtourism, Vis Island offers tranquillity where authenticity reigns. Once a military outpost, its remoteness has preserved a slower pace of life. One of Croatia’s least-visited islands, the destination has opened new hiking trails, and a museum dedicated to the ancient Greek city of Issa (which was located on the island) will open in 2026. Local food and wine experiences include the famous Viška pogača – a savoury pie filled with a combination of olive oil, onions, anchovies, and spices.

The region’s UNESCO World Heritage sites include Neolithic archaeological sites inhabited

The Southeastern Anatolia region’s UNESCO World Heritage sites include Neolithic archaeological sites inhabited from around 9500 BCE to at least 8000 BCE.

Southeastern Anatolia, Türkiye

Beyond Istanbul and Cappadocia lies a region steeped in heritage and flavour. With new transport links and major cultural investments, Southeastern Anatolia is reclaiming its place as a crossroads of civilisation. The region’s World Heritage sites include Göbekli Tepe – a Neolithic archaeological site inhabited from around 9500 BCE to at least 8000 BCE, and Gaziantep – a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

Located at an altitude of over 13,700 feet, Sela Pass, Arunachal Pradesh, is famous for its breathtaking panoramic views of the Himalayas. Photography: Mayur More.

Arunachal Pradesh, India

In India’s far northeast, Arunachal Pradesh is stepping out of the shadows. Home to over 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes, visitors can witness ancient rituals, crafts and festivals that have been passed down for generations. With new grassroots tourism initiatives, the state is offering travellers a rare chance to witness first light on Indian soil. New for 2026, the ‘Sunrise Festival’ in Dong village will honour where dawn first breaks on Indian soil, celebrating the symbolic and spiritual significance of the sunrise, alongside cultural performances, local cuisine, traditional crafts and guided treks to panoramic viewpoints.

Romania’s 1,400 km Via Transilvanica is Europe’s next great walking trail, a slow-travel route designed to revive villages and connect cultures. Photography: Via Transilvanica.

Via Transilvanica, Romania

Romania’s 1,400 km Via Transilvanica is Europe’s next great walking trail, a slow-travel route designed to revive villages and connect cultures. Its expansion coincides with the country’s Schengen debut, making it more accessible than ever. Unveiling 170 km of new trails in 2026, the trail will offer unparalleled access to 12 World Heritage sites and unique encounters with local families along the route.

Ruta de las Flores, El Salvador

While El Salvador’s surf beaches steal headlines, its Flower Route remains a hidden gem. This 36 km highland road connects five colourful towns, offering authentic culture, coffee and mountain air away from the crowds.

Named European Capital of Culture 2026, Oulu is stepping onto the world stage. Photography: Visit Oulu.

Oulu, Finland

Named European Capital of Culture 2026 by an independent panel of experts from the European Union, Oulu is stepping onto the world stage. This Arctic gateway blends wild landscapes with innovation, offering travellers a year of bold programming rooted in sustainability and Sámi heritage (the traditionally Sámi-speaking Indigenous people who inhabit large northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula in Russia). Oulu is a vibrant city that holds over 700 events annually, including one-of-a-kind experiences such as the World Air Guitar Championships, Polar Bear Pitching, The Irish Festival of Oulu, and Qstock music festival.

The iconic Wheeler Peak from the edge of Stella Lake in Nevada's Great Basin National Park. Photography: Allen Allnoch.

Great Basin National Park, USA

In Nevada’s high desert, Great Basin National Park remains one of America’s least visited yet most extraordinary parks. The park is notable for its groves of ancient bristlecone pines, the oldest known living non-clonal organisms; Lehman Caves, which will be relit with a new illumination system in 2026; Wheeler Peak Glacier; and astronomy programs that introduce the wonder and mystery of some of the darkest night skies in the United States mainland.

Tiffany West is a writer and The Solo Traveller’s Editorial and Pictorial Assistant Lead. This feature includes information provided by international news agencies and public relations representatives, published here with editorial oversight. You can read The Solo Traveller’s editorial policy regarding external sources here.