With summer vacation around the corner, everyone is already booking holiday tickets, preparing itineraries and bringing out their floral and spring clothes.
But, imagine landing at your vacation destination and realising that your serene getaway has the looks of the exact place you wanted to escape – your crowded city. That’s very high on the cards if you choose a conventional holiday package from an elite travel company online.
Our solution to such an appalling situation is choosing an offbeat vacation spot!
Read on to see our top-drawer unconventional holiday suggestions.
Santorini, Greece:
How does sitting on a beautiful boutique at a chick beachside cafe with your spouse, sound?
If that brought a smile on your face, then you should make Santorini your next vacation spot!
Santorini or Thira is a crescent-shaped, exotic island in the sea of Aegean. It is an active volcano and the only one with a crater in the sea. If you are looking for a romantic getaway with your loved one, buy tickets now, take them to Santorini and you will not be disappointed.
Well, if you ask why? We ask you, where else on the globe can you find celestial clear waters, while being perched on the rim of an active volcano, in the middle of the sea?
Fira is the quaint capital of this marvel and rests high up on the edge of Caldera. Firá, together with Oia, Imerovígli and Firostefáni located high above on a cliff, make up the so-called “Caldera’s eyebrow”, the balcony of Santorini, which offers an amazing view of the volcano.
While you are treating your eyes with the picturesque Santorini, here are a few things to do in Santorini:
- Witness stunning sunsets at Oia
- Take a dip in the hot springs at Caldera and dine at Thirassia after
- Visit the Red Beach below the Red Cliff at Akrotiri
- Sip some fine tea in a boutique, whitewashed cafe at Fira
- Visit the traditional village of Pyrgos, a traditional winery or a black sand beach
Peru, South America:
Peru is a perfect vacation getaway if you want to get your activewear out, strap on your fitness bands and challenge your body!
Peru is encompassed by Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, Chile to the south and the waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west. Not visiting Machu Picchu, while you are at Peru is as bad as not visit the Charminar when you are in the Pearl City.
As rosy as Machu Picchu sounds, the trail to reach the top of it is not as rosy. But, the trick is to concentrate on one step at a time and not think about the rest. Once you have ticked Machu Picchu off your bucket list, it is time to plunge into the lesser known treasures of Peru.
Here is the list of few of the unconventional attractions of Peru:
- Border crossing from Peru to Ecuador
- A stroll Park of Love in Miraflores
- Sandboarding at Sandy, Sandy Huacachina
- Downhill hike to Colca Canyon
- Hike in the Cordillera Blanca
Ethiopia, South Africa:
If a blend of historic monuments and wildlife is not offbeat, then what is? Ethiopia is a perfect brew of gilt-edge history and incredible wildlife.
When in Ethiopia, your historic voyage should begin with Lalibela, which is also a World Heritage Site. Lalibela is a city that is home to rock-cut churches built in the 13th and 14th century. The intricacies of the city’s architecture will make your jaw drop in awe!
Trekking in Simien Mountains is a sign up for misty mountains, unusual plants and above all, exotic creatures.
If you are on your way to making Ethiopia your next vacation destination, here are few suggestions from us:
- Visit 368 alleyways squeezed in one kilometre in HararWalk through Mago National Park
- Watch a dance performance at Yod Abyssinia
- Try local cuisine and tej (honey wine) at Addis Ababa
- Visit the ethnological museum
Copenhagen, Denmark:
How does tickling your taste buds with exquisite Michelin Star restaurant cuisine sound? How does cycling your way around Sandi cool denizens in beautifully lit and meticulously planned streets sound?
Do you feel the ‘hygge’ yet? Wondering what this even means? Well, hold on, we were transporting you to Copenhagen, the scenic and picturesque capital of Denmark.
Copenhagen is an effortless and ethereal city where mundane things like standing on the footpath, crossing the street, taking a stroll with your partner seem spectacular in this Scandinavian alchemy.
Here is a list of the things you should try, get a taste of the Danish hygge – warmth and pleasure.
- Visit the Tivoli Gardens
- Enjoy brunch at a cafe in Nyhavn Harbor
- Witness the magnificent view from The Round Tower
- Shop at Stroget Shopping Mile
- Say hello to The Little Mermaid
Zhangjiajie, China:
‘Hey, remember the floating mountains from the epic movie Avatar? I visited the place those marvellous mountains were inspired from.’
Imagine you saying that in a conversation with your friends. Luring right? If yes, then make Zhangjiajie your next destination. Zhangjiajie is located in the Hunan province of China.
The Wulingyuan mountains are situated in Wulingyuan, which is a 40-minute bus ride from Zhangjiajie. These mountains are so sky in up in the air, that trekking uphill is not an option at your disposal.
You can reach up these mountains and feel on top the world by using the cable cars or bridges that bind them together.
Here is a list of things to do when you are at this surreal location:
- Visit The Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area
- Enjoy the Cableway to Tianzi Peak
- Take a stroll at the Marshal He Long Park
- Enjoy snacks by a bonfire at Xibu Street
Rotorua, New Zealand:
Rotorua is a river city where time stands still. Rotorua is home to 18 sparkling lakes and 3 major rivers.
Whether you want to relax at the edge of a thermal pool, or burn a few calories paddling or kayaking, Rotorua should be your next vacation destination. If you want to feel the adrenaline rush in you, mountain biking in the 180 km Whakarewarewa Forest should be on your bucket list too.
From Indian to Mexican, to Italian cuisine – Rotorua’s restaurant scene is a global smorgasbord of gastronomical delights just waiting to be sampled.
Here is a list of things you should do when you are at Rotorua:
- Cuisine taste at the newly renovated ‘Eat Streat’
- Horse ride at The Redwoods
- Take a historical tour of a living Maori village
That’s our top-6 picks for making your holidays, a journey on roads not usually taken. So, hold on, don’t just click yes for a mainstream holiday, think out of the box and explore the unexplored with offbeat vacations!
