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Antarctica

No, it’s not a country, but around 37,000 tourists now visit the continent during each austral summer, enjoying its almost 24/7 sunlight. Given the logistics required to get here, the only way to go is on a group tour, usually via boat.

This place is for nature lovers and those with a scientific bent keen on seeing the planet’s extremes. Despite the cold and barren nature of Antarctica, wildlife is a drawcard – penguins, albatross, humpback and minke whales, and crabeater, elephant and leopard seals are all found here.

Cruising the Ross Sea, with its flowing ice, 4000 kilometres of frozen coastline and several active volcanoes, provides ample photo opportunities. Another highlight is the history of exploration in Antarctica and its research stations, including today’s constantly rotating shifts of scientists studying as far south as you can go.

Anguilla

The Anguillans have held onto that laid-back attitude the West Indies are famed for. While lacking in the spectacular volcanic mountains and lush greenery of its neighbours, it more than makes up for it with a selection of drop-dead stretches of sand. Anguillian life is supremely relaxed – from five-star resorts to simple beach shacks playing live music and serving delicious fresh seafood, it is very easy to fall into the pace of the locals and wonder why anyone would want to leave.

The tranquility is offset by the annual Moonsplash Reggae Festival, which attracts such luminaries as Jimmy Buffet, Third World and Rita Marley. However, do check the weather report before embarking on a sailing trip or you may be blown away in a different way – Anguilla gets its share of hurricanes.

Ghana

For those seeking to dip their toes into Africa, yet still fancy going beyond South Africa and Kenya, Ghana might be just the ticket. Although the options to safari in the traditional 4WD way are quite limited it’s not as though no animals at all live here. Mole National Park, near the border with Burkina Faso, is home to groups of elephants, bushbucks, baboons, warthogs and other small animals. Mona and black-and-white colobus monkeys are revered by the communities in the villages of Boabeng and Fiema, south of Mole, and the small but well-populated Boabeng-Fiama Monkey Sanctuary has been giving these curious creatures a home since 1974. Guests can go on a tour where guides will also point out some of the many birds and butterflies who live in the forest.

History buffs will want to stop a while at Cape Coast, west of the capital of Accra. The fishing port town has been settled by a whole host of European traders, including the Portuguese, Swedes and English, and is best known for the huge Cape Coast Castle, a white fort on the waterfront. It’s one of about 40 such buildings on the coastline first used for storing gold, ivory and other goods that were to be shipped back to Europe, but which gradually became jails, their dark dungeons holding people who were to be sent to the USA as slaves. Now, this building – restored in the 1990s – and many like it have been turned into museums, while others have be converted into government offices, prisons and guesthouses.

The rest of Cape Coast feels like a relaxed coastal community, and the lagoons on the edge of town have some great beaches. You can also do drumming and dancing workshops with a group called Women in Progress, which supports a fair-trade project. And it’s worth taking the time to head to Elmina. There are far fewer visitors here, in what was once a fishing and salt-producing town but became the epicentre of the West African gold trade. These days, it’s still mostly a fishing village but the colourful boats sailing through the lagoon have a backdrop of the oldest European building in sub-Saharan Africa, Elmina Castle, built by the Portuguese in 1482.

Cyprus

Those who detour this island thinking it’s all beach resorts and sunburned English backpackers getting lagered on cheap beers are missing out. Sure, both of these things do exist, but you can avoid them with ease – or at least find a former not overrun by the latter – while getting a culture and history hit to rival anywhere else in the Mediterranean.

Of course, Cyprus has a bit of tumultuous past, and the island is still split into two ‘halves’, with Turkish Cypriots living in the north and Greek Cypriots in the south. The division is easiest seen in the capital Nicosia/Lefkosia. It’s a city that embraces the past with its ancient walls, narrow streets and numerous museums, as well as the present in a vibing scene of cool cafes and bars. Thankfully, the checkpoint between the Turkish and Greek parts of the city is now open 24 hours a day.

For those with an interest in times past, a visit to the Paphos Archaeological Site, on the southwest coast, is a must. Originally established by the Ptolemies in the late fourth century BC, the city changed hands many times in the years following. It is still being excavated, but there are sites dating from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages on show, including a necropolis known as the Tombs of the Kings.

Of course, you’ll want to head to the beach at some point. Paramali is known for its excellent kite-surfing conditions, and Nissi Beach at Ayia Napa is gorgeous but often very crowded. Instead, hire a 4WD and head to Lara Bay on the Akamas Peninsula for a wide sweep of sand, spectacular views and few tourists, except for the flippered kind – loggerhead and green turtles come here to lay their eggs in summer.

Latvia

Tired of city life? Then this Balkan beauty might offer a natural alternative to other Euro destinations. While the capital Riga is charm central – it’s hard to resist its medieval Old Town, the Gothic and Art Nouveau architecture, cultural buzz and hip bars and restaurants – you don’t need to venture far to get away from just about everyone. Just outside of town there are pristine, often deserted beaches overlooking the Baltic Sea, while the Gauja National Park has both scenery and adventure. There’s plenty of hiking and cycling throughout the park’s 90,000 hectares, as well as the chance to go bungee jumping above the Gauja River or hit snowy cross-country trails in the winter. Check out the Gutmanala Grotto or take in the some of the spectacular castles and historic monuments – there are more than 500 of them in the park.

Anyone who loves a party will find Latvians leading the charge, especially in this part of the world. There’s a long tradition of folk singing here, and many pagan rituals and festivals have also survived the changing times. The biggest is Jāņi, a celebration of the summer solstice. Worth keeping an eye open for is the Latvian Song and Dance Festival, normally held every five years. About 30,000 people participate, combining trad Latvian song and dance with more modern popular songs.

Serbia

Serbia’s history, both its recent and not-so-recent, hasn’t been the easiest, so tourism was never high on the list of priorities. Thankfully, this hasn’t stopped the country from being one of the most exciting destinations in Europe, where high culture is all around and the next party is about to kick off at any moment.

Capital Belgrade has a certain charm, particularly in the areas along the banks of the Danube and Sava. There are lots of museums, from military to ethnographic, to explore, and a legendary nightlife. The refurbished ferry terminal is home to hip restaurants and bars. Then there are the clubs, which have a reputation as being the best in Europe. Divided into seasons – inside in winter; outside, usually on barges on the river, in summer – they’re incredibly popular, so you should reserve a table if you want to get in.

After all those late nights, a visit to one of the country’s famous spa towns – Banja Koviljača or Vranjačka Banja, for example – for bathing in the waters and wallowing in the mud might be just what you need.

Novi Sad might be best known for the EXIT Festival, one of Europe’s biggest music events, but it has plenty of other attractions to boast about. During summer people pack the Štrand, one of the beaches on the Danube, and a walk up to the Petrovaradin Fort, which dominates the cityscape, is a must for the view. The oddly named Chinatown is the city’s artistic precinct, with live music venues, skate parks and alternative clubs.

 

Uganda

Plenty of travellers still avoid this landlocked African nation, thinking the violence and war of the past remains an issue. For the past couple of decades, however, the country has been relatively politically stable and safe to visit.

It’s not a big place, but there is plenty to explore. In the southwest of the country, the mountainous Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to mountain gorillas, who can be visited on guided treks. There’s also the opportunity to see unique golden monkeys or climb volcanic Mt Sabinyo.

Climbers head to the Rwenzori Mountains – the highest point is Mount Stanley at 5100 metres – for an experience not found anywhere else in the world. Hikes start in equatorial rainforest, passing through heath forest before finally peaking in a landscape of snow and glaciers. On the way you might see forest elephants and any number of monkeys.

These mountains are located near Lake Victoria, which straddles the borders of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, and are the source of the mighty Nile. For adrenaline seekers, grade-five whitewater kayaking should be top of the must-do list, closely followed by taking on the rapids on a stand-up paddle board. Of course, there are flat-water options, too, including birdwatching from the river.

For those who love a safari, Uganda has that, too. With a diversity of landscapes, including lakes and rivers, there is plenty of wildlife to spot. Some of the reserves, like Queen Elizabeth National Park, are easy to access yet uncrowded. Located in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, it’s home to buffaloes, elephants, lions (the famous tree-climbing lions are found in a part of the park known as Ishasha), different species of antelopes and plenty of birds. Hippos, crocs and zebras, as well as the gigantic eland antelope, can be found at Lake Mburo National Park.

At the time of writing, the Smartraveller website suggests travellers avoid the border areas near the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. Those travelling to remote northeastern districts, including Kidepo National Park, should do so by air. Homosexual relations are illegal in Uganda, and western travellers have been prosecuted for homosexual activities.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is flourishing on the back of its hefty oil reserves, but few travellers bother to branch out past either of its two major stopover hubs, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. For what it’s worth, either of these cities provides quite the contrast to the normal Asian layovers encountered on a flight from anywhere in Australia or New Zealand to Europe, so those who find themselves on long-haul flights a lot should give their air travel a new route.

Dubai is a glittering mirage of skyscrapers, shopping malls and ‘they did what?’ attractions. After all, why not build a series of islands in the shape of the world (many still undeveloped) or an indoor ski resort in the middle of the desert? But there’s plenty to see here, even if you’re not into gross displays of ostentation. Head to Al Dhiyafah Road, where you can eat with the locals (who are mostly from other parts of the world) at cheap and cheerful Lebanese, Iranian and Indian restaurants. Grab a curry or a grill, plant yourself at a footpath table and do some people watching. Be dazzled and test your bartering skills at the Gold Souk, or head to the Bastakia Quarter, one of the few parts of the city that hasn’t been bulldozed on the road to modernity. There’s a textile souk here, as well as galleries and cafes in traditional buildings.

If your tastes run to camel rides on the beach or dune bashing in the desert, you can get in on some of that action, too.

In Abu Dhabi, make the Corniche your first stop. This eight-kilometre stretch of beachfront real estate goes from Emirates Palace to Mina Port, and is a microcosm of life here. People cycle or promenade along its length before taking well-earned breaks at one of the many cafes on the way.

The city has many of the same characteristics of Dubai, 150 kilometres to the northeast, but is perhaps not as overwhelming. You can take in a 360-degree view – complete with high tea – from 300 metres up at at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers’ observation deck, visit a falcon hospital, check in to a room that resembles a space pod at Yas Hotel, check out some uber horsepower at Ferrari World, marvel at the sheer beauty of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, or gawp at the futuristic architecture and amazing artwork at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Get away from the city with a trip to Ras Al-Khaimah. Located on the ocean but boasting the rugged Hajar Mountains as a backdrop, you can get a full dose of outdoor adventure here, including mountain biking, hiking, sailing, horse riding and fishing. It’s also the stepping-off point for those wanting to head to Oman’s remote Musandam Peninsula.

North Korea

Despite all the propaganda and rumours surrounding the Democratic People’s Republic, North Korea is one of the most fascinating travel experiences you could have and is certainly not out of reach. At the moment about 100,000 people a year are landing north of the DMZ and Kim Jong-un wants that number to reach two million by the year 2020. Rarely is an average tourist denied a visa and rarer still do they regret taking the opportunity to go.

Of course, North Korea is by no means your standard holiday destination, and independent travel is not an option. You’ll be escorted by government guides, won’t get much freedom outside of your hotel and there will be strict rules about what you can and can’t photograph. What you will get the opportunity to do, however, depending on which tour you’re on, is view the UNESCO-nominated landscape of Mt Kumgang and its 1200 waterfalls, gawk at the monumental architecture of Pyongyang, visit the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea and, more than all that, get a first-hand insight into a culture and country barely touched by the western world.