5 Special Off Beaten Paths for Adventure Seekers

Hello, future adventurer!

Are you tired of going to places you’ve seen on Instagram or TikTok and finding yourself… bored? Uninspired and surrounded by tourists.

I hate that feeling, and there is nothing more disappointing than using your valuable vacation time on a place that lets you down.

I’ve been to a lot of places and have been lucky enough to find some off-the-beaten-path gems. These places changed my view of the world as well as myself. The downside is they are not easy to get to, but if you can flex your travel muscles, these places will change what is possible from your next adventure.

1) First Adventure: San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico

Trevor's adventure at San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico — I stayed in this amazing city for three months and can’t wait to go back someday.

Trevor walking through the streets of San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico

San Cristóbal is the most magical city in Mexico, according to the Mexican government, and is located in Chiapas. It’s known as the adventure capital of Mexico, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint.

It’s surrounded by beautiful mountains. Palenque is four hours away. There is a mauy thai gym, insane food, a million options for day trips, lovely people, good vibes, and a random adventure is waiting every day.

Skip Cancún. Fly into Tuxtla Gutiérrez and enjoy!

Pro tip: Avoid the main tourist strip and square. It’s too much. But the rest of the city is stunning.

It’s on a constant travel advisory warning because of the conflict between the indigenous peoples and the government, but don’t let that scare you.

As long as you aren’t out late partying and doing drugs until 2 AM, you will not run into any trouble.

You can feel the buzz—people of all kinds gathering to celebrate, connect, and have fun. Join the Uncharted Community for chances to win and learn about 5 off-beat adventure destinations you can visit soon!

2) Enchanting Adventure at Český Krumlov

A view of Cesky Krumlov — Cesky Krumlov – from my potato phone many years ago.

A small town in the Czech Republic that is a tourist hotspot for good reason. It has insane views of a castle on the hill. And I mean seriously, Czech out these views.

Overview of Cesky Krum — Cityscape Of Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic, a known UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I went there with my good friend Alex Mazidi, drank lots of local Czech beer, and stayed at a lovely local homestay. Honestly, it is worth a few-day trip if you’re anywhere in the Czech Republic.

My friend Alex with a mug of Czech Beer — This is for you if you like castles and beer.

3) Ohara, Japan: A Historical Adventure

Forget Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Those cities in Japan are beautiful, but you need to get into what feels like old-school Japan, the parts of Japan that aren’t full of tourists.

Map guide to Ohara Japan — Ohara is located about 30 minutes to one hour outside of Kyoto.

If you find yourself in Kyoto, take an Uber or a bus/train combo to make your way to this truly amazing mountain village.

It has a handful of amazing restaurants, cafés, Buddhist temples, and the green rainy mountain views remind you of a Studio Ghibli movie.

The Warabe Jizo Statues will make you feel like you are in a truly special place, not built just for tourists.

I don’t know how long this place will remain like this, as it has become busier over my past two visits.

If cafes with cozy vibes on rainy days, Buddhist temples, and serene walks through nature are your thing, then this is your spot.

Here are a few suggestions but it’s a small place so it is going to be easy to hit up everything in one go:

Ichiyosha Base Cafe – Spacious cafe with good drinks and nice views. Closes early so get there before they close.
KULM（くるむ – If a cafe could be a warm blanket on a rainy day, this is it.
Kirin Lab / OHARA River side café KIRIN– Cafe for when you’re waiting for your table at the following restaurant.
Kirin – Amazing buffet for a very reasonable price
Sanzen-in Temple – Beautiful temple with a serene nature walk
Hosen-in – Get free matcha and enjoy your meditation session.

4) Shkodër, Albania: A Unique Adventure

A breathtaking view of a homestay near Theth outside of Shkoder. — A homestay near Theth outside of Shkoder

Adventure awaits in Albania! One of the top countries I’ve visited because of the untouched feeling of the place. It has the amenities of Western Europe but a significant lack of tourism.

Shkodër is a fantastic place to visit. A short drive from Tirana, this city is a great place to flex your travel muscles! Enjoy the local castle, especially at sunset. I nearly cried.

With Friends in Albania — My friends at Mi Casa Su Casa.

Shkodër has insane Mediterranean food, so you will definitely enjoy that. Just don’t drink the local wine 🙂 It’s not only a cool city but also a great base camp for hiking one of the sickest hikes I’ve ever done.

A good day to hike in Albania. — I’m very white and in the process of being sunburnt

Theth to Valbonë hike is not a beginner hike, even though I treated it as one.

God damn, isn’t it beautiful?

Unforgettable view after a long trek at Albania — View after a long trek at Albania

The homestay in Theth was one of the coolest places I’ve ever stayed in my whole life. Beautiful views, fresh fish caught straight from the stream, and peace. A whole lot of quiet.

Some tips to make your trip here even more spectacular:

Stay at Mi Casa Su Casa – run by a loving family, you will not regret your stay here.
Go do the Theth to Valbone hike – one of my favorite experiences on the planet.
Catch the sunset at the local castle

5) Naggar, India: The Adventure You Wouldn’t Want to Miss!

This is my personal favorite.

Picture taking at a beautiful view in Naggar by a dear friend. — Picture taking by a dear friend.

A hidden village in the mountains of India. Yes please.

This is probably the most difficult place to reach on the entire list. It requires either a long bus ride, a private car, or jumping on a small plane to land at one of the world’s shortest runways.

View along the road Rishikesh to Naggar — Paid a random cab drive $100 to drive us from Rishikesh to Naggar (near Manali)

If you can pull this off, you will not regret the time spent. Bar none, the Himalayas are the most beautiful mountains in the world. You will wake up every day staring at distant peaks.

The village is full of wonderful people, the greatest harmony on the planet, and endless outdoor adventure. Hiking, paragliding, zip lining, spiritual quests, ancient religious sites, monkeys, wild dogs, and so much more.

And you can work from here too. WiFi, inspiring views, great food, and great people. What more can you ask for? Adopting wild dogs? Yes, please.

6. Tainan, Taipei: Food Adventure and many more!

Here’s a bonus one for you in a place you’ve probably never thought of visiting, Taiwan.

A train ride out of Taipei awaits a foodie and a historical paradise.

Tainan will make you seriously reconsider coming back for more. With its thriving night markets, incredible street food, one-off finds in boutique stores, and historical monuments, a Tainan adventure has a little bit of everything to experience. My god, the food everywhere was absolutely unbelievable. Literally everywhere.

Richa eating streetfood at Tainan. — Richa eating streetfood

Hotpots for vegetarians.
Bagel shops.
Unbelievable cafés.
History everywhere.

Our friend and tour guide, Debbie, eating street food.

If you put Taiwan on your list, which I highly suggest you do, go to Tainan and eat!

Hope that you enjoy all of these wonderful places and get a chance to get off the beaten path. The more you push your boundaries of what’s possible and interact with locals you will discover the most magical parts of the world and travel. Don’t go back to “Disneyland,” explore!

Until next time!

Trevor