The Road Less Travelled: Unique Trips

For travellers who’ve seen the classics and want something different, these lesser-explored journeys promise rich culture, dramatic landscapes and stories few others can tell. From ancient trade routes to emerging destinations, these are the adventures to add to your must-do list.

1. The Five Stans

The City Wall of Khiva, or Itchan Kala, in Uzbekistan

Central Asia remains one of the world’s last great frontiers. Journeys through Turkmenistan and the other Stans reveal Silk Road cities, vast deserts and traditions shaped by centuries of nomadic life. The glowing Darvaza Gas Crater contrasts with Ashgabat’s marble grandeur, while Samarkand and Bukhara showcase spectacular Islamic architecture. These multi-country journeys offer a rare window into cultures that feel both timeless and untouched.

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2. The Balkans
The historic town of Perast in the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro

Layered with history and shaped by shifting empires, the Balkans offer remarkable diversity within short distances. Medieval towns rise above glittering coastlines, Ottoman influences blend with European grandeur, and national parks reveal waterfalls, forests and mountain scenery. Travelling through Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, visitors encounter living history—from UNESCO listed towns to resilient local cultures shaped by the region’s complex past.

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3. The Silk Road, China

The Mogao Grottoes, or Thousand Buddha Grottoes, in Dunhuang, China, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site

China’s Silk Road is more than a historic trade route—it’s a corridor of civilisations. Travelling west reveals dramatic shifts in landscape and culture, from desert fortresses guarding the Great Wall’s edge to the vivid colours of Zhangye’s Rainbow Mountains. In Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves preserve centuries of Buddhist art, while ancient caravan towns recall the merchants who once crossed these vast terrains.

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4. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hegra, dates back to the 1st century BCE

Now open to international travellers, Saudi Arabia is emerging as one of the world’s most intriguing destinations. Awe-inspiring Nabataean tombs rise from desert sands at Hegra, while AlUla’s vast sandstone formations create landscapes of epic proportions. In Riyadh and Jeddah, tradition meets transformation—offering discovery in its purest form.

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5. The Caucasus

The 14th-century Gergeti Trinity Church in the majestic Caucasus Mountains and Mt. Kazbek in Georgia

Wedged between Europe and Asia, the Caucasus is a region of striking contrasts. Georgia’s mountain scenery and vibrant food culture sit alongside Armenia’s cliff-side monasteries, while Azerbaijan’s modern capital rises beside the Caspian Sea. Deep history blends with warm hospitality, revealing a cultural crossroads that feels both intimate and expansive.

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Interested in visiting these road less travelled destinations for yourself? Book online today or call us on 1300 88 66 88, our Travel Specialists would love to help.