Intrepid Travel has released its annual "Not Hot List," highlighting lesser-known and emerging destinations that the tour operator wants people to visit next year.
The list is designed by destination experts, pulling together places that aren't likely to be on travelers' radars. The hope, Intrepid said, is that their visitation will lead to an outsize positive impact compared to destinations that already enjoy a tourism boom.
"If we want tourism to continue to be a force for good, we need to constantly rethink how and where we travel," said experiences general manager Erica Kritikides. "The 'Not Hot List' isn't just about surfacing lesser-known places, it aims to shift the conversation and help travelers to discover new destinations where their visit can make a meaningful contribution to local communities and economies."
Intrepid also developed new itineraries for 2027 that include some of the featured destinations: Samburu National Reserve, Kenya; Mestia, Georgia; Northern Highlands, Jordan; Whitehorse, Canada; Alonnisos, Greece; Dili, Timor-Leste; Pekoe Trail, Sri Lanka; Liepaja, Latvia; Carretera Austral, Chile; and Dalsland, Sweden.
Unconventional itineraries
The tour operator launched a 10-day safari in Kenya that visits the reserve in search of the "Samburu Special Five" -- the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich, oryx beisa and gerenuk.
A 16-day journey through Canada and Alaska spends two days in Whitehorse, where travelers will discover the city's Gold Rush history and meet community members of some of the most remote areas of Northern Canada. Guests will also discover the indigenous history of the city with a local Tlingit guide.
Intrepid's 10-day walking and trekking trip in Sri Lanka features the Pekoe Trail, visiting tea plantations and rural villages along the way. The program was designed to immerse hikers in the region beyond its touristy spots.
The company will bring guests to Jordan for 12-days, taking them to the highlights, including Wadi Rum and Petra. But the itinerary also includes visiting the Northern Highlands, where travelers will go to Umm Qais and Ajloun to meet with local beekeepers, artisans, shepherds and cheesemakers.
A nine-day walking and hiking adventure on the Transcaucasian Trail in Georgia includes a day spent in Mestia, where guests will trek to Chaaladi Glacier and enjoy a dinner of traditional Svan cuisine.