2020’s Most Underrated Adventure Destinations

Think you’ve been everywhere? As it gears up to celebrate its 45th year of pioneering adventure travel, World Expeditions has chosen seven of the most underrated destinations for an active holiday for 2020 – from remote and little-known treks to historic pilgrim trails.

Caucasus Mountains

On the borderlands between Europe and Asia, the new Transcaucasian Trail has been dubbed as “trekking’s next big thing”. Once complete, it will extend more than 1,800 miles, connecting more than 20 national parks, UNESCO listed sites and protected areas across the Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia). Scenically stunning and uncrowded and is already gaining in popularity thanks to high praise from TIME and Forbes magazines.

GET THERE IN 2020: Transcaucasian Trail Hike with World Expeditions departs May-September; Armenia section (8 days), Georgia section (10 days); although offered as separate itineraries, the dates have been chosen so hikers can complete the Armenia segment first and then continue the trail in Georgia.

Turkestan Range

Central Asia is emerging as an adventure traveller’s paradise, and the Turkestan Range in Kyrgyzstan is a magnet for active adventurers seeking true wilderness, unspoilt beauty and a sense of isolation. Its stunning sheer rock formations have given the region the nickname of the ‘Asian Patagonia’, featuring crystal clear glacier-fed streams and lakes, lush fir tree forests and alpine meadows providing feed for herds of grazing yaks. 

GET THERE IN 2020: Kyrgyzstan: Ak-Suu Turkestan Range Trek with World Expeditions (14 days) departs July-August

Simien Mountains

Ethiopia’s fascinating history, dating back more than 3,000 years, is evident in its rock-hewn churches, medieval castles and ancient obelisks. Trekking through the imposing escarpments of the Simien Mountains offers the chance to spot unusual wildlife such as the Gelada baboons.

GET THERE IN 2020: Simien Mountains and beyond with World Expeditions (17 days) departs September-February

China’s Rainbow Mountains

The Rainbow Mountains of Peru may have become an Instagram sensation. However, China’s Rainbow Mountains display an equally astonishing range of colours, even though they remain internationally fairly unknown. The region combines striking natural landscapes with cultural and historical highlights, such as the fortresses of Southern Qilian Mountains, on the remote, western part of the Great Wall of China and the Mati temple carved in the Linsong Mountain.

GET THERE IN 2020: Rainbow Mountains & Mati Temple Hike with World Expeditions (6 days) departs May-September                                                                                                          

Jordan Trail

Another new trail that loosely follows an ancient trade route, originally stretching from Egypt to Aqaba and on to Damascus in Syria, is the recently completed Jordan Trail. The recently completed, 400-mile / 650-kilometer Jordan Trail takes 40 days to complete, and crosses the entire country through diverse landscapes and terrain, from striking cliffs and rugged ‘wadis’ to archaeological monuments that showcase an illustrious past.

GET THERE IN 2020: Jordan Trail Highlights with World Expeditions (10 days) departs March-November

Gokyo Lakes

The widely distributed images of crowds of trekkers on trails above Everest Base Camp in Nepal earlier in the year has stimulated fresh interest in alternative treks in the Everest region. World Expeditions has been operating trips in Nepal since 1975 and has always proclaimed that the trails around the Gokyo Lakes remain the region’s biggest secret. The very few trekkers you will meet is a reminder that what you will find here is a sense of isolation and sensational views of Mount Everest.

GET THERE IN 2020: Gokyo & the Renjo La with World Expeditions (17 days) departs September-April

Japan’s pilgrim trails

The Dual Pilgrim Certificate, available in conjunction with the widely known Spanish Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail, is helping spread the word about Japan’s World Heritage Kumano Kodo pilgrim trails, a series of ancient routes. As yet, these trails remain largely off most international visitors’ itineraries in the country. Approx. 200,000 people walk the Kumano Kodo trail each year, but, despite its increasing popularity, most of them are Japanese.

GET THERE IN 2020: Kumano Kodo Coast to Coast Hike with World Expeditions (10 days) departs March-November

About World Expeditions

World Expeditions crafts creative itineraries for its travelers’ unique needs and style. For detailed information, bookings, or tailored private departures, visit  here.

Photos courtesy TravMedia