With all the world at our fingertips and an endless supply of travel destinations being presented to us each and everyday by social media, you would think you would know all the best spots by now. As it turns out, the world is pretty big. Sure, we’ve all heard of the top destinations for travel, but there is a whole world of gems out there for you (and us) to still discover. Sometimes the best places are a town or two over from a big destination that everyone has been to, and sometimes they are in a country everyone has to look up on a map.
You just never know where your next favorite dream trip will be hiding, and that is one of the most amazing things about travel. Your favorite destination may be entirely different than anyone you know, so get out there and try some new spots!
Here are four of our favorites, just promise to keep them quiet eh? We can’t have everyone knowing about them can we 😉
Explore one of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas
Situated about halfway between the North Pole and the Northern coast of Norway lies an absolutely gorgeous and quite isolated archipelago – Svalbard. Needless to say, Svalbard is not a journey for travelers looking to avoid the snow or cold. The islands that make up Svalbard are officially part of Norway, but it’s a bit complicated from there. The end result is anyone who wants to come can, no visas needed. Also, there is no limit to how long you can visit, stay for a decade if you wish. But please invite us to visit if you do!
If you have dreamed of taking a cruise past glaciers, dreaming under the Northern lights, and spotting polar bears, this is your destination. Svalbard is also a prime destination to experience the full spectrum of polar seasons with months of unending darkness through the winter and 24 hour sunlight throughout the summer.
Svalbard is truly one of the coolest and most fascinating destinations you’ve never heard of.
The sunny splendors of Portugal
You may have heard your friends tell you they have been vacationing in Lisbon or Porto, Portugal lately. We recommend both highly! But if you are looking for where the residents of Lisbon and Porto go on their Portuguese vacations, start planning your trip to Lagos.
Not to be confused with Lagos, Nigeria – Lagos, Portugal is a dreamy former seaport and current idyllic vacation destination in the Algarve region. Thanks to an outstanding natural harbor and some of the finest beaches around, Lagos has become well known as a gem of the Algarve for holidays in the sunshine.
Lagos will not leave you craving history on your European vacation either. Thanks to the long history as a seaport, many famous captains and navigators set sail from here to explore the world and bring back riches for Portugal. Sadly this seaport also has a darker history having hosted Europe’s first slave market here in 1441.
Fly into Lisbon, explore the capital city, and then head south to Lagos to explore this Portuguese destination you’ve probably never heard!
Summer with the Finnish
Following the trend of visiting the vacation destinations of the locals, Oulu, Finland is the place to visit in the summer as a Finn in search of a nicer domestic vacation.
Extremely long summer days, hundreds of easily accessible lakes, saunas all around, and top-tier hiking and biking trails are everywhere in this Nordic paradise. If you dream of never-ending days of outdoor adventure, Oulu is your next vacation destination.
This small coastal college town is considered the Silicon Valley of Finland and home to everybody’s favorite invincible phone company, Nokia. With just over 200,000 people here, you will feel like you are still in a small town in the woods, but the infrastructure to get you out into nature is second to none. Walk from the beach to the sauna, go hop in a lake, and have dinner downtown, then camp under the stars all easily any given day.
Of course, being Finland, the winters here rival any other with almost solid darkness and down to -30 degrees F at times meaning you can experience real winter. And feel like a wimp as the local population ride past you on their bikes as the snow is falling. After all a couple feet of snow and a few dozen degrees below zero is no reason to stop your daily commute!
Whether you’re heading to Finland in the summer or the darkness of winter, Oulu is sure to be one of your favorite destinations you’d never heard of before.
Live like a Viking on the Faroe Islands
To get a feel for what life might have been like for the Vikings, hop a ferry from Denmark or Iceland and check out the Faroe Islands. Located about 400 miles off the coast of Northern Europe and accessible by flights and ferries year-round lie the Faroe Islands. They are ringed with dramatic green cliffs that plunge into the ocean, picturesque sparkling bays, and breathtaking Nordic scenery.
In the city of Gjógv, stay in an authentic sod-roofed hotel and hike up into the mountains with spectacular views of the gorge below. Go in July or August for mild temps and long days. The Faroe Islands are a stunning mix of nature and culture which means we love to recommend them as one of the best destinations you’ve never heard of before.
Ready to take off to a place you’ve never heard of?
Rather a place you’d never heard of before you started planning a vacation there! One of the many reasons we love working in the travel sector at Awaken Travels is because there is just so much to see, to take in, and to learn. We all have the amazing opportunity to launch out into new places, to find some new adventure that will change us forever — and we love getting to be a part of that process.
If you’re feeling that pull to places that are new to you, contact us and let’s start planning your next adventure!
Thanks
You are welcome Dar.