Barcelona. Mallorca. Amsterdam. All of these places have one thing in common: they’re up to their eyeballs in tourists, and it’s putting a lot of strain on local communities.
Spain has put new laws in place to cut down on short term holiday rentals, while more and more cities are implementing a tourist tax to curb the impact of overtourism. Overcrowding is rubbish for locals and for visitors wanting to unwind on holiday – but, luckily, there are still plenty of places that are not only happy to receive visitors but are actively asking people to come and stay.
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Each year, small group tour company Intrepid Travel compiles its ‘Not Hot’ list, a ranking of the best up-and-coming destinations for the year ahead. The 2026 Not Hot list has just been released, and it’s got some brilliant suggestions for travel over the next 12 months – as Intrepid puts it, these are places where ‘tourism, when done properly, can make the biggest difference’.
First on the list is a picturesque island just off the coast of Sierra Leone called Tiwai Island. This African nation is about to embark on a decade-long journey to attract more tourists, with direct flights from London launching earlier this year.
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According to Intrepid, ‘what sets Sierra Leone apart is its raw authenticity’ – and Tiwai Island is a ‘sanctuary of rare flora and fauna’. The island was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July, and remains largely untouched by human hands. Basically, this is the sort of place you only get to visit once in your life.
In second place was Tien Shan, a remote mountain range in Kyrgyzstan. During your visit you’ll stay in a traditional Yurt, and be immersed in ‘local nomadic life’. This is the place to go if you want to trek through barely-trodden mountain paths led by locals and take in some jaw-dropping scenery – or, as Intrepid says, if you want ‘a journey that heals, inspires and changes the way you see the world’.
Sierra Norte up in the Mexican highlands claimed third. This mountainous region runs on a ‘community-led’ tourist model, where profits are shared between locals and numbers are kept strictly limited. In terms of offerings for travellers, there is delicious food, volcanic saunas and yet more panoramic views.
There are a total of 10 underrated places named on the Not Hot list, spanning four continents.
The 10 emerging destinations on Intrepid’s ‘Not Hot List’
- Tiwai Island, Sierra Leone
- Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstann
- Sierra Norte, Mexico
- Vis Island, Croatia
- Southeastern Antolia, Türkiye
- Arunachal Pradesh, India
- Via Transilvanica, Romania
- Ruta de Las Flores, El Salvador
- Oulu, Finland
- Great Basin National Park, USA
Oulu, in ninth place, could soon see tourism spike, as it is one of Europe’s capitals of culture for 2026. Book a visit now before prices shoot up and hotels get booked up.
ICYMI: Why residents on this popular European holiday island are demanding tourists go home.
Read more: The world’s fastest-growing travel destinations – with a Middle Eastern country taking top spot.
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