As overtourism reaches critical levels, Intrepid Travel’s Not Hot List 2025 spotlights ten emerging destinations deserving of travellers’ attention. Olivia Palamountain reports
Intrepid Travel has released its Not Hot List 2025, produced in collaboration with Globetrender.
This curated selection features ten lesser-known, under appreciated destinations poised to captivate travellers seeking meaningful experiences away from overcrowded tourist hotspots.
The list, a result of extensive research by Globetrender and Intrepid’s global team and local operations experts in 27 cities worldwide, aims to address overtourism by redirecting travellers to regions that can truly benefit from increased visitors.
It highlights both alternative areas in popular countries and emerging destinations often overshadowed by their neighbours.
The 2025 Not Hot List includes:
- Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
- Disko Island (Qeqertarsuaq), Greenland
- Cape York, Australia
- Adirondacks, New York
- Sainshand, Mongolia
- Rupununi Savanna, Guyana
- Anti-Atlas Mountains, Morocco
- Accra, Ghana
- Maldonado, Uruguay
- Oslo, Norway
“Although many popular destinations around the world are straining under the pressure of crowds, it’s also important to remember that the sector provides a vital source of income to individuals and local businesses the world over so tourist dispersal is essential to sustainability,” says founder and CEO of Globetrender, Jenny Southan.
“Everyone – from consumers to the travel press, travel agents and tour operators – has a responsibility to be more imaginative in their trip planning, and seek out places that truly value the presence of visitors.”
Erica Kritikides, general manager of Global Product for Intrepid Travel, adds: “Our annual Not Hot List strives to bring travellers off the tourist track, and highlight destinations where tourism can bring outstretched benefits to the host communities. 
“While promoting alternative destinations is a small part of the solution to overtourism, we remain committed to addressing the bigger issues through our product design. We are the antithesis of massive cruise ship and big-bus touring. Our group size is very small (average of 10 travellers), we only employ local leaders and almost exclusively use locally owned accommodation and suppliers.
“Developing tourism in concert and consultation with host communities is the best way to combat the negative effects of overtourism.”
To support these emerging destinations, Intrepid has launched four new itineraries:
- 10-Day Intrepid Greenland Expedition: Immersive Greenlandic cultural experience
- 15-Day Benin, Togo and Ghana Adventure: Exploring West African art and traditions
- 11-Day Trans-Mongolian Railway Adventure: Journey through remote Gobi Desert villages
- 11-Day Cape York & Torres Strait Explorer Journey: Discovering Australia’s northernmost wilderness
These complement Intrepid’s existing 10-Day Pakistan trekking trip, first launched in 2024.
For detailed insights on each destination, download the full 2025 Not Hot List here.
Photo credits: Intrepid Travel; Temujin Jargalsaikhan for Intrepid Travel