Off the map is a seductive experience. It’s a chance to go where no one else has gone, to discover beauty that isn’t scripted by algorithms and to meet people in places not packaged as tourist cliches. This is Lonely Planet Roads of Less Travelled, a travel series that aims to take you beyond the known and into the unknown.
Lonely Planet’s charismatic authors, who are also modern-day adventurers, invite us to join them in thirteen countries as they explore the stories, feelings, and souls of places that most people have never visited. They are not just less-visited locations, but landscapes that challenge preconceptions, pique curiosity and offer experiences richer than anything a five-star hotel can provide.
Join us on a journey across continents, cultures, and roads less travelled.
The Spirit of the Unknown: Lonely Planet Roads Less Travelled
The magic of Routes Less Travelled is not only in geography but also in perspective. It’s all about experiencing places with fresh eyes and without the expectations of guidebook favourites. The show takes viewers through forgotten towns, overlooked highlands and forgotten coastlines. It strips back travel to its essence — discovery.
It does so by using the lenses of some of the most experienced travel writers in the world. They are people who spent years writing about must-see cities and landmarks but still yearn for the thrill of unfiltered adventures. They don’t use maps in this series. They rely on conversation, instinct, and curiosity.
1. Georgia – A Land Between Worlds
We begin our journey in the Caucasus Mountains in the small, but richly endowed country of Georgia. This land of mountains and monasteries, sandwiched between Europe, Asia and Africa, has been a crossroads for cultures, empires and traditions.
In the valleys, vineyards thrive in the valleys that are said to be wine’s birthplace. It’s not only the breathtaking scenery that will leave you breathless, but also the Georgians who are so welcoming to strangers. In family homes, you’ll enjoy homemade Qvevri wines and Khinkali dumplings.
Georgia is no longer a secret, but a large part of the country remains blissfully undiscovered by modern tourism. The more you venture away from Tbilisi, the more magic it becomes.
2. Algeria – Echoes from Ancient Empires
We leap from the green valleys in Georgia across the Mediterranean to Algeria. Africa’s biggest country, and one of the most misunderstood, is located here. Algeria is a quiet country, whose secrets are kept in secret. While Morocco basks in the spotlight of the world, Algeria remains silent.
Algeria can be a living gallery for those who are willing to explore. In dusty plains, Roman ruins are as impressive as those in Italy. Casbah Algiers, a labyrinth where Ottoman Palaces are hidden behind crumbling alleyways and locals still smile, is a maze of life.
Algeria shows us that beauty does not always require a brochure. Some just need courage and time.
3. Bolivia – Sky, Salt, and Solitude
The journey continues to the surreal landscapes in Bolivia. This country is perched high up in the Andes, where the earth appears to bend the laws of nature. The world’s biggest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni, is a place where the ground and sky merge to create an illusion of timelessness.
Bolivia is much more than just postcards and panoramic views. It’s a country that is alive and vibrant, from the markets in La Paz to remote villages high up in the mountains. The country invites visitors to observe and listen. You can sit with a shaman or share coca leaves on a mountain road with a stranger.
4. Faroe Islands: Windswept and Wonderful
The Faroe Islands are a group of islands in the North Atlantic that lie halfway between Norway, Iceland and Canada. They’re a patchwork made up of volcanic cliffs and misty fields, with stubborn sheep.
Few places in Europe are as remote or wild. The wind shapes the land, and the sea is in charge. On the fjords’ edge, tiny villages with turf-roofed homes are located. The rhythm of the day is not set by the calendar but by the tides.
The Faroese are resilient and warm despite their isolation. It is for those who like to wear wool sweaters instead of swimsuits, and find the beauty of the roaring wind more beautiful than the bustle of a big city.
5. Kyrgyzstan: The Nomadic Soul of Central Asia
Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia’s most poetic expression, is rugged, remote and breathtakingly beautiful. The roads are less travelled in Kyrgyzstan, with 90% of the land covered by mountains. They wind through alpine passes and around turquoise lakes.
Discover the power of simplicity. You will ride horses with nomads and sleep under the Milky Way. No resorts, no spas, just freedom.
6. Colombia: Beyond the Headlines
Colombia has been a name that was whispered in the background for many years. Today, Colombia is one of the most vibrant and exciting destinations in South America – and not only in Bogota and Cartagena.
The show takes you to lesser-known areas of Colombia, including coffee highlands hidden in cloud forests, an Afro-Caribbean village where music fills the streets and an Andean town where time appears to have stopped.
Colombia shows us that places defined by darkness are reborn with colour and resilience.
7. Lebanon – A Nation of Contrasts
In the Middle East, Lonely Planet explores Lebanon. This country packs more culture, history, and flavour into its small borders than many continents.
Lebanon’s coastal and mountain villages tell quieter tales. They are not as flashy or glamorous as Beirut. Stories of survival, family and tradition. The cedar trees whisper ancient stories, and the food from labneh kibbeh speaks of a deep love for the land.
Lebanon is a country of tenacity, contradiction and joy dancing alongside hardship. It’s that which makes it so memorable.
8. Papua New Guinea – Where Tradition Still Rules
Papua New Guinea is the only place on Earth that feels raw and mysterious. This island nation is located just north of Australia and has over 800 different languages as well as countless tribal cultures. Many of these cultures are virtually unaffected by modernity.
It’s not easy to travel here. The roads are sparse, and the flights are unpredictable. It’s all part of its beauty. You will see ancient singing-sings, hike through dense rainforests and meet communities with traditions that date back thousands of years.
This is not only a place to go, but a time capsule.
9. Albania: The Mediterranean’s best-kept secret
Albania, tucked between Greece and Montenegro, is a mystery for many, despite its dramatic coasts, Ottoman cities, and mountain hideaways.
Tirana is a vibrant capital, bursting with energy and art. The real magic is found in the Albanian Alps and forgotten beach towns such as Himare. You’ll find clear waters without beach clubs and hiking trails free of crowds.
Albania is the Mediterranean as it was before it had been polished – wild, friendly, and wonderful, real.
10. Bhutan – Happiness in the Himalayas
Bhutan, despite its growing fame as a country that believes in Gross National Happiness (GNH), still has far fewer visitors than either India or Nepal.
This Himalayan Kingdom, with its snowcapped mountains, cliff-hugging monastery, and prayer flag-strewn pass, is a place of spiritual refuge. It’s a country that is proud of its tradition and resists globalisation.
The Lonely Planet guides here make you feel like you are walking through a sacred book — each temple, face, and silence is profound.
11. Madagascar – Nature’s Oddities Shop
Madagascar is a unique world located off the coast of Africa’s southeast. 90% of the wildlife found in Madagascar is unique to this planet. Lemurs, baobabs and chameleons are just a few examples.
Madagascar has a rich culture that is deeply rooted within the land. Every village is infused with dance, music and reverence for the ancestral.
Few places feel both ancient and alive all at once.
12. Moldova – Europe’s Hidden Cellar
Even seasoned travellers may overlook Moldova, a country sandwiched between the Romanian and Ukrainian borders. But those who make the trip discover Europe’s best-kept wine secret – sprawling underground cellars and a hospitable village, as well as rich Slavic/Roman culture.
The scenery is serene, the pace is slow, and the infrastructure for tourism has been kept to a minimum. The kind of place that surprises you quietly, whether it’s a conversation, a meal or a roadside chapel.
13. Mongolia – Land of the People
Eternal Blue Sky
We end our journey in the windswept steppes and endless landscapes of Mongolia.
Nomadic life is still prevalent in this region. Families move with their flocks, sleep inside gers and follow the seasons. The journey is as important as your destination when there are few paved roads.
Mongolia is a reminder of how small the world is and how much it still has to offer.
The Road Less Travelled
In a world increasingly dominated by checklists and Instagram likes, Lonely Planet’s Roads Less Travelled serves as a refreshing reminder of the fact that the best journeys cannot be planned. These must be experienced, explored and discovered.
The authenticity of these 13 countries is what binds them together, not just their remoteness. Travel is not meant to be a means of consumption but rather a way to connect. Through the eyes of Lonely Planet guides, who are humble, curious and deeply human, we’re reminded to keep exploring the world and discover new wonders.
