According to Expedia’s study on future travel patterns, in 2023, bucking the trends will be the most popular pastime. Since “travelers are ditching the conventional and veering off course for all-new experiences,” 2023 will be the year of the “no-normal,” and we’re getting ready for it now.
If you’re looking to buck convention on your next vacation in 2023, we suggest many offbeat destinations. Here are six off-the-beaten-path locations, from North Macedonia to Easter Island via Penang and Tasmania, that you should consider visiting.
North Macedonia
If you want to go against the grain and visit a place on the rise, you should put North Macedonia on your bucket list for 2023. The Balkans are one of the top emerging destinations in the world. This nation may be relatively small, but it is immensely intriguing, with nature, history, and culture that can compete with that of even the most popular tourist destinations, such as Greece and Italy.
Your journey will begin in the capital city of Skopje. You may explore the city’s history as a commercial hub dating back to the Middle Ages. Explore the old architecture of the Ottomans and the Byzantines, including the Tvrdina Kale Fortress, which dates back to the 5th century, and the Kameni Most (Stone Bridge), built in the 15th century. Take a leisurely stroll through the spectacular bazaars and mosques, and see the marble and neoclassical architecture that can be found throughout the city. Be sure to go to the green neighborhood of Debar Maalo whenever you want to eat to enjoy the numerous pubs and restaurants there.
Sicily, Italy
Italy is commonplace. Sicily is. Sicily, in southern Italy, is full of surprises. Sicily has all the splendor of Italy without the crowds, from the Greek temple Agrigento to Monreale, Erice, Cefalù, and Mondello. Relax on beautiful sandy beaches, appreciate great cathedrals and architecture, and visit picturesque fishing villages to experience the best coastal cuisine.
Sicily never disappoints, whether you desire a White Lotus-inspired holiday in Taormina on Mount Etna or to explore Palermo’s lemon, orange, and olive groves.
Tasmania, Australia
If visiting Australia is on your travel wish list, you likely intend to see must-see locations like Sydney, Melbourne, and the Great Barrier Reef. Tasmania, however, is Australia’s undiscovered jewel. Visiting this tiny island at the bottom of the nation may seem strange, but those who do so will be happy they did. Tasmania is home to rare fauna and stunning landscapes. Additionally, you’ll discover superb local cuisine, fine wine, and a vibrant cultural heritage.
Explore the most magnificent beaches and woodlands, from Wineglass Bay and Freycinet National Park to Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers and Mt Field National Parks. Look for wombats, wallabies, echidnas, pademelons, and the recognizable Tasmanian devil in Cradle Mountain. Explore the stunning lavender fields on the East Coast. Indulge in the finest seafood, as well as Tasmanian wines and whiskeys. Or visit the storied Salamanca Markets in Hobart to savor cheeses, oysters, pickles, cider, and more.
Stroll through the aromatic Royal Botanical Gardens in the nation’s capital. Visit the outstanding galleries and Tasmanian artists while eating lunch at a local brewery. Remember to visit Mount Nelson Lookout for breathtaking panoramas of the city. In Tasmania, you can expect to be pleasantly surprised wherever you go.
Wadi Rum & Petra, Jordan
The most popular travel trend in 2023 is to visit unexpected places… And it doesn’t get much more otherworldly than Jordan’s Wadi Rum. T.E. Lawrence once described these fantastic desert landscapes as “vast, echoing, and god-like.” And that is an excellent description. A jeep trip is the most incredible way to get up close and personal with this location. You’ll walk across the orange sand dunes and view beautiful rock formations that rise 2,000 meters above the desert plain. Travel through millennia-old canyons, waterholes, and rock paintings… You’ll think you’ve traveled to Mars.
CodedHits passengers will spend their nights here in deluxe Bedouin tents. This is when you can truly immerse yourself in these bizarre settings. Watch the sunset illuminate the sandstone mountains in pink and gold… Then, for the remainder of the evening, be captivated by the star-studded night sky. Prepare to be swept away once more by the beautiful dawn in the morning.
And just a few hours out of Wadi Rum, you’ll come across the magnificent rose-red façades of Petra, one of the World’s Seven Wonders. This ancient settlement was carved about 2,000 years ago from pink sandstone cliffs. It is stunning, with temples, tombs, and the distinctive 45-meter-high façade of Al Khazneh, the Treasury.
Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile
Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is the best place to visit if you want to capitalize on the most prominent travel trend of 2023 and go somewhere unusual. It is one of the world’s most isolated islands, with some distinct histories and legends. This is where you can see the ancient, colossal Moai statues. You will discover how they were created and transported to their astronomically precise locations to secure the island’s inhabitants.
Explore the well-preserved ceremonial Ahu Vaihu in Hanga Te’e Bay and marvel at Rano Raraku, a quarry of nearly 900 stone statues on the slopes of the Rano Kau volcano. Visit Ahu Te Pito Kura and Paro Maoi, the world’s giant Maoi statue. The beautiful Anakena beach is where the monarch first stepped foot on the island.
Visit the UNESCO-recognized Rapa Nui National Park, where you can climb the foothills of the Rano Kau volcano for breathtaking views of the island. Visit the Ana Kai Tangata and petroglyphs in the village of Orongo to view ancient cave art. Easter Island is unique due to its breathtaking coastlines and mysterious carved statues.
Penang, Malaysia
If you’ve already been to Southeast Asia’s most famous cities like Bangkok, Phuket, Saigon, Hanoi, and Singapore and want to go somewhere different, think about Penang. This beautiful island in Malaysia has the same scenery, history, and culture as the rest of the country but fewer people. You’ll cross one of Asia’s longest bridges to get to the island. Then you’ll head to Georgetown, the island’s colorful city. The city used to be an important place for trade. Still, now it’s a lively place with beautiful old buildings, churches, Chinese shophouses, and amazing street art.
You can walk around the streets for hours. Find smelly food shops and quiet places to sit, like Kek Lok Si Temple. Outside of the Old Town are sandy beaches and the green Penang Hill, where you can go hiking or ride the funicular train to see a comprehensive view of the island. You’ll also get to spend the night in a beautiful historic hotel built in the 1920s as a traditional shophouse.
Do you want to follow the most prominent travel trend of 2023 and go somewhere unusual? Tell us in the comments section below!
