Tamaimo Tenerife

What it Means to Travel Off the Beaten Path

Home » Blog » Travel Tips » What it Means to Travel Off the Beaten Path

Traveling off the beaten path, in my view, is far more than simply choosing destinations less traveled. It embodies the act of fully engaging with, participating in, and learning from the cultures and environments we find ourselves in. This approach to travel is about forming meaningful relationships and delving deep into the essence of a destination. It’s a journey that encourages us to immerse ourselves in the local way of life, offering a richer, more authentic experience. By stepping away from the familiar and venturing into the less explored, we open ourselves to a world of unique insights and connections that redefine the very concept of travel.

If you don’t have time to read this now, pin it for later!

Off the beaten path travel 2nd pin

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We recommend products we have personally used or verified. Read the full disclosure here.

Kane Creek Canyon Moab Utah
Kane Creek Canyon Moab Utah
What it means to travel off the beaten path
A waterfall I stumbled on when mountain biking near Punta Islita, Costa Rica

How to Travel Off the Beaten Path

Before you go

  • Research and select the destination: talk to people who have been there, search blogs and travel forums. Search for top sites and out of the way places.
  • Finding lesser known locations: talk to people who’ve visited before, search on blogs and forums for lesser known locations, hidden gems, and off the beaten path locations.
  • Research the history and culture, identifying historical sites that most interest you.
  • Slow down: it’s hard to get off the beaten path if you’re moving every night. Plan to stay at least a few nights in each place, ideally a week or two.
  • Try traveling by bike or on foot. You’ll be amazed at the different perspectives you gain.
  • Stay local: look into opportunities to do home exchanges, house sitting, volunteer trips, or vacation rentals in safe locations walking distance but not in the main tourist areas.
  • Travel independently: whether traveling by car, bike, train, ferry, or on foot, traveling independently gives you flexibility to customize your itinerary. You can still take a tour here and there.
  • Build flexibility into your itinerary: leave free time each day and free days in your itinerary. If traveling off season, think about booking just the first few nights, booking everything else as you go.
  • Identify small group or private tours that take you off the beaten path. Focus on local experiences like cooking classes, harvesting grapes, cheese making bike or walking tours, kayaking tours, or art classes. For ideas, check Airbnb local experiences, Viator, and GetYourGuide.
  • Enroll in a class: studying abroad is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the culture. For shorter trips, look into a week-long language class for a few hours each morning, giving you time to explore in the afternoons. Have you always wanted to learn to sail? Look into taking a learn to sail class such as this one. Take an arts or crafts class such as Tile Making.
  • Purchase travel insurance before you go. This applies to all travel, but is especially important when you venture off the beaten path. We recommend using Squaremouth.

Grindelwald family adventure vacation off the beaten path
Paddle boarding Lake Brienz

While traveling

Lost in the Right Direction (found off the Fisherman's Trail in the Alentejo, Portugal)
Lost in the Right Direction (found off the Fisherman’s Trail in the Alentejo, Portugal)
  • Get lost: when walking in a city, look at your map, set a direction, then put your map away. Set off and follow your mood. I’ve found some of the best restaurants, neighborhoods, and shops this way. Use common sense with this approach to ensure your safety.
  • Strike up a conversation, whether with taxi drivers, in bars, restaurants, etc. We’ve learned more from taxi drivers about local politics, local perspectives on global events, and great places to visit.
  • Visit local restaurants and bars: head off of the main tourist streets, looking for busy local restaurants. Engage in conversations, collecting input and ideas for your visit.
  • Volunteer in local activities: Plan a volunteer stay with an organization like Workaway. If this isn’t an option, use social media, local guides, and community-based tourism initiatives to find local volunteer activities. Considering joining in a local grape or olive oil harvest, a local beach cleanup or early morning sea turtle walks. Opportunities vary by location and time of year, but are a great way to get involved.
  • Join in sports groups or races: If you are involved in sports, look into opportunities to drop in to local practices or races where you’ve traveling. I’ve had wonderful experiences joining running, rowing, triathlon, and open water swim practices and races in numerous countries. Look into hiking groups or bike groups to join for day hikes/rides. Even if you can’t join in, they are often a great source of recommendations for you.
  • Embrace minimalism: Travel light and sustainably, leaving room for spontaneity and the ability to move off the beaten path literally and figuratively.
  • Prepare for challenges: Equip yourself with basic local phrases, maps, and an understanding of local customs to navigate challenges smoothly.
Swim Together Cascais Easter Holiday
Swim Together Cascais

Conclusion

Traveling off the beaten path is not without its challenges. It requires a spirit of adventure and a willingness to face the unknown. Language barriers, unfamiliar customs, and the absence of convenience that comes with more touristy locations are all part of the journey. Yet, it’s these very challenges that make the experience rewarding. They push us out of our comfort zones, teach us resilience, and often lead to the most memorable and transformative travel experiences.

what it means to travel off the beaten path
Taking a break to watch the sheep on the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland

Choosing less visited destinations can also be an act of sustainable and responsible tourism. It helps distribute tourism’s economic benefits to communities that are often overlooked and can reduce the environmental and cultural impact on over-visited areas. By traveling mindfully and respecting local environments and cultures, we contribute to the preservation of these places for future generations.

Hiking El agujero, Los Gigantes, Tenerife
El agujero, Los Gigantes, Tenerife

Download your free copy of our Guide to Planning Balanced Travel!

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp

If you like this post on What it Means to Travel Off-the-Beaten-Path, pin it for later!

What it means to travel off the beaten path

Travel Resources

We recommend booking through our preferred travel booking sites below.

Air TravelSkyScanner
LodgingBooking.com, VRBO.com, Expedia.com, Hostelworld
Tours and ActivitiesViator.com, GetYourGuide.com
Car rentalsDiscovercars.com
Travel insuranceSquaremouth
Bike and scooter rentalsBikeBookings.com
Train ticketsTrainline, RailEurope
Bus ticketsFlixbus, Busbud
careyontravels

"Carey" On Travels: Exploring the world, one journey at a time. Expert guidance, taking you off the beaten path and avoiding the crowds.

View stories

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

39 comments

error: Content is protected !!