Jaffna in the North of Sri Lanka, El Nido Pangalusian Island in the Philippines and the ancient Mayan city of Yaxchilan in Mexico have been named among the 20 best-kept travel secrets in the world.
From tiny towns to palm-flecked beaches, the top 20 list of the world’s best-kept hidden gems has revealed some lesser known beauty spots.
But few people know of them. Just one per cent of the UK has heard of Indonesia’s Gili Meno Island, selected by Kuoni due to its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. While its neighbouring island Gili Trawangan is now a hotspot for backpackers, the island of Gili Meno remains firmly off the beaten track.
A minuscule 0.1 per cent of the nation know about the tranquil garden complex of Mehtab Bagh, on the banks of the Yamuna River in India, just behind the Taj Mahal.
The list of under-the-radar travel secrets was compiled by worldwide travel experts Kuoni, whose spokesperson Rachel O’Reilly said: “While the Grand Canyon, the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal attract thousands of visitors per year between them, a generation of travellers are now seeking more secluded beauty spots.
“Beyond the main tourist attractions the world has so much to offer and we’re seeing a trend for people looking for alternative places and experiences away from the famous well-trodden hotspots.”
THE TOP 20 BEST KEPT TRAVEL SECRETS IN THE WORLD
Views of the Taj Mahal from Mehtab Bagh, India
The island of Gili Meno, Indonesia
El Nido Pangulasian Island, Philippines
Jaffna, north Sri Lanka
Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats), Bolivia
The town of Matera in the Basilicata region of Italy
The koalas of Kennet River on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia
Farewell Spit, New Zealand
Bukchon Village in Seoul, South Korea
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Omodos Village, Cyprus
Con Dao Island, Vietnam
The hike between OIA and Imerovigli, Santorini, Greece
The island of Bequia, the Grenadines
Tirimbina Rainforest Reserve, Costa Rica
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area, Virginia, USA
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa
Yaxchilan, the ancient Mayan city in the state of Chiapas, Mexico
Margaret River, Western Australia
Zebra migration in Botswana
