This Hidden Island Was Just Named the No. 1 Underrated Destination for 2026

""We know that 80 percent of travelers visit just 10 percent of the world's tourism destinations and we recognize that we have a role to play in influencing that. The selection criteria for our Not Hot List reflects an approach to tourism that we've long championed," Erica Kritikides, the general manager of experiences at Intrepid Travel, said in a statement shared with T+L."

"These lesser visited spots include places like Tiwai Island in Sierra Leone, which was the top underrated destination for 2026. Renowned for its primate population, rich Gola Forest, and 2025 inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the island is ripe to welcome visitors. Intrepid, which runs an 8-day tour in the country, said Sierra Leone as a whole only welcomed 60,000 international overnight visitors in 2024."

Intrepid Travel compiled a Not Hot List for 2026 to spotlight lesser-visited destinations that have received new investments and improved infrastructure. The initiative aims to reduce pressure on crowded cities by steering tourists toward underrated places. Tiwai Island in Sierra Leone tops the list, noted for primates, the Gola Forest, and a 2025 UNESCO World Heritage inscription; Sierra Leone recorded about 60,000 international overnight visitors in 2024. Kyrgyzstan's Tien Shan Mountain Range features the expanded 1,200-mile Kyrgyz Nomad Trail and community-run yurt stays. Mexico's Sierra Norte and the Pueblos Mancomunados cooperative are also featured.

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