Traveling to lesser known destinations means fewer crowds, shorter lines, and more time to experience the true beauty of a place. While there are few fully untouched landscapes accessible for travel, those who don't love big crowds will want to see these bucket-list worthy adventure destinations before they get too popular.

1. Visit America's National Parks

Known as "America's Best Idea," there are 63 designated national parks in the U.S. and more than 400 national park sites perfect for everything from rock climbing, kayaking trips, and fly fishing to hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. If unmatched natural beauty and endless outdoor recreation sound like your kind of trip, national parks are your ideal adventure destination.

The most visited parks in the U.S. include favorites Acadia National Park in Maine, Glacier National Park in Montana, and Zion National Park in Utah. These popular parks with their breathtaking landscapes see more than 3 million visitors each year and are well worth the visit before they see even more, though you should definitely expect to share the experience with other adventure seekers.

If you're looking for a little more solitude on a national park trip, some of the least visited national parks in the U.S. are Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida, and North Cascades National Park in Washington State, each seeing fewer than 100,000 visitors each year.

The Best U.S. National Parks for Active Travelers

Want to do some epic backcountry adventuring? Rocky Mountain National Park has an endless network of mountain biking and hiking trails waiting to be explored.

Searching for enchanted swimming holes hidden in thick forests? Great Smoky Mountains National Park is full of places to take a dip on a hot summer day.

Is whitewater rafting on your adventure travel bucket list? Grand Canyon National Park, one of the natural wonders of the world, has incredible class III rapids to raft on the Colorado River.

2. Visit Iceland and See the Northern Lights

Want to see the majesty of the Northern Lights from one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world? Add a trip to Iceland to your adventure travel bucket list. Iceland is one of the best countries to see the Northern Lights because of its proximity to the Arctic Circle.

Iceland has seen an increase in visitors who want to experience the country's stunning natural landscapes including glaciers, volcanoes, mountains, waterfalls, hiking trails, and geothermal hot springs. In fact, Iceland saw a massive 31% increase in visitors between from 2022 to 2023, and that number is projected to increase even more in 2024 and 2025.

The best time of year to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is typically mid-September through March. The winter months not only offer fewer crowds, but also darker skies and longer nights with a better chance of catching the aurora borealis while the sun is closer to the equator.

Visit Iceland with Flashpacker Connect

Looking to join a group adventure to Iceland? Flashpacker Connect has multiple Iceland tours to choose from, and they ALL include opportunities to view the incredible night sky phenomenon of the Northern Lights.

Choose from our different Iceland trips that give you the chance to journey past lava fields and glacial lakes, trek across Iceland's most famous hiking trail, explore spectacular ice caves, visit the world famous Blue Lagoon, and dip in picturesque hot spring pools. Whether you choose a guided or self-guided package, your ultimate Iceland trip is in your hands with the expertise of Flashpacker Connect behind you.

3. Visit Peru and Hike The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Ready to take on a real adventure? Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a bucket list adventure for hikers all over the world, and it's only becoming more popular.

The entire country of Peru is full of astounding landscapes, but Machu Picchu is perhaps its most famous adventure travel destination and sacred site. Far from paved roads and bustling cities of South America, these epic mountain views on this iconic trail are some of the most sought after in the world.

The trail is about 26 miles long and generally takes 3-5 days to complete. Depending on the exact route, most hikers ascend more than 8,000 feet in elevation to reach Machu Picchu. The highest point on the trail is known as Dead Woman's Pass sitting at about 13,800 feet above sea level. This is a challenging multi-day trek that will push you to your physical limits, but is 100% worth the reward.

The Inca Trail can only be hiked as a guided tour. Permits are required to complete the trek and generally sell out months in advance, so don't wait until the last minute to secure yours. Joining a trip like Flashpacker Connect's Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu takes the guesswork out of adventure planning and ensures all the logistics are taken care of for you.

4. Visit the Taj Mahal in India

The eye-catching architecture of the Taj Mahal is one of the most popular tourist sites in the world. The structure is made of white marble, red sandstone, and precious and semi-precious stones like jasper, jade, turquoise, and onyx. Commissioned to be built in 1631 by Shah Jahan, the building was intended as a memorial, tomb, and symbol of his eternal love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth.

Considered one of the world's most beautiful buildings, the Taj Mahal is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural significance. It sees more than 7 million visitors every year with a daily limit of 40,000 sightseers. Permits to visit the Taj Mahal are required and it's recommended you book them well in advance.

Sunrise is one of the best times to visit the Taj Mahal not only for the gorgeous lighting but also for fewer crowds and to avoid sweltering midday heat. The best time of year to visit India is usually between late fall and early spring. This is the dry season when the weather conditions are cooler and more sunny.

5. Visit Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Is a trip down under on your adventure travel bucket list? It should be! Australia's Great Barrier Reef is bursting with adventure recreation opportunities. Swim, snorkel, or scuba dive to experience the magic of this world under water at popular spots like Fitzroy Island, Raine Island, and Turtle Bay.

Like the Taj Mahal, the Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — but a completely natural one. It's the world's largest collection of coral reefs, with more than 400 types of coral. Marine life is also abundant here, with more than 5,000 species of fish, octopus, turtles, and shellfish. Humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins are also commonly spotted in the deeper reaches of the ocean surrounding the reefs.

The Great Barrier Reef sees around 2 million visitors each year and permits are required for some activities. They're issued by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation for things like charter boats, anchoring and mooring vessels, and commercial tours.