With a Hotel and Restaurant Management degree from the University of Denver (1991), Olivier embarked on a globetrotting journey, gaining expertise in luxury hospitality. Now based in Mallorca, he combines his global experience with local insights to create exceptional travel experiences.
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Most round-ups of unusual holiday destinations recycle the same dozen names: a volcano stay here, a fjord village there, copied from one listicle to the next.
This roster works differently, built from villas we run and inspect ourselves rather than places pulled from someone else’s shortlist.
Every destination below has been walked through by our own team, not sourced from a desk-bound research pass.
That first-hand lens means fewer glossy clichés and more places worth the detour, including a few spots most travel writers have never actually visited.
The list is grouped loosely by region rather than ranked, since comparing a Scottish coastline to a Balkan hill town on a single scale rarely helps anyone plan a trip.
It spans familiar corners of Europe alongside further-afield places that rarely make the standard exotic-destination cut.
That gap is deliberate: this is not another catalogue of the same tropical archipelagos and safari lodges that dominate generic travel content.
Mali Losinj, the Douro Valley, and Asturias & Cantabria stand out as the strongest picks for a quiet island escape, a wine-and-food trip, and a rugged green coast, respectively.
Each place on this list solves a different kind of trip, so the mapping below is built around use case rather than any single best-of ranking.
For a quiet island escape: Mali Losinj (or Tinos as a close alternative)
For a wine-and-food trip: the Douro Valley (or Alentejo for a slower, less-visited version)
For a rugged green coast: Asturias & Cantabria
For wildlife: Knysna
These four cover most of what readers searching for something unique and off the beaten path actually want, without repeating the same overexposed destination names.
The full list below goes deeper on each place, including who it suits and where the trade-offs sit.
1. Mali Losinj, Croatia
Mali Losinj is a pine-covered Adriatic island for travellers who want Croatia’s coastline without the crowds that pack into Split and Dubrovnik.
Why it is unusual
Most Croatia itineraries funnel visitors through the same walled old towns and cruise-ship stops.
Mali Losinj sits far enough off that circuit to keep its harbour towns and quiet coves largely free of the queues that define the country’s better-known island hubs.
The island built its reputation on health tourism long before it became a beach destination, and that slower, wellness-driven identity still shapes the pace here.
On the ground
Dense pine forests wrap much of the island and are credited with giving it an unusually mild, aromatic microclimate that locals have promoted for over a century.
The surrounding waters are also part of a protected dolphin reserve, one of the few in the Adriatic, which adds a genuine nature-watching draw beyond the beaches.
Stone-paved lanes, small working harbours, and a scale that favours walking over driving round out the on-the-ground experience.
The style here leans toward stone-built houses with private terraces and sea views, set back from the busier harbour lanes for a quieter stay.
2. Brac, Croatia
Brac is a Dalmatian island for travellers who want stone villages and quiet inland scenery alongside the coast rather than a single famous beach.
Why it is unusual
Most visitors arrive on a day trip aimed squarely at Zlatni Rat, the horn-shaped beach that dominates every Brac photograph.
That leaves the island’s stone-quarrying villages and olive-grove interior largely untouched by the crowds who come and go on the same ferry.
Brac supplied the stone used in Diocletian’s Palace and even the White House, and that quarrying heritage still shapes the inland towns most visitors skip entirely.
On the ground
Zlatni Rat itself is worth seeing, but its real curiosity is that the beach slowly shifts shape and length as currents move the shingle over the seasons.
Inland, terraced olive groves and centuries-old stone hamlets sit within a short drive, offering a slower pace than the coastal strip.
Hiking trails through the island’s limestone hills lead to viewpoints over the Adriatic that most beach-day visitors never reach.
The style leans toward traditional stone houses with olive-grove settings, built for travellers who want the island’s quieter, more local side.
3. Alentejo, Portugal
Alentejo is a wide-open rural region for travellers who want Portugal’s slower, food-and-wine side away from the coast.
Why it is unusual
Most Portugal itineraries move straight from Lisbon to the Algarve coast, skipping the country’s rural centre entirely.
Alentejo occupies that gap: rolling cork oak plains, whitewashed hill towns, and a pace built around agriculture rather than beach clubs.
The region has stayed largely outside mainstream tourism routes, which keeps its market towns and countryside feeling genuinely local rather than staged for visitors.
On the ground
Alentejo produces much of Portugal’s cork and a growing share of its wine, and estate visits built around both are common here.
Black pig cuisine, slow-cooked stews, and small-producer wine tastings give the region a distinct food culture worth building a trip around.
Low light pollution across the countryside has also made parts of Alentejo a recognised spot for stargazing, with dedicated dark-sky reserves nearby.
The style favours converted farm estates and quinta-style houses, built for slow mornings rather than a packed sightseeing schedule.
4. Douro Valley, Portugal
Villa Sofia
The Douro Valley is a terraced wine region for travellers who want a slower, harvest-season trip built around food and river scenery.
Why it is unusual
River cruises pass through the Douro constantly, but most passengers see the terraces from a boat deck and never step onto dry land for more than an afternoon.
That leaves the valley’s steep, UNESCO-listed vineyard terraces and hillside villages largely experienced in passing rather than properly explored.
Staying longer than a cruise stop reveals a working wine culture that day visitors rarely get close to.
On the ground
Harvest season brings grape treading and small-quinta tastings that give visitors direct contact with how the region’s port and table wines are actually made.
The valley’s terraced hillsides, carved into the slopes over centuries, produce some of the most striking river-and-vineyard views in Portugal.
Slow drives along the river road connect small towns where lunch can easily stretch into a great, three-hour affair.
The style favours quinta-style properties with pool terraces overlooking the valley, built for a trip measured in days rather than a single stop.
5. Asturias and Cantabria, Spain
Rumoroso
Asturias and Cantabria form a green, mountainous stretch of northern Spain for travellers who want rugged nature over the country’s sunnier south.
Why it is unusual
Spain’s tourism image runs almost entirely through the Costa del Sol, Barcelona, and the Balearics.
That leaves this northern strip, cooler, wetter, and dominated by mountains and Atlantic coastline, largely absent from standard trip itineraries.
The landscape looks closer to Ireland or Wales than the sun-baked south most people associate with the country, which is part of what makes it stand out.
On the ground
The Picos de Europa mountain range offers serious hiking, with limestone peaks and gorges that rival better-known Alpine routes.
Traditional cider houses (sidrerias) are a genuine local institution here, pouring cider poured from height as a matter of custom rather than novelty.
The coastline itself is wild rather than manicured, with cliff-backed beaches that feel closer to windswept Atlantic Europe than the Mediterranean.
The style favours stone farmhouses and coastal properties built for hiking and long walks rather than poolside days.
6. Larache and the Ourika Valley, Morocco
Larache and the Ourika Valley are two low-key Moroccan bases for travellers who want the country’s culture and landscape without routing everything through Marrakech or Fes.
Why it is unusual
Most Morocco trips are built entirely around Marrakech’s medina and day trips out of it, leaving the wider country underexplored.
Larache, a small Atlantic port town, sits well off that circuit and keeps a pace and a population that has little to do with the tourist trade.
The Ourika Valley solves a different problem: it gives travellers based near Marrakech a genuine escape into the Atlas foothills without a multi-day journey.
On the ground
Larache retains a faded Spanish colonial waterfront, with plazas and architecture that reflect the town’s period under Spanish administration rather than a curated old-town experience.
Local fishing boats still work out of its harbour, and the town’s daily rhythm runs on that trade rather than tourism.
The Ourika Valley follows a river up into the Atlas mountains, passing Berber villages and terraced fields that offer a direct look at rural life outside the cities.
The style ranges from restored townhouses near Larache’s waterfront to mountain-facing houses in Ourika, both built around access to local people and landscape rather than resort infrastructure.
7. Knysna, South Africa
Knysna is a lagoon-and-forest town on South Africa’s Garden Route for travellers who want wildlife and nature beyond the standard safari itinerary.
Why it is unusual
Most South Africa trips are built around Cape Town bookends and a safari in between, leaving the Garden Route as an afterthought at best.
Knysna sits in that overlooked middle ground, built around a lagoon and indigenous forest rather than big-game plains.
That makes it a genuinely different kind of South African stop, one built on water and woodland rather than the safari image most people carry into the country.
On the ground
The Knysna Heads, two sandstone cliffs framing the lagoon’s entrance to the sea, are the town’s defining landmark and a proper vantage point over the water.
Indigenous forest surrounds the town and shelters birdlife and smaller wildlife rarely seen on a typical game-park circuit.
Oyster farming on the lagoon has become a local specialty, with harvest tastings tied directly to the water just beyond the town.
The style favours timber-and-glass houses with lagoon or forest views, positioned for slower days rather than a rushed drive-through stop.
8. Tinos, Greece
Tinos is a Cycladic island for travellers who want the archipelago’s classic scenery without the density of its most famous neighbours.
Why it is unusual
Tinos sits a short ferry ride from Mykonos, yet the two islands feel like they belong to different decades.
Where Mykonos draws crowds and clubs, Tinos has kept its marble villages, working farmland, and a religious pilgrimage culture largely intact.
That proximity to a household name, paired with how little overflow it actually gets, is what makes it stand out.
On the ground
Marble carving has shaped the island for generations, and inland villages still display the craft on doorways, church facades, and public fountains.
Hundreds of dovecotes dot the hillsides, ornate stone structures built during Venetian rule that remain unique to Tinos and a handful of nearby islands.
A strong local food culture runs through the island’s villages, built around small producers rather than the resort dining found elsewhere in the Cyclades.
The style favours low, whitewashed houses with private gardens, built for a quieter pace than anything found across the water in Ibiza.
10. Rivieres des Anguilles, Mauritius
Rivieres des Anguilles is a rural stretch of southern Mauritius for travellers who want the island’s landscape without its resort-strip north-west coast.
Why it is unusual
Most Mauritius holidays cluster along the north-west coast, where large resorts line the calmest, most packaged stretches of beach.
Rivieres des Anguilles sits in the wilder south, where sugarcane fields, rivers, and a rockier coastline have kept large-scale development at bay.
That contrast, packaged resort strip against open countryside, is what separates this part of the island from the version most visitors see.
On the ground
Sugarcane fields dominate the inland landscape here, still worked much as they have been for generations and giving the area a working, agricultural character.
Rivers cutting through the district feed into a rugged southern coastline, with beaches that are rockier and far less groomed than the north-west’s resort sands.
Small villages nearby run on fishing and farming rather than tourism, offering a more direct look at local daily life.
The style favours private houses with garden or river settings, built for travellers who want space and quiet over a resort strip.
11. Berawa, Bali
Berawa is a beach neighbourhood on Bali’s south coast for travellers who want the island’s surf-and-cafe culture on a smaller, more walkable scale.
Why it is unusual
Bali is one of the most visited and exotic destinations in the world, so nowhere on it qualifies as undiscovered in any strict sense.
Berawa still manages to surprise, though, because it has kept a village-like structure of rice fields and small lanes instead of scaling into a resort strip.
That balance between a black-sand surf beach and a genuinely walkable neighbourhood is rarer on this coast than the island’s reputation suggests.
On the ground
The black-sand beach at Berawa draws surfers rather than sunbathers, with a swell that suits intermediate riders more than total beginners.
A short walk inland leads through working rice paddies before opening onto a strip of cafes, small studios, and local warungs.
That inland-to-coast layout keeps the area’s culture visible day to day, rather than tucked behind resort walls.
Where to stay
To base a stay in this pocket of the island, explore our Bali villas set around Berawa’s beach and rice-field lanes.
The style favours open-plan tropical houses with private pools, positioned for easy walks to the beach and the neighbourhood’s cafe strip.
Unusual Holiday Destinations Compared
The table below lines up all eleven picks side by side, making it easier to scan for the right fit before reading further into each destination.
Each row pulls its standout draw and best time to visit from the entry above it, so the comparison stays grounded in specifics rather than general impressions of these unusual holiday destinations.
Use the “What It Beats” column as a quick shortcut: it names the more crowded island or region each place quietly substitutes for on a trip.
Destination
Best For
Standout Draw
Best Time to Go
What It Beats
Mali Losinj
Quiet island escape
Pine microclimate, dolphin waters
Late spring, early autumn
Split / Dubrovnik
Brac
Inland island character
Stone villages, shifting beach
Late spring, early autumn
Zlatni Rat crowds
Alentejo
Wine and food trip
Cork estates, dark-sky stargazing
Spring or autumn harvest
Algarve / Lisbon
Douro Valley
Wine and food trip
Terraced vineyards, harvest quintas
Harvest season (autumn)
River-cruise day trips
Asturias & Cantabria
Rugged green coast
Picos hiking, cider houses
Summer
Costa del Sol / Barcelona
Larache + Ourika
Quieter Morocco base
Colonial waterfront, Atlas valley
Spring or autumn
Marrakech / Fes circuit
Knysna
Wildlife and nature
Lagoon Heads, indigenous forest
Spring to autumn
Standard safari circuit
Tinos
Quiet island escape
Marble villages, dovecotes
Late spring, early autumn
Mykonos / Santorini
Formentera
Low-key beach trip
Turquoise shallows, salt flats
Early or late summer
Ibiza nightlife
Rivieres des Anguilles
Rural island escape
Sugarcane fields, wild coast
Dry season (May-Nov)
North-west resort strip
Berawa
Walkable surf-and-cafe base
Black-sand surf, rice-field lanes
Dry season (Apr-Oct)
Busier south Bali strips
How We Chose These Places
Four criteria decide whether a place earns a spot on this list, and every entry below is measured against all four.
Somewhere we know first-hand
Every luxury villa destination has been personally inspected by our team, not sourced from a desk-bound research pass.
We run villas in many of these places ourselves, which means the descriptions come from hotelier-level knowledge of the local area rather than a quick pass through someone else’s photos.
Genuinely off the usual trail
Each pick had to sit outside the handful of names that every generic round-up recycles.
That rules out the well-worn shortcuts to unusual holiday destinations and pushes the list toward places with a smaller footprint in mainstream travel content.
Real things to do, not just a view
A pretty backdrop was never enough to qualify a place for this list.
Every entry needed a concrete on-the-ground draw, whether that is a wine route, a coastal trail, or a wildlife reserve worth building a trip around.
Good access and easy logistics
Every place on this list is reachable without extreme effort, whether by direct flight, short transfer, or manageable drive.
Tourism only works for most travellers if getting there does not eat half the holiday, so logistics were weighed alongside atmosphere and setting.
These four filters are applied consistently in each entry’s “Why it is unusual” and “On the ground” sections further down.
How to Choose the Right Destination for Your Trip
Four factors narrow eleven options down to one trip: the setting you want, the season you can travel, how much transit you are willing to accept, and when you lock in your base.
Decide on island, coast or interior
Start by deciding whether you want water, coastline, or open countryside, since that single choice eliminates most of the list immediately.
Quiet island time points toward Mali Losinj, Brac, Tinos, or Formentera, while a greener, more rugged coast fits Asturias and Cantabria or Knysna.
Anyone drawn to wine, food, and slower rural days should look at Alentejo or the Douro Valley instead.
Match the season to the place
Check the comparison table’s best-time column before committing to a destination, since timing shifts noticeably across this list.
Mediterranean islands reward late spring or early autumn travel, while the Douro Valley and Alentejo are strongest around harvest season.
Southern Hemisphere picks like Knysna and Rivieres des Anguilles run on a different calendar, so treat their seasons separately from the European entries.
Weigh access and travel time
Some of these destinations demand an extra ferry or transfer, and it is worth deciding upfront whether that trade-off suits the trip.
Formentera and the Croatian islands (Mali Losinj, Brac) require a ferry leg on top of the flight, which adds travel time but is also part of what keeps them quiet.
Mainland picks like Alentejo, the Douro Valley, and Asturias and Cantabria are reachable by a single drive or transfer once you land.
Book the base before the flights
Secure the villa first, then build flights and transfers around it, since the right base often has limited availability in these smaller destinations.
Working backwards from accommodation avoids the common mistake of booking flights into a region only to find the best local stays already taken.
If you are still deciding between two or three of these unusual holiday destinations, browse our full destination collection and reach out; we typically respond within 24 hours to help match a traveller to the right villa.
What is the most unusual holiday destination in Europe?
There is no single answer, but Tinos stands out among unusual holiday destinations in Europe because it sits so close to Mykonos while keeping a completely different pace and character.
Mali Losinj and the Alentejo region are equally strong European picks, one built around pine-covered island quiet, the other around wide-open countryside.
What links them is proximity to famous, crowded neighbours paired with a noticeably slower, more local rhythm.
Which unique places to vacation avoid the crowds in summer?
Tinos and the Asturias and Cantabria region hold up better than most in peak summer, since both sit outside the busiest tourist corridors even in high season.
Tinos benefits from being overshadowed by Mykonos, while Asturias and Cantabria’s cooler, mountainous climate naturally limits the crowds drawn to Spain’s sunnier south.
Both remain workable even in July and August, when many other unique places on this list feel considerably busier.
Are these unusual travel destinations good for families?
Several of these picks suit families well, particularly the calmer, slower-paced entries built around nature rather than nightlife.
Knysna’s lagoon and forest setting, Alentejo’s countryside estates, and Mali Losinj’s gentle coastline all work for a family trip with younger children.
Islands reached only by ferry, such as Formentera, are still manageable for families but require a bit more planning around transfer times.
How do I reach island destinations like Formentera or Tinos?
Both islands require a ferry connection rather than a direct flight, so factor that leg into total travel time.
Formentera has no airport at all, meaning every visitor flies into Ibiza first and then takes a ferry across.
Tinos is reached by ferry from the Greek mainland or from nearby islands including Mykonos, with crossing times that vary depending on the route and season.
When is the best time to visit these places?
Timing depends heavily on which destination and hemisphere you are considering, so check the season against the specific place rather than assuming one calendar fits all.
Mediterranean and Atlantic European destinations generally reward late spring or early autumn travel, avoiding peak summer heat and crowds.
Southern Hemisphere entries like Knysna and Rivieres des Anguilles run on an opposite seasonal calendar, so their best travel windows fall at different times of year than the European picks.
Are these among the most unique places in the world for wildlife and nature?
Knysna and the Asturias and Cantabria region are the strongest wildlife and nature picks on this list, each built around a distinct ecosystem rather than a beach or a town.
Knysna combines a protected lagoon with indigenous forest, supporting birdlife and smaller species rarely seen from a standard safari route.
Asturias and Cantabria offer mountain wildlife and dramatic limestone terrain through the Picos de Europa, giving nature-focused travellers a genuinely different landscape from the rest of the list.
Experience the magic of Morocco with Insider Villas’ curated 3-day luxury itinerary. From private cooking classes and the bustling Medina to serene gardens and coastal escapes, discover the perfect blend of culture and relaxation. We plan, you enjoy.
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18 Last Reviews
4.8
From 10+ Customer Reviews
Hi Emilio,
It was pleasure meeting you and my family and I had an amazing time. We would like to thank you for your kindness and looking over us while we stayed as it was our first trip to Mallorca. We had many incredible memories and many of it was thanks to you.
I wish you and your family all the best and do excuse me for not getting something for you to show our appreciation, but surely we will come back and we shall meet again. And if you ever come to Saudi don’t hesitate to contact me
Best,
Meshal
La casita era perfecta y el Rafa Nadal Academy, fue una gran experiencia. Gracias por Todo!
We enjoyed our week at Seaside Cottage very much.
Kevin CK
August 08, 2026
Our holiday to the Seychelles organised by Insider Villas was absolutely faultless, the itinerary, the hotels, the recommendations , in fact simply everything, an absolute 5 star experience. Truly a trip to paradise. Would do it all again in a heartbeat. We can’t thank Olí, Anna and team enough.
Amelia V.
September 11, 2025
Olivier was absolutely fantastic — he consistently went above and beyond to ensure our holiday was exceptional. The only minor disappointment was that, upon arrival, the villa didn’t feel fully prepared for check-in, which we later learned was due to the condition it had been left in by the previous guest. That said, we completely understand these things can happen, and Olivier handled the situation swiftly and professionally, rectifying everything within 24 hours.
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Ashley F.
August 30, 2025
Super knowledge and responsive team!! Made our trip smooth and rewarding. Thank you!
Jason M.
August 28, 2025
Fantastic experience with Emilio and the Insider Villas team in Mallorca. The villa was exceptional, and they organised all our activities throughout the week and did a brilliant job. And when a different company messed up, they went above and beyond to fix even though it wasn’t their fault. Would give them 6 stars if I could! Highly recommend!
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Anil S.
August 07, 2025
We had an amazing experience working with Oliver during our time in Mallorca. He made the impossible happen—organizing everything flawlessly, even on short notice. From reservations to personalized recommendations, everything was spot-on. If you’re visiting Mallorca, I highly recommend using Oliver for all your travel and concierge needs. Thank you, Oliver!
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KG
July 24, 2025
A beautifully situated house in Consel with all the comforts you need for a family holiday
Michael P.
June 12, 2025
Perfection down to every last detail! Can't recommend enough, if you're looking for a villa to rent or concierge services to enjoy your holidays even more, Insider Villas is the only address on the island!
Thank you for everything Oli, so much!!! Much appreciate everything from the planning of all the activities, to the villa which we loved!! We look forward to work with you again in the future for our family holidays!
Our birthday surprise trip with friends was an unforgettable experience from the seaside villa to the day out on the boat and the private chef dinner in villa! Just what we needed to celebrate our friend Chris. We will return soon!
We loved our villa and wish to come back again for next year at the same time! It has been great fun and a real break for us. My morning swim was amazing and I can't wait to bring the family back again.
Neel S.
August 08, 2022
Total slice of heaven!!! We’ve been upgraded here to an ocean view one bedroom villa (132) … it’s huuuuuuge!!!! Feeling very spoilt! We are having just a wonderful time, and so much thanks to you guys. Muchos besos x
We love the house, the property is gorgeous, the decoration is the type of one we really like 🙂 we are very happy, thank you and thank you for the welcoming. Thank you for your help and have a lovely Sunday
Hi Olivier, Everything is going well at the new villa, Ana was a great help yesterday, we love it here at Finca Only Summer! Thank you for your help to arrange all the extra services at Patiki Beach!
On a adoré notre sejour a Finca Can Basso, surtout on a profité de la proprieté, la piscine, l'espace et la privacité! Un grand merci a tous pour les attentions et petits details.
Dear Annette,
Thank you – we had a wonderful time on our family holiday in Umbria thanks to the beautiful villa and all of Francesca’s assistance. We would also love to purchase some wines from the estate.
