Offbeat means different things to different people. To some, it’s skipping Paris on their quintessential French holiday and heading to quaint little towns for a more authentic, wholesome feel. For others, it’s enjoying an immersive experience in a city or country that is not easy to place on the world map. Both are just as enriching.
My recommendations below may seem odd at first, but that’s because not much is spoken about these countries or travel adventures – sometimes due to the political or socio-economic situation that makes these destinations less accessible. Other times, it’s because of a long-standing negative perception that may not hold anymore, but there is little documented evidence of it.
In cases where there are detailed accounts from avid travellers, it’s with the underlying assumption that the reader holds a first-world passport, which gets around rather easily. As for Indians, it’s uncommon to set out to unusual, unheard-of destinations on a whim in search of travel adventurers. For an Indian female traveller, lesser so. A weak travel document like mine requires a visa in advance for most countries and immaculate planning ahead of time. Often, it is an expensive and time-consuming affair.
But if the saying “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller” holds any merit, it’s worth stepping outside of your comfort zone and scripting your own narrative in 2022.
My top 4 travel adventure ideas below are a first-hand account of unusual but memorable experiences. It is also an informative guide with visa info from when I travelled and useful tips to make it easier for less-privileged passport holders (like me) to travel differently this year. The reward for the effort, I promise, is perception-bending and life-changing.
My BIG 4 travel adventure ideas to feed your wanderlust.
This is where the infamous adventure begins. Hitching a ride in the open wagon for 12-15 hours across the Sahara Desert is a unique experience that has become popular among intrepid travellers and adventure junkies in recent years. You can either brave it solo, with a bunch of friends, or (as I’d recommend) book a tour for this top adventure travel idea. I published my Mauritania story earlier if you'd like to read about my experiences on the train and beyond. When to go: November to March during the winter season is a good time to visit but can get extremely chilly on the train. Shoulder months of October and April would mean better weather on and off the train. Getting there: The overland road trip requires a 4x4 truck, preferably with a driver. It brings you from Nouakchott to Choum, where you wait for the train to arrive anytime between 12 pm– 12 am. Facilities are limited and the wait can be long due to the uncertainty of the train timings. It is advisable to travel with a guide who can organize lunch and stay at a local home while you wait for the train. Where to stay: The night on the train under the stars doesn’t offer the most comfortable stay, but surely the most epic experience as you lie under the starlit skies, snuck away in sleeping bags in the open-air wagon that jerks and jolts its way through the mighty Sahara Desert. If you so catch a wink, you wake up to the rising sun and watch shanty towns pass by for the next few hours. At Noudhibou, the train stops for a few minutes and you alight the wagon, feeling a rush of relief and victory. Be warned that the loose iron ore does render your face and skin dirty, but the dust does come off in the shower (after a bit of scrubbing, of course!) Pro Tip: carry a small magnet to extract fine iron ore particles from the skin. What else to visit: The drive from Nouakchott to Choum passes through the beautiful oasis village of Terjit, the UNESCO-protected Islamic town of Chinguetti, the fascinating geological structure ‘The Richat Structure’ or ‘Eye of the Sahara’, and the prominent historic city of Ouadane. All are essential stops on the way with a night’s stay in local homes and occasionally, an optional sleep-out under the stars. Banc D’Arguin by the Atlantic Ocean offers a stunning camping opportunity by the cliff. Not too far away is the crab beach, also an ideal lunch spot in the desert. Visa, Flight and COVID-19:* Most nationals, including Indian passport holders, can get a tourist visa on arrival for Mauritania at Nouakchott airport for 60 USD or 50 EUR. I flew in from Dubai on Emirates Airlines via Dakar, Senegal. From Dakar, I flew Mauritania Airlines, flying time for which is less than an hour. COVID-19 Testing Centre in Mauritania conducts free PCR testing with a 12-hour (approx.) turnaround for results. Drones require a special permit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and your host/tour company can arrange this for you in advance with the proper paperwork. Date of Travel: May 2021
Like the Egyptian Pyramids, the Bosnian ones orient to the cosmic north and are claimed to be energy amplifiers, capable of improving health and prolonging life. But, they’re 15 times more accurate than the Pyramid of Giza, with an outstanding error of just 0 degrees and 12 seconds. Under the complex is an extensive network of tunnels featuring ceramic blocks weighing several tons. Ionisation levels in the underground chambers that extend for several kilometres are also much higher than outside. The international scientific community has debunked the claims of Dr Sam, but my own experience was nothing short of magic and adventure. I was lucky to have spent a night on top of the Pyramid of the Moon with volunteers who were there to help Dr Sam with his work. If there’s one offbeat experience that makes it to your adventure travel bucket list in 2022, let Bosnian Pyramids be it. When to go: May, June, Mid-August to Mid-September are ideal months to visit. Hiking, white water rafting, and other activities are idyllic during these months. Opening hours of the Pyramid of the Sun are 9 am-5 pm on all days of the week. There is a tour of the Ravne Tunnel, one of the underground tunnels where a team of volunteers also run guided tours all year round for an entrance fee of 10 Euros for tourists. The temperature inside the Ravne tunnels is 12-15C all year round, so remember to bring your jacket. Getting there: Visoko is about 30kms northwest of Bosnia’s capital Sarajevo. The Pyramids are located on the edge of Visoko and are an easy drive from Sarajevo. Self-drive is a convenient option for those opting to rent a car from one of the popular rental car companies (Eurocar, Hertz, Budget, Avis) in the city or at the airport. Where to stay: Hotel Grad in Sarajevo is a centrally-located four-star property with a friendly receptionist and staff. We were told that neither 4-star nor 5-star hotels in Bosnia serve complimentary water because that’s the industry standard. Not that that let us down, but an interesting observation nonetheless. Visa, Flight and COVID-19* Indian passport holders need a Bosnian visa prior to travel, however, you can also enter the country from land or air borders if you hold a valid Schengen or US visa. A PCR test is required to enter the country. Vaccinated travelers do not need to quarantine upon entering Bosnia. In Sarajevo, we took our PCR test the morning of our departure at a clinic near our hotel. Turnaround time for results was anywhere between 2 to 8 hours; our results came through in time for our flight after 6 hours. Date of Travel: July 2021
My journey through Tunisia’s ancient Berber villages was an organized two-day hike, which started in Ksar Hallouf, a 13th-century fortified granary, making my way across mountains and canyons, and passing through ancient settlements, many of which are abandoned ghost towns now. Chenini is a popular Berber tourist spot, but the mountainous route towards the hidden village of Douriet, is what takes the cake. Amidst ruins from what seems like a movie set, is a cave hotel. If sleeping under an open sky with millions of stars has been on your bucket list, this experience is one for the books. In winters, the hotel’s comfortable cave rooms are a warm escape from the chilly temps outside. If you’re a STAR WARS fan, you must visit Tatouine, which inspires the city of ‘Tatooine’ in Star Wars 1. Among other locations where the first few films were shot, Matmata is home to one – Sidi Idriss Hotel, which was filmed as Lars homestead in the movie back in 1977. Well, May the Force be with you! When to go: Although April/May and October/early November are said to be the best months to travel to Tunisia, you could consider shoulder months for lesser crowds (if any) in popular tourist spots. Getting there: Tunisia is well connected with an extensive network of highways and coastal roads. It is easy to self-drive and you can navigate through the cities and small towns using Google Maps or Waze since the mobile connection is stable along the coastal route from Tunis to the southern region. Rental cars are an inexpensive option, however, they are difficult to find these days. Most aggregator websites are not genuine, which is why it is best to book directly through known rental companies. You must call and confirm the availability of the car to avoid disappointment later. What else to visit: The coastal route from Tunis towards the south is dotted with many charming and historic cities of interest, including a few detours to get to ancient Roman sites. The Santorini-esque city of Sidi Bou Said, old ports of Sousse, the Islamic city of Kairouan, one of the most well-preserved Roman amphitheatre in El Jem (or El Djem), the surviving Roman ruins in Bulla Regia and the bustling coastal town of Djerba are well worth a few days of exploration. For nature lovers, the Atlas Mountains offer jaw-dropping panoramas, while the alluring pink lake of Chott-Jerid further south is 1.5 times bigger than the Great Salt Lake of Utah. Where to stay: There are a few cave-hotel options in the Berber villages. My stay in Douriet was included as part of my 2-day hiking tour. Visa, Flights and Covid19* As of May 2020, Indian passport holders are not eligible for visa-on-arrival in Tunisia and need a visa before entering the country. Visa application must include a “tour voucher” from a tour agency, clearly stating your passport details, hotel reservations, flight details, and dates of entry and exit. This voucher must be on a licensed tour company’s letterhead, stamped and signed by them. I flew with Emirates Airlines from Dubai to Tunis. A COVID-19 PCR test is mandatory to enter Tunisia. Date of Travel: December 2021
The country is predominantly Islamic, and French is the second most spoken language after Comorian, a blend of Arabic and Swahili. Interestingly, it is part of the Arab League, but most don’t know it exists. Moheli, one of the three islands, is home to Parc Marin de Mohéli or Mohéli Marine Park, which is the reason for most tourists to visit the island. It was founded in 1995. Turtle nesting and the reefs around Mohéli are one of a kind! It’s a diver’s delight - these reefs that boast some of the highest marine biodiversity in the world. You can also reserve a half-day snorkeling tour around the Mea and Wenefou islands. Time stands still as you explore the underwater world before relaxing on the white sands under the tropical African sun for hours on end. The other attraction on this fascinating island is hiking through the forest to climb to the habitat of the world’s largest fruit-eating bat – Livingstone’s Bats. The two-hour hike takes you through vast plantations of cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, and black pepper before you arrive at the roosting site of the Livingstone’s Flying Foxes. The bats have a wingspan of up to 1.4 meters, which is quite spectacular when they fly over my head. This remote, culturally diverse, and unheard-of archipelago has so much to offer, it’ll knock your socks off. It did mine. Read my full story here. When to go: Comoros' tropical climate sees these islands basking in warm temperatures all year round, though April to November is the best time to enjoy its driest and balmiest conditions. Getting there: The islands of Comoros are accessible by internal flights, ferries, or Kwasa Kwasa, which are small run-down passenger boats that rock their way through the choppy waters of the Indian Ocean for two or three long hours on days that they actually make it to the other side. Surely not for the faint-hearted. The safer but not necessarily reliable option is to fly to Mohéli. Of the three domestic airlines, AB Aviation is easier to book because it has an online booking portal as opposed to booking via travel agents, making it less expensive. Where to stay: Laka Lodge is the only resort worth checking into on the island of Mohéli. The eco-lodge has a private beach and a cove to the left. The two-hour drive from the airport to the Lodge is fascinating. Lush green, winding, and scenic. What else to visit: The main island of Grande Comore has incredible volcano hikes, pristine white sand beaches and historic sites. The third island – Anjouan – is where you should head for a feel of 17th-century houses and alleys. For nature lovers, this island is home to some beautiful waterfalls and steep mountains. Visa, Flight and COVID-19* Most nationals, including Indian passport holders, can get a tourist visa on arrival for 30 Euro or 50 USD. I flew in from Zanzibar via Dar Es Salaam. From Dubai, Turkish Airlines commenced flights to Moroni via Istanbul in Jan 2021. COVID-19 Testing Centre is in Moroni city centre and charged 36,000 CF (Comorian Franc) or 60USD or 120USD for a 3-day turnaround. You can expedite the process to 1 day for double the amount - 120USD. Date of Travel: December 2020 |
*Visa eligibility and COVID-19 travel restrictions change all the time. It is advisable to check with the country’s consulates and refer to websites of local authorities for these requirements before booking your trip. It is always a good idea to ask hotels or tour companies at the destination what they know and how they can help.
