Second choice holidays
Want to avoid overcrowded tourist hotspots? Try our...
CLASSIC sights such as the Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu are overrun by visitors ticking off their travel “bucket list”. Now experts warn this trend, which is attracting millions of visitors annually to the world’s top destinations, could actually damage some of them.
But you don’t have to be a sheep and follow the flock.
Here is how to beat the crowds with our alternative bucket list…
Wall of Ston, Croatia, for the Great Wall of China
You can’t expect a peaceful trip to the Great Wall of China, with 140 million visitors expected in the country this year.
Instead go to Croatia for the world’s second longest defensive wall, the three-mile Wall of Ston.
The 19th-century structure, about an hour’s drive from Dubrovnik, is a more modern alternative but it’s stunningly situated in the Dalmatian hills outside the coastal city of Ston.
Verdon Gorge, France, for the Grand Canyon, US
The Grand Canyon has long drawn visitors to Arizona, and last year 6.25million went to gawp at its jaw-dropping natural beauty.
But there’s a great alternative much closer to home. Known as Europe’s Grand Canyon, Verdon Gorge in south east France is a stunning natural limestone canyon carved in two by the Verdon River. At 15 miles long and over 2,000ft deep, it is listed as one of the Grand Sites of France.
Pyramids of Guimar, Canaries, for pyramids of Giza, Egypt
Political unrest and terror attacks in Egypt have brought down the number of tourists visiting the Pyramids by a third.
Some 5.2million still made the trip in 2016 – but another option is the Pyramids of Guimar on Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
Many theories surround the purpose of these six 19th-century structures built from lava stone without the use of mortar.
Some experts believe they have mystical origins while others say they were used for farming.
Perperikon, Bulgaria, for Machu Picchu, Peru
The Incan citadel of Machu Picchu atop the Andes Mountains in Peru has boomed in popularity in the past 30 years, and as many as 5,000 visitors a day make their way to the spot atop the sacred valley. Much more peaceful is the ancient Thracian city of Perperikon in Bulgaria, thought to date back to the 5th century BC.
Royal Pavilion, Brighton, for Taj Mahal, India
The Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favourite wife, is no peaceful resting place.
So head instead for the similar-looking dreamy oriental-style palace at Brighton seaside. A heady mix of Chinese, Indian and Regency architectural styles, the Brighton Pavilion was built as a pleasure palace for King George IV in the 1780s.
Save money on a plane ticket and visit for just £13 per adult.
Birmingham for Venice
Crippling tourist numbers have long been driving the people of Venice mad. A massive 60,000 people swamp the city and its canals every day. However, Birmingham has more canals than Venice and is much easier to navigate. Try the cruises through the Gas Street Basin, and along the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.
Dettifoss, Iceland, for Niagara Falls, Canada/US
Niagara Falls, on the border between Ontario, Canada, and New York State, is the world’s most famous waterfall. More than eight million people make the trip here every year.
Less known but equally as stunning is the Dettifoss waterfall in Vatnajokull National Park in north east Iceland. Thought to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe, it is fed by the nearby Vatnajokull glacier and can be reached by car.
Lycian tombs, Turkey, for Petra, Jordan
To enjoy Petra’s ancient rose stone city, thought to date back to around 300BC, you will need to wake up as early as 5am to avoid Jordan’s desert heat – and the crowds.
But it’s not the only place you can see gorgeous old structures carved into the side of a mountain.
Why not try the Lycian tombs near Dalyan in Turkey.
The tall Romanesque columns here date back to the 4th century and are well worth a look.
Wicklow, Ireland, for New England, US, in the autumn
The US state of New England is famed for it rustcoloured fall foliage, cutesy boarded houses and treelined avenues. But head to County Wicklow, just south of Dublin, in the autumn months and you will be hard-pressed to decide which is more beautiful.
Known as the Garden of Ireland, the Wicklow Way – a network of walking trails covering nearly 80 miles – is the best way to take in the stunning autumn scenery.