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17 Epic Places You Never Thought To Travel, But Should

Paris? Been there. London? Done that. No offense to thosestoried standbys, but 2017 is a time to break out of your travel bubbleand try someplace youve never thought to visit before.

Travel teaches usinvaluable lessonswe cant learn in school. It expands our worldview. It pushes us to be better, stronger, more empathetic human beings. And these 17 places, in no particular order, are where that magic is going to happen this year. Some of them can be experienced in the lap of luxury, while others are for only the most adventurous souls. But all of them have the potential to be the best trip youve ever taken.

1. South Korea

Dont let its northern neighbor scare you off: South Korea is full of adventurous travelers delights like national parks, mountains and islands.Ski resortshere are top-notch, as some are preparing to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.For a more urban feel, try Korean BBQ in Seoul or chill out in Busan, a coastal city.

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Seoraksan National Parkis the proud site of South Koreas third-highest mountai. It also features hot springs, temples and jagged rock formations.

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Locals vacation onJeju Islandfor its beaches, outdoor spas and spine-tingling lava tube tours.

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Changdeokgung Palace, a 15th-century royal villa in Seoul, is aUNESCO world heritage site. Builders expertly designed the complex to accommodate the uneven terrain at the foot of a mountain peak.

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Cable cars haul skiers at what is now Deogyusan Resort, where hot springs await after a day on the slopes.

2. Mauritius

Mauritius is delicious. This tiny island nationin the Indian Ocean offers up a low-key vibeand endless turquoise waters perfect for sports like wind and kitesurfing. You can also samplelocal rum and street foodor explore churches, temples, mosques and lighthouses from Mauritius rich history as a colonial trade hub.

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Le Morne Brabant is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site that serves as an exceptional testimony to… resistance to slavery. The mountains forbidding cliffs hid runaway slaves known as maroons, and their oral traditions live on.

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It doesnt get better than this.

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This is theSeven Colored Earths in Chamarel, where naturally occurring sands of different colors form unique striped dunes.

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Above is a shopping center in the capital of Port Louis. English, French, and Mauritian Creole are the most commonly spoken languages in Mauritius, while Hinduism and Christianity are the top two religions.

3. Kazakhstan

The worldsninth-largest country is not just for Borat: Fans of architecture, city tours and wilderness explorations will feel right at home in this little-explored corner of the earth. Start in Almaty, the biggest city, for clothing markets and upscale restaurants. Then, venture out to the Tian Shan mountainsand hike sacred forestswhere manymodern fruit cropswere first cultivated.

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Astana has been called theworlds weirdest capital city, in part because it hardly existed 20 years ago. CNN reports the area was an empty patch of land… best known as a former gulag prison camp for the wives of Soviet traitors before it was declared the new capital in 1997, sparking the quick rise of a futuristic skyline.

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Almatys wooden Ascension Cathedralwas constructed without nails between 1904 and 1907, and is one of the only buildings in the city to survive a 1911 earthquake. Used for state and public purposes after the Russian Revolution, it was returned to the Russian Orthodox church in the 1990s.

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Big Almaty Lake sits in the Tian Shan mountains. The western Tian Shan range stretches into China and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site,in part for its biodiversity.

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The city of Aktau, a hub for the oil industry, sits on the Caspian Sea and is a popular spot among locals for swimming.

4. Cyprus

This lush Mediterranean islandsat under the rule ofmany ancient empires, and it shows: A trip here might includevisits to a Byzantine monastery, a mosque or the tombs of high-ranking Hellenistic and Roman officials,which are part of a larger UNESCO world heritage site. Oh, and did we mention the islands postcard-perfect beaches?

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In the port town of Kyrenia,you can take a boat cruiseto swimming and snorkeling spots orvisit a castlefor a charming birds-eye view of the harbor.

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Limassol, Cyprus second-biggest city (and still a quaint one at that), has a lively bar and restaurant scene.

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See remains of an ancient outdoor theater, villas and baths at Kourion, a former city-kingdom on the coast.

A good snapshot stops a moment from running away

AdorablePissouri village is the place to go for horseback riding and pub-hopping. Dont be fooled, though: The ocean and impeccable divingare still within reach.

5. Latvia

Did you know Latvia has white sand beaches? This Baltic Sea gem, formerly part of the Soviet Union, is full of little surprises and a slight Scandinavian flair. The capital, Riga, was named theEuropean Capital of Culturein 2014, and roughly half of the country is made up of pristine, accessible natural ecosystems. Historical Old Towns, churchesand castles abound.

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Rigas town hall square features the iconic House of the Blackheads, which was built in 1334, destroyed in World War II and rebuilt in 1999.

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Above is the Gauja River, on the border between Estonia and Latvia. Its namesake national parkholds more than 500 cultural and historical monuments.

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Not a bad place to spend a summers day! Latvia sits across the Baltic Sea from Stockholm, Sweden.

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Kemeri National Park features a variety of wetlands, including the Great Kemeri Bog, which can be traversed by boardwalk.

6. Ecuador

Perched between Colombia and Peru on the Pacific, Ecuador has everything: mountains, beaches, rainforest, volcanos, hot springs, and the famous wildlife of theGalapagos Islands. Once part of the Inca Empire, this dramatically beautiful land is steeped in both pre-Colombian and Spanish colonial culture and is perfect for cheap travelers,trek-happy adventurers and history lovers after all, Quitos sprawling UNESCO-tapped city centeris the colonial jewel of South America. (Bonus:Ecuador is on the dollar, so theres no need to exchange currency.)

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Above is a photo of Bartomole Island in Ecuadors Galapagos Islands. The endemic species in this volcanic archipelago inspired Charles Darwins theory of evolution, and both land and sea are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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Llamas frolic near the Chimborazo volcano, the highest mountain in Ecuador.

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The historic center of Cuenca is yet another of Ecuadors UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The town still subscribes to the rigid planning guidelines with which it was founded in 1557.

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Quitos Jesuit Church of the Society of Jesus, informally known as la Compaa, has enough gold leaf inside to wow the most jaded travelers. The stunning baroque church also has a charming number of hidden nods to the local culture, including symbols of suns that salute Inca history and indigenous faces and plants worked into the ornate interior designs.

7. Samoa

This island nation not be confused with its equally awesome neighbor, American Samoaincludes 10 islands brimming withvolcanoes, waterfalls, rainforests, swimming holes and beaches. Journeying to a naturalocean blowholeor diving deep into a cave pool is just the beginning. Down-to-earth travelers will enjoy its lack of fancy resorts, too.

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Swimmers hop into To Sua Ocean Trench,part of a larger area with natural rock pools and blowholes.

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Perfect water awaits you on Upolu Islands southwest coast.

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Papapapaitai Fallsis about as impressive as waterfalls get: This showstopper tumblesinto a giant gorge. Continue down the Cross Island Road for more falls, swimming holes and picnic spots.

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Upolu Island has plenty of beachfront hotels and ecolodgesto maximize your time on the warm white sand.

8. Uruguay

Uruguay doesnt get as much attention as neighboring Argentina and Brazil, but this polished, progressive paradise on the Atlantic has a pinch ofEuropean flairand is well worth a visit.Experience gaucho culture on a ranch of rolling hills, take to the surf atPunta del Diablo, or party the night away in the clubs at Punta del Este.

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Stroll the cosmopolitan streets of Montevideo, including the famous Plaza Independencia.

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The rambling, eccentric Casapueblo resort in Punta Ballena was built by late Uruguayan artist Carlos Pez Vilar, who was inspired by the mud nests of native hornero birds.

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The resort town of Punta del Este is known as a place to party, but the public art deserves a hand, too.

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Uruguays interior hills are rich in gaucho culture. Book a rural lodge and explore the beautiful countryside on horseback.

9. Namibia

First-time visitors to Africa should start here, in the worlds oldest desert, to experience the thrill of feeling like the last tourist on Earth. Considering its vast selection of wildlife,national parks, shipwrecks and larger-than-life sand dunes, Namibia somehow remains awesomely uncrowded. Many cities and towns have a distinctly German feel complete with Germanrestaurants and colonialarchitecture due to years under European rule.

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Zebras drink at a waterhole in Etosha National Park, which offers various epic safaris.

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Ludertiz, a confusingly colonial harbor town, includes an old Lutheran churchand bustling village shops that make it feel likeanywhere but Africa.

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Namibias national symbol, the quiver tree, stands tall in a nature park known asGiants Playground.

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Off-roaders sit ready to explore the deserts massive sand dunes, which also make for a daring day hike.

10. Guatemala

Mayan ruins play a starring role in Guatemala. Deep in the jungle, Tikal National Park is a lush playground of plazas, temples and dwellings that are well over 1,000 years old. Equally gorgeous are Guatemalasactive volcanoes, cascading lagoons and the Caribbean-blueLake Petn Itz. Even with all these natural wonders, a historic hotel-museum tops the list of places to visitnationwide.

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From the 6th century B.C. to the 10th century A.D., Mayans inhabited what is now Tikal National Park. Current residents include jaguars, howler monkeys and more than 60 species of bats.

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Parque Central is a popular outdoor gathering place in Antigua, a city in the highlands.

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At Lake Petn Itz, the blue water is perfect for sunsets and swimmingwith the locals.

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Daredevils can hike or camp near a handful of active volcanos in Guatemalas rugged wilderness, though be careful to do so at the right time of year.

11. Papua New Guinea

One look at the water should make it, ahem, clear that this is a paradise. The U.S. State Department cautionsthat due to crime, an organized tour booked through a travel agency is the best way to explore this stunningly diverseand practically untouched country. (Theres little luxury involved, but its a trip of a lifetime.) Try a trekking tour along the rugged, mountainous Kokoda Trackor journey to a sing-sing festival, at which Papua New Guineans display their many unique tribal cultures through music and dance.

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White sand beaches and few interruptions are hallmarks of the New Ireland Province.

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Capital Port Moresby is beautiful from the air, though its crime ratecalls for sensible precautions. Infrastructure is virtually non-existent outside PNGs major cities another reason to book a tour rather than traveling on your own.

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Local tribes celebrate a sing-sing in the Highlands. Some 836 indigenous languages are spokenin Papua New Guinea, most by fewer than a thousand speakers each.

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Of course, Papua New Guinea boasts excellent snorkeling and diving.

12. Newfoundland, Canada

Why Newfoundland? Here, east coasters can kayak with icebergs without taking a long flight to Greenland or Alaska and beyond. Then theres 18,000 miles of unspoiled coastline with some 200 walking trails, plus the22 species of whalesthat pass through Newfoundland and Labrador between May and September. Add in dramatic, glacier-carved fjords, and this part of Canada is truly a dream for nature lovers who prefer their international travel over-easy.

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Icebergs arrive from the Arctic each spring to places like Trinity Bay, above. Check the map of Iceberg Alley, then book a boat or kayak or car to experience them up close.

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We really cant get enough of Gros Morne National Park, which, in addition to cool neon jellyfish, contains towering fjordsyou can tour by boat.

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The Fort Amherst historical site in St. Johns honors Colonel William Amherst, who recaptured the area from the French in 1762.

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Fall in Newfoundland is not too shabby. This is the Humber River in autumn.

13. Romania

Draculashomeland oozes eeriness and intrigue: The country has emerged from its Communist pastto the delight of travelers who come to explore its medieval townsand ornate castles, including the onewhere fictions scariest bloodsucker once lived.Beyond the charming cobblestone streets, youll find adventurous alpine hikesthrough the towering Carpathian Mountains and all-inclusive beach resorts on the Black Sea coast.

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The Black Church, with its interior walls adorned with Turkish carpets,is the star of Brasov, a popular medieval town at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains.

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Corvin Castle in Transylvania features about 50 rooms of medieval art. Its known as the most impressive Gothic castle in the country.

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It can take all day to drive the hairpin turns of Transfagarasan Road, which connects the provinces of Transylvania and Walachia through the mountains. Thanks to a gentle gradient, you can even bike it if you dare.

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Bucharest, Romanias capital, is known forhigh energy and good food. Socialist and Art Nouveau architecturecoexist here, and the nightlife is some of Eastern Europes best.

14. Laos

Even backpackers who have seen it all in Thailand and Cambodia will be awestruck in Laos. Stunning waterfalls, soaring mountains and blazing green rice fieldsare best enjoyed at the Laotian locals decidedly slow pace of life. Take a break from zip-lining and cave kayakingto join a yoga retreator help out on an organic farm. The cuisine think sticky rice, papaya salad and fresh fish is worth savoring, too.

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A hot air balloon flies overViet Vang, a jungle town and magnet for backpackers.

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Kuang Si Fallsare a refreshing but cold! place toswim. Prepare for the hike in, and look out for hidden pools along the way.

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Terraced rice fields overlook a village in Mu Cang Chai.

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Buddha Park in Vientiane is probably the most stunning sculpture park youll ever see.

15. Azerbaijan

Untapped may be the best way to describe this coastal country between Iran and Russia. Start in the capital of Baku, whoseOld CityhasUNESCO world heritagestatus as a rare example of ancient architecture. Then, move out to explorequaint rural villagesat the base of the Great Caucasus mountains. Former Peace Corps volunteers have set up a network of local homestaysto help visitors enjoy the countrys outer fringes, where paved roads are scarce but the land is lush.

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Bakumixes old architecture with glittering 21st-century towers on the Caspian Sea.

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The Government House is just one of many historic monuments to see in Baku.

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Baku also offers museums, theaters, libraries and an opera house.Treat yourself to a balcony room at the glimmering Four Seasons Hotel.

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High in the mountains, Xinaliq is home to friendly shepherds who can point you in the right direction for adventurous hikes.

16. Slovenia

Croatias been a hot travel destination for a few years now, but dont overlook its charming neighbor to the north. The snowy peaks of the Julian Alps are the dramatic backdrop for Slovenias storybook Lake Bled, while outdoor restaurants line the riverwalk in the friendly capital city Ljubljana and the sprawling Postojna Cave is a dramatic diversion. (Pro tip: Youll likely save a few dollars by flying into Venice, Italy, rather than Ljubljana its not far over the border.)

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The Franciscan Church of the Annunciation overlooks Ljubljanas famous Triple Bridge, a lively spot at night.

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Above youll see Lake Bled in the summer. Swim or row in the crystal-clear lake, dine at Bled Castle perched high on a cliff, or stroll the equally Instagram-worthyVintgar Gorge.

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A tour boat on the Ljubljanica River in Ljubljana.

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The town of Piran is a luminescent pearlon the Adriatic Sea.

17. The Seychelles

Will and Kate honeymooned here, so you know the views are fit for royalty. This collection of around115 islands in the Indian Oceanis basically a beach-y theme park, with inlets ofevery size and type.It could take weeks to see them all. Thank goodness there are both private island villasand casual B&Bsto stay in.

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With its pink sand and smooth boulders,Anse Source DArgentis regularly praised as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Get there early in the daybefore other fanatics arrive.

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The beaches atBeau Vallonare some of the most highly trafficked in the Seychelles, but theyre still pleasantly low-key.

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From above, Mahe Islands jungle flora and coastal townsshine in all their glory. Aside from the usual lineup of tucked-away beaches, the islands forested interior is a hikers paradise.

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St. Pierre is the teensy-tiny islet of your wildest dreams. Seriously.