Sure, you can pay to see the iconic Cliffs of Moher along with the tour bus crowds. But why wouldn’t you take a path much less traveled … and free? A 14-mile hike between the surfing town of Lahinch and the village of Doolin, is the first leg of the Burren Way, a 76-mile trail. The Lahinch-Doolin stretch offers stunning views, but without the tourist hordes.

Nestled deep in Myanmar’s northern Shan State, a melting pot of the country’s many ethnic minorities, Hsipaw is the starting point of an unforgettable two-day hike. Along the journey you’ll encounter woodlands, valleys with seemingly endless tea trees, Palaung villages and wild rainforests largely cut off from the outside world. (Note: Since the military coup last year, this has become one of the world’s most embattled and hazardous regions. This destination might be best viewed online for the foreseeable future.)

Want a much cheaper, less crowded alternative to the Inca Trail? The Choro Trail, on the outskirts of Bolivia’s capital, also travels ancient Inca paths — and you just might have the route to yourself. Over three days and 34 miles, you’ll descend — yes, it’s mostly downhill — from an altitude of 16,000 to 4,000 feet on mostly paved paths, passing through little-changed ancient communities, and seeing firsthand the impact of altitude on climate, vegetation and the human psyche. There are cloud forests and waterfalls, too.

Bandon, Oregon, is an ethereal coastal city known for a big rock (Etched Rock) and a Scottish-inspired golf course. But instead of trying to play the notoriously difficult links, take a walk down the vast fairway, with the sprawling ocean along one side, old-growth firs on the other and the late-afternoon sun above. Or stroll for miles along unswimmable beaches, stand still at sunset and watch the reflection in the water change from shades of orange to shades of purple.

People come from all over the world to visit the shores of Mendocino County, California. But along with taking in the natural beauty, there’s another stop to make: Glass Beach. This former garbage dump has seen decades of relentless waves pound its contents, thereby turning broken bottles into numerous tiny glass gems that scintillate as they mingle with pebbles and sand.

When you drive off the freeway and enter Humboldt Redwoods State Park, you’ll be gobsmacked by the view of giant redwood trees, the world's tallest, reaching heights of 250 to 375-plus feet. Welcome to the Avenue of the Giants: a 30-plus-mile scenic highway splitting the Northern California redwood forest. This road, which has eight stops, offers opportunities for fishing and swimming.

The Himalayas aren’t the only hiking venue in Nepal. The half-day Kathmandu Valley trek from Telkot to Nagarkot is more accessible than the Everest trail and offers glimpses of day-to-day life in rural Nepal. This compact hike also has stunning views – and though it’s a relatively short outing, the route includes a 1,500-foot climb starting at an altitude above 7,100 feet. That’s right: You’ll need to catch your breath.

There’s something hypnotic about a prehistoric rainforest: The spectrum of greens, the smell of mist, the fluorescent flora hugging the damp bark of towering trees. Tasmania, the island off Australia’s southeast coast, has so many lush forests you’ll be spoiled for choice. The island’s northwestern corner is home to Tarkine National Park, where Indigenous communities have kept a deep connection to the land for more than 40,000 years.

Hiking through scenic Alta Canyon in Norway is well worth the trip to the Far North. After a nearly treeless trek over a section of the Finnmarksvidda plateau, you’ll encounter a shockingly green view of a canyon below that also has a seven-mile river famous among intrepid anglers. Come prepared for unpredictable weather and other potential dangers, but also for reindeer and eagle sightings.

The Carlos Watson Show, season 4!

Hoping to reverse the decline of seabird populations worldwide, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds in Cape Town needs your help — and your hands. Take a volunteer vacation to help rear baby penguins hatched from abandoned eggs brought to the center.

The Hồ Thuỷ Tiên Water Park was supposed to make a splashy opening almost two decades ago. But funding dried up before the project saw completion. Now it’s a popular exploration spot for tourists, who can get there via a short taxi ride from the historic central Vietnamese city of Huế.

Where in the world do you dream of visiting? Let us know – and maybe we’ll have a travel writer craft a guide for OZY readers!

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