Off the Beaten Track Holidays

Here at Not In The Guidebooks, we endeavour to find you those real off the beaten track experiences, those things to do that other tourists simply don’t find, those days that produce stories that you tell over and over again when you return home.

By using local hosts, we utilise that invaluable local knowledge that invites you into the world of another culture, on totally immersive, totally unique experiences that make your holidays unforgettable.

Whether it’s embarking on an epic tuk-tuk tour across Cambodia, staying in local homestays and totally immersing yourself in traditional culture every day, or simply getting away from it all on your doorstep by escaping to a treetop hideaway in North Wales, we believe the greatest travelling experiences are those that help you truly get to know an authentic culture, and we believe the best way to do this is to get you away from diluted tourist hotspots, and off the beaten track.

Most Popular experiences

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  • The Ultimate Cultural Morocco Tour

    13 Nights Morocco

    From the gateway to Africa to the distant reaches of the Sahara, the soaring Atlas mountains to the sleepy Atlantic coas..

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    £3091 pp*
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  • 8 Day Adventure in Northern Vietnam

    7 Nights Vietnam
    • Explore Hanoi - busy markets and delicious street food
    • Discover the magnificent caves of Ha Long Bay
    • Visit Mai Chau and walk the Cham river suspension bridge
    • Stay in boutique eco lodges

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    £1209 pp*
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  • Chimps, Lions and Gorillas adventure in Uganda

    8 Nights Uganda

    Immerse yourself in Uganda's wildlife and encounter rich biodiversity and beautiful scenery. On this trip of a lifetime ..

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    £5053 pp*
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  • Immersive Mayan Riviera

    7 Nights Mexico

    Immerse yourself in the authentic side of the Mayan Riviera, as you visit local Mayan communities and explore the natura..

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    £1348 pp
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  • Luxury Wellness Retreat in Thailand

    11 Days Thailand
    • Sunset yoga and sound baths on the beach
    • Muay Thai to enhance confidence and energy
    • Personalised therapy for transformative growth
    • Immersive excursions to explore the beauty of Thailand

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    £2215 pp*
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  • Costa Rica East to West

    14 Nights Costa Rica
    • Brave ziplining and hanging bridges in Monteverde
    • Enjoy Tenorio Volcanic National Park and hot springs
    • Guided boat wildlife tour in Tortuguero
    • Explore the charming village of Santa Elena

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    £2856 pp*
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  • Top Off the Beaten Track Holidays destinations

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    Discover Unique Experiences and Create Unforgettable Adventures

    Where can I get off the beaten track?

    Forget your average package holidays, forget that feeling of being carted around on a touristy tour, stuck on a coach as you head from famous site to famous site. With our off the beaten track experiences, we deliver a tour or a trip that goes beyond the ordinary and off the tourist trail, immersing you in authentic culture in small groups or private tours.

    Head out on rural excursions that go beyond the city limits and show you the side to life most tourists miss, whether that’s spending a day with a fisherman in Thailand, heading to an organic farm outside Delhi, or going into the back of beyond to experience rural life in Costa Rica.

    Or stay in the city, but discover them from an alternative perspective as you wander the rooftops of Seville, cruise the streets of London in a classic Mini, or hop on a Minsk motorcycle in Hanoi.

    Of course, there’s always the chance to go really big, and join one of our carefully tailored itineraries that plunge you deep into the wilderness.

    Discover the incredible mountains and isolated communities in Northern Vietnam, gaze in wonder at the glowing orb of the sun as it sets in the Sahara Desert and you sleep in a traditional Berber camp, cross the cloud forests and volcanoes of Costa Rica on once-in-a-lifetime tours across the country, or explore lost temples and traditional fishing villages in Cambodia.

    These experiences offer you the opportunity to combine a week of chilling on the beach with a week of exploration. You could land in San Jose, head out on a tour through jungle, mangrove forests, mountains and volcanoes, spotting monkeys, parrots and leopards as you interact with authentic communities and local people, before spending another week relaxing on a pristine, palm-fringed beach.

    Sound good to you? Get off the beaten track with us today.

    Who are our off the beaten track holiday guests?

    Seasoned travellers, people who’ve barely left their home country, these holidays are popular amongst absolutely anyone looking to broaden their horizons and experience something new through travel.

    You’ll be led by a local guide, who takes absolute pride in their home and in showing you all the best bits that make it show special. You’ll try the local food, hear the local music, meet the local people, and escape the well-worn trails where cultures are diluted by hordes of tourists.

    All that’s required of you is a thirst for new experiences, a traveller’s curiosity and bags of enthusiasm.

    Bring this on an off the beaten track holiday, and you’ll be rewarded with memories that will last a lifetime.

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