It's not always the famous places that will wow you so why not put somewhere a little different on your wish list? Swerve the usual suspects and seek some of the world's lesser known landmarks instead. Here are some of our favourite savvy travel swaps.

The Maldives are beautiful beyond doubt but everyone knows that. Seek out the lesser-known isles of the Philippines instead for tropical beauty by the bucketful (turquoise waters, white sand, swaying palms) but on a smaller budget. El Nido, a region and archipelago in the north of Palawan island, is as gorgeous as they come with some lovely resorts for lazing and lagoons for snorkelling in too.

Wilder Dimakya Island, part of the Coron municipality in northern Palawan, is another jewel. Located in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the island's snorkelling and diving are exceptional. Dimakya's shores and forests are also home to some intriguing wildlife from colonies of fruit bats to hawksbill and green turtles that come here to nest. Hiking trails lead up to the island’s highest spot, Eagle’s Point: go at sunset to watch the bats leave their roost.

While Cornwall gets board-to-board with surfers in summer, the waters along Ireland’s west coast are wonderfully quiet. The rugged coastline certainly doesn’t lack good waves or wow factor – it’s in prime position for Atlantic breakers with some of its monstrous waves attracting pro surfers. It has some gorgeous beaches and excellent surf schools to suit all levels to boot.

Sligo on the northwest coast of Ireland is a top surf spot with some cracking beaches such as Strandhill, not to mention great bars for après-surf action. Lahinch in County Clare is another with its wide sandy beach and surf schools – the seaside resort is set along the breathtaking Wild Atlantic Way.

Now read about driving the Wild Atlantic Way

Considerably bigger than its northern neighbour’s Grand Canyon, Mexico’s Copper Canyon is actually six canyons formed by rivers on the western side of the Sierra Tarahumara. It’s known as the Barrancas del Cobre and is in the northwestern state of Chihuahua.

For an unforgettable experience, take the Copper Canyon railway which trundles along for around 400 miles (644km) over 16 hours. Constructed to connect the Pacific Ocean with Mexico’s central desert territory and Chihuahua, it goes past the canyon and reaches altitudes of 8,000 feet (2,428m). Expect some extraordinary views of the natural wonder and more.

Australia’s giant, sacred sandstone rock might be the highlight of the Outback, but Mount Batur in Bali is no less dramatic or spiritual. This brooding volcanic peak, known locally as Gunung Batur, is one of Indonesia’s most sacred mountains and just happens to be extremely photogenic as well.

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It's also possible to climb Mount Batur. To experience the peak at its best (and escape the heat), set the alarm for two in the morning and head off on the sunrise trek. You’ll be rewarded for your early start with the serene sight of the soft morning light shimmering on Batur’s volcanic lake. Not to mention the life-affirming views.

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With more than 1,200 islands and islets to choose from – not to mention the whole length of the glittering Adriatic coast – you’ll be spoiled for choice as to where to drop anchor in Croatia. This pretty harbour at Supetar on the island of Brac is a good place to start.

If you want to stick to the mainland, sail north towards the city of Zadar. It’s one of the most appealing cities along the Adriatic coast, with a charming old town to potter around, Roman ruins and lively restaurant scene. It has some gorgeous beaches too and lots of nearby islands for day trips.

Now read more reasons to put Zadar on your wish list

Namibia has many jaw-dropping landscapes including not one but two deserts: the Kalahari and Namib desert. Discover the wild creatures that make their homes here including the elusive black rhino. The country is home to nearly a third of the world's population of the black rhino, which you're most likely to spot in Etosha National Park in the northwest of the country. The park also has lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes, cheetahs, hyenas and two kinds of zebra.

In the southern part of the Namib Desert, Sossusvlei is a spectacular salt pan surrounded by soaring dunes that are more like mountains. Explore this remarkable place where you can spot herds of oryx as well as ostrich, springbok and gemsbok. Predators like the spotted hyena and the brown hyena also inhabit the parched region.

Give Australia’s beautiful and fragile Great Barrier Reef a break and take your diving or snorkelling gear to this small corner of Central America instead. Belize has some rewarding dive sites including its most famous, the Blue Hole. The giant submarine sinkhole regularly comes top of divers’ lists.

Belize lays claim to having the largest barrier reef in the northern and western hemisphere, which is a UNESCO-protected site. It's also the second largest barrier reef in the world and is home to an incredible variety of colourful coral and more than 500 species of fish.

Japan’s highest mountain is an active volcano and one of the country’s most sacred sites. If you want to get close to its summit, plan your trek for anytime between July and early September. Climbing the peak is forbidden at other times when the trails are closed.

The mountain's snow usually disappears by late June, but be aware that the temperatures at the top often drop below freezing even in the summer. Fuji is a stratovolcano and Japan's highest peak at 12,388 feet (3,776m).

Read more about the world's most famous volcanoes

An elegant city on the banks of River Garonne, Bordeaux is France’s wine capital and one of the country’s most alluring places to explore. The port city has a wonderful old town where wandering around its narrow cobbled lanes is a delight. You’ll have a huge choice of wine bars where you can try the latest vintages too.

The city's revitalised riverside area has become one long pleasure garden with cafés, shops and parks lining the promenade. It also has some fabulous new museums, such as the Museum of the Sea and Seafaring and the striking Cité du Vin. This futuristic building houses an interactive wine museum with tasting room.

Read about more alternative European city breaks

If Bolivia’s huge stretch of salt flats are a bit too blindingly white for you, head west of the Andes to Chile’s Atacama Desert. This 600-mile (965km) plateau in the country's north is the driest place on Earth – apart from the polar regions – and utterly spectacular.

Arid though it is, the Atacama is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna that somehow manage to thrive here. Pretty flamingos can be seen on the salt flats as can the vicugna, a cousin of the llama. The region is also one of the world's top stargazing locations due to its high altitude and dark skies.

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There’s something to be said for pitching a tent in the middle of the wilderness, but a night in a bothy is something else. Scattered throughout remote parts of Scotland, bothies were used to house itinerant farm labourers. Now anyone who happens to come across one can just spend the night for free.

There’s a catch though. You can’t book them and you never know who else might turn up. And don’t expect anything as luxurious as water or heating. It's a bring-your-own-everything affair.

Lose yourself in one of Europe’s most dramatic canyons as you kayak along the Ardèche River in the Rhône-Alpes region. The Ardèche Gorge is among southern France’s most awe-inspiring sights and it’s an exhilarating experience paddling along its 26 rapids and through the Pont d’Arc, a large, natural rock arch.

Limestone cliffs tower a thousand feet (305m) above the Ardèche River as it meanders through the sinuous gorge. You’ll also find plenty of relaxing places for a spot of wild swimming as you explore the spectacular canyon.

While Peru’s most famous Inca site typically receives thousands of visitors every day, its near neighbour Choquequirao is just as captivating but practically empty. It takes about two days of trekking and wild camping to reach these impressive ruins, but it’s worth the effort.

Remote as Choquequirao is now, it won’t stay like that for long. There are plans to build a cable car directly to the ruins, which will run to and from the town of Kuiñalla and make the archaeological site more accessible. So enjoy its tranquillity and seclusion now before the crowds inevitably ascend.

Now discover some amazing ruins overtaken by nature

While Rio de Janeiro’s exuberant carnival is a feast of colourful floats and dancing, the Venetian version is a fantastically ornate affair. Don’t forget to don a mask if you really want to get into the spirit of things at the Carnevale di Venezia, a tradition which began in the 13th century. The lagoon city has some wonderful stores that craft traditional Venetian masks.

The carnival typically takes place in February. While other carnivals have street parades, Venice has its own impressive procession along the Grand Canal where traditional boats take to the water and parade along to the district of Cannaregio. It also has a masquerade ball where party-goers wear elaborate 18th-century-style costumes.

Monkeys are cute, but lemurs are even cuter – and considerably rarer. Wildlife-rich Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa, is the only native home to these adorable primates. The island has over 110 species, including a new species of the mouse lemur which was recently recognised in its northeastern forests.

Watch the lively creatures in the forests as they do all sorts of wonderfully bizarre things, including singing like a whale and bouncing along the ground as if they're dancing. Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park and Ankarafantsika National Park are good places to start spotting.

While the US has Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway, Scotland has the sweeping North Coast 500. This scenic 516-mile (830km) circuit begins and ends at Inverness Castle, taking in six regions and stunning scenery at every turn.

If you’ve ever wanted to really get under the skin of northern Scotland, this is the ultimate road trip. Plan in plenty of stops to hike around the majestic mountains, lochs and glens of the Highlands, explore little villages along the coast and seek out secluded beaches for a leg stretch. The route passes many of Scotland's most incredible heritage sites too.

Love this? Read our guide to Scotland's Kintyre 66 road trip

Italy is about as good as destinations get if you're a foodie, but for flavours and scenery of a different kind look to southeast Asia. Discover Vietnam one bite at a time by exploring the street food stalls of cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, devouring delicacies like pho (rice noodle broth) and banh xeo (seafood-stuffed crepes) as you go. It's a delicious way to get to know this beautiful country. 

The country's little back-alley street stalls and vibrant food markets are the best places to seek out local produce and try traditional dishes like freshly fried spring rolls, rice paper rolls bulging with prawns and herbs and bun cha pork patties. Sign up for a cookery course and you'll return home with some treasured recipes.

The Dutch have shown the world how to create a bike-friendly city, but they’re not the only ones. Strasbourg, one of the prettiest cities in France, has made the bicycle king in its mainly pedestrianised historic centre. Miles of bike lanes wind past Strasbourg’s medieval half-timbered houses and along the Ill River.

Don’t just stop at Strasbourg though. The capital of the Alsace region, which borders Germany, is part of a 1,240-mile (1,995km) bicycle route that goes through the Rhine Valley and into the Vosges Mountains. It's a gorgeous place to cycle with its winding country lanes, rolling farmland, vineyards and medieval villages.

For a change from the hectic pace of Morocco’s most popular city, head to the Atlantic coast and chill out on the beaches of Essaouira. It has become a hip alternative to Marrakech, with a brightly coloured fishing port and long sandy beaches that are a magnet for windsurfers.

The seaside city has an atmospheric medina, protected by old walls with bustling souks to explore. But even these souks are a much more laid-back experience, with wider lanes and a much less frenetic ambience than you’ll encounter in Marrakech.

Discover more good reasons to visit Essaouira

It’s not just Europe that has epic train journeys along historic rail routes. Australia’s Great Southern Rail – known as The Ghan – takes you through the heart of the continent, from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Adelaide in South Australia. It's one of the world's greatest railway journeys.

As the train makes its leisurely 1,851-mile (2,979km) journey, you’ll spend four days being transfixed by Australia’s changing landscapes including South Australia's stunning Flinders Ranges. You’ll also have the chance to stop and explore the fascinating outback towns of Alice Springs and Coober Pedy along the way.

Discover more of the world's most luxurious train journeys

Dodge the crowds around Cambodia’s massive temple complex and head to this sprawling ninth-century Hindu temple complex in central Java instead. It’s the largest of its kind in Indonesia, and one of the biggest in southeast Asia. The whole compound has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dedicated to Brahma Vishnu and Shiva, the site has more than 244 temples which are a marvel of intricate carvings that tell the stories of these Hindu deities.

Watch the mesmerising landscapes of Rajasthan unfold beneath you as you gently float above the Indian state in a hot air balloon. Look down and see the Pink City of Jaipur and the seemingly endless Thar Desert. Make sure your hot air balloon safari includes the city of Pushkar, with its 400 temples and a holy lake.

Now take a look at the world's most incredible hot air balloon rides