Alternatives to the big icons

You may be dreaming of visiting one of the world’s major icons, but chances are you won’t be the only person there admiring it. However there is no need to beat or brave the crowds if you choose an alternative approach.

Not only do you to get to discover places off-the-beaten track, it also helps to relieve the demands of large scale tourism on some of the world’s most significant icons and also spreads the economic benefits of tourism more widely.

And remember, it is not a crime to skip a country’s icon altogether; many other smaller, less touristy sights and attractions are often overlooked because people don’t look beyond the icon at what great cultural and natural spectacles a country may have to offer. To give you some ideas, we’ve proposed alternatives to 7 of our most iconic destinations below… To minimise ecological impact and erosion of this amazing area, the Peruvian government has limited access to the Inca Trail and improved the quality of the operators, meaning you will need to book well in advance to get your permit. If you fancy something a bit different, why not trek the Cordillera Huayhuash instead - one of the most dramatic mountain areas anywhere in the Andes - which has an optional Inca Trail trek extension, or why not do something completely different whilst visiting Peru like building a stove for a local family.

Find all Inca Trail trips Instead of following the crowds on a tour of Egypt’s pyramids, why not consider this archaeology tour, giving you an in-depth insight into its ancient civilisation. Alternatively if you want to experience a different side of Egypt, you could stay at a Sinai Bedouin beach camp or work on body & mind on this yoga and diving holiday. If it is definitely ancient archaeology you’re after, Egypt is not the only place to find it; Jordan has a wealth of archaeological sites or consider this Syria holiday for unexplored Middle Eastern history.

Find all Pyramids holidays There’s so much more to Africa than the Big 5, so why not try an African wildlife holiday with a difference:whale shark diving conservation in Seychelles, Madagascar's lemurs, Zambia's hippos and giraffes, bird watching in Gambia and Ethiopia, or take your interest in primates to the extreme in one of our gorilla and chimp trips to Uganda.

Find all safari holidays Mount Everest is another location which has seen its number of visitors soar in recent years, a trend only set to continue. However, you can explore the Everest region responsibly by joining the local guides and stay in smaller accommodations or by going on this Everest Base Camp charity trek. You can also trek through a different part of the Himalaya altogether on this Indian Himalaya trekking trip.

Find all Everest holidays One of Australia’s most enigmatic icons, climbing this Aboriginal sacred rock has long been a subject of controversy. If it's the Aboriginal culture you’re interested in, why not go on a culture tour with Aboriginal people themselves instead and gain a first-hand insight to their ancient culture, or alternatively enjoy this walking tour around Uluru and King’s Canyon.

Find all Uluru holidays Dubbed the Roof of Africa, there are several different routes to Kili's summit, including the Rongai route, the Machame route and the least trekked Lemosho Route. Appreciate Kili from the local people’s perspective on this community project in Kilimanjaro or try the challenging, off the beaten track Shira route.

Find all Kilimanjaro trips Why not take your family to a remote and uncrowded section of the Great Wall or do it for charity. Alternatively, experience a different area of China in the snow-capped peaks, narrow winding trails of Tiger Leaping Gorge.

Find all Great Wall holidays

For help finding the right holiday operator, contact our holiday match service.

Happy planning!