Everybody has seen Santorini's blue domes. Everybody has seen Bali's rice terraces. There is nothing wrong with visiting iconic destinations — but for storytelling, the real power comes from being somewhere your audience has not already seen a hundred times.
These destinations deliver extraordinary content with far less competition.
The Faroe Islands
Eighteen volcanic islands between Norway and Iceland, where dramatic cliffs drop into the North Atlantic, grass-roofed villages cling to impossibly green hillsides, and sea stacks rise from churning water. The visual language of the Faroe Islands is unlike anywhere else in the world.
For video creators, the interplay of dramatic weather, mist rolling over hills, and stark landscapes produces cinematic content with almost no effort. Golden hour lasts for hours in summer. The scale makes even amateur drone footage look extraordinary.
Creator angle: The remoteness narrative — getting there, the feeling of the edge of the world, the contrast between wilderness and warm hospitality. Very few creators go; the ones who do consistently produce some of their most-engaged content.
Uzbekistan
The Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva contain some of the most visually stunning Islamic architecture on earth — tilework, mosaics, and domed madrassahs in shades of blue and gold that almost defy belief. Yet creator saturation is minimal compared to the visual impact.
This is a destination where a single morning at the Registan in Samarkand — the central square flanked by three enormous 15th-century madrassahs — produces portfolio-defining photographs.
Creator angle: The history narrative. This was the crossroads of civilisations for 1 000 years. The storytelling potential is enormous for creators who do the research.
The Azores (Portugal)
Nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, halfway between Europe and North America. Calderas filled with bright-blue crater lakes. Whale watching from shore. Hot springs at the ocean's edge. Cloud forests. Dramatic coastal cliffs.
The Azores are technically European (Portuguese territory) but visually closer to Iceland — with better weather, lower costs, and far fewer visitors.
Creator angle: The juxtaposition of European accessibility with truly wild, otherworldly scenery. For creators focused on nature and adventure, this is one of Europe's best-kept secrets.
Oman
While Dubai and Abu Dhabi attract most creators covering the Gulf, Oman — three hours away — offers something entirely different: authentic, unhurried, visually stunning. The Wahiba Sands desert rolls endlessly in all directions. Wadi Shab is a slot canyon ending in a hidden pool. The mountain city of Nizwa and its ancient fort sit against a backdrop of jagged peaks.
Oman is also genuinely safe, welcoming to visitors, and easier to travel independently than most of its neighbours.
Creator angle: The alternative Middle East narrative — a country that preserves its culture while being completely accessible and safe for international visitors.
Kyrgyzstan
Central Asian mountains, nomadic culture, yurt camps on high-altitude lakes — Kyrgyzstan delivers a completely different visual vocabulary from anywhere in Southeast Asia or Europe. Son-Kul Lake at 3 000 metres, with yurt camps dotting the shoreline and horses grazing in every direction, is one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Asia.
The country is also one of the most affordable in the world. Guesthouses and homestays cost $10–$20 per night. Horses can be hired by the day. The people are famously hospitable.
Creator angle: Nomadic adventure. A world completely outside the Instagram algorithm's usual landscape — which is exactly why it performs so well when creators do visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some hidden gem destinations for travel creators?
In 2025: the Faroe Islands, Uzbekistan, the Azores, Oman, and Kyrgyzstan all offer extraordinary visual content with minimal creator saturation.
Why should travel creators visit underrated destinations?
Less visual competition means more discoverability. The "discovery" narrative resonates strongly with audiences, and your content is more likely to be saved and shared when it shows something people have not seen before.