Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

travel to unusual places

170 replies

fizzysci · 21/04/2019 18:23

What is the most unusual place you have been to? The kind of place that people are surprised you've been too.

Mine was Svalbard - most people haven't got a clue where it is.

OP posts:
Flicketyflack · 22/04/2019 16:18

Namib desert
Jaisalmer India

namdinam · 22/04/2019 16:21

Djibouti.

And for those thinking not that unusual - for some reason we decided to go in August with two toddlers. DH has now established veto rights over my long weekend plans!

I have to say the Syrians were the friendliest people I've ever travelled amongst Sad

Roussette · 22/04/2019 16:28

@HelmutFrontbut
it was a trip on a ship travelling between Rio and Cape Town and we were told that they would try to get us in on zodiacs or lifeboats but we weren't to hold out much hope because other ships had tried it and failed because of the swell. But we were lucky and the islanders said the weather was remarkably calm, more than they'd ever known. If that was calm, god knows what it's like on a bad day, because the swell was about 8-10 foot!
What I found amazing was the fact few leave the Island even if they have gone to college or Uni in Cape Town, they still come back. The island website is fascinating.

AllInTentsAndPorpoises · 22/04/2019 16:39

Bequia is beautiful.

JPduck · 22/04/2019 17:16

Lived in Saudi Arabia and Brunei

JPduck · 22/04/2019 17:16

Stayed in Bangladesh for a month

VetOnCall · 23/04/2019 02:42

Sheriff I've been to Ilha Grande, beautiful place. I got a tattoo there Grin

I've been to Svalbard too, and the Lofoten Islands. I've hiked to Everest Base camp and done the Annapurna Circuit but those are both fairly popular.

The most adventurous trip I've done was the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica followed by 10 weeks backpacking/hiking/climbing in Patagonia. I camped for a lot of the time in Patagonia and it really is so incredibly huge and remote.

I've travelled a lot, it's my life's passion, I've been all over Asia and to every country in Central and South America, plus the Galápagos and Easter Island. Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador etc. are all pretty well-trodden backpacker haunts. I guess not so many people have been to Guyana, French Guiana or Suriname though, I've only met a few others who have. The Corn Islands off Nicaragua felt pretty untouched when I was there. Bolivia is awesome, especially the Salar de Uyuni.

I live in Canada now and am looking forward to exploring up north this year - the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Even most Canadians I've met haven't been there.

IHaveBrilloHair · 23/04/2019 04:30

Sumbawa, an island in Indonesia, I've been to other islands there too but they are very muxh on the tourist trail.
Not me, but my brother and his family are expats in Mongolia.

brizzlemint · 23/04/2019 05:03

@tectonicplates well you're entitled to that attitude but if you like travelling to places that little bit different then it's a useful thread to get ideas of places that might be interesting to visit. It doesn't make somebody special because they like travelling.

Enjoy your summer holidays in Skegness Grin

Gonegrey31 · 23/04/2019 05:19

I have walked on Cape Horn, landed from a small boat on a beautiful calm day . Met the light house keeper and young daughter.

skukuza · 23/04/2019 05:31

I've been to Myanmar and some very remote places in China.
DH has been to North Korea.

FrenchFancie · 23/04/2019 05:42

We’re sadly not that adventurous. Israel is about the most adventurous. And we’re going to Jordan to see Petra in October when I get around to booking it.

user1494050295 · 23/04/2019 06:01

Noumea in New Caledonia

ImogenTubbs · 23/04/2019 06:22

I've also been to Orkney, Shetland and the Isle of Lewis (beautiful!) Smile

The place that occurred to me though is Namibia. It doesn't tend to be on the tourist trail for many Brits. We travelled all over and ended up in a tiny camp on the edge of the desert, hours away from anywhere. It was quite an experience.

famousfour · 23/04/2019 07:06

Los Roques off Venezuela. Beautiful archipelago. Sailors and kite surfers go there - although not sure how things are now with the current state of affairs in Venezuela.

capercaillie · 23/04/2019 07:12

Solomon Islands
Cameroon

Roussette · 23/04/2019 07:22

I've been to Namibia. Fascinating place, went to one of the townships there, it was an eye opener

memaymamo · 23/04/2019 11:20

Does anyone else think this thread is ridiculous? I've been to several of the places mentioned here and I wouldn't consider any of them to be unusual. You're not as special as you think you are.
@tectonicplates

No, I don't think this thread is ridiculous. I think it's fun, inspiring and exciting to read about how well-travelled so many Mumsnetters are. You sound like a gigantic snob.

I've done a lot of work in remote villages in Africa & Asia but I'm envious of some of the places others have been, like Antarctica and North Korea.

tectonicplates · 23/04/2019 12:08

On the contrary, a lot of people here are being snobs by saying things like "most people won't know where it is", when in fact plenty of people know where these places are. I refuse to believe that "most people haven't got a clue" where Svalbard is, even if they haven't been there. Much of this thread is coming across as looking down on other people for not being as exotic and well-travelled as you. It's travel snobbery.

famousfour · 23/04/2019 12:54

Maybe people feel thrilled with themselves and maybe they don’t. What does it matter. Personally I find it quite interesting and have googled a few places.

Original poster
fizzysci · 23/04/2019 13:10

I refuse to believe that "most people haven't got a clue" where Svalbard is

When we had the annual 'what are you doing in the summer holidays' chat at work the response I got from everybody was 'where?' Not that I much care TBH I went where I wanted to go.

OP posts:
Hollowvictory · 23/04/2019 13:14

They've not read the dark materials trilogy then...

ShanghaiDiva · 23/04/2019 14:17

I don't think it's travel snobbery. I am interested in places people have visited. btw I consider myself pretty well travelled (50+ countries) and didn't know where Svalbard was - I guessed Norway but didn't really know. I have also googled a few places as a result of this thread.

Sidge · 23/04/2019 14:30

I haven’t been anywhere terribly unusual, but did go to Chihuahua in Mexico which isn’t exactly a tourist spot.

It was when I was doing summer camp as a student, we were in El Paso and went to the bus terminal and said how far into Mexico can we get for however many dollars it was we had in our pockets!

Roussette · 23/04/2019 14:43

tectonic there's some pretty dire threads on MN at the best of times. This is a nice one.
Why can't posters talk about interesting and different places they've been to? I find it fascinating.