The road less travelled is an inviting prospect for holiday-makers who want to see the world from a different angle, or who simply want to avoid the crowds of tourists.
Hotspot destinations and well-known cultural landmarks such as Peru’s Machu Picchu may be exotic and steeped in history, but they can be overwhelmingly busy and relatively expensive. High volumes of visitors can also damage local culture and the environment.
As an alternative, renowned travel guide publisher Lonely Planet has curated a selection of ‘off-grid’ destinations for intrepid travellers who want to see more than what is on Instagram.
What off-grid travel destinations are recommended?
While some of the destinations are little-known pockets of Western Europe, the UK and US, some are much further afield, and far more rural. Among them are:
- Suriname is a tiny South American country with an incredibly diverse culture
- Tubugua in the Dominican Republic is far from a package holiday resort, nestling itself high in the rural hills with little tourism infrastructure.
- The Kenchenjunga Region in Nepal is a more remote alternative to the Everest Base Camp but still provides high-altitude trekking and beautiful vistas.
- Vietnam’s Con Dao archipelago, in particular the prison island of Con So, is listed as worth visiting as a historical site with incredible natural beauty.
With these destinations, it is important to consider your travel health plan and how you will stay safe before you board the plane.
What vaccinations are needed for off-grid destinations?
The vaccinations needed for each country will vary, and your travel health pharmacists will be able to advise you on which are needed. However, since these locations are off the tourist routes and resorts, more caution should be taken.
This is especially the case in areas where access to clean running water is not always available for hygiene and hydration.
Adding to standard vaccinations recommended for the UK, such as polio and MMR, common travel vaccines for these areas may include:
The Hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid vaccinations are recommended for both South America, Nepal, Vietnam and the Dominican Republic. These are by far the most common for travellers to South American and Southeast Asian countries.
Cholera vaccinations are recommended by the NHS for rural and undeveloped areas in African and Asian countries. This is because it is transmitted through unclean drinking water, food washed in unclean water and food that has been handled by infected people.
Yellow fever vaccinations are required for some countries if you are travelling directly from a country at risk of yellow fever.
In addition, it is worth speaking to your local travel health clinic about anti-malarial medications and what precautions you might take to reduce the risk of illness and infection.
What do you need to know before your travel clinic appointment?
Travel clinic appointments in Royston Pharmacy should be booked at least six to eight weeks in advance of the first leg of your journey. This will allow you to have all the information and all the shots or doses that you need before leaving the UK.
Your travel clinic professional will need to know which countries you are planning on travelling to and in what order. They will also need to know whether you will be in areas with less access to clean drinking water.
By carefully planning your trip, you can ensure you stay safe from infection and illness while enjoying the sights, sounds and culture of new places.