Travel spots to hit in 2026 before the crowds find them

Came across this list of underrated places for 2026 and thought it was pretty solid. Instead of the usual Bangkok/Bali loop, they’re talking Almaty in Kazakhstan, Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Karachi, Chiang Rai, even Labuan Bajo in Indonesia. Istanbul and Riyadh also made the cut.

Honestly, Almaty and Tashkent caught my eye the most – mountain lakes, bazaars, Silk Road vibes, and way fewer tourists. Chiang Rai too, for a slower side of Thailand that’s not already packed. Feels like one of those “go now or regret later” situations before TikTok blows it up.