Hidden gems: 5 best less-explored hill stations in the world you must visit

Melchsee-Frutt is a mountain resort village in Switzerland. It is located near the lake Melchsee, in the municipality of Kerns, canton Obwalden. (Photo: Kuno Schweizer via Unsplash)

Hill stations have always been a well-loved choice for travellers. But what if you're looking for something beyond the crowded tourist traps, you’re in the right place.

Here are 5 best less-explored hill stations in the world that you can visit:

1. Melchsee-Frutt, Switzerland

2. Sapa, Vietnam

Sapa, a town nestled in the Hoang Lien Son mountains of northern Vietnam, is a hiker’s paradise. Visitors can walk through terraced rice paddies that seem to cascade down endless slopes, hike through verdant jungles home of exotic wildlife, or visit vibrant villages and immerse themselves in their traditions.

Sapa, Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Vietnam. (Photo: Krisztian Tabori via Unsplash)

3. Mestia, Georgia

Mestia, Georgia. (Photo: Julia Cheperis via Unsplash)

Perched in the Caucasus Mountains, Mestia provides travellers with stunning vistas of snow-capped peaks, classic Svan tower houses, and a vibrant cultural heritage.

4. Azinhaga, Portugal 

Travellers can ditch the crowds of the Algarve and head north to Azores, an unspoiled archipelago of volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Azinhaga, Portugal. (Photo: EuroVelo Portugal website)

5. Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India

Nestled in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh, Palampur is a hidden gem waiting to be explored.  Encompassed by tea estates and the Dhauladhar range mountains, Palampur boasts a captivating marriage of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and peacefulness.

Palampur, Himachal Pradesh. (Photo: Naman Sood via Unsplash)