Off the Beaten Track: Finding Guides in Remote Destinations

This summer, as people rush to make up for lost travel opportunities, we’re seeing thousands of tours booked in the classic travel hotspots - Barcelona, Florence, Athens, London...making right now a superb time to consider heading to a more out of the way place. Lesser-travelled destinations offer especially unique and important opportunities to join up with a local guide, spend a day filled with real conversations, and discover the true character of a place.

At ToursByLocals, our goal is to help people find amazing local guides all over the world, not just the tourist hotspots. On our platform, you can find guides in an incredible 189 different countries! Join us today in meeting some of our fantastic guides in some really off-the-beaten-track places that might just inspire your next adventure.

Kristian in Greenland

Meet Kristian S, an avid outdoor adventurer who has studied in an “Arctic Nature Guide” program and archaeology, as well as worked as a glacier guide. Originally from Denmark, Kristian also spent many years in Greenland as a child, and feels a special connection to the wild landscapes of this place. He is passionate about sharing amazing nature experiences with visitors in Greenland, offering specialized trekking and skiing expeditions that traverse the untouched and wild nature of this country.

Adiyabold in Mongolia

Mongolia is a breathtaking country with incredible landscapes, wildlife, and Nomadic culture and tradition. Local guide Adiya N. (pronounced "idea") brings a friendly, organized, and attentive nature as he offers tours all over the country, showcasing the best nature, outdoors, food, and cultural activities of Mongolia. Adiya is old enough to remember the days of Soviet influence on Mongolia, which meant (among other more serious things) not tasting ice cream or coca cola until he was a teenager. He’s a kind, and generous person, encouraging you to “feel free to ask me for anything but my wife and tooth brush.” (Clearly, he’s funny too!)

Patricia in Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Easter Island, or Rapa Nui as the locals call it, has a rich Polynesian culture and history that can only be truly understood by exploring with a local. Patricia R. is a ToursByLocals guide in Rapa Nui. In her own words: “We pride ourselves in being part of an ancestral culture that is still alive, the sacred energy of the ancestors still being present on every corner of this island, in its people, its landscapes and the ocean.” With fifteen years of guiding experience, Patricia is eager to share her love for the island with visitors.

Ahmed in Mogadishu, Somalia

For true adventurers who want to see a city being reborn, Mogadishu, Somalia’s war-torn capital, may just be the perfect destination. But a guide is essential to ensure a safe and gratifying visit, which is why Ahmed D. and his private security personnel are on hand to take visitors across Somalia’s beautiful beaches, through its markets and farms. Born and raised in Mogadishu, Ahmed’s goal is to paint a positive image of his city, which was once known as the White Pearl City of the Indian Ocean.

Lorna in New Caledonia

Over 1,200 kilometres east of Australia, the South Pacific islands of New Caledonia exude a South Pacific allure with a mix of European and Melanesian influences. The islands are known as a “special collectivity” of France, and local guide Lorna G. offers a variety of gastronomy, nature, and culture tours from her base in the capital, Noumea. Lorna is friendly, flexible, knowledgable, and loves sharing the beauty of her home with visitors. She’s been a guide with ToursByLocals since 2018, and as a recent traveller wrote: “Lorna is more than an outstanding guide. She is able to answer questions about the ecology, biology, history, culture and flora and fauna of Noumea and New Caledonia, is companionable, charming and I can't recommend her highly enough.”

John in Flores, Indonesia

While many tourists flock to Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands, Indonesia is home to many more remote and relatively undeveloped gems that exude pristine and untouched nature. Local guide John B. J. is based in Flores, the gateway to Komodo National Park, and he is pleased to meet foreign visitors and share the culture and nature of his homeland with treks through the island landscapes and visits to local villages. He warmly welcomes everyone: “Being the traveling companion of foreign tourists gives joy and adds excitement to the journey of my life… In order to see the beauty of my island and feel the hospitality of its inhabitants, I now cordially invite you to come and enjoy Flores for yourself.”