Uncharted Skies: 5 Up-and-Coming Airline Routes for Adventure Seekers in 2023
Uncharted Skies: 5 Up-and-Coming Airline Routes for Adventure Seekers in 2023 - Off the Beaten Path: New Routes to Underrated Destinations
For the intrepid traveler who craves adventure beyond the typical tourist traps, new airline routes opening up in 2023 promise access to underrated destinations well off the beaten path. While massive crowds flock to places like Paris and Bangkok, these emerging itineraries tap into hidden pockets of natural and cultural riches primed for discovery.
One exciting new route launching this year is Condor's nonstop service connecting Frankfurt with Portland, Oregon. The German leisure carrier will now bridge Europe and the Pacific Northwest every summer, unlocking easy access to the wild wonders lying beyond Portland's hip and artsy vibe. Outdoor enthusiasts can venture out to explore Oregon's rugged coastal beaches, old growth forests, and volcanic landscapes while taking in stunning mountain vistas. Or take a road trip along the Columbia River Gorge to discover tumbling waterfalls like Multnomah and Horsetail Falls fed by the cool mist of river spray. Portland's quirky locally-focused food scene, with its food cart pods and microbreweries, provides the perfect fuel for adventure.
Over in Asia, Scoot is launching direct flights between Singapore and Pekanbaru, Indonesia. While Jakarta and Bali absorb most leisure travelers to Indonesia, Pekanbaru offers an off-the-grid experience within reach. Situated on Sumatra Island, Pekanbaru provides a gateway to the thick jungles of Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, where endangered species like the Sumatran tiger and rhino still cling to survival. Take a river cruise to spot wildlife up close before venturing on jungle treks to discover the park's unspoiled beauty. Or witness traditional Mandailing Batak culture thrive among the lush green rice paddies surrounding Pekanbaru. This route finally plugs Singapore's ultra-efficient hub directly into an underrated Indonesian destination teeming with adventure.
Uncharted Skies: 5 Up-and-Coming Airline Routes for Adventure Seekers in 2023 - Scaling New Heights: Flying to Obscure Mountain Getaways
For hikers who've already claimed the glory of the Alps, Rockies and Andes, new airline routes are opening up access to obscure mountain ranges offering a wealth of peaks yet to be conquered. While mass tourism floods places like Mount Everest Base Camp, these emerging flights carry adventurers to the heights of underrated mountains cloaked in mystique.
One highpoint on the horizon comes courtesy of Eastern Airlines, launching nonstop service from New York-JFK to Georgetown, Guyana this June. This new air link to South America’s far north unlocks easy access to the wild summit of Mount Roraima, an iconic flat-topped mesa straddling the Venezuela-Guyana border. After flying in to Georgetown, travelers can connect onwards to the village of Paraitepuy, where local Wapisiana guides lead expeditions to scale Roraima’s towering 2,810 meter (9,219 ft) summit. The geological marvel’s sheer 400 meter tall cliffs protect a Lost World summit cloaked in vaporous mists and home to unique plant and animal species. Those making the challenging 8-10 hour hike are rewarded with dizzying views across the green carpet of the Amazon from Roraima’s expansive plateau. Just be sure to watch your step, as ominous cracks plunge down into the mountain’s gloomy interior.
Uncharted Skies: 5 Up-and-Coming Airline Routes for Adventure Seekers in 2023 - Into the Wild: Connecting to Untouched Nature Retreats
For the traveler seeking out immersion in unspoiled wilderness, airline routes launching this year transport adventurers directly into pristine natural environments untouched by mass tourism. Avoid the crowds flocking to played-out nature hotspots like the Great Barrier Reef and venture into truly untamed landscapes accessible via newly minted direct itineraries.
One new route embracing untouched nature comes from Air North, Yukon's Airline, launching seasonal summer service between Whitehorse, Yukon and Kelowna, British Columbia. This new link provides a vital airbridge between the rugged Canadian territories and the Pacific Northwest, with Kelowna's airport serving as gateway to the wild majesty of interior British Columbia.
From Kelowna, adventurers can embark on a rugged road trip north through the breathtaking mountain scenery of Wells Gray Provincial Park. Stop to view the raging vortex of Helmcken Falls, higher than Niagara, or take a deep breath of crisp pine-scented air while hiking into the park's tranquil wilderness. Further north, the road winds into the province's undiscovered northern realm, where the rugged Cassiar Highway connects tiny communities ensconced in virgin forest. Search for crystalline jade green lakes tucked into the Cassiar's rolling mountains, with wildlife like moose and bear wandering the silent forests. Then make way for the mighty Liard River, bursting with rapids cutting through sublime landscapes far from civilization. To experience the true spirit of frontier adventure, there's simply no more direct flight path than Whitehorse to Kelowna.
Uncharted Skies: 5 Up-and-Coming Airline Routes for Adventure Seekers in 2023 - Crossing Borders: International Routes to Remote Regions
New international airline routes in 2023 break down borders to let adventurers access the planet's farthest flung corners with unmatched ease. While direct flights, seamless connections and the luxury of nonstop service continue shrinking the world, these pioneering air links specifically target destinations brimming with once-in-a-lifetime experiences found only in remote regions.
FlyDubai will connect Dubai and Tel Aviv daily starting this April, linking the vibrant cosmopolis of the UAE with Israel's thriving cultural and tech hub for the first time. This new airbridge between the Middle East and the Mediterranean unlocks easy access to the striking desert wilderness of southern Israel's Negev region from Tel Aviv. Just hop a bus straight from the airport down to the city of Eilat, nestled on the shores of the Red Sea's Gulf of Aqaba. From there, the immense blood orange dunes of the Negev unfold into a true Arabian desert fantasy. Ride camels out into the drifting sands, spend nights at a Bedouin camp under infinite stars, and feast on authentic local dishes like mansaf lamb over rice. With this new link, the majestic isolation of the Negev becomes readily accessible for a transformative desert adventure.
Uncharted Skies: 5 Up-and-Coming Airline Routes for Adventure Seekers in 2023 - Island Escapes: Flying Direct to Secluded Beach Havens
As overtourism continues plaguing tropical hotspots like Phuket, Bali, and Hawaii, newly launched direct flights in 2023 carry travelers straight to unspoiled island escapes free of the crowds. For beach lovers desperate to ditch frenzied selfie snappers and enjoy sunset strolls in solitude, these routes are a gift.
One standout new route comes from French Bee, connecting Paris with tiny Dominica in the Lesser Antilles weekly this summer. While neighboring islands like Barbados and St. Lucia overflow with megaresorts, Dominica promises the Caribbean untamed. Called the "Nature Island," more than half of Dominica is protected parkland filled with jungle-draped peaks, boiling lakes, and thundering waterfalls. The island escaped mass development due to its rugged mountainous terrain, leaving its 365 rivers and black sand beaches blissfully unoccupied.
Touchdown at Dominica’s airport perched dramatically between the cliffs and azure sea, then head straight to Secret Bay, an eco-chic resort with just 16 artfully designed villas scattered across a clifftop on the island's secluded northeast. There, indulge in a menu peppered with hyper-local ingredients from Dominica's volcanic soil while lounging in an infinity pool seemingly suspended in air. Later, let the staff arrange deep dive expeditions to explore Dominica's underwater wonderland, where an astounding 1,200 species of fish flit through kaleidoscopic coral columns. Or test your mettle on the Boiling Lake Hike, a challenging full day trek across mountains and through lush valleys to a volcanic lake where mineral-rich waters bubble like a massive cauldron. Thanks to French Bee's new route, this beguiling island sanctuary awaits.
Those craving Pacific tranquility can now hop on Japan Airlines' new direct Dreamliner service from Tokyo Haneda to Guam, launching this July. While Saipan and Palau attract higher hotel prices, Guam provides a more affordable island escape relatively untouched by tourism. Beyond the duty free shops and resorts of Tumon Bay, the island's jungle interior beckons.
Uncharted Skies: 5 Up-and-Coming Airline Routes for Adventure Seekers in 2023 - Ancient Wonders: Visiting Ruins and Relics on New Routes
For history buffs enraptured by ancient civilizations, new airline routes unlock journeys to awe-inspiring archeological sites and ruins untouched by the wear of mass tourism. Venture deep into the remnants of bygone cultures and kingdoms brought back to life through these direct flights.
One exciting new route comes from Viva Aerobus, launching Mexico City to Villahermosa service this April. The capital of Tabasco state in southern Mexico, Villahermosa provides a gateway to the magnificent Mayan ruins of Palenque, one of the most beautiful and mystical of all ancient Mesoamerican cities.
From Villahermosa, it's just an hour and a half onward to Palenque, where its iconic Templo de las Inscripciones emerges from the jungle like a fever dream vision. First constructed in the late 7th century, this pyramid tomb complex houses the sarcophagus of mighty Mayan ruler Pakal, its bas-reliefs depicting Pakal's transition to the underworld and rebirth. Delve inside the humid darkness of the pyramid to find Pakal's famous carved sarcophagus lid still hidden in the inner tomb, adorned with intricate Mayan symbology.
Nearby, wander through Palenque's sprawling network of limestone temples, libraries, and ball courts swathed in tangled jungle roots. Marvel at the iconic El Palacio with its striking four-story tower, its bas-reliefs and hieroglyphs still boasting traces of red, blue, and green paint. Guides can help decode the intriguing history behind the temples as howler monkeys bellow in the humid air above. With no crowds to battle, having Palenque's magical ruins to yourself becomes a real possibility thanks to Viva's new direct route.
Another major new route comes from Spain's Binter Canarias, linking Gran Canaria with the Western Sahara this February. From here, adventurers can journey south into Mauritania to discover ancient Islamic and sub-Sarahan cultures thriving in fabled caravan towns. Ounianga Kebir, deep in the desert near Chad, unfurls with more than 300 mysterious Neolithic stone circles scattered across the sands. Gran Canaria's new flight path provides the vehicle to encounter millennia-old marvels in the Sahara and beyond.
Uncharted Skies: 5 Up-and-Coming Airline Routes for Adventure Seekers in 2023 - Exotic Encounters: Experiencing Diverse Cultures and Cuisines
New airline routes in 2023 will allow travelers to immerse themselves in exotic cultures and cuisines far beyond the well-trodden tourist circuit. For the adventurous gastronome seeking trademark local dishes or the wide-eyed ethnographer yearning to witness time-honored traditions firsthand, these emerging itineraries open up gateways to transformative experiences. By transporting travelers directly into the heart of communities thriving in isolation, the routes provide unmediated access to cultural riches.
Take Eastern Airlines' new route connecting New York City with Georgetown, Guyana's coastal capital at the edge of the Caribbean. This long isolated South American nation, part of the Guianas situated between Venezuela and Suriname, promises a vibrant collision of African, Indian, indigenous, and colonial cultures. Georgetown itself offers up Guyanese Creole cuisine, an intensely unique blend reflecting the varied cultural influences. Try pepperpot, Guyana's national dish, a stew seasoned with cinnamon and cassareep, a thick black condiment made from bitter cassava root. Or sample metemgee, a stew crafted from dumplings, eggs, pulses, and tubers. Wash it down with a local Banks Beer before heading down to Stabroek Market to mingle with locals and shop for produce bursting with the flavors of the tropics.
Beyond Georgetown, soak up the feel of authentic rustic Guyanese life in the nation's indigenous communities, many accessible only by boat or plane. The Makushi and Wapishana tribes welcome visitors to their traditional benab homes to share stories, music, and food. Try cassava bread cooked over a fire or learn to make pepperpot the original way, seasoned with secrets passed down through generations. Visitors can even stay overnight in a benab to fully immerse in indigenous culture through new perspectives.
Over in the Balkans, Wizz Air's new route between Abu Dhabi and Sarajevo ushers travelers into the heart of Bosnian culture. Most visitors flock to coastal Croatia nearby while overlooking tiny landlocked Bosnia and all it has to offer. After arriving in Sarajevo, try traditional stuffed burek pastries or čevapi, meaty sausages laden with garlic found sizzling on grills throughout the city. Then make way to the cobblestoned alleyways of Bascarsija, Sarajevo's Turkish quarter, to lose yourself amidst melodies from the call to prayer and the tempting aromas of shisha and sweets like baklava and tufahije drifting from corner cafes.
Uncharted Skies: 5 Up-and-Coming Airline Routes for Adventure Seekers in 2023 - Unconventional Airports: Landing at Extreme and Unique Airfields
New airline routes in 2023 will connect travelers to some of the world’s most extreme and unconventional airports, providing thrilling experiences for aviation enthusiasts. While most air travelers only experience bland cookie-cutter airports and routine landings, these emerging flights carry adventurers straight to legendary airfields challenging the skills of even the most seasoned pilots. For those who get a rush from epic runway views or strange airport locations, these new direct itineraries are just the ticket.
Imagine landing in the midst of the Andes Mountains with knife-edge ridges surrounding the runway on all sides, making for an exhilarating descent. La Paz, Bolivia's El Alto International Airport lets you do just that as one of the highest international airports in the world at a dizzying 4,061 meters (13,323 feet) above sea level. While altitude sickness pills are a must, the views during landing here will take your breath away as you sail over rocky peaks before touching down on the vast altiplano. New direct service by Bolivia's fledgling BOA airlines from Miami to La Paz starting in March 2023 makes this a reality. Just be ready for the rush!
Or perhaps your perfect landing involves a nice view of the ocean waves right from the comfort of your window seat. Then you'll want to hop aboard Winair's new direct route from St. Maarten to Saba, launching this May. The tiny Caribbean island's Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport has the shortest commercial runway in the world at just 400 meters long, and half of it is built right over the ocean. Pilots need to pull off a crazy steep approach between craggy cliffs to touch down here, before immediately slamming on the brakes once the wheels hit the tarmac. The exhilarating experience all ends with the plane nearly rolling right off the end of the runway and into the sea. Now that's an arrival you won't soon forget!