Artemis II’s recent launch filled the public with a sense of wonder and awe on the grandest scale. Not since 1972 (Apollo 17) has man attempted to travel to the moon for exploration, which adds even more excitement to this recent mission. While spectators — both in person in Florida and on TV — surely appreciated the historic nature of the mission, the most immediate takeaway is the raw, visceral punch of the explosive launch. Sending such a massive rocket to break free of Earth’s gravitational pull and punch through the atmosphere into space requires a staggering amount of power.
It takes 8.8 million pounds of thrust to be exact, which violently propelled the 322-foot NASA rocket into space. Just one of the liquid hydrogen and oxygen-powered rockets could power almost a million miles of streetlights. The Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) topped out at a staggering 24,500 mph, the velocity required to reach the moon. This speed was in line with what the crew of the Apollo 13 mission experienced in 1970, which reached similar top speeds of 24,247 mph.
But this wasn’t the whole story. Artemis II didn’t simply thrust to the Moon in a straight line at a constant speed. The flight began with SLS launching Orion into Earth’s orbit, fighting hard against gravity, before passing through the atmosphere’s layers and into space.
As Artemis II ascended, it reached speeds in excess of 24,000 mph, though the exact speed depends on the frame of reference. At its closest approach to the Moon, the rocket hit 60,863 mph relative to Earth. However, relative to the Moon, the speed was measured at 3,139 mph. Either way, these speeds are hard to relate to, as even an F-35 Lightning II fighter jet tops out at around 1,200 mph.
As the Orion spacecraft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, it reached speeds of roughly 25,000 mph before slowing dramatically in Earth’s atmosphere and safely parachuting into the ocean at splashdown. NASA’s coordination, planning, technical prowess, advanced engineering, and brainpower — to say nothing of the crew’s bravery — speak to mankind’s ingenuity and thirst for exploration.
The crew laid the foundation for future missions and lunar research. Who knows where modern space travel could go next? But what is certain is that we all got to watch history being made by some very brave people, at unbelievable speeds.
We’ve all seen the bumper stickers reading “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”
But is that really true?
Well, we at Travel Off Path scoured the map to find out for ourselves.
With that said, I’m admittedly a travel weirdo.
I’ve been to Moldova before Paris, Cuba before Punta Cana, and just about every “hidden gem” south of the border before finally visiting Cancun for the first time in 2025.
While I personally embrace my freakdom, many travelers prefer a rinse-and-repeat vacation, following the crowd as if it’s the only option on the table.
But we like to live up to our name and put the ‘Off Path’ bit to good use.
That’s why we believe these 5 nearly unheard-of countries offer the biggest surprises since they’re all finally embracing tourism in 2026.
(PLUS: We’ve built an interactive quiz for you at the end of this article so you can find your perfect match!)
Angola: Africa’s Next Beach & Safari Hotspot 🇦🇴
Africa is a bucket-list destination through and through, from the epic beaches of Cape Town to bearing witness to gorillas in Rwanda.
That’s not exactly a household name despite its appeal as a nature destination for wild safari and surprisingly gorgeous beaches outside its bustling capital, Luanda.
Angola is on a marketing tear right now, promoting its country as Africa’s biggest surprise.
The government has forked over half a billion dollars (yes, with a “B”) in campaigns in hopes of driving more tourists from Kenya, South Africa, and other notable countries.
With postcard natural wonders like Kalandula Falls or tribal excursions to spend a day immersed in local traditions like you’re in Nat Geo, Angola wants to top your wishlist for your next adventure.
Western Sahara: The New “Morocco” 🇪🇭
Here’s one we touched on in the past, and not to toot our own horn, it turns out we were right.
Politically, Western Sahara is one of those places whose status remains up for debate — is it an independent country or effectively an extension of Morocco?
We’ll leave that to you to decide, but the latest news is that Morocco has claimed victory, asserting sovereignty over this off-path swath of desolate desert, sprinkled with cultural villages and an incredible coastline.
As such, there have been heavy investments poured into bringing Western Sahara to life as a bona fide vacation destination with a focus on new roads, ports, and most notable resorts, such as Dakhla Attitude.
As the windsurfing capital of the world, it already had some claim to fame when we last ran a feature and has only doubled down ever since to become your next thrilling escape a stone’s throw from some of Spain’s most popular islands.
Timor-Leste: The Next “Bali” 🇹🇱
If there’s one Asian powerhouse with a mixed bag of reviews, it’s Bali.
Long gone are the Eat Pray Love days and full steam ahead is congested traffic, high prices, and dwindling authenticity.
The country next door that nobody talks about is Timor-Leste, one of the newest formed countries in the world.
Don’t just take it from us — popular YouTubers with six-figure and more followers are beginning to wonder what the big Dili is, such as Seal on Tour and Best Ever Food Review Show.
This under-the-radar nation and still-developing capital Dili is one of the least visited on Earth. In fact, North Korea receives more tourist any given year.
Right now, the country is still raw, and feels like Bali before it became a bucket-list destination.
With untouched coastline, winding open roads perfect for the dreamy Southeast Asia motorbike ride you’ve always envisioned, and welcoming locals far removed from the chaos Bali has become today, Timor-Leste is ready to embrace tourism by launching new flights, hosting festivals, and even holding a marathon.
Turkmenistan: The World’s Most Bizarre Country Wants You To Visit 🇹🇲
The “Stans” aren’t just a crazed group of Eminem fans. In the travel-sphere, they’re commonly an overlooked group of neighboring countries many deem too far-flung to check out.
While fellow ‘stan’ Uzbekistan has been all the rage on socials due to its meticulously detailed palaces and inviting culture, Turkmenistan is on the opposite end of the spectrum, quite frankly known for being down-right bizarre with eerily quiet streets and ghost-town vibes despite its vast urban sprawl.
Like my ex told me when I let her go, notoriously uptight Turkmenistan is saying they’re ready to change.
The first step was issuing a new travel-friendly e-visa policy.
The second step was to reverse course by deciding not to close off their most sought-after attraction, the Gate to Hell, which is a fiery crater in the middle of the Karakum Desert that has been continuously burning for more than 50 years.
Bangladesh: The Resort Destination You Didn’t Know Existed 🇧🇩
If you’ve gone down a street food rabbit hole on TikTok, chances are your pupils have doubled in size seeing what’s served on Dhaka streets.
Bangladesh’s chaotic, garbage-riddled capital is not what the country is promoting.
They want more travelers to discover their coastline — such places as Cox’s Bazar.
This is where security forces, lifeguards, and cleanup crews are being added to keep this surprising slice of paradise feeling like the kind of beach destination travelers actually daydream about, hoping to catch the eye of thrill-seekers looking for a new passport stamp.
Cox’s Bazar is anything from “Dhaka on the beach” per se. It’s wide, sandy shores, jet ski rentals, and cheap resorts like Sayeman Beach really do prove Bangladesh has a legitimate beach destination worth bragging about.
Sam, our Senior Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 44 countries and written over 1500 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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