Away from the continent's tried-and-true destinations are countless spectacular places that the crowds have yet to find. Our correspondents combed 11 countries, from India to Japan, to turn up 20 experiences far from the beaten path—and well worth the journey. Be among the first to enjoy them.

CULTURE
SRI LANKA
Type of Experience: Polonnaruwa (Buddhist Art)
Why To Go: This historic Sinhalese capital offers a glimpse into the ancient heart of Buddhism.
Number of Days: 7
Min. Cost/Day: $$
Comfort Level: High

The well-preserved ruins of Sri Lanka's medieval capital of Polonnaruwa emerge from a giant wooded park like a lost city in an Indiana Jones movie. Built in harmony with the gardens that surround it, the city was erected in the twelfth century by King Parakramabuha I, who commissioned many of the stone carvings of voluptuous maidens and mythical animals that surround the remains of the great palace. The Vatadage, a circular shrine built to house the tooth of Lord Buddha, is a fine example of Buddhist Stupa architecture, featuring intricately carved stone figures standing at its entrances, ornate semicircular steps known as moonstones, and four outward-facing Buddha statues. For all the city's ancient grandeur, its highlight must be the enormous standing and sleeping Buddhas, the latter hewn from a single slab of lilac-gray granite. On the outskirts of Minneriya-Giritale National Park, 30 minutes away, luxury hideaway Deer Park has one-and two-story cottages and an amazing Ayurvedic spa (94-27-224-6272; coloursofangsana.com/deerpark; cottages, $175–$265). Polonnaruwa is an easy day-trip from Vil Uyana, a luxury eco-resort near the sacred ruins of Sigiriya Rock (94-11-554-5711; viluyana.com; doubles, $425–$486).

When to go: June through September.

How to go: Hire a car and driver in Colombo to avoid long, wearisome cross-country train rides and chaotic public buses. Arranges can be made through Jetwing Eco Holidays (jetwingeco.com) or United Holiday (unitedholidays.lk).

Don't Miss: Sunsets over the Sea of Parakrama—a vast twelfth-century reservoir that dominates the ancient city's western edge.
–Charlotte Shalgosky

NEPAL
Type of Experience: Mustang (Ruins)
Why to go: For a rare journey to a small kingdom of undisturbed Tibetan culture.
Number of Days: 23
Min. Cost/Day: $$
Comfort Level: Low

Five centuries ago, the kingdom of Mustang, on Nepal's border with Tibet, was a major center on the thriving salt-and-wool trade route between present-day India and China. Around 1790, the ancestors of the current king cannily struck a deal with the ruler of Nepal, making Mustang part of that country. Today, Mustang's monarch—who speaks only Tibetan—retains his title but only has the power to resolve local disputes. The area served as the base for U.S.-funded anti-Maoist guerillas until the 1970s, and foreigners weren't permitted to enter the kingdom until 1992. Now, only about a thousand hardy tourists visit each year. The trade traffic and the wealth that Mustang historically enjoyed made the region a center for the study of Buddhism, leaving its other-worldy alpine desert terrain honeycombed with cave settlements. The landscape is peppered with ancient monasteries, ghompas (domed Buddhist monuments that often contain relics), and ruined fortresses. This is not a cheap or easy trip, but it is one of the last opportunities to see Tibetan culture undisturbed by outside influences. There are no hotels or guesthouses, so camping with—and paying for—an approved government liaison officer and porters is the only option. Tour operator Mountain Experience runs 21-day treks to Mustang (mountainexperience.info; $3,457 per person, including transportation from Kathmandu). In two years, when a road through the area is completed, travel will undoubtedly be easier, but the character of the region and its people will be changed forever.