These handy travel references cover much more than just the main attractions.

World travelers know there is a shortlist of essential tourist activities — snapping a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower, for example, or riding a camel to the Pyramids of Giza. Globetrotters don’t need a guidebook to tell them about these must-dos.

However, what about finding a pastry shop with the most delectable chocolate crepe in all of Paris, or taking a sunset cruise to the mouth of the Nile River? Excursions like these truly define our travels. Incidentally, they’re also the hardest to find on our own.

Rough Guides give us a chance to explore the road less traveled. Intended to be the ideal travel companion, these useful compendiums cover more than 200 destinations around the globe and are packed with tons of useful features. Most importantly, they offer helpful guides to discover places beyond the main attractions. There are helpful bonus materials, as well — such as rip-proof color maps and tutorials for conversational local language.

Rough Guides are available in bookstores worldwide for $10-25. You can also purchase any volume you wish by visiting the company’s on-line travel shop.