Air travel and modern technology have certainly made the world a smaller place and, what used to be far flung, exotic vacation destinations have become somewhat run of the mill tourist destinations instead. If you don’t mind going without your luxuries, nightlife and modern conveniences for a while, though, there are still some places left on earth that have yet to be touched by all-inclusive resorts and tour buses. These are the places that are still difficult to reach and well off the beaten track like remote islands or mountain retreats, places will you will feel like you are more of an adventurer than a mere tourist. If you want to get away from it all, and we really do mean it all, then read on, and find out more about ten of the most remote vacation destinations on the Earth.
1. La Rinconada, Peru
This is certainly not your typical vacation destination, but it is remote! La Rinconada is a small mining town, high in the Peruvian Andes. The town, which is thought to be the highest city in the world, can only be reached by a treacherous road journey via winding mountain roads that takes days to complete. The city, which is located on a glacier, has 30,000 inhabitants who are nearly all employed in mining gold from beneath the ice. This destination is one for the intrepid explorer only, though, because, if the sparse facilities in the town don’t put you off, then the altitude sickness will!
2. Cape York Peninsula, Australia
This area of Australia is so remote, that some parts of the region have only ever been seen from the air in a helicopter. Cape York Peninsula is an area of untouched wilderness that lies at the northern tip of Australia and it is one of the world’s largest remaining undeveloped areas. If you are looking for a place to visit where few have been before, then this will be it. The only people you could possibly meet here are a few of your fellow explorers and perhaps one or two of the native aboriginal inhabitants.
3. McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Although you can now reach it by plane, Antarctica is still one of the remotest places on Earth. All you will find in Antarctica are a few international research centres, like McMurdo Station. The station can be found on Ross Island, which is off the northern tip of the continent. Even though McMurdo Station is as far away from any major city as you can get, thanks to modern airstrips, scientists and workers at the station still get to enjoy modern facilities and comforts.
4. Koh Tonsay, Cambodia
Koh Tonsay, which means Rabbit Island, is a beautiful island that is only 2 square kilometres in area and lies about 5km south of Cambodia. People who have visited the island say that it is one of the few unspoilt tropical paradises that is left on earth with its wonderful tree lined white beaches and its thatched bungalows. Currently, amenities are very sparse and the island is pretty much deserted, but it is becoming more popular with tourists, so if you do want a taste of life as a castaway, then you’d better get to see Koh Tonsay soon.
5. Pitcairn Island
Pitcairn Island has a population of just fifty people, most of whom are descendants of crewmembers of the famous HMS Bounty who mutinied, so they could live out their lives on this tropical paradise. This is one of the hardest places to reach on earth, as it has no airstrip. The only way to get to Pitcairn is to take a ten day boat journey from mainland New Zealand.
6. Alert, Canada
With the village of Alert, on the northern tip of Nunavut territory in Canada, we are talking remote and we are talking virtually deserted. The village, which spends half of the year 24 hour darkness and the rest of the year in 24 hour light, has a population of only five, so if you are looking to get away from the crowds, then this is a destination for you!
7. Jau National Park, Brazil
You can really get back to nature in the Jau National Park in Brazil. The park lies in the middle of the largest rainforest in the world and can only be reached by a long journey by boat. The only locals you will meet here will be the monkeys, river dolphins and other wildlife and don’t take your iPad with you, because the nearest electricity supply is hundreds of miles away.
8. Easter Island
Well known for its massive rock sculptures, Easter Island is situated 2,000 miles from the coast of Chili in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The island is about 70 square miles in size and is the home to around 4,000 people. Even though the Island is remote by anyone’s standards, it is still relatively easy to reach, thanks to the islands international airport. Despite that though, the island still feels desolate due to its location and the fact that it was virtually striped clean of any trees centuries ago.
9. Lhasa, Tibet
Lhasa, the spiritual capital of Tibet, is as remote as the Chinese government wants it to be on the day. Sometimes they welcome tourists, sometimes they ban foreigners altogether. But, if you do get to make the trek to this beautiful city, you will find the wonderful Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and a very warm welcome for the local Tibetans, who by the way, don’t like to be called Chinese!
10. Klyuchevskoy Nature Park, Russia
On Russia’s remote Kamchatka peninsula, the intrepid adventurer can find the Klyuchevskoy Nature Park, which sits below the Klyuchevskoy Volcano. All you will find here are the local wildlife, which include wolves, foxes and sheep and, if you are brave enough, you can take a hike along the trail known as the “Path of Recent Eruptions”.
Stay happy!
