For those looking for a bit of adventure in their travels, it often means looking beyond our major cities to more remote places. While remote destinations 05/take a bit more time and effort to reach, they almost always offer unique once in a lifetime experiences. Get ready to explore the hidden corners of the world as we bring you the world’s most remote destinations that offer truly off the beaten path holidays.
As with any remote destination holiday, it pays to be protected with comprehensive travel insurance should you require medical evacuation to reach a suitable hospital for treatment of injuries or illness.
Svalbard, Norway
Get ready to explore the high Arctic where you will be sharing your holiday with wild polar bears. The main settlement of the Svalbard islands is Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost settlement with a sizeable population. Longyearbyen can be reached by direct flights from Oslo during the summer months and Tromsø throughout the year.
Some Norwegian cruises also take in Svalbard when the weather allows. A summer visit means 24 hours of perpetual daylight while winter offers the chance to see the magical northern lights. It’s a place where reindeer roam the streets and the mode of transportation is snowmobiles and giant snowcats. Book a dog sledding adventure or opt for a boat trip in search of walruses, whales, and polar bears. Svalbard is the closest thing to experiencing the North Pole.
Easter Island, Chile
Also referred to as Rapa Nui, Easter Island is the Polynesian Island made famous by its large moai statues. Easter Island belongs to Chile, some 3,500km away, making this one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this island offers a wealth of archaeological wonders to explore including moai sites such as Ahu Tongariki and Rano Raraku. There are caves to explore, ancient petroglyphs to seek out, and an underwater world filled with fish and sea turtles. Get around the island by renting a bike, car, quad bike, or on horseback. While the island 05/be isolated, there are a range of hotels and restaurants to choose from and beautiful beaches such as Anakena Beach to relax on. You’ll find daily flights offered from Santiago.
Faroe Islands
An autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, few people outside Europe have heard of these islands. Although situated somewhat remotely in the North Atlantic Ocean, the islands can be accessed by a number of destinations including Reykjavik, Edinburgh, Copenhagen, and even Barcelona during peak season.
There are 18 islands to explore which are linked by a great network of roads, bridges, subsea tunnels, and ferries. Most of the Faroese population is situated around the town of Tórshavn, where you’ll find great restaurants and shops. Outside the city lies a breathtakingly beautiful natural landscape filled with waterfalls, rolling green hills, and towering seaside cliffs. A visit to the island of Mykines is a must, where you’ll enjoy a hike through scores of adorable puffins as you make your way up to the scenic lighthouse. The islands resemble a smaller scale version of Iceland without the tourism.
Pitcairn Island
For those really wanting an ultra-remote destination, Pitcairn Island takes a bit of a herculean effort to reach. One of four volcanic islands that make up a British Overseas Territory, Pitcairn Island is only home to around a handful of people. The process of getting to the island involves a flight from Auckland to Tahiti and then a flight from Tahiti to Mangareva. You will then need to catch a ferry to a passenger-cargo ship where you will board for a 32 hour ocean crossing to Pitcairn.
Once on the island, you’ll find home stay experiences that provide the opportunity to really take in the culture of the local people. There are also a limited number of private self-contained units. While there isn’t a wide variety of things to do on the island, you can enjoy compete solitude as you hike along picturesque hiking trails searching for rare birds. There are also shipwrecks to explore, a small beach, fishing, and even a single Galapagos tortoise named Mrs. Turpin to visit that was left on the island in the early 20th century.
Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland
If Greenland itself wasn’t remote enough, the impossible to pronounce Ittoqqortoormiit is sure to please your adventurous spirit. Greenland’s most isolated town, Ittoqqortoormiit can be reached by a helicopter flight from the nearby Nerlerit Inaat Airport. Nerlerit Inaat can be reached during the summer by limited flights from Iceland and within Greenland.
Enjoy the world’s largest national park and fjord systems on your doorstep which is home to polar bears, walruses, seals, musk oxen, and narwhals. Make your way around the area by boat, dogsled, and snowmobile as you experience Greenland’s smallest town. Both cross-country skiing as well as downhill ski runs got expert skiers is available to visitors looking for remote outdoor recreation.