Get Set To Be Mind-Blown By These Most Remote Places On Earth!

Just for a few minutes, let's think less about the most visited country of the year or the top destinations you want to add in your list for 2020. Today, you are going to discover the most remote places on earth that are rarely to almost never visited. What a great experience it would be to visit these unexplored and untouched habitats, to learn more about the lifestyle and survival of the original folks still staying there! Here, we bring to you such places that are not only cultural and biologically diverse but also almost impossible to reach. Yet, you can! Check it out!

1. Tristan da Cunha, United Kingdom - Most Remotely Inhabited Island on Earth

Tristan da Cunha is over 2,000 miles away from the shores of South America and 1,700 miles away from the nearest coast, which is in South Africa. This island is said to be passed over by a total solar eclipse on December 5th, 2048 AD! Tending towards the 21st century, Tristan da Cunha faced severe damages such as the 2001 extratropical cyclone, the fire that broke out in 2008 and the massive oil spill that threatened the penguins of Nightingale Island in 2011 which were sent to Tristan da Cunha for recovery. 

With a population less than 300, it has no restaurants, hotels or even an airport and is only reachable by a 7-day boat ride. 

2. Motuo, Tibet

Motuo region is one of the most remote places on Earth. Hidden in Tibet, the region was inaccessible by road until recently, and the communities were wholly cut off from its neighbours. The locals mainly depend on farming paddy, soybean, cotton and gingelly. 

The only way to reach Motuo is to trek a frozen overland for four days, pass by many tiny community settlements for breaks, and cross a suspension bridge to reach the untouched Tibetan region filled with lush greenery.

3. Easter Island

Also known as Rapa Nui, Easter Island got its name from a Dutch explorer who found the island on Easter Sunday. Located approximately 3218 km off the Chilean coast, the island has a population of a mere 4000 with the majority of aboriginal descendants of the Rapa Nui people. Over 900 iconic statues (huge elongated stones with heads carved on the top of them) stands along the shore of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, without even a single recorded purpose of their construction. This makes it one of the biggest mysteries of the Island and attracts people from across the world travel 3701 km from Chile to make it to the Eastern Island.  

4. Pitcairn Island, South Pacific

Pitcairn Island lies in the UK's territory, thousands of kilometres away from civilisation, untouched and only accessible by boat. It is a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and only 3.5 kilometres from east to west. With only 50 people living here, it is the least populated area in the world and also one of the most remote places on Earth. In fact, the British government urged citizens to move here to increase the island's population. A former British colony, Pitcairn Island was one of the very first regions to extend voting rights to women! It was part of the Women's Suffrage way back in 1838!

5. McMurdo Station, Antarctica

We all know that Antarctica is one of the most difficult places to live in the world, and everything is as remote as anything can ever get. With no original inhabitants of its own, the only visitors are either a scientist, military member or artists. McMurdo Station lies at the southern tip of Ross Island and is considered to be one of the most remote places on earth.

Well, guess what, this freezing and the below-survivable region also houses a chapel, called the "Chapel of the Snows", it is one of the 8 Antarctic churches! McMurdo Station also hosts a GOLF COURSE. Yep, a golf course, its called the Ross Island Disc Golf Course, however not many images or info is known about this course on the internet.

6. Oymyakon, Siberia - Coldest Town in the World

With the lowest temperature of -69.2°C recorded for an inhabited location, Oymyakon in Siberia is known as the coldest town in the world. Around 470 people call it their home, surviving the three-hour short days and about 21 hours during the day in June. 

Over the past years, Oymyakon has decreased significantly in both inhabitation and geography. The regional headcount reduced from 2500 to lesser than 900 in 2018. Although constantly frozen, this region is the coldest but permanently populated location on the planet!

7. La Rinconada, Peru - Highest Town in the World

Located in the Peruvian Andes at 16,728 feet, La Rinconada is the highest town in the world and also one of the most remote places on Earth. Situated in a secluded setting of barren, snow-capped mountains, this town does not see much footfall and has a mere population of around thousands. People would have to ascend slowly into the city to avoid the mountain. 

La Rinconada is situated next to a gold mine, and a hike in gold prices became the reason behind the settlement's drastic population increase to over 30,000! Most of the employees here work for free all month, and on the 31st, they are allowed to take as much ore as they can carry on their shoulders, as means of remuneration! However, the possibility of gold in these ores is just mere luck. 

8. Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland

A home to seals, walrus, narwhals, polar bears, and Arctic foxes, Ittoqqortoormiit is one of the most remote places on Earth. Located in Greenland, the town of only 450 residents offers amazing dog-sledging and kayaking experiences to tourists. Discovered in 1925, the region has a few general stores and just one grocery shop. 

9. Longyearbyen, Norway - Northernmost Town in the World

Longyearbyen is the northernmost town in the world. There was a myth that it is illegal to die in this town, but the fact was that there are no options for burial. The weather is so cold that the body doesn't decompose, so terminally ill residents are flown to Oslo to spend their last days. Although the town has a 50-kilometre road stretch, there is no connection to neighbouring communities. The most convenient and accessible transport mode is via the Snowmobile. The city also hosts an annual film screening event called the Arctic Film Festival. 

10. The Kerguelen Islands, The “Desolation Islands”

Rocky mountains and glaciers covering most of the island with receive rain, sleet, or snow 300 days a year, Kerguelen Islands lies in the southern Indian Ocean. They are part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and is occupied by not more than a hundred French scientist and researchers. It is only accessible by ship, only four days a year. The Grande Terre is the largest island among the Desolation Islands. 

11. Cape York Peninsula, Australia

Cape York Peninsula is the northernmost tip of Australia, projecting into the Torres Strait between the Gulf of Carpentaria to the west and the Coral Sea to its east. Extending in Queensland in the South is a remote wilderness area, boasting outstanding species diversity. With the majority of eucalyptus woodland, Cape York Peninsula also contains heathlands, rainforest, grasslands, wetlands and mangrove vegetation.

12. Barrow, Alaska

When the sun sets on the Barrow of Alaska, it remains below the horizon for 65 days! Yes, it is dark for over two months. With a population of about 4,000 and the average high temperature remains below zero, it is the northernmost town in the United States. Due to extreme climate and its location, the town is isolated and surrounded by wilderness tundra and not accessible by road. Yet, Barrow is home to many research facilities that bring in jobs, and oil and gas tax revenues allow the town to enjoy modern conveniences. 

13. Siwa Oasis, Egypt

Siwa is a fertile basin, located just 25m below sea level and overflowing with olive trees and palms, representing slow-paced oasis life. This land of desert daydreams, as the seat of the oracle temple of Amon, which was already famous in the time of Herodotus and was consulted by Alexander the Great. This oasis is inhabited by Berber-speaking Sudanic peoples who live in mud-brick houses at the foot of their former strongholds. 

14. Changtang, Tibet

Changthang plateau is a high altitude plateau in western and northern Tibet extending into southeastern Ladakh, with vast highlands and giant lakes. The area represents India's Tran Himalaya region due to its cold desert environment and harsh climatic conditions in winters. Situated at an altitude of 14,600 m above sea level in Rushpo Valley, it is home to the Changpa nomads, high altitude lakes, distinct wildlife like Tibetan cranes, snow leopard and Kyang, the Tibetan wild ass. 

15. Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica

One of only two civilian settlements in the desolate lands of chilly Antarctica with only 14 homes, one bank, a post office, a school with two teachers, a gym, a church and a tiny souvenir shop. Spanish for "Star Town", Villa Las Estrellas has a population just over 100 during summers, which is larger than its fellow colony Esperanza Base. Even with the brutal landscape and isolated location, the tourist season here is quite enjoyable with snowmobiles and ski expeditions. One can also peek at many South Pole wildlife like Emperor penguins to Killer Whales. 

16. Socotra Island, Yemen

This island is so isolated that a third of its plant life is found nowhere else on the planet. The island of Socotra is a part of an archipelago in the Indian Ocean and home to dragon's blood trees, looking like flying saucers on the trunks of trees. Another one Adenium socotranum are trees that look like elephants’ legs with pink flowers on top. This isolated island has also been home to a city dating to the second century and also believed to be the original location of Garden of Eden.

17. Supai, Arizona

Featuring a year-round waterfall, the village of Supai is located in the remote reaches of the Grand Canyon. This secret corner in the Canyon is home to the small Havasupai Tribe, who have inhabited the area since AD 1300. Called as the "People of the Blue-Green Water," the village is reachable only by foot, pack animal or helicopter. Perfect for any adventure travellers, as there is a thrilling and challenging hike 12 km down from Hualapai Hilltop to the village of Supai with waterfalls in an Eden-like paradise!

18. Coober Pedy, Australia

In 1985, Mel Gibson, Tina Turner and a team of filmmakers descended onto this barren mining town in the South Australian Outback to shoot Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Literally a place out of a movie set, Coober Pedy features an otherworldly landscape. It is also home to the pricey Opal and underground dwellings! Heavy mining to find the gemstones was not easy in this deserted nowhere! With desert heat and cold, dwellings were created underground where the sandstone holds the temperature at about 24-degree celsius. This town even has underground hotels and churches!

19. Palmerston, Cook Islands

Famously known as the island at the end of the Earth, Palmerston is a tiny Pacific island and is one of the most isolated island communities in the world. Island has a grand population of 62 inhabitants, who are descended from one man - an Englishman who settled there 150 years ago. Part of Cook islands, Palmerston is visited by a supply ship twice a year and is not easy to reach as it takes around 9 days to reach via a boat from Tahiti! Thanks to the extreme journey, only the most determined of travellers can reach this tiny patch of green in the middle of thousands of kilometres of ocean.

20. Bantam, Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Cocos Islands are Australia's last untouched paradise lying in the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. Situated 2750 km northwest of Perth, Western Australia and 900 km from Christmas Island, the Cocos Keeling Islands are a group of coral islands that form two atolls. The largest village is Bantam on Home Island with a population of around 400 and features many water activities like snorkelling, diving, fishing, kitesurfing, etc.

21. Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada

The capital of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Nestled on the Baffin Island in Frobisher Bay. Iqaluit is known for its ice-capped mountains and tundra valleys. Near the city, Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park is home to caribou and Arctic foxes. Qaummaarviit Territorial Park, on a tiny island near the city, contains archaeological remains of the ancient Thule people.

22. Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

Tórshavn, on Streymoy Island, is the capital of the Faroe Islands. The place is widely known for the old town, Tinganes, filled with wooden turf-roofed. To the north, the Nordic House cultural centre offers theatre, dance and music performances in a contemporary space.

What do you think about these most remote places on Earth? Have we missed out on any place? Do these locations interest or intrigue you? Let us know in the comments below!