Because popular tourist hotspots have so much traffic coming in and going out, it makes traveling to there a breeze.
But for your next trip, how about taking the road less traveled to a place where the journey is difficult and few have braved?
Here are some of the most remote and hardest places in the world to get to, but we promise are well worth the effort!
Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan
Deep in the Himalayas lies the country of Bhutan – population 750,000. Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan sits on the edge of a cliff at 3,000 feet above the valley floor.
There is only one international airport in the small country – and it’s nestled at 7,333 feet above sea level!
And just to make the airport even less accessible, it’s surrounded by 16,000-foot Himalayan peaks, making only a select group of pilots able to land such a dangerous strip.
Unlike Amsterdam or Spain, which have experienced such high volumes of tourists that they now limit incoming guests, Bhutan has always kept it low key and didn’t even allow tourists until 1974.
In fact, to visit Bhutan, you have to obtain a visa, book your tour through a Bhutanese tour operator, and pay around $200 a day for daily expenses (including a guide).
So why go through all of this trouble?
Because Paro Taktsang, as the locals call Tiger’s Nest, is a sacred Buddhist temple built 10,000 feet above sea level and offers a breathtaking view of the Himalayas.
The two hour hike through the mountainous terrain – which includes crossing a bridge 200 feet above a sacred pool – will be well worth experiencing the life and culture of this remote and peaceful country.
Baia do Sancho, Brazil
Some would say all beaches are created equally, but you’ll be singing a different tune when you reach the shores of Baia do Sancho.
The small Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha hosts what many have ranked as the world’s best beach.
Catching an hour flight off of Brazil’s mainland to reach this tropical escape is not an easy task with only two cities, Recife and Natal, offering transportation.
In addition, you must visit the office of Parque Nacional Marinho de Fernando de Noronha to purchase a $53 pass beforehand.
And when you get off the airplane, you better be wearing hiking boots instead of flip-flops because “you have to walk down a lengthy wooden walkway, climb down a vertical ladder through a small opening before squeezing through a narrow tunnel between rock faces, before climbing down another steep ladder and walkway to the beach,” reports Insider.
The path is so narrow that park rangers on either end have to coordinate with one another because visitors can only cross one at a time.
However, once you reach the beach – with only a few other brave souls basking in their reward – you’ll see why you chose Baia do Sancho over your typical summer getaway.
With no commercialism, infrastructure, or crowds to hinder the sounds of nature, you’ll feel like the only person in the world privileged enough to wade in its crystal blue waters.
Ciudad Perdida, Columbia
Deep within Columbia’s thick jungle in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta lies Ciudad Perdida – which is Spanish for “Lost City.”
Built long before the ancient city of Machu Picchu, the Tayrona people constructed this unique architecture that still stands today.
To witness the wonder of this ancient civilization, you’ll have to endure a long, treacherous hike that can take anywhere from 3-6 days depending on skill and obstruction of nature.
Afar magazine reports that the obstacles standing in your way may include: “Biblical downpours. Inescapable heat. Insects that penetrate the skin and require several forceful tugs to release.”
It does’t seem like anything could be worth forcefully dislodging an insect embedded in your skin, but veterans attest that the destination is far worth the journey.
With the rich green landscape, isolated terrain, and the feel of a vibrant past civilization, you will deepen your perspective for parts unknown.
Deception Island, Antarctica
Antarctica is home to some of the world’s most marvelous animals like the emperor penguin, the Weddell seal, and the colossal squid.
The conditions of this frozen landscape is too harsh for many species, including humans, to survive. But from November through March, tourists can visit this part of the world shut off from busy commutes and cell phone towers.
To get to Deception Island, you must first take a flight to Buenos Aires, then Ushuaia, Argentina, followed by a two-day journey across the infamous Drake Passage.
Deception Island is actually the crater of an active volcano – and it’s the only place in the world where you can watch penguins in their natural habitat while soaking in the natural hot springs of an active volcano.
But sorry to disappoint, Morgan Freeman will not be narrating the movements of your new waddling friends.
While catching a flight to New York City or Orlando may be the easier thing to do for your next vacation, it won’t give you the individualized experience a remote destination can offer. Plus, you’ll get the most unique Instagram photos!
So go find your secret cave, cliff, or shore, and forge your own path to vacation.
Please tell us the most remote location you’ve ever visited and how it differed from other travel experiences!
