25 Of The Most Remote Places In The World

Found in the south coast of Iceland, the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago is a great example of a beautiful and remote place. Inhabited by 4,000 locals, this archipelago is every solitude seeker´s paradise.

Boasting the title of the highest elevation human habitation in the world, La Rinconada is a Peruvian city perched 5,100 m (more than 16,700 feet) above sea level. As this secluded city has no plumbing and no sanitation system, its 50,000 inhabitants have been struggling with environmental problems and pollution from nearby gold mines.

Even China, the world´s most populous country, has some places where you hardly encounter any companions. Located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Medog County was the only Chinese county without road access until 2010. But even then, Medog with its just 10,000 inhabitants has remained a very deserted and secluded place.

Located in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean coast of Namibia, the Skeleton Coast is one of the most extreme, isolated, driest and scariest places. One of the very few indigenous tribes capable of living in this inhospitable land is the Himba people; semi-nomadic hunters and gatherers.

Found in the northern part of the Australian state of Queensland, the Cape York Peninsula is considered one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth. A natural habitat to numerous animal and plant species many of which are endemic to this unique region, the peninsula is also home to some 18,000 mostly aboriginal people.

Also known as the Desolation Islands for their sheer distance from any civilization, the Kerguelen Islands are islands in the southern Indian Ocean. Situated more than 3,300 km (2,000 miles) away from the nearest populated location, the islands have no permanent population, hosting just a research center occasionally used by French scientists.

The second most populous country in the world, India, can also boast some sparsely inhabited places hidden in mountains far away from the bustling Indian metropolises. Munnar, a little town in the state of Kerala in southern India is definitely one of these places. Set in unspoiled nature, the town is notable for its picturesque tea gardens.

One of the northernmost and coldest inhabited areas in the world, Ittoqqortoormiit is a settlement in Eastern Greenland. Known for its unique wildlife, including polar bears, muskoxen, and seals, the region is also home to just about 450 people who mainly make their living through whale and polar bear hunting.

Located in the eastern part of the Russian state Sakha Republic, Oymyakon is an isolated village with about 500 inhabitants. Scourged by local extreme subarctic climate, the village holds the title of the lowest recorded temperature for any permanently inhabited location on Earth. On February 6, 1933, a temperature of −67.7 °C (−90 °F) was recorded here.

Hidden in a desert in South Australia, some 850 kilometers (530 mi) from Adelaide, Coober Peddy is a little town of about 1,700 inhabitants. Despite its small size and extreme remoteness, the town is known in Australia and many other countries as it is the largest opal mining area in the world. The town is also famous for its below-ground residences, called “dugouts”, where the locals stay during the scorching daytime heat.

Hanga Roa is the main town and harbor of the Chilean province Easter Island. The town’s population of about 3,300 represents 87% of the population of the entire island. Located between the extinct volcanoes of Terevaka and Rano Kau, the town also features Mataveri International Airport, the world´s most remote airport.

Situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, some 2,400 km (1,500 mi) from Saint Helena, 2,800 km (1,750 mi) from South Africa, and 3,360 km (2,090 mi) from South America, Tristan da Cunha is the most remote inhabited island in the world. A part of the British Overseas Territory, the island is home to 300 people, mostly farmers, and craftsmen.

Surrounded by 13 four-thousand mountains (i.e. mountains that are at least 4,000 meters or 13,000 ft above sea level), Saas-Fee is a little mountain village in Southern Switzerland. Getting there is not easy as no cars are allowed to enter the town (they have to be parked in special car parks outside); only small electric vehicles can be operated on the streets.

Located in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, Manacapuru is a remote municipality hidden in the Amazon Rainforest. Lying about 80 km (50 mi) upstream from Manaus, the state´s capital, this region has 100,000 inhabitants. Covering an area of over 7,300 sq km kilometers (2,800 sq mi), Manacapuru is also a natural home to some of the most popular aquarium fish.

Found in the South Atlantic Ocean, Bouvet Island is considered the most remote island in the world. Occupying an area of just 49 square kilometers (19 sq mi), the island has no permanent population and serves occasionally as a scientific and research base. About 93 percent of the island is covered by a glacier.

One of a few villages providing access to the extremely inhospitable Simpson Desert, Innamincka is a tiny settlement in north-east South Australia. Located hundreds of miles from the closest towns, the settlement is home to no more than 15 people who constantly struggle with the local unbearably hot and dry climate. Not to mention the frequent sand storms.

A part of the Shetland Islands, Foula is one of the most remote permanently inhabited islands of the UK. With an area of just 5 square miles (13 square kilometers), the island is home to only 38 people who mostly make their living by farming, keeping sheep and also ornithological tourism as Foula provides natural habitats to numerous bird species.

A research center and the main community in Antarctica, the world´s most isolated continent, the McMurdo Station is operated by the US through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National Science Foundation. Up to 1,258 residents can be accommodated at the station, but they still have to deal with the extreme Antarctic climate.

Located on the Adak Island, Alaska, Adak is the westernmost municipality of the US. Inhabited by just over 300 people, the town lies in sub-polar oceanic climate zone, characterized by persistently overcast skies, moderated temperatures, high winds, and frequent cyclonic storms. With 263 rainy days per year, Adak has the second highest precipitation in the US.

The largest settlement on Cocos Islands, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, the Bantam Village is where most of the approximately 600 residents of Cocos Islands live. Lying in the tropical latitude, the Bantam Village experiences warm and constant temperatures all year round.

Found in Coconino County, Arizona, Supai is one of the most isolated towns in the US. With no roads leading to the town, the only way to get there is to take a helicopter, hike or ride a mule. The mail is also delivered by mule, making Supai the only place in the US where mail is carried out this way. The population of the town is about 200.

Situated approximately halfway between Norway and Iceland, the Faroe Islands have been a self-governing country within the Danish Realm since 1948. With a population of just under 50,000, these remote islands are famous for the fact there are more sheep than people living there. Another animal typical of this secluded country is the Faroese puffin.

Located on the south coast of Baffin Island, Iqaluit is the capital of the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Home to less than 7,000 people, it has the distinction of being the smallest Canadian capital and the only capital that is not connected to other settlements by a highway. Due to its remoteness, it is generally only accessible by aircraft or boat.

Laura is an island and a little town situated in the Marshall Islands, an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. At approximately 10 feet (3 meters) above sea level, Laura has one of the highest elevations of any islands in the archipelago. It is one of a few places where you can enjoy amazing beaches and pristine nature without having to share it with crowds of tourists.

Located about midway between continental Norway and the North Pole, Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Covering an area of over 61,000 sq km (almost 24,000 sq mi) but inhabited by just about 2,600 people, the archipelago is mostly covered by glaciers. Its unique location and remoteness make it a great spot to watch the Northern Lights.