They're Tough to Reach, But They're Gorgeous: World's Most Remote Destinations
By AFAR contributors
There’s an off-the-beaten-path adventure all around us, but for those who really want to discover something entirely new, here are a few beautiful places where you’ll leave the trail far behind—and that’s only the beginning…
Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar
(Courtesy: AFAR)
Having driven from Morondava to this remote row of Baobabs 45 minutes out of town, I took this picture at sunset as the day came to an end.
I thought why not come back tomorrow for sunrise, so at 4 in the morning we arranged a driver to take us in the dark back to this isolated road and try to capture a sunrise shot. I have also posted the sunrise shot. It just goes to show you have to be willing to get up early and you never know what you’ll see and experience. Both times were wonderful.
Nyi La Pass, Upper Mustang, Nepal
(Courtesy: AFAR)
Reporting live from Upper Mustang: We’ve successfully hiked in and out of this remote, inaccessible region in north-central Nepal over terrain that was variously bleak and spectacular. We traversed rocky, sandy trails (I use that word loosely) through shale and limestone cliffs with only the occasional, teasing glimpse of a snow-covered peak. On the seventh day of walking 6-7 hours per day, the weather turned against us and we battled howling winds and freezing rain for the better part of an afternoon. Over the past week your faithful reporter has endured blisters, sunburn, intestinal parasites, an upper respiratory infection and a mild concussion (damn monastery door frames built for short people). Despite the aforementioned maladies there were some really bright moments along the way and the Tibetan/Nepali families we stayed with welcomed us into their humble kitchens and homes. I return to modern city life with a renewed appreciation for the simple comforts of indoor plumbing and reliable electricity.
(Pictured: a herd of goats grazes at 4,010 meters over Nyi La Pass – the highest point in the Kingdom of Mustang.)
Related: Talk About Getting Away from It All: the World’s Most Remote Vacay Spots
Blue Eye, Albania
(Courtesy: AFAR)
This place is in the middle of nowhere in Southern Albania. There is no bus stop. You just have to motion to the driver to pull over at the side of the road when you see a promising-looking dirt trail. You take that trail off the main road, all the time assuming that you couldn’t possibly be in the right place. And then, almost inexplicably, there is a sign for the Blue Eye and a guard, sitting in a booth along the road. He’ll collect a few coins from you, and then you keep walking. If you’re lucky, a truck driver or local tourist will pick you up along the stretch of windy, dusty road that weaves along the side of a body of water that gets ever clearer as you move along.
At the end of the trek, you’ll find the clearest, bluest water you’ve ever seen, and if you’re lucky you’ll be able to eat on the little floating deck they’ve installed in the river that flows out of the Eye. The restaurant serves heaping plates of lamb ribs, grilled over charcoal and big bottles of cold Albanian beer, all for a few dollars. A short walk up a dirt path from the restaurant lies the main destination: a coldwater spring of unknown depth and unbelievable color that bubbles up into a green little grotto. It’s often too cold and fast for a swim, but it’s refreshing to put your feet into and beautiful to hang around. There is also a small hotel for people who want to spend the night or can’t manage to catch a bus onward before nightfall.
Veerabhadra temple, India
(Courtesy: AFAR)
The Veerabhadra temple in Lepakshi, India (also simply known as the Lepakshi Temple), isn’t the easiest place to get to. It’s a 120 km journey north of Bangalore through rural villages. Your best bet for getting there is to hire a driver for the day, as our group of four did.
It’s worth the travel effort to see the intricate sculptures created by the artisans of the Vijayanagara empire. There are still well preserved ceiling paintings, dating from the 16th century as well as a giant Shiva Lingam and Nandi (or bull) statue nearby.
During the week you’ll have the temple mostly to yourself, as we did. It’s well worth chatting with one of the temple priests who will tell you about the fascinating history of the temple and offer a blessing for your loved ones.
Related: Go Here Now: the Hottest Destinations for 2015
Ider River, Mongolia
(Courtesy: AFAR)
There aren’t that many rivers in Mongolia, but for some odd reason, every one of the handful of bridges we came across were crooked and in all the wrong directions. For some other odd reason, although every bridge was wide enough for us to drive over, we had to cross on foot to get the other side. We couldn’t help but laugh under the circumstances! All in a week’s journey across the Mongolia steppes.
Vintgar Gorge, Slovenia
(Courtesy: AFAR)
There is nothing like the power of water. What it’s done along the one mile trail through the Radovna River gorge is an engineering masterpiece. Built on wood scaffolding, the trail winds its way down river, crisscrossing the current. The canyon walls stretch 300 feet skyward in some spots, enhancing the remoteness of the experience. The trail only drops about 1000 feet in the mile walk, making it easy for most hikers. The railings and decking are all impeccably maintained and blend beautifully into the geologic landscape. The trail ends at incredible cascade called Sum Falls, where the river bottom drops out leaving a 50-foot water feature that is truly the cherry on top.
The Vintgar Gorge trail is also easy to get to if you’re staying in Bled. Only a few miles from town near the hamlet of Zgornje Gorje, you could spend the day walking the eight-mile roundtrip if so inclined. Or, rent a bike in Bled and ride out to the trail. We hiked in May and did not see another soul on the trail. The tranquility was deafening; the water, a pulsing liquid crystal. Slovenia is one of the more pristine places on the planet and the Vintgar Gorge punctuates the beauty. Don’t just stand there; get out for a walk.
Tuamotus, French Polynesia
(Courtesy: AFAR)
The Tuamotu archipelago – 78 coral reef atolls spread north and east of Tahiti – are just remote enough that they’ve not been spoiled by excessive tourism. There are a few high-end hotels, but just a few. Instead of tourism, the local economy is still focused on businesses that go back centuries: Fishing. Coconuts. And black pearls. Lots of black pearls.
Machu Picchu, Peru
(Courtesy: AFAR)
To celebrate my husband’s 40th birthday, I planned a trip to Peru for the two of us, scheduling our itinerary so we would spend the day of his actual birthday at the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu. I wanted him to always be able to remember exactly what he was doing on his 40th birthday.
They only allow a limited number of people per day to hike to the top of the Wayna Picchu mountain overlooking the ruins, so we rushed to be the first two in so we could have some time at the summit to take in the view before crowds arrived. We succeeded and reached the summit before anyone else, giving us about 20 minutes alone to enjoy the amazing birds-eye view of the magical Machu Picchu ruins.
The weather started out with heavy rain but, luckily, the rain stopped and the clouds parted as soon as we reached the top of Wayna Picchu, allowing for ideal views. The weather was perfect for the rest of the day. I think my husband and I both will remember for years to come exactly where we were on the morning he turned 40 – Machu Picchu from above is not a sight I’ll soon forget.
Related: #RealTravel: My Friends Bailed, But I Still Mastered Machu Picchu
Dynjandi, Iceland
(Courtesy: AFAR)
Twenty kilometers east of Hrafnseyri, at the point where Route 60 weaves around the northeastern corner of Arnarfjörður, the impressive Dynjandi waterfall plunges over a 100 meter-high clifftop into the fjord at Dynjandisvogur inlet, forming a triangular cascade roughly 30 meters wide at its top spreading to over 60 meters at its bottom.
Below the main waterfall a series of five smaller chutes carry the waters of the Dynjandisá to the sea. Lit by the low sun, it’s an incredibly pretty place to camp out on a summer night, though the waterfall is famously noisy – dynjandi means “the thundering one.”
For us, this day was the rainiest, coldest, and windiest in our entire two-week tour. But that is Iceland, very unpredictable. I still enjoyed it, it is a must see while in the Westfjord. I, for sure, want to go back and hopefully enjoy better weather. It’s the perfect place to camp or have a picnic. It’s away from everything and everybody. You’re only companions would be the scattered sheep.
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