Top 5: Most Remote Destinations in the World

The world is shrinking and sometimes it feels like there is nowhere to truly get away from all of the hustle and bustle. There are some places off the beaten path or barely on it that retain their appeal by simply being difficult to reach.

We are going to take you on a tour of the top five most remote and beautiful destinations across the world, from isolated Arctic islands to secluded canyons — you’ll have your bags packed before you finish reading the list.

A photo posted by john bozinov (@johnbozinov) on Jan 11, 2017 at 9:55am PST

Deception Island, Antarctica

The island north of the Antarctic Peninsula is the partially submerged caldera of an active volcano. Despite the name, the island has provided a safe harbor for plenty of sailors tossed around at sea. The geo-thermal heated water makes it one of the few places in Antarctica you can swim in the water. Explore the largest cemetery in Antarctica or the remains of Hektor Whaling Station, both protected as Antarctic Treaty Historic Sites. The island, quite remote, is often reached by first getting to Buenos Aires. Then hop on a regional airline or prepare yourself for a 50-hour bus ride to Ushuaia. Once there, you have to secure overnight passage through Drake to the South Shetlands.

A photo posted by National Geographic Your Shot (@natgeoyourshot) on Jan 13, 2017 at 8:56am PST

Lake Baikal, Russia

Located in south-central Siberia, not far from the Mongolian border, Lake Baikal is surrounded by mountains, forests and wild rivers. Baikal is a breathtaking area of all-natural beauty. It’s the world’s oldest and deepest freshwater lake, which contains roughly 20 percent of the world’s unfrozen surface fresh water — containing more than all the Great Lakes combined. Lake Baikal is one of the clearest lakes and thought to be the oldest. Be sure to check out the species of plants and animals that call the lake home. Two-thirds of more than 2,000 species can be found nowhere else in the world. Access the lake from Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude and Slyudyanka; many travelers opt for the Trans-Siberian Railroad.

A photo posted by Visit Svalbard (@visitsvalbard) on Jan 13, 2017 at 2:24am PST

Svalbard, Norway

The 24,000-square-mile island is located above the Arctic Circle. Those living on this territory of Norway look forward to months of continuous daylight or darkness. A majority of the 2,700 residents live in the town of Longyearbyen and consist of miners and scientists. The island, despite the inhospitable climate, is home to the Global Seed Vault, an underground store of the world’s plant seeds kept safe in case of a catastrophe.

Motuo, China

Motuo is the most remote county in China, as it is the only country completely inaccessible by road. The attempt to create the road existed for two days and carried a total of four vehicles, one of which got stuck and subsequently abandoned, eventually swallowed up by the jungle. The only way to access the county is via a 200-meter-long suspension cable 100 meters in the air. Necessary supplies like food and medicine have to be carried in and out by hand.

A photo posted by Cheyenne Kline (@mochacheylatte) on Jan 8, 2017 at 12:43pm PST

Supai, Ariz.

Who would’ve though the continental United States would make it on the list of remote desintations? Supai, a beautiful town with only 500 residents, is a perfect getaway. No roads go to Supai because it is located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, so it is only accessible by helicopter, hiking or mule. Supai is the only place in America where mail is still delivered by mule, which occasionally causes problems. The 2000 United States census missed the town entirely and recorded its population as zero.