BestHard to Reach Places

Earth's southernmost continent, governed by international treaty and reached mainly on expedition ships from southern South America, with limited fly-cruise and longer East Antarctic routes from other gateways. There is no permanent civilian population; visitor landings follow strict environmental rules.

A national park in Argentine Patagonia anchored by the Perito Moreno Glacier and the granite towers above El Chaltén. Long described as unusually stable, Perito Moreno has thinned and retreated rapidly since 2019; visitors reach its main viewpoints by road from El Calafate.

A landlocked Himalayan kingdom whose international visitors generally need a visa and pay a nightly Sustainable Development Fee. Travellers may apply directly rather than booking a mandatory package, while certified guides remain required for specified sites and routes. Tiger's Nest Monastery clings to a cliff above Paro Valley.

The world's largest salt flat, sitting at 3,650 meters on the Bolivian altiplano, stretching over 10,000 square kilometers. In the rainy season a thin layer of water creates a mirror effect that reflects the sky. Reached by bus or 4WD from Uyuni town after flights to La Paz or Sucre.

The deep interior of the world's largest tropical rainforest is reached through several gateway cities and then by river boat, light aircraft, or overland routes that vary by region. Pink river dolphins, jaguars, and extraordinary birdlife inhabit vast flooded forests where road access is sparse.

The driest non-polar desert on Earth, in northern Chile at 2,400 meters elevation, centered on the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Landscapes include the Valle de la Luna, El Tatio geysers, flamingo-filled salt lakes, and one of the world's best stargazing skies. Reached by flight to Calama followed by road transfer.

A national park in Chilean Patagonia built around three granite towers rising over 2,800 meters, with the W Trek and O Circuit among the world's most celebrated multi-day hikes. Reached by flight to Punta Arenas then a four-hour bus to Puerto Natales, followed by another transfer into the park.

A Chilean territory in the southeastern Pacific, about 3,500 kilometres from the South American coast, famous for nearly 900 moai carved by the Rapa Nui people. Scheduled access is concentrated on LATAM's direct route from Santiago, so availability can be limited and should be confirmed for specific dates.

An autonomous region on the Tibetan Plateau averaging over 4,500 meters above sea level, home to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Namtso Lake, and the base camp route to Mount Everest. Foreign visitors require a Tibet Travel Permit in addition to a Chinese visa, and independent travel is not permitted — all visits must be through an authorized tour operator.

The world's largest island, an autonomous Danish territory covered 80 percent by an ice sheet up to 3 kilometers thick. The small coastal settlements — including Ilulissat near a UNESCO-listed icefjord — are connected only by air or boat. No roads link towns. The northern lights, dog-sledding, and glacier hiking are the main draws.

An autonomous Danish archipelago of 18 islands in the North Atlantic between Norway, Iceland, and Scotland, with a population of around 55,000. Sheer sea cliffs, narrow fjords, turf-roofed villages, and vast Atlantic seabird colonies — including one of Europe's largest puffin populations — define the landscape. The islands are connected by tunnel and ferry; reaching remoter islands like Gásadalur requires local road knowledge. Flights operate from Copenhagen, Edinburgh, and a handful of other European cities, but services are limited.

An extreme tectonic landscape in Ethiopia's Afar region, where the Dallol hydrothermal field forms acidic pools and vivid salt deposits and Erta Ale remains volcanically active. Access routes and official restrictions can change at short notice; specialist logistics, heat preparation, and a current security assessment are essential.

A British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic roughly 500 kilometres east of Patagonia, with a small permanent population centred on Stanley. Large penguin colonies, elephant seals, black-browed albatrosses, and a rugged moorland interior are reached through limited civil and military air links or expedition-cruise itineraries; schedules require advance confirmation.

A high-altitude region of northern India, much of it above 3,500 metres, bordered by the Himalaya and Karakoram. Flights serve Leh, while the Manali–Leh and Srinagar–Leh roads are seasonal and can close with snow or landslides. Permits apply to specified border areas, including routes near Pangong Lake, and conditions should be checked locally.

The world's fourth-largest island, separated from the African mainland for around 88 million years, with roughly 90% of its wildlife found nowhere else — including all wild lemur species, most of the world's chameleons, and the baobab-lined Avenue of the Baobabs near Morondava. The road network is limited and frequently impassable after rains; reaching remote national parks like Tsingy de Bemaraha requires long drives on rough tracks, and domestic flights are the only practical option for much of the island. International connections run through Paris, Nairobi, and a handful of regional hubs.

A vast landlocked country between Russia and China where nomadic herder culture survives largely unchanged, centered on ger camps across open grassland and the Gobi's sand dunes and saxaul forests. The Flaming Cliffs yielded the first confirmed dinosaur eggs. Ulaanbaatar is one of the world's most isolated capitals, and most interior destinations require long overland drives on unpaved tracks.

Considered the world's oldest desert at around 55 million years old, running 2,000 kilometers along Africa's Atlantic coast. The Sossusvlei dunes — some reaching 300 meters — and the eerie dead trees of Deadvlei are the visual centerpiece. Reached by fly-in from Windhoek or long self-drive on unsealed roads through one of the world's least densely populated countries.

A 12-to-14-day round trek from Lukla (accessed by a famously short mountain airstrip) to the 5,364-meter South Base Camp at the foot of Mount Everest, passing through Sherpa villages, Buddhist monasteries, and the high-altitude hub of Namche Bazaar. The trek requires a Sagarmatha National Park permit and crosses two high passes at altitude.

A Norwegian Arctic archipelago around 78° North, between the mainland and the North Pole. Longyearbyen has a commercial airport, but travel beyond the settlements requires suitable polar-bear deterrents; the Governor recommends firearms and guided trips for visitors without the necessary training. The midnight sun and polar night shape a highly seasonal travel calendar.

A mountainous interior home to hundreds of distinct tribal groups, many maintaining traditional dress, face paint, and cultural practices little changed for centuries. The annual Goroka and Hagen cultural shows bring dozens of tribes together. Infrastructure is limited — most highland communities are accessible only by small plane or multi-day foot trek through dense jungle and steep ridgelines.

A remote peninsula in Russia's Far East with hundreds of volcanoes, extensive geothermal fields, and major brown-bear habitat. Wilderness access from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky commonly requires specialist road, boat, or helicopter logistics. Many governments currently advise against travel to Russia, so entry rules and advisories must be checked before planning.

A sub-Antarctic British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, reached by sea because there is no airport. South Georgia holds several of the world's largest king-penguin populations, vast elephant-seal breeding grounds, and Ernest Shackleton's grave at Grytviken.

Often described as the world's most remote permanently inhabited island, Tristan da Cunha lies about 2,800 kilometres from South Africa. There is no airport; approved visitors travel on a small number of scheduled ships from Cape Town, a voyage of roughly a week in suitable conditions, and must arrange permission before departure.

Tuvalu is a Polynesian island nation of nine low-lying islands and atolls in the central Pacific, among the world's smallest and least visited countries. Funafuti is the international air gateway, with limited Fiji Airways services whose Suva and Nadi frequencies change by season. Most land is only a few metres above sea level and highly exposed to coastal flooding and sea-level rise.

A remote British Overseas Territory of four islands in the South Pacific, with a small permanent population on Pitcairn descended partly from Bounty mutineers and their Polynesian companions. There is no airport; visitors connect through Mangareva in French Polynesia and continue by scheduled passenger-supply ship, with dates set well in advance.

A UNESCO World Heritage island in the Arabian Sea with exceptionally high plant endemism, including the dragon's blood tree. Flight routes and entry arrangements are limited and change frequently; several governments advise against all travel to Yemen, explicitly including Socotra.

Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia and Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe face one another along the Zambezi River, far downstream from Victoria Falls. Seasonal roads and small airstrips serve remote camps; guided canoe and walking safaris operate under strict wildlife-safety rules.