In today’s world, flying across the globe in just a few hours seems ordinary. Yet, some places remain so remote that they are almost untouched. These areas lack infrastructure and face harsh environmental conditions. Many are shielded by natural barriers like forests, oceans, or mountains. Even in the modern age, the following 10 regions remain isolated.
10. Mauritania, Tichitt
The Sahara Desert is one of the least populated areas on Earth, with about one person per square mile. The heat and lack of rainfall make survival here difficult. However, in Mauritania, on the Tagant Plateau, there is an oasis that has not only survived but also thrived.
Tichitt, sometimes referred to as Tichitt, is a semi-abandoned town with around 5,000 residents. Its history dates back to 2000 BC, making it one of the oldest villages in West Africa. 
Although now rather inconspicuous, this isolated village once flourished as a hub for salt trade. Salt was transported across the continent by camel caravans. However, with the advent of steamships and trains, Tichitt lost its importance. Now, the locals rely on farming date palms and livestock. Modern infrastructure is almost non-existent. The village is connected by a dirt road and an unpaved runway to the regional capital, Tidjikja.
9. Russia, Ayonsky
Although Russia has over 145 million people, most live in the European part of the country, leaving much of the land sparsely populated.
Ayonsky (Айон) is one of the most remote settlements in Russia. Located in Siberia, it has around 200 residents. It is part of the Chukchi Autonomous Okrug, Russia’s easternmost federal subject.
For nearly two thousand years, the Chukchi tribe has inhabited the island, relying on reindeer herding. The locals did not have contact with outsiders until 1646.
Before the 1940s, Ayonsky was only inhabited during the short summer. Later, the Soviet Union made it a permanent settlement for reindeer industry collectivization. Today, Ayonsky is accessible only by helicopter or a 120-kilometer-long winter ice road.
8. Greenland, Siorapaluk
If Greenland were an independent country, it would have the lowest population density in the world, with just 0.14 people per square kilometer. It is home to some of the most isolated communities on Earth.
One of them is Siorapaluk (also called Hiurapaluk), the northernmost settlement in Greenland, located less than 1,400 kilometers from the Arctic. Due to nearly year-round freezing temperatures, the population of this small village fluctuates between 90 and 40 people. Most of the residents are descendants of the Inughuit tribe who moved from Canada in the late 19th century.
Siorapaluk relies on fishing and hunting to survive. Despite its small size, it has a power plant, grocery store, satellite connection, telephone service, and a church that also serves as a school and public library.
While the village is equipped with unexpected modern facilities, it remains one of the few places preserving traditional Inuit lifestyles. For visitors hoping to explore this remote and authentic place, getting there is a challenge. It can only be accessed by helicopter from Kangerlussuaq, dog sled in winter, or boat in summer.
7. Suriname, Pelelutep
Suriname has the highest forest cover in the world, with 97.3% of its land covered by the Amazon rainforest. Most people live in coastal areas, particularly in the capital, Paramaribo.
In the forests of Sipaliwini, there are many small villages. Pelelutep is the most remote. Founded by Dutch colonial authorities and American missionaries in the 1960s, it has faced many challenges, particularly during the civil war of the 1980s.
Now, Pelelutep has over 600 residents, mostly of the indigenous Tiriyó tribe. The village has a school, solar power, and a shaman training center that fills in for conventional medicine.
6. India, Langbak
India’s population reached 1.428 billion in 2023. Despite the crowded cities, the mountainous regions, especially in Ladakh, India, have small isolated villages.
Langbak is one such village. It has about 250 residents, most of whom cater to visiting mountaineers. The village is part of Hemis National Park, home to endangered species, including snow leopards. Langbak is known as the “Snow Leopard Capital of the World,” with the number of leopards almost equal to the human population.
Langbak is reached by hiking for 4-5 hours through a canyon from the nearest village, Tsingchan.
5. French Polynesia, Rapa Iti (Little Rapa)
French Polynesia, located in the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, consists of 121 islands and atolls spread across 2,000 kilometers. While it is often associated with luxury vacation destinations like Tahiti and Bora Bora, the region also has remote islands.
Rapa Iti, located at the southernmost part of Polynesia, is one of the most isolated lands, over 500 kilometers from the nearest inhabited island, Raivavae. Only 507 people live there, concentrated in three settlements: Ahure, Tuku, and Aerea.
Rapa Iti was once a kingdom, with over 2,000 residents, but disease and slave raids in the 19th century nearly wiped out the population. Since then, the island has recovered, preserving its language, traditions, and cuisine. To visit Rapa Iti, travelers must board a supply ship that arrives once a month.
4. Antarctica, Villa Las Estrellas (Star Village)
In Antarctica, human presence is incredibly rare, with temperatures reaching as low as -80°C. Surprisingly, the continent isn’t as empty as it seems. On King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, you’ll find Villa Las Estrellas (Star Village), one of only two civilian settlements in Antarctica.
The village was established in 1984 by Chile under Augusto Pinochet to strengthen its territorial claim over Antarctica. Today, it is home to scientists, military personnel, and their families. The village has modern facilities, including a hospital, a post office, a bank, and a church.
The village is accessible only by chartered flights from Punta Arenas, Chile. The only flights are rare, making it one of the most difficult places to reach.
3. Pitcairn Islands, Adamstown
In the South Pacific, Pitcairn Islands, located between Africa and South America, is an incredibly remote settlement. This group of volcanic islands is part of a British overseas territory.
Pitcairn Island, the only inhabited island, is home to just 47 residents. The island’s settlement, Adamstown, was named after the last British mutineer, John Adams. The island’s people are descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers.
Today, Adamstown has modern amenities, including electricity, medical services, and postal services. However, it remains one of the hardest places to reach. To get there, travelers must take a supply ship from Mangareva in French Polynesia.
2. South Georgia, Grytviken and King Edward Point
South Georgia Island is one of the most desolate places on Earth, located about 1,500 kilometers from the Antarctic coast. It remained uninhabited until the early 20th century, when the Norwegian explorer Carl Anton Larsen set up a whaling station, Grytviken, in 1904. It became a bustling hub for the whaling industry.
However, overhunting led to the station’s abandonment in 1966. Now, only the British research station at King Edward Point remains inhabited. It’s the smallest capital of any British overseas territory. During summer, the population reaches 30-40, but in winter, it drops to just 12.
1. Tristan da Cunha, Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Tristan da Cunha is the most remote inhabited settlement on Earth, located in the South Atlantic Ocean between Africa and South America. This island is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.
The only settlement, Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, is home to just 250 residents. The island has a post office, hospital, shops, and even a pub. However, it is incredibly difficult to visit. Travelers must take a supply ship from Cape Town, South Africa, which only makes the journey about 9-10 times per year.
