A round up of the world’s most remote islands, for those who love the far-flung and unexplored corners.
World’s Most Remote Islands
Lounging on an empty beach floored by soft, white sand to find only your own footprints trailing behind you: that’s many travelers’ dream – but does that paradise really exist? This week we take a look at far-flung isles that might just make the cut to become some of my fantasy islands. We swing from Micronesia to Africa to find the world’s most secluded islands – their sheer isolation from the outside world have made them what they are today.
Easter Island, Chile
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Standing in isolation, Easter Island is one of the world’s most remote places. Located in the Pacific Ocean, Easter Island is at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian triangle. Its closest neighbor, Pitcairn island, is 1200 miles (1900km) away, while its motherland Chile is 3540 miles (2200 km) away.
It is one of the most remote islands in the world and getting there is part of the adventure. You will have to fly via Tahiti or Santiago de Chile to get there. Dotted all over the island, the stone statues, known as moai, measure as tall as 21 m. Archaeologists from around the world have flocked here since the 1940s to solve the mystery, but some bits of the puzzle still remain unknown today.
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Tristan da Cunha, British Overseas Territory
San Blas Islands, Panama
The 375 islands that make up the San Blas are pristine and well-protected — some of them are inhabited by the indigenous Kuna people, but most are deserted. The islands are still relatively undiscovered by mass tourism because of the remote location. Getting here is not easy, but that’s exactly its appeal.
San Blas Islands are home to the indigenous Kuna people (sometimes spelled “Guna”), who has maintained political autonomy from the mainland since a revolution in 1925. They control tourism on their own terms and benefit directly from the money earned from tourism. But their agreement terms with the Panamanian government are constantly changing, so nobody really knows what the future is like for San Blas.
Rock Islands, Palau
Palau’s Rock Islands are a phenomenal series of 485 jutting limestone islets rising from the turquoise waters of Micronesia. Most of these Rock Islands have stunning sandy beaches that are completely secluded and make for some excellent lounging ground after a day of scuba diving.
Besides the empty beaches, you can head inland to uncover mystical caves, rock arches, ancient rock paintings and lakes. The Jellyfish Lake – made famous by National Geographic- gives you the unique chance to swim with millions of tiny stingless jellyfish.
Mafia Islands, Tanzania
Most travelers head to Tanzania’s popular island Zanzibar for pristine beaches, seafood and full-moon parties. But few know of the charm of its quiet neighbor, Mafia Island. There are only a handful of resorts on the isles – so if you’re looking for complete tranquility, then this might just be your slice of heaven.
Mafia’s protected deep-water anchorage at Chole Bay is studded with islands, sandbanks and beaches. Swim with whale sharks or free dive into its coral-carpeted sea bed or lounge on the white sandy shore of Utende Beach.
La Digue, Seychelles
The Seychelles archipelago has some of the most remote islands in the world dotted around Indian Ocean close to the coast of East Africa. Expect turquoise waters similar to that of the Caribbean Islands, without the flashy resorts and tourists. Grab your snorkel and wade through the shallow beaches of La Digue to find abundant marine life right by the coastline.
La Digue, one of the smallest islands that make up Seychelles, is known for its beaches that are backed by giant boulders, like Anse Source d’Argent. To the south, isolated Anse Bonnet Carré Beach, with calm, shallow water, is accessible only on foot, as is Anse Cocos Beach, in a protected bay on the east coast. La Digue’s diverse wildlife can be seen in the Veuve Nature Reserve.
Christmas Island, Australia
What was once a refugee camp during the war is now a peaceful, quiet isle rich in endemic flora and fauna. Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, has had minimal human interference and therefore is home to some unique animal species that can only be found here. Come and catch the annual red crab migration, swim with whale shark or observe turtles nesting by night – it’s a wildlife lovers’ paradise.
Pitcairn Island, British Overseas Territory
With a population of no more than 50, Pitcairn Island is definitely one of the most remote islands in the world, located 3,240 miles (5,215 km) from the coast of New Zealand. The nearest places are Mangareva (of French Polynesia) to the west and Easter Island to the east.
The island is inhabited by the descendants of sailors from the HMS Bounty, a Royal Navy vessel that was the scene of a mutiny in 1789. In 2004, the island drew international attention when several of its inhabitants were charged with sexual offences.
Vanuatu
A patchwork of secluded islands lie in the heart of the Pacific Ocean – many of which are either uninhabited or isolated. On the island of Vanuatu, the local way of life hasn’t changed much since centuries ago. Local tribes lead a primitive lifestyle, living in mudhouses and dancing along to the beats of drums, especially on special occasion. Besides empty beaches, the active volcano, Yasur, itself is worth visiting.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Stretching miles across mainland India is another group of the world’s most remote islands. They are so isolated from the world that the native tribal way of life is hardly influenced by the outside world. Their ancestors are thought to have arrived in the islands 60,000 years ago from coastal India in the initial expansion of humanity from Africa that began 100,000 years ago. To this day, these tribes still retain their ancestral practices and language.
The Sentinelese people have repeatedly attacked approaching vessels. This resulted in the deaths of two fishermen in 2006 and an American missionary, John Allen Chau, in 2018.
Falkland Islands, British Overseas Territory
Surrounded by the South Atlantic, the Falkland Islands archipelago lies 280miles to the east of the South American continent. It consists of two large islands, East and West Falkland, and more than 750 small islands and islets.
The Falkland Islands are home to over a million penguins and miles of untamed, rugged landscape. It’s said to offer the same kind of wildlife experiences as Antarctica, but it is a lot more accessible and affordable. Regardless, the Falklands are some of the most remote islands in the world and only the lucky few get to experience its beauty.
South Georgia Island, British Overseas Territory
Located in the southern Atlantic Ocean, South Georgia island is a remote and inhospitable collection of islands. The Falkland Islands are about 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) west-northwest from its nearest point.
A very small non-permanent population resides on South Georgia, and there are definitely more penguins here than human beings. It is said to be the best place in the world to see masses of emperor penguins.
There are no scheduled passenger flights or ferries to or from the territory, although visits by Antarctic cruises to South Georgia are increasingly popular, with several thousand visitors each summer.
Svalbard, Norway
Far north of mainland Europe is this remote island archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. It lies midway between continental Norway and the North Pole. It’s literally the furthest point of Europe.
Administratively, the Svalbard archipelago is not part of any Norwegian county, but forms an unincorporated area administered by a governor appointed by the Norwegian government. Since 2002, Svalbard’s main settlement, Longyearbyen, has had an elected local government, somewhat similar to mainland municipalities.
The archipelago features an Arctic climate, experiencing the midnight sun in summer. I went on a polar expedition cruise that circumnavigated the island of Spitsbergen, and it was an epic adventure. Svalbard is home to plenty wildlife, including polar bears, reindeer, the Arctic fox, and different kinds of whales and seals.
Did we miss any other remote islands? Be sure to share it below in the comments field!
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