10 of the World's Most Inaccessible Countries
If you're a travel nut. you'll probably want to go everywhere. After all, there's always something to discover – a landscape, a culture, a cuisine, or perhaps just an interesting person you'll talk about for years. There are however plenty of places that are not as inviting as we would like. War, remoteness, politics, lawlessness, corruption – there's a number of reasons why you might want to steer clear of these places, or consider more viable alternatives.
1. North Korea
As a Westerner, you're going to have a hard time getting into North Korea, and if you do, an even harder time discovering the "real" North Korea. Tourism is heavily controlled by the government, who restrict who can come in, where they can go, what they can see, and even who they can meet. Photography is controlled (you can point and shoot only where they tell you to point and shoot), and visitors are accompanied by a North Korean chaperone at all times.
​2. Bouvet Island
A volcanic island located in the South Atlantic Ocean, Bouvet Island is the most remote, uninhabited island in the world. A friend of mine actually went there, filming a documentary about the world's most travelled man. What he found was a small rocky island, covered in glaciers, with no harbour or anchorage. The nearest land base, Queen Maud Land is 1750km away in Antarctica, while South Africa's Cape Town is just a stone's throw at 2500km away. The island, 93% of which is covered in glaciers, is a Norwegian territory, and oddly, was used as a setting in the movie Alien vs Predator. If you plan to be the world's most travelled person, now you know where you have to go.
It has the longest coastline in Africa, blessed with long, undeveloped beaches. But read anything about Somalia and you'll probably see the words: war, terrorism, lawlessness, warlords, kidnapping, and murder. The Economist reports a hotel in Mogadishu recommending guests having at least 10-armed guards, which can be quite a strain on the old budget. As for the national parks, reports state that most of the animals have been hunted for food, and are no longer protected by the government. Landmark buildings have been destroyed from shelling, while museums have largely been looted. The government of Canada advises against all travel to Somalia, further advising any Canadians inside the country to leave immediately. In the end, no beach is worth your life.
4. Pitcairn Island
Although it is one of the most isolated inhabited places in the world, Pitcairn Island does receive some some tourists. Located in the South Pacific, the island is the last British territory in the Pacific. Most of the 50 people living there are descendants of mutineers on the doomed Bounty. There are no flights to the island, and getting there largely depends on whether you can convince a research vessel, cargo ship or yacht from French Polynesia or New Zealand to drop you off. Occasionally, cruise ships from Chile might stop by. There's a museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of rare birds, and a very sought-after postage stamp to chase upon your arrival.
Visiting Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a hot traveller debate. On the one hand, it's people are known to be extremely hospitable, its culture rich, and its countryside beautiful. The undeveloped state of tourism in the country has made many travellers feel an authenticity in their experience, perhaps lacking in other Asian countries. However, the political turmoil and iron-fisted dictatorship in Myanmar has led to widely reported human rights abuses. Still, roughly 350,000 tourists visit every year, although the government, who tend to prohibit independent travellers, strictly controls travel in and around the country. Government approved agencies facilitate tour groups, but perhaps the most difficult aspect of visiting this country is deciding whether or not you should visit at all.
6. The War Zones (Iraq, Afghanistan, Northwest Pakistan)
Unless you're a soldier, fighting for one side or the other, chances are you're going to find it very difficult to enter into a warzone. So you probably won't find many not tourists, hitching around with an out-of-date Lonely Planet, hoping to take in the sites (RIP Palmyra), and interact with locals. "Canadians who choose to stay despite the warning should be accompanied by professional security escorts at all times," advises the Canadian Foreign Ministry, shortly after advising that nobody should enter Iraq in the first place. ​
7. Alert, Nunavut
Like basking in the sun? In summer, head north to Iqualit, Nunavit's capital. Once you there, get on a plane, and head north again, say about 2000km, and you'll arrive in Alert, the most northernmost permanently inhabited place on earth. Alert is just 800km from the North Pole. From April to September, you can bask in sun 24 hours a day, but you'll still need to cover up, as temperatures only breach, barely, 0C in July and August. Of course, there are also 6 months of pure darkness, which must weigh heavy on the five permanent residents. To join these Arctic researchers, you'll have to hop aboard a scheduled military flight. ​
8. Iran
Three US backpackers discovered what happens if you mistakenly set foot in Iran. They were locked up as spies, suffering two years in prison before their release was negotiated. It is a pity. Iran has many historical monuments, beautiful mountains, lakes, and gorgeous beaches too. It does market itself to tourists, and has invested in a tourism infrastructure, but just a fraction of those who visit are Westerners. Iran's political volatility makes it a difficult destination for travellers, who should consult established agencies and government offices before thinking of visiting.
9. Area 51
It's going to be extremely difficult to visit a place that officially doesn't exist. Even more so since this place that doesn't officially exist has big fences with barbwire and very official looking signs warning trespasses that they will be arrested. Area 51 is the legendary top-secret military base located in the Nevada desert. UFO enthusiasts have long flocked to its well-protected edges drawn to legends of spaceships hovering over its area, and even aliens taken captive. Only 83 miles from Las Vegas, the US deny using this space to test the latest aircraft and weapons. Up until 1995, there were some viewpoints, but government agents, suspiciously dressed in black, have seized these areas. Your best bet for a view is Tikaboo Peak, about 26 miles east, which requires a 4x4 and powerful set of binoculars.
10. Tristan da Cunha
We've finally arrived at the most remote inhabited spot on earth, an archipelago in the Pacific located over 1750 miles from South Africa, and 2000 miles from South America. The main island has a population of 275, which is a metropolis compared to the Pitcairn Island, but deals with the same challenges. No airstrip, with supplies and few visitors breezing through on passing cargo ships. The island's 80 families share just 8 surnames, and are mostly farmers with smallholdings. Tristan da Cunha is known for its remoteness, and also its wildlife, which include over a dozen breeding seabirds. Before you hitch aboard a ship in Cape Town, you'll need prior permission from the Island Council to land on Tristan, which includes a return ticket of passage. There are two guesthouses, or you can stay with a local family as a paying guest. ​