Sometimes the best destinations can be found off-the-beaten-path. These are the least visited countries in the world and why they deserve your attention.
As the most popular travel destinations become more and more crowded, it might be a good idea to explore lesser-known destinations. Off-the-beaten-path destinations often allow you to escape the crowds and enjoy the real authentic atmosphere of the destination. While it might be a bit challenging to reach those destinations and plan your trip, it could be one of the best adventures of your life. Here is the list of the least visited countries in the entire world and why you should consider visiting them in a near future.
Tuvalu
Accounting for less than 3,000 annual visits, the title of the least visited country in the world goes to this small remote island in the Pacific Ocean. Tuvalu can easily be called a paradise on Earth with pristine beaches, beautiful untouched nature, and incredibly inviting locals. The main reason why this beautiful island is so less visited is its accessibility. Based in a very remote location in the middle of the Pacific, which can only be reached by a weekly flight from Fiji.
Here you can enjoy some quality time relaxing on the beach, conversing with locals, cave diving, snorkeling, discovering evidence of human life from more than 8,000 years ago, or even visiting the Philatelic Bureau on Fongafale where you can discover Tuvalu’s incredible collection of postal stamps. One of the best ways to explore the island is to rent a scooter and spend the day driving around and enjoying the tranquility of the island.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa that had its fair share of unfortunate events that lead to the country’s lack of tourism. Some of these include the increase in corruption, war, the 2014 Ebola outbreak, and more. Fortunately, the country has gotten back on its feet and increased its economic growth, which directly contributed to a more attractive image of Sierra Leone as a tourism destination.
Sierra Leone is rather easy to reach from international destinations such as London, Paris, or Brussels, as well as the countries from the same continent such as Kenya, Nigeria, or Morocco. Looking at the reasons why Sierra Leone should be on your travel list, a quick Google search will show you that this country is anything but boring. Here you can visit the famous Freetown, spend time hiking, explore wildlife or simply learn more about the local traditions and history.
Dominica
Dominica is one of the Caribbean Islands that is truly a hidden gem with incredible volcanic formations and wild nature. While the neighboring islands of Dominica attract way more visitors each year because of their paradise-like beaches and resorts, Dominica Island is the complete opposite. Here you can get lost in the wild rainforests that haven’t been managed by human hands, as well as spend time on wild beaches that will look like something out of an adventure movie.
Among some of the best attractions on the island, you can find adventurous jungle hikes, snorkeling in the bubbling Champagne Reef, a visit to the unique Boiling Lake, exploring Trafalgar Waterfalls, and meeting the indigenous Kalinago population who still live here. There is plenty to do here for everyone, especially those who are interested in eco-friendly travel and sustainable tourism.
Djibouti
Situated between Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa, Djibouti is one of those countries that gets a negative reputation because of its neighbors. Currently, it is named of one the most stable countries in the region because of its close proximity to the world’s busiest shipping route. The country can be reached from a few international destinations such as Dubai or Paris.
Djibouti is mostly known for its incredible landscapes of Lac Abbé and Lac Assal and wonderful marine life, which includes whale sharks. The country was even named one of the best places to visit in 2018 by Lonely Planet, however, despite this, it is still a lesser visited destination in today’s context. Because of its landscape, visitors can enjoy scuba diving, trekking, or hiking, as well as spending time by one of the many beaches.
Photo: David Svestka/Shutterstock
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