Do you dream of wild places where silence reigns and of distant and enigmatic lands? Of unusual, original destinations without tourists? Which countries will take you off the beaten track for a surprising and unique experience? Which destination should you go to so as not to encounter tour operator buses at every intersection? Without going to a country at war or to an island with overpriced services?

Traveling to a country with few tourists means, above all, adopting an  eco-responsible attitude while traveling  so as not to behave like a consumer. Across millions of square kilometers, even in the most unique and least-known destinations, you know very well that the majority of tourists follow the same well-trodden paths, take the same routes, and deal with the same intermediaries. Be smart with your itinerary and always go “further” or always stay “later.” Try alternative modes of transportation and accommodation, don’t plan a route too rigidly, and don’t measure your journey to the millimeter.

Here, however, is the list of countries that statistically beat records for tourist tranquility! Be careful, don’t delay, because all the countries on this list, aware of their loss of tourism revenue, will redouble their efforts to attract crowds!

Antarctica

Tourism in Antarctica didn’t exist before 1957! It’s obviously one of the places in the world with the lowest human density, so I don’t need to explain why… It’s therefore a most unusual destination, a territory still unknown to most travelers and very little explored.

 The main voyages today are made on cruise ships departing from Argentina (Ushuaia) or Chile (Punta Arenas or Port Stanley) and bound for all coastal regions of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Some tourists also reach them by plane.

It is also a destination that will appeal to extreme divers who want to be part of the minority who will see the underwater world of this region of the world.

The majority of the rare tourists are concentrated near the Antarctic Peninsula during the summer. The Convention on the Protection of the Antarctic Marine Environment has established strict guidelines for the protection of the region’s environment, limiting the number of visitors allowed. In addition, some areas of Antarctica are completely off-limits to tourists to protect the natural habitats of the animals that live there.

Mongolia

This destination remains very rare and not very popular. Tourism in Mongolia was severely restricted by the communist government, but expanded following the democratic revolution of 1990 and the collapse of the USSR.

It’s a relatively unexplored travel destination that offers picturesque natural features, a wide variety of untouched lunar and desert landscapes, endless remote steppes, a unique nomadic lifestyle, and a little-known culture.

Papua

Tourism in Papua (on the Indonesian or New Guinea side) is still rare but is gradually growing. The landscape is made up of wild forests and coral islands bordered by turquoise waters where the fauna and flora are infinitely varied. A prime destination for travelers seeking unexplored lands cut off from the rest of the world.

You should know that the island of New Guinea is divided into two countries: Papua New Guinea and West Papua, which is politically attached to Indonesia. The second half (Indonesian) is much more accessible in terms of airfares and just as (if not more) neglected by touristsI spent nearly three weeks in Papua, on the Indonesian side of the island, between pristine mountains and deserted islands with postcard-perfect scenery.

​Madagascar

Madagascar, its red earth, its baobabs, its lemurs… An island that was isolated from the African mainland for nearly 165 million years, its flora and fauna have evolved in isolation since then. In the mid-1990s, tourism in Madagascar was the country’s second-largest export, but the tourism industry was severely damaged in late 2001 due to a political crisis and the ensuing economic recession. The number of tourists in 2002 fell sharply. Since then, the industry has slowly resumed growth, even though the number of tourists has not increased.

This red island is one of the richest areas on the planet in terms of biodiversity, with numerous endemic species. A magical and authentic destination of incredible natural wealth.

​Ethiopia

Long inaccessible, this timeless country is increasingly opening up to tourism from around the world. It’s definitely a region of the world neglected by mass tourism, and let’s hope things don’t change too much.