Feature: Top remote wilderness destinations

Wednesday, 24 November 2010 7:45 AM

Two of the more clichéd phrases in travel writing are ‘off-the-beaten-track’ and ‘the road less travelled’. And more often than not these well-worn phrases are used to describe destinations that lie just a few miles from holiday hotspots and tourism meccas. This is not the case with our feature this week though. And it is all the more pleasing when you do actually come across these places where the clichés could justifiably be applied. We have searched the planet for the best remote wilderness destinations...and we are pretty confident that we have found them (or at least some of them!).

So, if you’re looking for that desert island feeling, pure isolation and an escape from the bustle of the city, these top destinations could be right up your alley. Remote wildernesses offer the chance to experience less-recognisable, but equally important areas of a country. They give you the opportunity to delve a little deeper into the history and culture of a region well away from the traditional tourist routes. There are no Starbucks where you can enjoy your favourite latte, no McDonalds to get you through lazy Sundays and no supermarkets to sell you the bare essentials. When we say remote, we mean remote!

Kamchatka, Russia
Meaning ‘the land of fire and ice’, Kamchatka is without question one of the world’s most remote and inhospitable wildernesses you will ever come across. It’s frightening. It’s fascinating. And it’s outstandingly spectacular. The vast and jaw-dropping scenery lures you in. It tempts you to go that little bit further into the bare landscapes and suddenly you find yourself on the ridge of one of the many active volcanoes in the area. Because it lies on the Great Pacific ‘ring of fire’, Kamchatka is one of the most remarkable volcanic regions in the world, and has nearly 30 active volcanoes...yes, 30!

It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that the infrastructure in this region is what you would call...limited! This is truly an adventure suited for the hardy traveller seeking the very limits of experience. Many destinations are only accessible by helicopter. But when you arrive in this volcano-scattered peninsula you’ll forget all about transportation comforts. Home to native reindeer-herding peoples, grizzly bears and sea eagles, Kamchatka also boasts boiling hot springs and spouting geysers. But don’t expect to get a signal to phone home about your experiences...actually, just forget about your mobile all together. No modern luxuries will cut it here.

To get to this out-of-this-world destination, you will need to fly via Moscow across Siberia, to distant Petropavlosk, from where the adventure really begins – by helicopter, boat or six-wheel drive. Aeroflot offers good deals on domestic flights in Russia.

Bathurst Inlet, Canada
Continuing our quest for isolated and remote destinations, Bathurst Inlet is a small Inuit community located in the Kitikmeot region of Canada’s Nunavut Territory. This is the Arctic. It is a true remote wilderness in the Arctic, with all the wonders and dangers that the harsh and unwelcoming nature of this region entails. Needless to say, packing an extra pair of gloves and some seriously woollen jumpers is probably a good idea.

Because of its remoteness, the inlet was only opened up to visitors in 1969, introducing its spectacular world of cliffs, waterfalls, deep gorges and flower-covered tundra. Home to a fascinating variety of birdlife, Bathurst is known for its rich wildlife which includes grizzly bears, musk oxen, lemmings and caribou. Still only accessible by air, this isolated destination boasts one accommodation option, the Bathurst Inlet Lodge. Sleeping just 20 visitors at a time, the lodge offers guided explorations but if you prefer venturing off on your own independent hikes, the lodge is the perfect base.

The Southern Altiplano, Bolivia
Totally off-the-beaten-track (yes, we said it!), the Southern Altiplano is a barren, windy but magically captivating place. Situated near the town of Uyuni in Bolivia, it is a place of strange desert rock formations, bubbling mud geysers and dormant volcanoes. And the harsh geography of the Southern Altiplano will tug at the heartstrings of those who love bleak and solitary places. But the area is best known for something a bit more ‘salty’ – Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt lake.

A blinding sheet of white awaits you when you arrive at this surreal destination. In a simple world of pure blueness and whiteness, you will find some of the most striking sights you will ever experience. Set against the beautiful blue sky, the ultra-white lake is an astonishing experience. And even more bizarrely, where the waters can reflect the sky, the horizon vanishes, it dissolves! There’s something truly magical about this remote wilderness and something very calming as well. Take a dip in a natural thermal pool overlooked by volcanoes and stay in a hotel made entirely of salt. Did anyone say unearthly adventure?! The stark and surreal landscape makes for a windy yet completely captivating visit. It has to be seen to be believed.

Akakus Mountains, Libya
A poorly-kept secret amongst adventurous travellers looking for unspoiled destinations, spectacular scenery and fascinating history, Libya is a rewarding place. And the Akakus Mountains, in the southwest region of the country close to the Algerian border, offer remoteness combined with outstanding beauty. Completely desolate, the Akakus are home to a dramatic mountain landscape where black rock is lapped by golden sands.

This is where you go when you want to feel like a real explorer, tracing the history of the region, documented in an astonishing array of rock art and petroglyphs. The area has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the concentrations of this art. And if you’re after that explorer feeling, you will need at least three days to really get to grips with the area, which is one of the most spectacular and historically significant in Africa.

Magic Libya offers a range of tours to some of this country’s most remote and fascinating areas, including the Akakus Mountains.

Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
Visitors from across the globe are lured to Australia and its vast untouched wilderness regions, from far-reaching desert scenery to deep tropical rainforest and reef swarming with marine wildlife. Unique flora and fauna as well as a rich aboriginal culture make for an experience like no other. Far from the frenetic bustling of the city, Tasmania lies ‘on the edge of the world’. And Cradle Mountain, in Lake St Clair National Park, boasts thrilling nature encompassing jagged mountain peaks, icy streams, ancient rainforests and glacial lakes. What more could ever want from your adventure Down Under?! Oh, yes, we forgot to say that this national park is just one section of the larger Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

The Tasmanian wilderness is one of the three biggest temperate wilderness areas still remaining in the Southern Hemisphere. Home to some of the deepest and longest caves in Australia, the areas is also renowned for its variety of flora and some of the longest lived trees in the world. And if you want to experience some of the wildlife that is either extinct or threatened on mainland Australia, Tasmania is where you go.

Qantas flies from London to Hobart in Tasmania via Melbourne.

Remote enough? Wild enough?

If you still want more inspiration for your next escape to one of the world’s most remote wildernesses or if you need more encouragement to embark on an adventure of a lifetime, there are plenty of isolated and unspoiled destinations awaiting you. For amazing wildlife, Pico Bonito National Park in Honduras is one of the best places to experience jaguars, armadillos, wild pigs, tailed deer and mountain lion, to mention just a few species. The Sepik River is one of the greatest river systems in the world and the majority of it flows through Papua New Guinea. And lastly, the Kalahari Desert, in South Africa’s northern region, personifies remoteness.

So, are you ready to grab your binoculars, put on your best pair of walking boots and travel to some of the most remote wildernesses in the world? Why not start planning right away?! We definitely are.