Hardest Places To Travel To: Remote Destinations Worth The Trip

There are times when you may prefer a standard vacation relaxing on a beach with a cocktail because it’s just what you need to decompress and unwind. But, for those in a more adventurous mood and a desire to travel to somewhere remote, there are some interesting options. It’s now possible to see mountains in Mongolia, get up close and personal with an Antartic penguin and snorkel off a remote Tasman Sea island. In this article, we will take a closer look at three remote trips that you may want to consider.

Climb Mount Khuiten in Mongolia

This is the tallest mountain in Mongolia, it stands at 14,350 feet and it presents an interesting mix of culture and solitude. Mount Khuiten can be found in the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park which contains 6,362 square miles of glaciers, lakes and snow-capped mountains. To explore this part of western Mongolia safely, it’s important to hire a local guide and have access to a good map. If you take a wrong turn, it’s entirely possible to cross a border and enter Russia or China! For those with an adventurous spirit, this could be a dream trip, but it can be demanding and it’s important to be prepared. To start, visitors should be in good physical shape to tackle the terrain and they need to have high-quality warm outdoor gear. The Altai Tavan Bogd National Park has nomadic culture burial sites and petroglyphs that cover 12,000 years of local history. It should come as no surprise that this area has UNESCO World Heritage status. The petroglyphs can be seen on the journey to the summit which may take several days. Visitors will also see examples of modern nomadic people with traditional yurts inhabited by friendly and curious locals.The approach to the mountain is a ten mile hike from the park edge to the base camp which is located near the Potanin Glacier which is 8.5 miles wide. Camels can carry heavy gear and many visitors climb Malchin Peak which is a small sister mountain to acclimatize. To reach the high camp near Mount Khuiten it’s necessary to hike through the glacier crevasses. The mountain is a challenge, it’s a 3,000 foot climb over snowy slopes and ice axes, ropes and crampons are a must. At the summit the reward for all this effort is a view of the Altai Mountains and three nations: Mongolia, Russia and China. To get to Mount Khuiten, you’ll need to fly to UlaanBaatar in Mongolia and get a local flight to Olgii village. Now you’re at the national park edge, next there is a 6 hour drive to a ranger station in the park and the remainder of the trip is on foot as covered earlier. Acclimation is extremely important before you tackle Mount Khuiten and mountaineering experience is a must. 

Visit South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

South Georgia is a sub-Antarctic United Kingdom administered territory that’s part of the South Antilles archipelago island chain. It’s located 1,300 km southeast of the Falkland Islands and it has a variable seasonal human population. The only constant place to find people is the British Antarctic Survey Base near the historic Grytviken whaling station.  Visitors to Saint Andrews Bay on the island will find a large King Penguin colony with around 400,00 birds along with fur and Elephant seas on the beach. Above, albatrosses soar above the sea and green hills and in the distance glaciers and snow-capped mountains can be seen. The Island was discovered by Captain James Cook and he landed on the 17th of January 1775. The island was named “Georgia” for King George III and claimed for Britain and in the 19th century it was used for sealing and in the 20th century for whaling. The famous explorer Sir Ernest Shakleton trekked across the island and his remains lie at Grytviken. To reach the island, there is a one day voyage from Ushuaia to reach the Falkland Islands and then a 19 day voyage to South Georgia. While on the Falklands there is a lot to experience, including: whale watching, bird spotting, education programs and more. On South Georgia, most visitors stay for three to four days and they get to see the local wildlife up close. 

Travel to Lord Howe Island in Australia

This 7 mile long and 1.25 mile wide island is located in the Tasman Sea around 320 miles east of the New South Wales coast. It is a remote island that’s hard to reach, but it has all the usual amenities and accommodations that seasoned travelers would expect. This volcanic remnant island has a population of around 350 people that reside on the northern coast. The accommodations are small lodges and comfortable apartments. The southern part of the island is composed of volcanic crags, peaks, beaches and forests. Approximately 70% of the island mass is a Permanent Park Preserve that’s protected by the locals and the number of tourists is limited. On any single day there are no more than 400 visitors allowed to be on Lord Howe Island. On the island, visitors can take a three mile trek to the summit of Mount Gower which is 2,870 feet above sea level. This involves a hike through the lush forest and then a scramble over volcanic rock which can be challenging. Other visitors may snorkel off Ned’s Beach to observe the coral reef where kingfish and mullet can be seen. Another popular experience is diving to the largest sea stack in the world. This is known as Ball’s Pyramid, it’s 1,807 feet above the ocean floor and 14 miles south of the island. To reach Lord Howe Island, there are a few two hour flights from Sydney. But, the accommodation space is limited and there are only 400 beds for visitors. So, it’s extremely important to book the flight and lodging at the same time. The Beachcomber lodge is more affordable and those that want the best views of Mount Gower and the Pacific Ocean may decide to stay at the upmarket Capella Lodge.