Lonely Planet: Top 10 most isolated place on Earth

Being surrounded by a chaotic atmosphere can make you desire some space for yourself —elope, or just get some solitude.

Although it may seem extreme, some may even desire to surrender to the most isolated place on Earth. 

Whether it’s a secluded island in the vast expanse of the ocean or a remote town nestled high in the Peruvian Andes at an altitude of 16,000 feet, these far-flung locales, inhabited by resilient communities, beckon to those with an adventurous spirit.

Be it the volcanic landscapes of the Pacific or the icy expanses of the South Pole, these extraordinary places, distant from the usual hubs of human activity, offer a unique and quite challenging experience that not many will dare to face.

Keep reading to find out what is the most isolated place on Earth, and what are other quiet destinations across the world. 

Within this list you will find destinations that defy the conventional notion of proximity.

To reach these 8 remote islands, towns, and settlements scattered around the globe, one must embark on extensive journeys, involving lengthy flights, day-long drives, week-long boat rides, and, in a notable instance, an eight-mile hike.

If this sounds like a dream for you, this article might be the right fit! For enthusiasts of extremes and seekers of unparalleled seclusion, the most isolated place on earth can be like heaven. Read on as we explore!

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What is the most isolated place on Earth?

1. Tristan Da Cunha, South Atlantic Ocean

Nestled in the vastness of the South Atlantic Ocean, the volcanic island of Tristan Da Cunha claims the distinction of being the most isolated place on Earth inhabited by humans. As a part of a five-island archipelago sharing its name, Tristan Da Cunha stands solitary, situated a staggering 1,750 miles away from Cape Town, South Africa.

Spanning a mere 38 square miles, this remote haven hosts the main settlement, Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, with a population of 241 as of 2022—comprising exclusively British citizens in this British Overseas Territory. Notably, communal land ownership is a hallmark, and external acquisition of property is prohibited.

The island’s economy pivots on subsistence farming, fishing, stamp sales, and limited tourism, with access solely attainable by a six-day boat journey from South Africa, as no airport graces this isolated sanctuary. Fishing boats make the arduous voyage eight or nine times a year, underscoring the challenges and seclusion of this remarkable locale.

Most isolated places across the globe

2. Pitcairn Islands, Southern Pacific Ocean

Dotted in the vastness of the Southern Pacific Ocean, the Pitcairn Islands form a group of four volcanic landmasses, constituting part of the British Overseas Territories. Within this archipelago, only Pitcairn Island, spanning a modest two square miles, boasts human habitation.

The island’s unique history traces its lineage to the mutineers of HMAV Bounty and their Tahitian companions, creating a distinctive cultural tapestry. Following a 2004 child sexual abuse scandal that resulted in imprisonment for the mayor and five others, the island’s population dwindled.

In subsequent years, efforts were made to revive the community by offering free land. The island, with a population of 49 as of 2013, is now opening its doors to tourism after a temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Accessible via freighter ship from New Zealand or through scheduled sailing, Pitcairn Island remains an epitome of seclusion and resilience in the Southern Pacific’s remote embrace.

3. Easter Island, Chile

Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, holds the distinction of being part of Chile while claiming the title of the most isolated place on Earth, situated a remote 2,200 miles off the Chilean coast. Remarkably, it surpasses distances of 2,600 miles from Tahiti, 1,200 miles from Pitcairn Island, and 1,600 miles from the largest Gambier Island in French Polynesia, Mangareva.

This renowned island is renowned for its 887 monolithic statues, or moai, crafted by the indigenous Rapa Nui people between 1250 and 1500 C.E. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Easter Island is home to fewer than 8,000 permanent residents.

Intriguingly, this remote haven happens to be the closest landmass to the oceanic pole of inaccessibility, also known as Point Nemo. Located at 48°52.6’S 123°23.6’W, Point Nemo is the farthest point from land, positioned over 1,000 miles from Easter Island, Ducie Island (one of the Pitcairn Islands), and Maher Island off the coast of Antarctica.

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4. Devon Island, Canada

Devon Island, situated in Canada’s Nunavut Territory, emerges as the largest uninhabited island globally, featuring a cold, rocky, and isolated landscape where scientists have conducted Mars simulation expeditions for over two decades.

Named after the Haughton meteorite impact crater, the expeditions serve as a testing ground for NASA’s space tools. Although not as remote as Easter Island, Devon Island places visitors significantly far from the nearest civilization, with Cornwallis Island, boasting a population of approximately 200, located 50 miles away.

5. Kerguelen Islands, Southern Indian Ocean

The Kerguelen Islands, situated more than 2,000 miles from civilization in the southern Indian Ocean, are aptly known as the Desolation Islands due to their extreme remoteness. Comprising 300 islands, the largest being Grande Terre, this French territory houses no native population.

Instead, a small group of scientists, numbering around 50 in winter and 100 in summer, resides in the sole settlement, Port-aux-Français, to study the glaciated geography, featuring active glaciers and towering peaks reaching nearly 6,500 feet.

Accessible solely by ship, departing only four times a year, the Kerguelen Islands stand as a testament to isolation in the vast expanse of the southern ocean.

6. Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland

Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland, stands as one of the most isolated places on Earth, experiencing nine months of freezing conditions annually.

Nestled between Greenland’s National Park, the world’s largest spanning 604,000 square miles, and Scoresby Sound, the largest fjord on Earth at 23,600 square miles, this remote settlement houses a mere 450 residents among rainbow-hued houses, surrounded by approximately 600 miles of uninhabited land.

This tiny village is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, boasting a rich array of polar bears, seals, muskoxen, halibut, and whales. With only a local pub opening once a week, residents rely on helicopters for transportation to and from the nearest airport, or, in warmer weather, opt for boat travel.

7. Oymyakon, Russia

Moving eastward, Oymyakon in Russia claims its status as the coldest inhabited place on Earth, situated closer to the Arctic Circle than the nearest major city, Yakutsk, which is 576 miles away. Home to approximately 500 resilient individuals, Oymyakon recorded a bone-chilling temperature of minus 90 degrees Fahrenheit on February 6, 1933, establishing a record low.

The extreme northern positioning results in extended periods of darkness, lasting 21 hours a day during winter and a mere three hours during summer. Such harsh conditions render the town inaccessible by plane in winter, necessitating a two-day drive from the nearest major city.

In the face of these challenges, locals have adapted survival strategies, relying on a diet of reindeer and horse milk for essential micronutrients and ox meat to provide sufficient calories to combat the relentless elements.

8. The Changtang, Tibet

Often referred to as the “Roof of the World”, the Changtang in Tibet is undoubtedly the most isolated place on Earth. Situated on the Tibetan Plateau, which itself stands more than 2.5 miles above sea level, the Changtang reaches an unprecedented elevation of about four miles above sea level, making it one of the highest points on our planet.

The climate in this extraordinary region is characterized by extreme cold, owing to its lofty altitude, resulting in Arctic-like winters. Although summers can be brief, they bring warmth interspersed with sudden thunderstorms and hailstorms.

The Changtang showcases vast highlands and expansive lakes, providing a habitat teeming with wildlife, as noted by the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Home to a few hundred thousand nomads known as Changpa, the Changtang is shared with a diverse array of species, including chiru, snow leopards, kiang, brown bears, black-necked cranes, and wild yaks. Much of this pristine area falls under the protection of the Changtang Nature Reserve, the second-largest terrestrial nature reserve globally, solidifying its status as the most isolated place on Earth.

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