Endless Holiday

While air travel and modern technology have lead to the settling of most habitable places on Earth, there are still several islands in the world that are located far off the beaten track. Islands exist that have only 50 residents, and others are so remote that visitors must make lengthy journeys to reach them. The following are ten of the most remote islands on the planet:

Pitcairn Island

Pitcairn Island is a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. Its closest neighbor is Tahiti, which is 200 miles away. Only 50 people live on the island year round, and most earn their living through farming or fishing. The island has no airstrip, and the only avenue through which one can access the island is by purchasing a ticket on a New Zealand shipping boat, and the journey takes approximately ten days.

Rapa Nui

Situated over 2,000 miles from the Chilean Coast, Rapa Nui, also called Easter Island, is an isolated island in the Pacific Ocean. Although relatively small, it is home to approximately 4,000 residents. The island is renown for the 16th century rock sculptures that are scattered along its beaches. Although most scientists believe the island was once covered with lush vegetation, it is now almost barren of greenery, which adds to its isolated atmosphere. Unlike many remote islands, it is possible to travel to Rapa Nui via a small airport located in Santiago, Chile.

Desolation Islands

The Kerguelen Islands, also known as the Desolation Islands, are a small archipelago situated in the Indian Ocean, several hundred miles north of Antarctica. Travelers to the island must embark on a boat ride from Reunion Island in Madagascar, as no airplane access is available. Due to the island’s remote location, the boat ride can be anywhere from six to six and a half days long. Although discovered in 1772, the islands still have no permanent residents and are primarily a scientific center for researchers and scientists.

Tristan de Cunha Island

The most isolated inhabited island on Earth is the Tristan de Cunha, which is a chain of tiny islands situated in the South Atlantic Ocean. The island’s nearest land mass is South Africa; which is 1,700 miles away. The total population of the island is 270, and most residents earn a living through farming or craft making. The only way to travel to the island is by hopping aboard a deep sea fishing boat; however, such vessels travel to the area very infrequently.