7 Of The Most Remote Islands On Earth

Often depicted in fairytale novels or sci-fi TV shows, there’s more than a few ‘deserted islands’ around the world. From far-flung islands thousands of miles from Africa to a volcanic island in the South Pacific with mysterious monuments, these are the most remote islands on earth.

The Most Remote Islands On Earth

1. Tristan da Cunha

The British overseas territory of St. Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha is made up of isolated islands. The nearest land is South Africa, 1,750 miles east.

As the island’s official website says, “There are no package tours for independent travelers, no hotels, no airport, no holiday reps, no night clubs, no restaurants, no jet skis nor safe sea swimming.”

2. Diego Garcia

This remote island is a huge air and naval support base for the United States and British militaries, thanks to its strategic location between East Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

The island was once home to more than 1,000 islanders, who were removed from Diego Garcia in 1971 to make way for the island’s militarisation and resettled to Mauritius and the Seychelles.

3. Easter Island

Located 2,340 miles from Santiago, Chile, Easter Island is one of the remote places in the world. Easter Island has amazed and captivated historians, geologists, archeologists and scientists alike for hundreds of years. The island is home to Moai, enormous stone carvings of faces that span back at least 500 years. With the largest Moai weighing in at 82 tons, nobody is quite sure how the islanders moved them.

4. Pitcairn Island

Pitcairn Island is famous as the remote island in the South Pacific where, in 1790, the mutineers of HMAV The Bounty finally found refuge. Now, there are currently around 55 people living on Pitcairn Island. A supply and passenger ship travels every three months from Tahiti.

There is a General Store, a Warehouse and a Post Office on the island. All are open three times a week. There’s internet on the island, but television coverage at present consists of one channel… Australia Plus, a news, current affairs and sports channel.

5. Kerguelen Islands

This group of islands – known as ‘Desolation Islands’ – are an archipelago in the southern Indian Ocean. They lie 2,050 miles from the coast of Madagascar, with just 45 to 100 soldiers, scientists, engineers, and researchers living here. The islands are icy, and harsh.

6. Bouvet Island

This uninhabited island lies halfway between South Africa and Antarctica. Bouvet Island is is one of the most isolated islands in the world, with 89% of the island covered by glaciers. Interestingly, it has been the setting of at least three books and one movie, including the 2004 film “Alien vs. Predator.” Want to visit here? You can stop off on an Antarctic cruise with Oceanwide Expedition.

7. Raoul Island

This volcanic island is part of the Kermadec Islands chain of 80 islands in between Tonga and New Zealand. Raoul Island is the biggest of the group. Attempts were made to settle on Raoul Island from the 1830s, but it never worked out. The isolation, lack of fresh water and occasional volcanic eruptions made it a difficult place to live.