As I have mentioned before, I don’t like crowds, and I prefer a slower tempo for my vacations. Therefore, I ask the question-where are the least visited places? Of course, i want a decent hotel, and adequate food. But, I don’t want to go to any “in spots”-I would rather go to some place ignored by most travelers.
Can anyone recommend a place where I am unlikely to be bothered by crowds?
The bottom of the Marianas Trench.
The International Space Station
My house.
The Gaza Strip
Beirut
Baghdad
Tehran
Pyongyang
Mogadishu
Be sure and have a good time, and don’t forget your ransom money.
The Bandiagara Cliffs in Mali. I’ve been there. You’ll need a guide to get you there from Mopti, and will have to go back to Mopti to stay in a hotel. But it’s wild and the culture is very old. You can climb to the top of the cliffs, if you wish. Also, Timbuktu is not all that popular, what with the heat and the sand and all.
While there is a factual question in the OP, it seems better suited for In My Humble Opinion than General Questions. I’ll move it for you.
Gfactor
General Questions Moderator
I found this:
http://www.adventurepro.com.au/news/?action=details&id=1197946436Australiantourismreport
A search for least visited tourist in Google Books also shows that “Maria Island [is] the least-visited tourist destination in Tasmania.” Governing the Antarctic: The Effectiveness and Legitimacy of the Antarctic Governing the Antarctic: The Effectiveness and Legitimacy of the Antarctic ... - Google Books
and “Africa is the least developed and least visited region of tourism in the world.” Geography of Travel & Tourism - Lloyd E. Hudman, Richard H. Jackson - Google Books
The world’s largest ball of twine. Actually no, I’m sure that one’s PACKED.
I’m guessing you don’t mind going a little off the beaten path, as long as there’s a hotel relatively close. Here are a few actual suggestions.
The Badlands in S. Dakota and Wyoming
If you are wanting to go to the ocean, you could try the Outer Banks of North Carolina. There are tons of places there to rent that are quiet and pretty secluded from the rest of the beach-going crowd.
I went to the Badlands ten years ago and it’s amazing and there’s nobody there. It’s like the moon, only you can climb on it!
I’m the only person I know whose been to Escalante National Monument, because it’s really a bitch to get to, and in a state that is chock full of awesome National Parks. It’s completely worth it if you’ve got the time and happen to be in southern Utah. It’s spectacular, but just not as spectacular as Bryce, Arches or Zion.
According to The Simpsons, it’s the Jefferson Memorial (which apparently is pretty far away from the other DC attractions).
The other day I was looking on Google Earth at the meeting point of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, and that place literally looks like the middle of nowhere. It’s 100 miles from the nearest highway or actual town and only has a rural road which connects to it. I can’t imagine too many people wanting to go out of their way just to stand in 4 states at once.
OK, on a more serious note, I’d suggest some of the spots in Micronesia.
For instance, Kosrae does have hotel facilities, is pretty, fairly civilized and I doubt you’ll be bothered by crowds.
For a litle more stuff to do, there’s Pohnpei. For less, there’s Bikini, but other than the dive operation there, I don’t think there are any hotel/motel facilities.
Amid the superstars of Southern Utah (Zion, Bryce, ) it’s easy to overlook the little jewel that is Cedar Breaks National Monument, near the Brian Head ski resort.
Also, there is a part of Zion National Park that is physically separate from the main Park and can only be accessed from Interstate 5. This is Kolob Canyon, and a short but dramatic drive will take you to spectacular overlooks. Well worth a side trip.
It IS in the middle of nowhere, but at least it’s on its way to somewhere. I lived in the area for a while, and passed through last year on the way to visit relatives after dilly-dallying all over Monument Valley. Hubbo thought it was a real hoot; I was jaded. You’d be surprised at the masses that line up for the same goofy picture. The Navajo have made pretty good on it; when I was a kid it was a few shacks and a little brass marker, now it’s a much larger complex catering to a pretty decent headcount. They even charge by the car, now.
Darryl, I’ve always wanted to go to Escalante! I’ll have to get out there on my next Southwest Adventure.
ETA: which reminds me, no one goes to Monument Valley. Probably because it is in the middle of BFE, and for 90% of Americans the sight and condition of the Navajo Reservation would probably implode their worldview.
Lot’s of places in Africa.
For example, the Victoria Falls (on either the Zambia or Zimbabwe side) is beautiful and never that busy. Definitely in comparison to major European toursit sites. The Zambia side is now the place to go as the Zimbabwe town of Vic Falls is a almost a ghost town. However it’s still quite safe and all the facilities are still there. You could very well be one of a handful of tourist in a 5 star hotel - where else can you get that.
There are many other places. Cape Town has lots of tourist attractions and although they get busy, they never get as busy as tourist spots in many other places.
There’s the Cradle of Humankind , a World Heritage Site, where the earliest known homonid skeletons where found and on any given day there might be 20 people there.
I can go on and on. In fact compared to Asia, Europe and America, Africa is positively barren of tourists.
Big Bend National Park in Texas, especially in summer. There’s a lodge there if you’re not into the camping thing.
You might consider Isle Royale National Park. It’s the least visited national park in the lower 48 states. It’s stunningly beautiful, too.