Top remote and rural destinations around the world

Peace and quiet, for many of us, is a commodity that we just can’t get enough of. Whether it’s limiting time on your smartphone, or taking a wander around the block in the evening sunshine, we’re all seeking a little slice of tranquility to call our own. In this respect, traveling is no different. Following the well-worn path, visiting iconic sites plagued by tourist crowds can be as demanding as your daily commute! With this in mind, remote and rural destinations are becoming more and more precious; havens of silence in a brash and busy world.

Top rural destinations around the world

When the hustle and bustle of modern life feels simply overwhelming, our selection of the top remote and rural destinations around the world could be just what you need.

Westfjords, Iceland

The remote and beautiful Westfjords peninsula lies in Iceland’s northwest. Cut through with icy coastal fjords and an interior of high mountains, meadows and waterfalls, this is one of the least populated regions in a country with a famously low population to start with. Here you’ll find vast empty vistas of coastal cliffs, deserted beaches and the wild North Atlantic Ocean.

Weave your way along dramatic roads hugging the curves of fjords, and stop off in a clutch of small coastal villages for seafood dining and local culture. The best way to explore is on a self-drive tour along the peninsula’s relatively new Ring Road, perhaps by campervan. On a visit during the summer months, you’ll be able to complete the full loop in three or four days, with stops for hiking and sightseeing. During winter, some mountain passes will be inaccessible, but head to the northern shores for pristine snowy landscapes and the chance to see the northern lights.

Cao Bang, Vietnam

Best explored across multiple days, Cao Bang is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque regions in Vietnam. Home to towering waterfalls, shimmering lakes and lush, verdant rice fields, it’s the ideal gateway to scenic Southeast Asian countryside. Although you can explore the area independently, enlisting the services of a local guide can help you to get the best out of your rural destination experience.

Dau Dang waterfall and Ba Be lake are stunning; perfect for wild swimmers and lovers of the great outdoors. For those wanting to explore hillside villages and their surroundings, the 15km trek between Ta Lung and La villages is ideal – defined by sprawling rice fields and ramshackle mountain settlements.

Imelghas, Morocco

Just four hours from Marrakech, nestled among apple orchards and the peaks of the Atlas Mountains, is the charming village of Imelghas. Home to a traditional Berber community, many of whom are involved in a local water conservation project, the town and its surroundings offer a real insight into rural Moroccan life.

With its raw and beautiful landscape, the village is an ideal starting point for walking trails. Whether you want to climb the mountain pass of Tizi n’Aït Imi or meander through the apple orchards to see fossilized dinosaur footprints at Agouti, there’s no shortage of wonderful experiences on offer.

Abyaneh, Iran

Ancient and secluded, the village of Abyaneh is set among some of the most pristine and picturesque landscapes in Iran. Its labyrinthine streets and ramshackle red clay houses are home to just around 350 people, many of whom still speak Middle Persian, an early form of modern Farsi.

Abyaneh is overlooked by two hilltop fortresses, both dating to the 13th century, which offer panoramic views over the village and its surrounding mountains. While there are no formal walking trails, there are multiple shepherds’ paths leading up into the hills which can be easily explored with a local guide. For those with more time, full-day hikes are a great option, allowing you to explore Abyaneh’s surrounding villages and alpine landscape.

Svaneti Highlands, Georgia

Tucked away on the fringes of Europe in Georgia’s Caucasus Mountains, the sublime Svaneti Highlands offer some of the best remote hiking in the world. This rugged landscape of deep gorges and flower-covered Alpine meadows is linked by a series of tiny medieval hamlets, some of which feel unchanged since the 12th century.

Hiking from hamlet to hamlet takes you through spruce forests, past glaciers and a landscape dotted with medieval watchtowers, all the while accompanied by a backdrop of the sheer snow-topped peaks of the Caucuses.

Greenland

The icy realms of Greenland could be just the place to unplug from modern life and recharge. With a sparse sprinkling of settlements dotted around the coast, the majority of this expansive island is a wild and untouched land of glaciers, fjords and mountains. Exploring by boat allows you to experience the magic of the landscape as you glide past sculptural icebergs and look up at the sheer cliff faces of glaciers and fjords.

Guane, Colombia

With its white painted houses and winding cobbled streets, Guane’s sleepy charms have helped establish it as one of Colombia’s most picturesque villages. Although the little town does have some sites to offer, including a fascinating ethnography museum and an 18th-century church, the main attraction here is not the destination but the journey.

Guane can be reached on foot from the larger town of Barichara, where an easy 9km trail leads down through one of the country’s prettiest valleys. In this lush and verdant landscape, the only people you’re likely to encounter along the way are local farmers, tending to their livestock on the sprawling hillsides.

Cocachimba, Peru

Most visitors to Peru head for the ancient Inca lands of the Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu. Incredible as they are, you will always be part of a crowd as these more frequently visited destinations. Instead, consider traveling north to the quieter side of the country.

The small Andean village of Cocachimba makes a great base from which to explore a landscape of mountains and cloud forests. With one of the highest-altitude waterfalls in the world (Gocta Falls) and an ancient pre-Inca citadel to discover (Kuelap), this hidden corner of Peru has much to recommend it.

Lake Louise, Canada

If you’re looking for peace and serenity, you can’t go far wrong in the great Canadian wilderness. With huge swathes of the country empty of human inhabitants and protected by national park status, it’s a place to come and revel in the majesty of nature.

The Rockies might be the ultimate place to do that, and the mountain hamlet of Lake Louise makes an ideal base. This dot of civilization is surrounded by imposing peaks, pristine azure lakes and swathes of forest cut through with glacial rivers. It’s a place to come and hike, canoe or ski amidst the glory of the natural world.

Arslanbob, Kyrgyzstan

Surrounded by the Babash-Ata mountains, the sprawling village of Arslanbob is an oasis of greenery among rugged terrain. Amidst towering peaks and alpine lakes beneath a wide open sky, a few days in Arslanbob are sure to make you feel a million miles from the rat race.

In terms of activities, within walking distance of the village is the world’s largest walnut forest where, between August and October, nomadic communities take part in the harvest. More broadly, the region is perfect for horse riding, waterfall hikes and fishing trips, all set against the backdrop of a pristine alpine landscape.

Make it happen

Are you ready to head out into the great outdoors? Explore these featured destinations and get in touch with our local experts to start crafting your ultimate itinerary.