There are some remote places in the far corners of the world where some of us don’t even think about stepping foot into. They’re either plain inaccessible, dangerous, too expensive to reach, too far away from civilisation, or worse, have no WiFi. Going off the grid can be daunting.
But there are other brave souls who’ve dared to venture into uncharted territories. They’ve brought back some footages for us to enjoy in the comfort of our own homes. Here are some stunning untouched landscapes you and I may not have thought about exploring, but will hopefully inspire us to dive into the unknown.
Illulissat, Greenland
Greenland is often overlooked as a tourist destination, as most people favour the nearby country of Iceland. The Illulissat Icefjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and there are other activities you can do there besides iceberg tours. You can go hiking, go dog sledding, see the northern lights or get to know Inuit culture. Now, that’s pretty interesting.
How to get here:
Lahaul & Spiti, India
Located in the Himalayas, Lahaul-Spiti is a mountainous region that’s known to be some of the most difficult roads to cross due to an elevated valley floor of 4270m in Spiti. Youtube user Sublimescape Services, who made the video, says, “October, generally the weather should be clear throughout Spiti but take nothing for granted as on high mountains & passes things can change rapidly,” in response to a Youtube comment by another user who asked for tips. “It depends though from which side you want to go and what all places do you want to cover. I suggest in case if you are going in mid to late October, then start the route from Shimla and go via Kinnaur. That way when you reach Spiti, you minimize chance of facing Rohtang and/or Kunzum pass closure as I think both of them get snowed out around late October-ish.”
Qilian Mountains, China
Not much is known about the Qilian Mountains apart from the fact that it forms the border between the Qinghai and Gansu provinces in northern China. It’s rugged, but if you’re a huge fan of nature, then charter a car from Xining at 2 Yuan per km to take you here so you can marvel at the glaciers.
Gates of the Arctic, Alaska
Even though Christopher McCandless’s journey Into The Wild came to a rather grim end, others have trekked into the Alaskan wilderness, to the Gates of the Arctic National Park, and emerged unscathed. It’s the second largest national park in the US but visitors are few and far between. There are no roads, trails, visitor services or campground in the park and most of its mountain peaks are unnamed. Backpackers arrive in mid-June when ice sheets have melted, and activity ceases from November to March when temperatures dip below -6 to -15 degrees Celcius. Clearly, this trip is not for the faint-hearted but adventurers there will experience an intact ecosystem.
The Door To Hell, Turkmenistan
This natural gas crater used to be a gas field until it collapsed into an underground cavern in 1971. Geologists set it on fire to prevent the spread of noxious gases, and it’s been burning bright ever since. No one has ever attempted to plunge into its fiery depths before explorer/ storm chaser George Kourounis did in 2013. The isolated ex-Soviet nation of Turkmenistan is notoriously difficult to get to so if you want to visit the Door To Hell, do apply for a tourist visa to the country and contact a travel agency, such as Dragoman which plans overland adventures.