We have all heard of people going to Maldives, Paris, London, Australia, New Zealand, and many more popular countries in the world for vacation. But what about countries that haven’t been explored much yet…? Isn’t the thought of going to such countries exciting? To experience and see things most of most haven’t. Well, Norwegian Gunnar Garfors is a world traveler who’s visited every country under the sun and thinks these 5 underrated nations are worthy of a coveted spot on your must-go list.
Nauru
The nation of Nauru is the smallest island country in the world. Nauru sits northeast of Australia and is a four-hour direct flight from Brisbane. Last year, only 130 people visited Nauru making it the least-visited country in the world. There are two hotels on the island and rental cars available to go around. Places you can visit there are, command ridge, the highest point on the island, which has a rusty Japanese outpost from World War II, Anibare Bay white sandy beaches, and coral reefs. A tourist visa is required to travel to Nauru.
Tuvalu
The nation of Tuvalu is in the south pacific and consists of nine islands and coral atolls. Just 800 people visited Tuvalu last year. Since the island receives so few arrivals, there are no visitor centers or tour guides. You can rent a motorbike and roam around on your own. Take a day trip by boat to the Funafuti Conservation Area for swimming. A tourist visa is required but can be secured upon arrival in Tuvalu.
Equatorial Guinea
The tiny nation of Equatorial Guinea is between Cameroon and Gabon on Africa’s west coast. It is the least visited country in Africa. Equatorial Guinea received 2,400 visitors last year. It has the second largest rainforest in the world, the Congo rainforest. Explore the capital city, Malabo, for colonial architecture with a bowl of pepesup (spicy fish soup). Later, you can take a swim in clear waters on black sand beaches. A tourist visa is not required for a stay of fewer than 90 days. You must provide proof of yellow fever and polio vaccinations. It’s an eight-hour flight from several cities in Europe.
Kiribati
This island nation is situated in Central Pacific. They have white-sand beaches and colorful lagoons. They had 3600 visitors last year. Make time to explore one or more of the outer islands for traditional culture and dances. The Gilbert group of islands has a number of historical relics and forts from the word war II invasion. Flights arrive twice weekly from Brisbane and Nadi, Fiji. A tourist visa is not required for stays of up to 30 days.
Turkmenistan
Central Asia’s Turkmenistan is considered one of the more mysterious of the five ‘Stans of the Silk Road, the ancient route that facilitated the silk and spice trade from east to west from 130 BC to 1453 AD. It only had 7000 visitors last year. Explore the white marble buildings adorned with gold-lacquered domes in the capital city, Ashgabat. Obtaining a tourist visa is very challenging but only because you must enter Turkmenistan as part of a guided tour. The tour operator will secure a visa for you.