The world's least-visited countries – and why you should give them a chance

Telegraph

15 hours ago

Many of the world's best-loved holiday spots are overcrowded – and their inhabitants have had enough. Last month, thousands of them took to the streets across Europe to protest against overtourism in a coordinated, Continent-wide effort. Further afield, some of the busiest spots have upped tourist taxes or limited visitor numbers in an attempt to stem the tide of tourists.
There are, however, plenty of places in the world that remain mysteriously under-visited. And with unique endemic wildlife, fantastic local vintages or untrammelled mountains, they make for excellent holidays too. Below, we highlight six of the planet's least-trodden countries and hear from the experts about why they're worth travelling to.
Moldova
Widely said to be Europe's least visited country (just 67,000 foreigners visited through travel agencies in 2024, and that was a 55 per cent increase on 2023), Moldova mixes breakaway republics, empty countryside and Byzantine-era monuments with relics of its recent Communist past – all seemingly frozen in time.
'The fact that you can visit Transdniestr – a throwback to the Soviet Union – gives it a quirky feel that you won't find in countries on the well-trodden tourist trail,' says Jim O'Brien, director of the tour operator Native Eye. 'Add to this, miles and miles of underground wine cellars, ancient monasteries, and a diverse culture that includes both the Gagauz people and Romani communities, and the destination packs quite a punch for such a small place.'
The lake-dotted, monument-littered capital Chișinău is said to be the greenest on the continent, near enough to the ancient cave monasteries of Old Orhei for a day trip. Beyond that, 'you'll be well away from the crowds of other parts of Europe, so you not only get to see a traditional part of the continent where customs have survived more than elsewhere, but it feels a little less contrived or staged for tourism,' says O'Brien. 'Get into the villages and you'll discover traditional hospitality, a wealth of homemade food and homemade wines and spirits – which definitely help in breaking down any cultural or language barriers.'
How to do it
Native Eye's week-long Moldova Explorer trip costs from £1,075pp, including excursions and accommodation but excluding international flights (01473 351565).
Sao Tome and Príncipe
Only around 12,000 visitors per year make it to this island nation off Africa's west coast, but many who do fall madly in love. 'It's one of the most unique, untouched destinations I've visited – organised tourism is still in its early stages, so it's a bit rough around the edges, but that's what makes it special,' says Marta Marinelli, a Senior Trip Designer at Much Better Adventures.
'When I first saw the two forest-covered islands rising from the Atlantic, it felt like landing in a real-life Garden of Eden, or Jurassic Park. There's a raw, off-the-radar charm – empty pristine beaches, rainforest hikes and authentic cultural encounters.'
Though the islands are safe and welcoming, a lack of infrastructure means that independent trips can be hard. But join an organised tour and you can trek through the 30 per cent of the country that's been designated national parkland (the entire island of Príncipe is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve) searching out waterfalls, the toothy peak of Pico Cão Grande and the endemic species that have earned the nation the nickname ' the Galapagos of Africa '.
Beyond that, there are cafes and plantations (where visitors can learn about the slave trade and the islands' haunting past) to explore, as well as Rolas Island with its sea turtles and Bounty-ad beaches: Marinelli cites Praia Cafė as her favourite.
How to do it
Much Better Adventures's 10-night Journey to the Equator in Sao Tome and Príncipe trip costs from £1,642pp including meals and excursions, but excluding international flights (020 3966 7597).
Kiribati
Hardly anybody goes to the island nation of Kiribati. The Pacific atoll gets less than 5,000 visitors per year, compared with the million-or-so who head to Fiji (from where it's a three-hour plane ride). It makes it the world's least visited nation, and it really is Crusoe country.
There are no five-star resorts with WiFi connections or high-octane watersports on its 33 islands, just the chance to flit between them by prop plane, stay in waterside beach huts on deserted stretches of sand, or snorkel through coral reef busy with neon fish. On the atoll of Tarawa, there are the skeletons of long-lost planes too, relics of a fierce Second World War battle between the Japanese and Americans.
Residents are 'really welcoming' to visitors, says Rhia Steele, Product and Sales Manager at the operator Undiscovered Destinations. 'On North Tarawa I stayed in an eco-lodge in an over-water buia (traditional hut). It was very basic, very simple and had shared facilities. Because everyone is trusting of each other, there are no locks or real doors on the buias and you walk to the edge of the island through the plantations, seeing the island's simple schools and shops along the way. For me it was a great experience – no internet and cut off from the outside world.'
Soon though, these low-lying islands and their barely-seen attractions may be just a figment of the past: rising sea levels have brought regular floods and a gradual sinking that could make them uninhabitable by 2050. Staying around the atoll brings valuable money to help towards solutions for the future. The only problem is getting there. The islands are so remote that they're usually included as part of a tour of the wider area from the UK, which can mean a big outlay in terms of both time and money.
How to do it
Undiscovered Destinations has a 26-night Pacific Explorer trip that connects eight Pacific nations including Kiribati and costs from £19,355pp, including activities, local transport and some meals but excluding international flights (0191 296 2674).
Guyana
Costa Rica has become known as the wildlife capital of Central and South America and, after a brief hiatus post-pandemic, the most popular of its resorts are over-saturated once more. For its residents, there are definite minuses: locals are struggling to afford housing and there are strains on water and electricity supplies.
Meanwhile, other parts of the region see barely any visitors. In 2024, only around 350,000 made it to Guyana, which has its own rare wildlife, hidden in untrodden jungle.
Reef and Rainforest Tours has been visiting the country for more than 20 years. 'With its vast tracts of untouched rainforest, captivating wildlife and culture, and the one-of-a-kind Kaieteur Falls, a trip through Guyana leaves a lasting impression,' says the company's director Alan Godwin. 'It's a true adventure, featuring remote jungle lodges, exotic wildlife, and welcoming Amerindian communities who continue to live in harmony with nature in the country's wild interior.' Expect to see caiman, tree boas and squirrel monkeys, and look out for giant otters and anteaters too.
How to do it
Reef and Rainforest's The Highlights of Guyana trip costs from £5,470pp for 12 nights, including meals and activities but excluding international flights (01803 866965).
Liechtenstein
A tiny dot on the map between Switzerland and Austria, it's easy to see why this miniscule principality gets overlooked. As the second least visited country in Europe, it receives less than 120,000 visitors per year and that's a shame, because there's enough here to fill at least a week. 'It offers visitors an incredible range of cultural, natural and culinary highlights packed into just 160 square kilometres,' says Claudia Agnolazza of Liechtenstein Marketing.
Top of the list of things to do are Liechtenstein's 400km of hiking trails, which weave up and down empty mountains. Among them is a lesser-known (but more taxing) 'Route 66', which stretches for 50km and can be completed in three days with stops in mountain huts – it takes in the highest point in the country, views over empty valleys towards Austria and Switzerland on the Fürstensteig trail and, finally, shady forests and sleepy villages on its descent.
The capital Vaduz is gorgeous too – pint-sized with a cathedral, the Prince's castle and museums set against a snow-tipped mountain backdrop. Agnolazza recommends visits to two prince-related endeavours: the Princely Cinema and the Princely Winery. Though Liechtenstein can be pricey (this is one of the world's richest countries after all), an all-inclusive Adventure Pass means free transport and access to 20 attractions for 35CHF (£32) for three days.
How to do it
Stay between the vines of Vaduz at the Hotel-Gasthof Löwen, where doubles cost from £293, B&B (00 423 238 11 44).
Timor Leste
In densely visited destinations, seeking out truly local experiences can be difficult. That's certainly not the case in Timor Leste, a country that gained independence in 2002 but shares an island with Indonesia. Its half comes with a lively capital, treks up Mount Ramelau, some of the planet's most beautiful beaches, and the chance to snorkel the world's most biodiverse coral reefs, home to whale sharks, manta rays and around 1,200 species of fish.
'It holds incredible promise as a sustainable and culturally rich destination,' says Ravindra Singh Shekhawat, who is Intrepid Travel's General Manager for Indonesia.
Timor Leste is also a place where homestays are taking off, meaning the chance to spend time with islanders in an authentic way. 'It's a great way to immerse yourself in the culture, eat delicious homemade meals and learn about the local way of life,' he adds.
How to do it
Intrepid's eight-night Timor Leste Expedition costs from £1,819pp, including meals and activities but excluding international flights (0330 808 7337).