Remote Travel: My Journey to One of the World’s Most Untouched Islands

There is something incredibly special about finding yourself in a place few others ever see. The more you travel, the more you realize how easy it is to slip into the same well-worn routes packed with tourists.

But once you step off the beaten path, everything changes. Suddenly, you crave those untouched corners of the world, places where tourism has not taken over, where you can experience the land, the culture, and the people in a way that feels raw and unfiltered.

Why Remote Travel Offers Something You Can’t Find Anywhere Else

As travel becomes more accessible, and social media glamorizes certain destinations, more and more places cater to tourists. Authenticity becomes harder to find.

I have traveled to over 35 countries, experiencing everything from Americanized resorts in Punta Cana to the most remote corners of India.

I have explored bustling tourist hubs in Thailand, jungle paradises in Costa Rica, quiet villages in Laos, and luxury resorts in Italy. Through all of it, I have realized something important.

The most remote, less-traveled places offer the richest experiences.

In these places, you see life and society untouched. Locals are not hustling tourists to buy cheap souvenirs. You will not find English menus, Apple Pay, or the comforts of home at every turn.

You see people living their lives as they always have, unfiltered and genuine. That is where the real magic happens.

The Problem with Today’s Travel Hotspots

Sometimes travelers seek out this authenticity deliberately, but it can also be frustrating. You might find yourself in a European city overrun with tourists, where every corner features Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Domino’s.

Or you could land on a supposedly remote Thai island, only to find artisanal cafes serving avocado toast and specialty lattes instead of traditional meals.

Comfort from home can be nice, but as a traveler, comfort should be optional, not the default.

When “Remote” Doesn’t Feel Remote Anymore

 When I visit a place like Thailand, I want to eat Pad Thai on the street, hear Thai spoken around me, and experience the culture, not navigate an English-language menu in a cafe that could be anywhere in the West.

Unfortunately, many destinations have become so globalized that Western comforts are unavoidable and the authenticity fades along with them.

This is why I want to talk about a place that reminded me why I travel and why I search for untouched destinations, places that do not feel scripted or catered to tourism.

Discovering a Place That Changed Everything

Socotra Island in Yemen is one of the most remote places I have ever visited. While it is slowly becoming more accessible to tourists, it has remained largely unchanged. Traveling there is an exercise in simplicity.

You sleep in tents, eat freshly caught fish prepared by locals over a fire, and enjoy complete disconnection from the modern world.

There are no hotels, no proper restaurants, no formal service, and little to no electricity throughout the island. Here, you see life exactly as it is now and much as it was 100 years ago.

The locals have not adapted to the way of life in the rest of the world. Despite facing the indirect effects of mainland Yemen, they have learned to survive in isolation and continue life as it was long ago.