Surviving the Top 10 Most Remote Places on Earth

The world's most remote places can teach you a lot about survival. Imagine waking up each morning to a stunning mountain or a South Pacific beach. Living in the middle of nowhere gives you beautiful views. But the scenery comes at a cost. 

Remote areas usually mean natural hazards.  The most remote places on earth usually mean exposure to harsh conditions, like volcanoes and hurricanes. These can be perfect opportunities to hone your survival skills. If you can survive on an island far away from civilization, then you'll be able to handle anything. 

Source:  NRKbeta on Unsplash

We've reviewed the gear and knowledge you'll need to make it in the most remote places in the world. But before that, let’s talk about the 10 most remote places on earth, and why they are so hard to reach.

Source: National Ocean Service

What is it: A spot in the middle of the Pacific ocean named Point Nemo is the farthest point away from any other land on Earth. This is truly what "getting away from it all" looks like. 

Emergency preparedness lesson: Be prepared to communicate with the outside world only by satellite phone. It's called the "Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility," meaning it's the most remote place in the ocean. The closest human beings to Point Nemo are on the International Space Station - that's how far away it is from human habitation.

Don't skimp on the navigation tools. You'll need precise equipment to sail there and back safely. There isn't much to do once you get there - but it is something to say you've been to the most remote location on the planet. 

Recommended gear: If you want to sail to Point Nemo, you'll need self-sufficient survival gear:

• Satellite phone
• Emergency raft 
• Water purification system 
• GPS navigation systems 

Source: NASA Earth Observatory 

What is it: There are many remote, uninhabited places on Earth. But Tristan da Cunha is considered the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world. Its town is named Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, and it's a British Overseas Territory. 

Emergency preparedness lesson: The islands are volcanic. The only way to get on or off is by a six-day boat ride, making evacuation tricky. Equipping yourself with sailing knowledge is essential. It's also crucial to have volcano survival gear on hand for smaller eruptions or even a failed evacuation. 

Recommended gear: We recommend standard volcanic survival gear, including:

• Gas masks
• Ash protection goggles
• Extensive emergency food storage
• Fire-resistant blankets and clothing
  
  

Source: owamux on Wikimedia Commons

What is it: The only human habitation on Antarctica is this research station. Located on the tip of Ross Island, any travelers or supplies must pass through McMurdo first. 

Emergency preparedness lesson: Surviving in the coldest inhabited place on earth requires preparation. Frostbite can kill you in hours if you don't have proper clothing. Ice and snowfall can damage equipment and block access. It's important to store enough supplies to withstand long-term isolation.

Recommended gear: Essential gear for surviving on Antarctica includes:

• Portable heaters
• Emergency shelters
• Snow survival kits
• Cold-optimized clothing
• Emergency food storage 

4. Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland 

Source: Hannes Grobe, AWI via Wikimedia Commons 

What is it: One of the most remote settlements in the Arctic Circle, people travel here for the natural beauty and to experience Inuit traditions. There's a high chance of encountering a polar bear and the northern lights are a spectacular sight. 

Emergency preparedness lesson: Living with constant extreme cold requires intense planning. Keep in mind that the long periods of darkness in the Arctic can mean rapid drops in temperature that sometimes catch hikers and explorers unaware. 

Recommended gear: Although the area is inhabited, emergency supplies are essential:

• Headlamps for navigating in darkness
• Insulated clothing
• Emergency heaters
• Emergency food supplies 

5. Pitcairn Island, Pacific Ocean 

Source: wileypics via Wikimedia Commons

What is it: An isolated volcanic island in the South Pacific, 1,350 miles away from Tahiti. The few permanent residents are the descendants of Polynesians and the mutineers of the HMS Bounty. The nearby Henderson Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Emergency preparedness lesson: Even though the climate is mild, it's not practical to grow all your own food. Resupply missions to the island are infrequent, so it's important to have an adequate emergency food supply.

Recommended gear: Survival gear should focus on supplementing food/water stores:

• Rainwater collection systems
• Fishing gear
• Shelf-stable food supplies
• Pest protection 

6. Socotra Island, Yemen 

Source: Rod Waddington via Wikimedia Commons

What is it: An isolated island in the Indian Ocean, Socotra Island has been famous since ancient times for its dramatic scenery, including caves, mountains, and sand dunes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Emergency preparedness lesson: Socotra Island is a well-known survivalist camping destination. Despite this, medical infrastructure is minimal. Even if you're in great shape, an accident or illness can strike at any time. It's best to be prepared. 

Recommended gear: Sunlight is a great resource, if abundantly available. We recommend: 

• Extensive first aid kits
• Water filtration systems
• Portable solar power sources 
• UV protective clothing and hats 

7. Tibetan Plateau, China 

Source: Esther Lee via Wikimedia Commons 

What is it: This vast, isolated plateau in Asia contains many brackish lakes. It's the least populous region in Asia due to its extremely cold winters and isolating mountains. 

Emergency preparedness lesson: Surviving in high altitudes requires preparation. Learn how to handle altitude sickness and the proper ways to prepare food and sanitize water at high elevations. 

Recommended gear: Survival in regions like this require resources for high altitudes and cold weather: 

• Solar powered equipment
• Layers of cold-resistant clothing
• Oxygen kits
• High energy food
• Hypothermia first aid kits

8. Kerguelen Islands, Indian Ocean 

Source:  Daniel Delille 

The Kerguelen Islands are located in the South Indian Ocean. They are over 3,000 kilometers away from Madagascar, making it one of the most isolated islands on Earth. There are no permanent residents there. 

Emergency preparedness lesson: The terrain is rugged, featuring glaciers and rocks. Its proximity to Antarctica means that complex ocean currents create unpredictable and often harsh weather. Survival depends on adaptability to extreme conditions. 

Recommended gear: Survival in these kinds of regions requires being prepared for anything: 

• Waterproof clothing
• Satellite phone
• Emergency shelter kits
• Water purification systems 

9. Barrow (Utqiaġvik), Alaska 

Source: Wikipedia

What is it: Though modernized with utilities and a nearby airstrip, Utqiagvik is north of the Arctic Circle and regularly experiences extreme polar conditions. In this place, you can test your survival skills against drastic weather and cold. 

Emergency preparedness lesson: Living in extended periods of darkness and sub-zero temperatures requires a special degree of resilience. Being prepared to withstand these conditions for months at a time - not just a few days of a blizzard - tests your preparedness skills. 

Recommended gear: Living in this climate requires specialized gear:

• Snow survival kit
• Extreme cold clothing 
• Multiple heating methods
• Long-term shelf-stable food storage 

10. La Rinconada, Perú 

Source:  Hildegard Willer via Wikimedia Commons 

What is it: The world's highest elevation inhabited town, La Rinconada exists because of a gold mine in the Andes. 

Emergency preparedness lesson: Because it's located far above the tree line, weather can be extreme. Cold, snow, and rain are all common and travelers should be prepared for altitude illness. Medical facilities are distant or nonexistent. 

Recommended gear: We recommend being ready to handle any medical emergencies on your own. Important gear includes:

• Extensive first aid kit
• Water purification systems 
• Oxygen tanks
• Insulated clothing and blankets
• Altitude sickness medication 

Why Explore Remote Places? 

Some of you crave adventure. You're not content with a walled-in lifestyle and want to test your skills against nature. Remote places offer unspoiled beauty compared to managed wildlands, like a national park. 

Remote locations also offer solitude. The urge to get away from it all is understandable, but it means you need to be prepared for long periods of self-sufficiency. 

Emergency assistance probably won't be quickly available. These remote locations also mean living near natural hazards, like active volcanoes. Preparedness is crucial in these scenarios. Mudslides, lava flow, and smoke inhalation can be deadly. Knowing how to prepare for a hazardous and remote living situation can save your life. 

Source: Leon Beckert on Unsplash

How to Prepare for Living Near Volcanic Activity 

Have you ever dreamed of living on a remote island in the South Pacific Ocean? Or maybe a tiny settlement in South America? These isolated destinations are beautiful and worth traveling to. But are you prepared with the emergency gear for volcanic regions, or to withstand extreme cold for months on end?

Understanding Volcanic Hazards

Living or adventuring near volcanos presents multiple hazards. Even if there is a low risk of actual eruption, other dangers can quickly turn life-threatening if you are not properly prepared. 

Ashfall 

Volcanoes can eject millions of tons of ash into the atmosphere. It looks like the ash from burning wood, but it's actually tiny pieces of jagged rock. Breathing this in can damage your airways and lungs. 

Volcanic ash can pile up quickly and it doesn't dissolve in water. During ashfall, planes can't fly, rivers can be clogged, and roadways can become blocked. You need to be prepared to shelter in place or have a high-quality filtration system for breathing in polluted air.

Toxic Gas

Volcanos release toxic gasses during an eruption, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and carbonic acid. Most of this is released harmlessly in the air. 

Since carbon dioxide is heavier than air, it can sink into spots of low elevation and become "trapped." People have been killed by CO2 in low-lying areas. This can happen even if the eruption isn't recent. In 2006, three skiers stumbled into a CO2 trap on Mammoth Mountain and died.

The gas has no smell, so it's easy to miss the signs. You should always go to a spot of higher elevation to escape this danger. 

Source: MIRA Safety 

Lava Flow

You need to be prepared for different kinds of eruptions. People living on the remote volcanic island Tristan da Cunha have been threatened by active lava flow and by shooting rocks from the volcano. In 1961, the entire settlement was evacuated to England. People there keep evacuation and survival plans at the ready at all times - the most recent close call was in 2004. 

Besides the lava, eruptions often cause fast-moving mudslides called "pyroclastic flow." In 2018, several villages in Guatemala were completely buried by pyroclastic flow when Volcán de Fuego erupted. 

Essential Gear for Volcanic Activity

Any volcanic preparedness guide will recommend having the right safety gear. You need to be prepared before adventuring or moving to a volcanic location. 

• Gas masks - protect yourself from inhaling volcanic ash and poisonous gasses with a high quality gas mask and filter. Our CBRN gas filter has a 20-year shelf life, making it perfect for emergency preparedness in volcanic areas. Buy a military-grade air filter now.
• Emergency goggles - You can't escape if you can't see. Our CM-8M Full-Face Respirator provides a 92.5% field of vision and is fully compatible with high-grade filters. Buy safety goggles now.
• Fireproof blankets and clothing - Eruptions can spark smaller fires across the area. Fireproof blankets and clothing protect from heat and help you evacuate. Buy our fire escape pro kit now.
• First Aid Kits - You need to supplement your basic first aid kit with volcanic-specific gear like burn ointment, and possibly inhalers for respiratory damage. 
• READ NOW: Building the Ultimate Wildfire Go Bag
• Evacuation Gear - Plan multiple escape routes and buy a vehicle that's capable of off-roading. Remember, ash fall and pyroclastic flow can block roads quickly. 
• READ NOW: The Best Bug Out Vehicle Guide

Source: MIRA Safety 

Safety Procedures

Living in one of the world's most isolated places means you need to be an expert at  preparedness. There is often no way to reach emergency services. You need to be self-reliant and aware of the threats around you.

Evacuation plans - Some remote destinations might have very little government oversight, which means you need to create and update your own evacuation plans. Always have multiple routes planned with different starting points and destinations just in case one becomes unavailable. 

READ NOW: How to Practice your Evacuation Plan

Emergency Supplies - Ordinary communities are advised to keep at least three days of emergency supplies on hand. Remote settlements or nearly uninhabited areas need far more. Consider how much food, water, and medical supplies you would need to survive for weeks or months if the need arose. Consider stocking freeze-dried foods with a long shelf life like the 

READ NOW: The Best Survival Food Guide in 2024

Monitoring Volcanic Activity - There are a number of free apps and notification services for people who live near volcanoes, like the Volcano Notification Service (VNS) from the US National Geological Survey. 

If an evacuation order is given, you need to be ready. Evacuating on time saves lives.

Why Are Remote Places Important? 

Remote places have value beyond their scenic beauty or challenge to adventurers. 

Remote regions are often sanctuaries for many species that aren't found anywhere else in the world.  For example, biodiversity research in Socotra Island  hopes to understand rare plants and animals that are threatened by cyclones and other extreme weather. 

Ecotourism can help support conservation efforts as it brings in funding without destroying natural habitats. 

Furthermore, researching these remote areas can have benefits for people in populated areas. Studying the effects of volcanoes can help researchers recommend better disaster-preparedness plans for cities and towns near volcanoes. It can even give hints as to future hazards. Researchers in Bolivia are studying dormant volcanoes to better understand how magma rises to the surface of the earth. 

The ancient world holds immense knowledge of how people have survived in harsh and isolated climates. 

Ittoqqortoormiit, for example, is home to traditional Inuit hunting practices that have been practiced for thousands of years. Islands like Rapa Nui (Easter Island) give hints at civilizations long gone.