The most beautiful countries with the fewest international tourists in the world

The British newspaper Telegraph lists the six least visited countries on the planet and hears from experts on why these places are worth visiting .

Moldova

Said to be Europe's least visited country (only 67,000 foreigners will visit via tour companies in 2024, up 55% from 2023), Moldova has deserted countryside and Byzantine ruins – all seemingly frozen in time.

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The desolate beauty of Moldova - PHOTO: MOMENT RF

"The fact that you can visit Transdniestr - a legacy of the former Soviet Union - gives it a sense of exoticism that you won't find in countries on the well-trodden tourist trail," said Jim O'Brien, director of tour operator Native Eye.

The capital, Chișinău, dotted with lakes and dotted with historical sites, is arguably the greenest place on the continent, and close enough to the ancient cave monasteries of Old Orhei to make it a day trip. What's more, "you'll be away from the crowds of other parts of Europe, so not only will you be seeing a more traditional part of the continent where customs and traditions are still alive longer than anywhere else, but it will also feel less staged for tourism," says O'Brien.

Sao Tome and Príncipe

Only about 12,000 tourists a year visit this island nation off the west coast of Africa, but many fall in love. “It’s one of the most unique and unspoiled destinations I’ve ever been to – organised tourism is still in its early stages, so it’s a bit primitive, but that’s what makes it special,” says Marta Marinelli, senior trip designer at Much Better Adventures.

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Coastline in the island nation of west Africa

“The first time I saw the two jungle-covered islands rising out of the Atlantic, I felt like I was in a real-life Garden of Eden or Jurassic Park. There was a raw, unrecognizable appeal to the place – pristine beaches, rainforest hikes and authentic cultural encounters,” he continued.

While the islands are safe and friendly, the lack of infrastructure means independent trips can be difficult. But join an organized tour and you can explore the 30% of the country designated as national parks (the entire island of Príncipe is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve), finding waterfalls, the majestic Pico Cão Grande peak and the endemic species that have earned the country the nickname “Africa’s Galapagos Islands.”

Kiribati

Almost no one visits the island nation of Kiribati. The Pacific atoll receives fewer than 5,000 tourists a year, compared to around a million who visit Fiji (a three-hour flight from there). This makes Kiribati the least visited country in the world, and a truly deserted place.

There are no five-star resorts with Wi-Fi or exciting watersports on the 33 islands, just the chance to skim them by propeller plane, stay in beach huts on deserted sandbanks, or snorkel through coral reefs teeming with neon fish. On Tarawa Atoll, there are even long-lost plane skeletons, relics of a fierce World War II battle between the Japanese and Americans.

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PHOTO: MOMENT RF

But these low-lying islands and their little-known attractions may soon be a thing of the past: rising sea levels have caused frequent flooding and gradual subsidence, which could make them uninhabitable by 2050.

Guyana

By 2024, only about 350,000 people will have reached Guyana, where rare wildlife is hidden in pristine jungle.

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PHOTO: GETTY

Reef and Rainforest Tours has been taking visitors to the country for more than 20 years. “With vast stretches of untouched rainforest, fascinating wildlife and culture, and the unique Kaieteur Falls, a trip through Guyana is a memorable one,” says company director Alan Godwin. It’s a true adventure, with remote jungle lodges, exotic wildlife, and welcoming Native American communities who still live in harmony with nature amid the country’s inland wilderness. Prepare to see caimans, tree pythons, squirrel monkeys, and don’t forget to look out for giant otters and anteaters.

Liechtenstein

A tiny dot on the map sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, it’s easy to see why this tiny principality is overlooked. As the second least visited country in Europe, Liechtenstein receives fewer than 120,000 visitors a year, which is a shame, because there’s enough room here for at least a week. It offers visitors a wealth of cultural, natural and culinary highlights in just 160 square kilometres.

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PHOTO: LEONID ANDRONOV

Topping the list are Liechtenstein’s 400km of hiking trails, which wind up and down desolate mountains. The capital Vaduz is also beautiful – small, with its cathedral, Prince’s castle and museums set against a snow-capped backdrop.

Timor Leste

In crowded destinations, finding truly local experiences can be difficult. This is certainly not the case in Timor Leste, which gained independence in 2002 but shares an island with Indonesia. Timor Leste has a vibrant capital, hiking trails on Mount Ramelau, some of the world’s best beaches, and diving opportunities on some of the world’s most biodiverse coral reefs, home to whale sharks, manta rays, and some 1,200 species of fish. The country is expected to welcome just 76,000 tourists in 2023.

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