World’s nine least visited countries

Ticked off by tourists? Head to one of the world’s least visited countries and you might have your next ski slope or desert island all to yourself, says Dilvin Yasa.

Travel bores are often heard long before they are seen.

“Maaan – you should have seen Kilimanjaro before the tourists invaded and destroyed the joint," they’ll tell anyone within earshot as they stare pensively into the distance. “Those were the days."

If you’re one of the unfortunate ones caught in the crossfire of intrepid travel flashbacks, two things will go through your mind – the first is unkind, but the second?

How on Earth do these people discover such destinations before the rest of the world cottons on to them?

The answer may lie in planning your next holiday to one of the world’s least visited countries as listed by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

Just don’t become a travel bore when you get back.

Tonga

Visitors: 45,000 per annum

The Kingdom of Tonga is comprised of 176 picturesque islands smattered to the south of Samoa and south-east of Fiji.

You’d think its proximity alone would make this Polynesian wonderland a hit with Australians but Tonga is largely underdeveloped which means that although the western crowds are refreshingly rare, so too are western-standard facilities.

Why you should visit: Surrounded by pristine atolls and lagoons teeming with colourful reefs, wildlife and shipwrecks, Tonga is renowned for its diving and snorkelling.

Get up close to the pods of humpback whales, which mate and calve off the coast of Vava’u between June and November, enjoy a traditional Tongan feast of up to 30 different dishes, then lay back on a hammock and enjoy a kind of tropical serenity that’s free of “NARELLE! – Giza Bintang!"

Getting there: Both Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia fly to Tonga.

Liechtenstein

Visitors: 53,000 per annum

“I’m off to ski Liechtenstein" is not the sort of statement you usually hear come ski season; although this tiny landlocked alpine principality is every bit as picturesque as its neighbours Switzerland and Austria, travellers are often put off by the fact it has no airport and requires quite a bit of effort to get to.

Why you should visit: If you’re into Von Trapp-style mountain scenery complete with gothic castles, stunning cathedrals and powder-white ski slopes, Liechtenstein is for you.

Start off in the capital, Vaduz, where you can take in Schloss Vaduz (home to the royal family), and shop for the principality’s famous pottery before heading out to the mountains.

Malbun Ski Resort (its websites claims it is famous throughout Liechtenstein) offers 23 kilometres of pistes to suit all abilities as well as Malbi Park Kinderland for tiny snow bunnies.

Getting there: Fly to Zurich, then get on one of the many Zurich to Vienna trains or buses (115 kilometres).

Tuvalu

Visitors: 1200 per annum

It’s at the bottom of the tourism list, but sadly, it’s fortunate it’s even on the list at all, considering how quickly this nation of nine low-lying coral atolls is disappearing into the sea.

Neighboured by Fiji and Samoa, Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world with limited infrastructure and industry.

Why visit: Got a luxury vessel you’re keen to sail? Tuvalu is popular with yachting enthusiasts who make the most of its spectacular scenery (and refreshing lack of formalities) by hopping from island to island.

Scuba diving and snorkelling are also top-notch, but if you’re looking to drop out of society for a while, it doesn’t get better (or more remote) than this.

Getting there: Fly Fiji Airways to Suva, then fly to the capital Funafuti.

Comoros

Visitors: 15,000 per annum

Utter the name Comoros and there’s a good chance people will think you’re talking about imported beer so little is known about this tiny African nation.

Located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, it’s similar in style to its glam neighbour Seychelles but much poorer – one half of the population live under the poverty line.

Why visit: It’s renowned for its diving, but since Mt Karthala’s 2005 volcanic eruption, it’s actually the hiking in Grande Comore, the largest of the islands, that’s not to be missed.

Also popular with the strutting set is the Dziani Boundouni crater walk on Mwali and hiking in Mayotte (the only island that’s still a part of France) but more sedentary folk will enjoy the bustling market scene and a trip to a flower plantation.

Getting there: Fly Emirates to Johannesburg, then Air Austral via Saint-Denis in Reunion.

Comoros, Mozambique Channel — Comoros beauty

Moldova

Visitors: 8000 per annum

If it weren’t for the joy that is Eurovision, this tiny landlocked Eastern European country would probably never register on our wanderlust radar.

True, Moldova suffers a reputation for being a bit ‘blah’, but since its tourism industry is focused solely on its staggering wine industry (140-plus wineries and counting), little else is known about the republic.

Why visit: If you like a tipple, this is the place for you.

As a wine country, you can fill up a whole week with wine-related activities from visiting vineyards and wine processing factories to emptying your life savings in underground cellars.

Less celebrated, but every bit as interesting, are Moldova’s 87 museums, mostly housed in buildings of special architectural importance.

It’s also worth noting that travelling around Moldova is cheap with prices comparable to those in Indonesia.

Getting there: Fly Emirates to Istanbul or London, then Air Moldova to the capital Chișinău.

Moldova in eastern Europe. — Moldova should be on your wanderlust radar

Federated States of Micronesia

Visitors: 26,000 per annum

On paper, this 607-island nation just north of Papua New Guinea sounds like a traveller’s dream; four unique states – each with their own distinct cultures, traditions and ecologies – wrapped up in a Bounty commercial (all swaying palm trees and pristine lagoons).

Unfortunately, it’s also remote, notoriously expensive to get to, and suffers from a lack of infrastructure.

Why visit: FSM is home to some of the world’s best dive destinations (the state of Chuuk is basically one big underwater wreck museum), and the azure waters off Pohnpei and Kosrae are teeming with hundreds of species of marine wildlife. But for something truly special, visit Yap, the FSM’s most traditional state, where locals still trade using the stone currency.

Getting there: Qantas and United Airlines fly from Brisbane.

Solomon Islands

Visitors: 23,000 per annum

It’s only a three-hour flight off the coast of Australia, yet this tropical island nation also suffers from a case of the ‘Tongas’ (all the right tropical elements but facilities that are too underdeveloped to lure the western dollar).

Now that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stayed at SI’s Tavanipupu Private Island Resort as part of last year’s Pacific tour, however, we suspect this is about to change.

Why visit: Empty beaches fringed by palm trees and pristine water… you’ve heard this all before?

How about caves filled with skulls (an interesting snapshot into their history of cannibalism), and relics and wreckages left over from WWII where some of the bloodiest battles took place in and around the capital, Honiara?

The diving here is stellar, but if you’re more of an ‘above sea level’ kind of person, it’s also the place to take in a scenic canoe adventure.

Getting there: Virgin Australia flies regularly to Honiara.

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Marshall Islands

Visitors: 5000 per annum

Got a lazy $4K to $10K burning a hole in your pocket and a yearning to spend 40-odd hours on a multi-stop flight?

Look no further than the Marshall Islands, an island nation located around the halfway mark between Australia and Hawaii.

Why so expensive? United Airlines has the monopoly on flights out here and have priced them accordingly.

Why visit: The Marshall Islands consist of two island chains of 30 atolls and 1152 islands and is best reserved for the serious (and cashed up) diving enthusiast.

Bikini Atoll, once a ship graveyard and the site of many American nuclear tests in the ’40s and ’50s is a World Heritage site and considered a bucket-list destination for serious divers.

Sand-seekers are better off at a less polluted atoll such as Arno, which will provide that postcard-perfect paradise setting.

Getting there: United Airlines flies to Kwajalein airport from Cairns.

Marshall Islands are closer than you think

Turkmenistan

Visitors: 7000 per annum

Let’s be honest, a country that’s bordered by Afghanistan and Iran to the south and Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to the north is never going to win any popularity competitions.

Largely closed off to the outside world since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, tourism is welcome; however, Turkmenistan’s omnipresent army and harsh desert terrain often prove to be a deterrent.

Why visit: History buffs will get a kick out of Turkmenistan’s ancient ruins, the most famous of which is Merv, once the largest city in the world, now a UNESCO World Heritage site full of ancient sub-cities.

The ancient city of Nisa is also popular (or as popular as it can be with 7000 visitors).

But our pick? The Darvaza Gas Craters, affectionately known as ‘the gates of hell’.

These were created after a gas exploration in the 1950s and one of the three craters is still burning to this day. Bring marshmallows.

Getting there: Turkish Airlines has regular flights to Ashgabat.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.