Distant or inaccessible territories, bureaucracy, unstable political situations and strict religious regimes are often an obstacle for aspiring travelers. Discover countries that can be called a challenge even before preparing your suitcases!
Bhutan
The tiny kingdom opened its borders to the West a few decades ago and no one can visit the country without visa and special without being accompanied by an accredited local tour guide. One of the most inaccessible parts of the country is the monastery Paro Taktsang or otherwise lair of the tiger. This temple of the 17th century, was built literally on the edge of a cliff and is 700 meters above the Paro valley and is visible from too many points. Here according to local legends Guru Rinpoche arrived on the back of a tiger and is now considered one of the most sacred parts of the country.
Uzbekistan
Caught somewhere in the depths of Asia, the country has immense beauty that few know: cities like jewelry thrown in sand, elaborate architecture, vibrant colors everywhere, castles in the sand colors, bustling markets, smiling people and vehicles past decades the backdrop of. Apart from the capital Tashkent, Samarkand there or pearl of the Muslim world, the birthplace of Tamerlane Sachrizamps the Bukhara which is the religious and cultural heart of Central Asia and Hiva, the most well preserved medieval town with high walls hide palaces, steam room and covered bazaars.
Turkmenistan
The huge country of the Caspian Sea consists almost entirely of desert with the population concentrated in oases and in a narrow band around the Amou Daria and Karakoumski canal was formed by the waters. One of the most puzzling parts of Turkmenistan is the giant crater Darvaza or gate of hell in the desert Karakoumi. It is not a volcano but a hole where a huge constantly burning fire of natural gas, which emerges from the bowels of the earth, for 40 years. The fire was started when a borehole at that point that he hit a pocket of gas and crashed. As the area was filled with natural gas threaten the residential area it was decided to ignite the gas, creating this strange attraction.
Saudi Arabia
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the cradle of Islam, the land of Mecca and Medina and the birthplace of the Prophet, who teeter dangerously between modernization and backwardness. Behind the unimaginable wealth of oilfield and fairytale Sheikh, lies a closed country where any other faith is severely punished and justice is Islamic law, cinema and theater are banned by law and the unique melody that can be heard is the public call for mullahs to prayer five times a day.
Equatorial Guinea
Few people know the existence of this tiny country on the west coast of Africa, like two dots on the map. It consists of two parts, a mainland and an island, very different, which once belonged to the Portuguese for later sale to the Spaniards. The former poverty-stricken country is in theory now the richest in the world, since residents living in squalid conditions, and found huge deposits of oil. Beautiful and untouched country in 2016 is expected to become the heart of the jungle a brand new city of 200,000 inhabitants, the Ogiala with huge boulevards, imposing buildings, modern hospitals and schools, all with the signature of Spanish architects.
View more here: The best places for meditation in Asia, Top 5 Romantic Places to Visit in Barbados.
By Nicole P.
Inaccessible places photos: Roberto Cavalcanti, sultan alghamdi, Tormod Sandtorv, Ben Smethers.
