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Telegraph
01-07-2025
- Telegraph
The world's least-visited countries – and why you should give them a chance
Many of the world's best-loved holiday spots are overcrowded – and their inhabitants have had enough. Last month, thousands of them took to the streets across Europe to protest against overtourism in a coordinated, Continent-wide effort. Further afield, some of the busiest spots have upped tourist taxes or limited visitor numbers in an attempt to stem the tide of tourists. There are, however, plenty of places in the world that remain mysteriously under-visited. And with unique endemic wildlife, fantastic local vintages or untrammelled mountains, they make for excellent holidays too. Below, we highlight six of the planet's least-trodden countries and hear from the experts about why they're worth travelling to. Moldova Widely said to be Europe's least visited country (just 67,000 foreigners visited through travel agencies in 2024, and that was a 55 per cent increase on 2023), Moldova mixes breakaway republics, empty countryside and Byzantine-era monuments with relics of its recent Communist past – all seemingly frozen in time. 'The fact that you can visit Transdniestr – a throwback to the Soviet Union – gives it a quirky feel that you won't find in countries on the well-trodden tourist trail,' says Jim O'Brien, director of the tour operator Native Eye. 'Add to this, miles and miles of underground wine cellars, ancient monasteries, and a diverse culture that includes both the Gagauz people and Romani communities, and the destination packs quite a punch for such a small place.' The lake-dotted, monument-littered capital Chișinău is said to be the greenest on the continent, near enough to the ancient cave monasteries of Old Orhei for a day trip. Beyond that, 'you'll be well away from the crowds of other parts of Europe, so you not only get to see a traditional part of the continent where customs have survived more than elsewhere, but it feels a little less contrived or staged for tourism,' says O'Brien. 'Get into the villages and you'll discover traditional hospitality, a wealth of homemade food and homemade wines and spirits – which definitely help in breaking down any cultural or language barriers.' How to do it Native Eye's week-long Moldova Explorer trip costs from £1,075pp, including excursions and accommodation but excluding international flights (01473 351565). Sao Tome and Príncipe Only around 12,000 visitors per year make it to this island nation off Africa's west coast, but many who do fall madly in love. 'It's one of the most unique, untouched destinations I've visited – organised tourism is still in its early stages, so it's a bit rough around the edges, but that's what makes it special,' says Marta Marinelli, a Senior Trip Designer at Much Better Adventures. 'When I first saw the two forest-covered islands rising from the Atlantic, it felt like landing in a real-life Garden of Eden, or Jurassic Park. There's a raw, off-the-radar charm – empty pristine beaches, rainforest hikes and authentic cultural encounters.' Though the islands are safe and welcoming, a lack of infrastructure means that independent trips can be hard. But join an organised tour and you can trek through the 30 per cent of the country that's been designated national parkland (the entire island of Príncipe is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve) searching out waterfalls, the toothy peak of Pico Cão Grande and the endemic species that have earned the nation the nickname ' the Galapagos of Africa '. Beyond that, there are cafes and plantations (where visitors can learn about the slave trade and the islands' haunting past) to explore, as well as Rolas Island with its sea turtles and Bounty-ad beaches: Marinelli cites Praia Cafė as her favourite. How to do it Much Better Adventures's 10-night Journey to the Equator in Sao Tome and Príncipe trip costs from £1,642pp including meals and excursions, but excluding international flights (020 3966 7597). Kiribati Hardly anybody goes to the island nation of Kiribati. The Pacific atoll gets less than 5,000 visitors per year, compared with the million-or-so who head to Fiji (from where it's a three-hour plane ride). It makes it the world's least visited nation, and it really is Crusoe country. There are no five-star resorts with WiFi connections or high-octane watersports on its 33 islands, just the chance to flit between them by prop plane, stay in waterside beach huts on deserted stretches of sand, or snorkel through coral reef busy with neon fish. On the atoll of Tarawa, there are the skeletons of long-lost planes too, relics of a fierce Second World War battle between the Japanese and Americans. Residents are 'really welcoming' to visitors, says Rhia Steele, Product and Sales Manager at the operator Undiscovered Destinations. 'On North Tarawa I stayed in an eco-lodge in an over-water buia (traditional hut). It was very basic, very simple and had shared facilities. Because everyone is trusting of each other, there are no locks or real doors on the buias and you walk to the edge of the island through the plantations, seeing the island's simple schools and shops along the way. For me it was a great experience – no internet and cut off from the outside world.' Soon though, these low-lying islands and their barely-seen attractions may be just a figment of the past: rising sea levels have brought regular floods and a gradual sinking that could make them uninhabitable by 2050. Staying around the atoll brings valuable money to help towards solutions for the future. The only problem is getting there. The islands are so remote that they're usually included as part of a tour of the wider area from the UK, which can mean a big outlay in terms of both time and money. How to do it Undiscovered Destinations has a 26-night Pacific Explorer trip that connects eight Pacific nations including Kiribati and costs from £19,355pp, including activities, local transport and some meals but excluding international flights (0191 296 2674). Guyana Costa Rica has become known as the wildlife capital of Central and South America and, after a brief hiatus post-pandemic, the most popular of its resorts are over-saturated once more. For its residents, there are definite minuses: locals are struggling to afford housing and there are strains on water and electricity supplies. Meanwhile, other parts of the region see barely any visitors. In 2024, only around 350,000 made it to Guyana, which has its own rare wildlife, hidden in untrodden jungle. Reef and Rainforest Tours has been visiting the country for more than 20 years. 'With its vast tracts of untouched rainforest, captivating wildlife and culture, and the one-of-a-kind Kaieteur Falls, a trip through Guyana leaves a lasting impression,' says the company's director Alan Godwin. 'It's a true adventure, featuring remote jungle lodges, exotic wildlife, and welcoming Amerindian communities who continue to live in harmony with nature in the country's wild interior.' Expect to see caiman, tree boas and squirrel monkeys, and look out for giant otters and anteaters too. How to do it Reef and Rainforest's The Highlights of Guyana trip costs from £5,470pp for 12 nights, including meals and activities but excluding international flights (01803 866965). Liechtenstein A tiny dot on the map between Switzerland and Austria, it's easy to see why this miniscule principality gets overlooked. As the second least visited country in Europe, it receives less than 120,000 visitors per year and that's a shame, because there's enough here to fill at least a week. 'It offers visitors an incredible range of cultural, natural and culinary highlights packed into just 160 square kilometres,' says Claudia Agnolazza of Liechtenstein Marketing. Top of the list of things to do are Liechtenstein's 400km of hiking trails, which weave up and down empty mountains. Among them is a lesser-known (but more taxing) 'Route 66', which stretches for 50km and can be completed in three days with stops in mountain huts – it takes in the highest point in the country, views over empty valleys towards Austria and Switzerland on the Fürstensteig trail and, finally, shady forests and sleepy villages on its descent. The capital Vaduz is gorgeous too – pint-sized with a cathedral, the Prince's castle and museums set against a snow-tipped mountain backdrop. Agnolazza recommends visits to two prince-related endeavours: the Princely Cinema and the Princely Winery. Though Liechtenstein can be pricey (this is one of the world's richest countries after all), an all-inclusive Adventure Pass means free transport and access to 20 attractions for 35CHF (£32) for three days. How to do it Stay between the vines of Vaduz at the Hotel-Gasthof Löwen, where doubles cost from £293, B&B (00 423 238 11 44). Timor Leste In densely visited destinations, seeking out truly local experiences can be difficult. That's certainly not the case in Timor Leste, a country that gained independence in 2002 but shares an island with Indonesia. Its half comes with a lively capital, treks up Mount Ramelau, some of the planet's most beautiful beaches, and the chance to snorkel the world's most biodiverse coral reefs, home to whale sharks, manta rays and around 1,200 species of fish. 'It holds incredible promise as a sustainable and culturally rich destination,' says Ravindra Singh Shekhawat, who is Intrepid Travel's General Manager for Indonesia. Timor Leste is also a place where homestays are taking off, meaning the chance to spend time with islanders in an authentic way. 'It's a great way to immerse yourself in the culture, eat delicious homemade meals and learn about the local way of life,' he adds. How to do it Intrepid's eight-night Timor Leste Expedition costs from £1,819pp, including meals and activities but excluding international flights (0330 808 7337).
Reuters
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Pro-Russian leader of Moldovan ethnic minority moved to house arrest, media reports
CHISINAU, April 9 (Reuters) - The detained pro-Russian leader of Moldova's Gagauz ethnic minority was transferred to house arrest for 30 days on Wednesday, Moldovan media outlet Newsmaker reported. The minority leader, Eugenia Gutul, had been held in a Chisinau prison after being detained on March 25 on suspicion of electoral fraud. She has denied wrongdoing. Gagauzia, a region of 140,000 people in Moldova's south, is dominated by ethnic Turks who favour close ties with Russia, adhere to Orthodox Christianity and have had uneasy relations with central authorities since Moldovan independence in 1991. Moldova, a small eastern European nation of 2.5 million, is led by President Maia Sandu, who is committed to joining the European Union by 2030 and has taken a sharp anti-Russian stance since Moscow invaded neighbouring Ukraine in 2022.
Russia Today
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Court extends Moldovan governor's arrest
A court in Moldova has ordered Governor Yevgenia Gutsul, who heads the autonomous region of Gagauzia, to be held in custody for 20 days. Prosecutors had asked for her to be remanded for one month. Gutsul is a vocal critic of the country's pro-Western government. The official was first detained on Tuesday at Chisinau International Airport, with the Moldovan authorities saying she was on a wanted list. On Friday, prosecutors said the governor stood accused of complicity in illegal campaign financing in the 2023 election. The politician won the governor's post in Gagauzia that year. She was also charged with falsifying documents. Law enforcement officials did not provide any further details about the charges, citing a pending investigation. Gutsul herself maintains her innocence. Her lawyers have denounced the court decision as 'absurd' and vowed to appeal. 'When there are no legal arguments [in favor of such a court decision], there are other arguments. I believe they are political in this case,' one of the politician's lawyers, Sergiu Moraru, told journalists after the hearing. Read more Kremlin responds to arrested Moldovan governor's appeal to Putin The governor herself labeled the investigation a 'political case' linked to her role as Gagauzia's leader. She has accused Chisinau of pursuing a plan to dismantle the region's autonomy through lawfare targeting her administration. The Gagauz are a Turkic-speaking, predominantly Orthodox Christian ethnic group living in southern Moldova. Their region has been granted broad rights to self-government. On Thursday, Gutsul appealed to both Russia and Türkiye to apply pressure on Moldovan President Maia Sandu's administration in defense of Gagauzia's rights. The Kremlin responded that it had 'reviewed' Gutsul's request. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the actions of the Moldovan authorities are at odds with the democratic principles proclaimed by the West. Chisinau claims that Gutsul is part of a Russian influence operation aimed at disrupting the country's attempts to become a member of the EU. Moscow has accused Moldova of cracking down on politicians and journalists who advocate closer ties with Russia.
Russia Today
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Kremlin responds to arrested Moldovan governor's appeal to Putin
The Kremlin said on Thursday it had reviewed an appeal by Yevgenia Gutsul, the detained leader of Moldova's autonomous Gagauzia region, to Russian President Vladimir Putin, asking for help in securing her release. Gutsul was taken into custody on Tuesday evening at Chisinau International Airport, with the Moldovan authorities saying she was on a wanted list. In a statement released via her lawyers on Thursday, she accused the government of pursuing a plan to dismantle the region of Gagauzia's autonomy through lawfare targeting her administration. Also on Thursday, Gutsul appealed to both Russia and Türkiye to apply pressure on Moldovan President Maia Sandu's administration in defense of Gagauzia's rights. In her message to Putin – published on her Telegram channel – she said the region looks 'with hope and faith to Russia,' a country that has 'never betrayed friends' and always stood by those 'who fight for the truth and their legal rights.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed to TASS that Moscow had 'reviewed' Gutsul's request, and said her detention was at odds with the democratic principles proclaimed by the West. Read more EU candidate's pro-Western government arrests autonomous region's leader Peskov had already condemned the arrest on Wednesday, calling on Moldovan authorities to stop putting pressure on political opponents. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova echoed that criticism, accusing the government in Chisinau of cracking down on politicians and journalists who advocate for closer ties with Moscow. According to Moldovan media, Gutsul was taken into custody as part of an investigation into the 2023 gubernatorial election in Gagauzia, which she won. Her campaign was accused of financial irregularities. The Moldovan government claims that Gutsul is part of a Russian influence operation aimed at disrupting the country's attempts to become a member of the EU. The Gagauz are a Turkic-speaking, predominantly Orthodox Christian ethnic group living in southern Moldova. Their region, Gagauzia, has been granted broad rights to self-government. Sandu has questioned Gutsul's mandate as governor, denouncing her former party 'Shor' as a 'criminal organization.' A court in Chisinau banned the party in 2023.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Another pro-Russian politician stopped from leaving Moldova
By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU (Reuters) - Police prevented another pro-Russian opposition politician from leaving ex-Soviet Moldova on Thursday as the detention of the leader of the country's pro-Russian Gagauz ethnic minority further strained relations with Moscow. Eugenia Gutul, the leader, or bashkan, of Gagauzia, has been in detention since being stopped at the airport on Tuesday in connection with a corruption probe. On Thursday, she urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to help secure her release. Russia has denounced her detention, saying Moldova is persecuting politicians opposed to pro-European President Maia Sandu. Two pro-Russian parliamentarians, also charged with corruption, have disappeared in the past week. All those under suspicion or facing charges are associates of fugitive pro-Russian business magnate Ilan Shor, sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with the 2014-2015 disappearance of $1 billion from the Moldovan banking system. Alexei Lungu, a member of the pro-Russian opposition, was stopped at Chisinau airport on Thursday and told he could not leave the country. He told Reuters the action amounted to "revenge and political terror." "We will fight - both openly and lawfully. Neither intimidation nor blackmail will stop us," he said. Gagauzia, a region of 140,000 people in the south of Moldova, is dominated by ethnic Turks who favour close ties with Russia, adhere to Orthodox Christianity and have had uneasy relations with central authorities since Moldovan independence in 1991. In her appeal, Gagauz leader Gutul asked Putin "to use the entire arsenal of diplomatic, political and legal means to put pressure on Moldovan authorities to secure an immediate end to political repression and my rapid release." She issued a similar appeal to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. A Chisinau court postponed until Friday a decision on a prosecution request to extend her 72-hour detention. Gutul is due to be sentenced soon on charges of corruption and financing a political bloc led by Shor from exile in Russia. Sandu is spearheading a drive to secure European Union membership for Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, and has never recognised Gutul's 2023 election as bashkan. The president has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which is on Moldova's eastern border, and has accused the Kremlin of trying to unseat her. Gutul's detention follows the unexplained disappearance last week of pro-Russian parliamentarian Alexandr Nesterovschi on the day he was sentenced to 12 years in prison on similar corruption charges. A second lawmaker, Irina Lozovan, awaiting a verdict on similar charges, has also disappeared. Moldovan authorities accuse Shor of funnelling money into the country illegally with the aim of using his banned "Victory" bloc to secure the election of pro-Russian lawmakers in a parliamentary poll later this year.
