7 Remote Travel Destinations Featured in National Geographic’s 2024 Pictures of the Year That You Can Actually Visit

Post Published April 13, 2025

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Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park provides a starkly beautiful landscape for those who appreciate the raw power of nature. Jagged granite towers dominate the vista, looming over glacial lakes within a truly expansive and untamed environment. While the famous W Circuit draws significant numbers of hikers, the park encompasses less traveled paths that promise a different kind of experience – one of quiet contemplation and a more intimate interaction with the unspoiled terrain. Leaving behind the crowded trails allows for a greater sense of isolation and increased chances to witness the diverse wildlife and appreciate the stark beauty of the surroundings. Featured by National Geographic’s 2024 photography selection, Torres del Paine’s reputation as a place of challenging exploration and striking visual impact is well established. Its designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve reflects the park’s important ecological role, beckoning visitors to discover its varied geological forms and abundant natural life.
Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia is justifiably celebrated for its dramatic landscape – the iconic granite towers, brilliant blue lakes, and unique animal life. While the well-known circuits like the W trek draw crowds, a deeper exploration reveals trails that genuinely deserve the term ‘wilderness’. Venturing beyond the main routes in this Patagonian park allows a different experience, one of solitude amidst landscapes largely untouched by significant human impact. These less-trodden paths provide access to regions of the park where the scale of nature becomes even more apparent. Like other destinations featured by National Geographic for their striking imagery and accessibility in 2024, Patagonia offers experiences that are both visually stunning and physically attainable. It is worth noting that while the celebrated viewpoints are remarkable, the park’s less-visited sectors arguably hold a rawer, more profound connection to the natural world, demanding a greater sense of self-sufficiency and awareness from those who choose to explore them. This shift towards quieter trails is increasingly appealing to travelers seeking a more immersive and contemplative encounter with these famed Patagonian landscapes.

What else is in this post?

  1. 7 Remote Travel Destinations Featured in National Geographic's 2024 Pictures of the Year That You Can Actually Visit - Hiking Patagonia's Torres del Paine Through Chile's Forgotten Wilderness Trails
  2. 7 Remote Travel Destinations Featured in National Geographic's 2024 Pictures of the Year That You Can Actually Visit - Finding Solitude at Mongolia's Gobi Desert Camps Without Breaking the Bank
  3. 7 Remote Travel Destinations Featured in National Geographic's 2024 Pictures of the Year That You Can Actually Visit - Flying to Raja Ampat Indonesia for $700 Round Trip with Alaska Airlines Miles
  4. 7 Remote Travel Destinations Featured in National Geographic's 2024 Pictures of the Year That You Can Actually Visit - Exploring Ethiopia's Simien Mountains National Park During Low Season
  5. 7 Remote Travel Destinations Featured in National Geographic's 2024 Pictures of the Year That You Can Actually Visit - Kayaking Alaska's Kenai Fjords with Direct Flights from Seattle
  6. 7 Remote Travel Destinations Featured in National Geographic's 2024 Pictures of the Year That You Can Actually Visit - Getting to Madagascar's Avenue of the Baobabs Using Air France Flying Blue Points
  7. 7 Remote Travel Destinations Featured in National Geographic's 2024 Pictures of the Year That You Can Actually Visit - Photographing Iceland's Vatnajökull Ice Caves via Budget Airlines from Boston





a statue of a man sitting in a chair, Chinggis Khan

Seeking quiet in Mongolia's Gobi Desert is surprisingly achievable without excessive expense. Ger camps provide a base for experiencing this remote location, with options like Gobi Mirage and Three Camel Lodge. These are not luxury resorts, but rather a way to access the stark beauty and nomadic culture of the region without significant financial outlay. The desert’s appeal lies in its immense scale and enigmatic landscapes, attracting those in search of isolation. Wildlife such as Bactrian camels and expansive views across the steppes contribute to the experience. For those considering solo travel, particularly women, the Gobi offers a distinctive environment for personal exploration. Getting there involves either lengthy internal flights or considerable driving across vast distances, underscoring the remoteness. However, this very remoteness is part of the desert’s draw for those wanting to disconnect and experience a truly different environment on a reasonable budget.
Another destination gaining recognition from National Geographic’s annual photography review is Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. While Patagonia offers mountain vistas, the Gobi presents a different kind of grandeur: immense open spaces and stark, arid beauty. The appeal here lies in experiencing profound isolation without necessitating a premium price point. Unlike some remote locales requiring substantial investment in specialized gear or permits, the Gobi offers a surprisingly accessible experience for those willing to forgo luxury. Accommodation in traditional ger camps provides a base for exploration, and while basic, it allows for immersion in the landscape at a fraction of the cost often associated with wilderness travel. These camps, scattered across the desert, serve as starting points to witness the unique geological formations and engage, to some degree, with nomadic traditions. The vastness of the terrain itself contributes to the sense of solitude; distances are immense and human presence is minimal outside of established routes. Exploring the Gobi offers a different dimension of remote travel, one where the primary draw is the raw scale of the environment and the quiet contemplation it invites, attainable without significant financial outlay. For those more interested in landscape and solitude than strenuous trekking, the Gobi represents a compelling and relatively economical alternative.






Raja Ampat, Indonesia, remains a sought-after remote destination, especially after its visual appeal was highlighted in National Geographic's 2024 year-end photos. What is notable is that getting there might be less prohibitive than one might assume. Deals appear advertising round-trip flights for approximately $700 when using Alaska Airlines miles, which ostensibly makes it accessible to a broader range of travelers. Raja Ampat's
Another destination spotlighted in National Geographic's recent year-end photography selection, and within reach for those with a sense of adventure, is Raja Ampat in Indonesia. This archipelago, celebrated for its stunning underwater ecosystems, presents itself as a location of significant natural beauty. Surprisingly, accessing such a remote and globally recognized area is potentially more financially reasonable than one might expect.

Round-trip flights to Raja Ampat can reportedly be secured for approximately $700 when utilizing Alaska Airlines miles. While the notion of flying to such a far-flung destination on miles may seem complex, it appears to be a viable strategy for reducing travel costs to this part of Indonesia. The journey typically involves flying into Sorong in West Papua, the gateway to Raja Ampat. From Sorong, the onward journey requires either a ferry to Waisai or a smaller flight






a view of the top of a mountain with a cloud in the sky,

Ethiopia's Simien Mountains National Park, a designated UNESCO site, offers a compellingly rugged terrain of high plateaus and sheer drops. This park distinguishes itself from the well-trodden paths of Patagonia and the stark plains of the Gobi. While perhaps less immediately recognized as a ‘remote’ destination compared to others, the Simien Mountains present legitimate trekking for various abilities and the chance to observe unique creatures like the gelada monkey in their natural environment. Featured
Another remote locale featured in National Geographic’s recent photographic review of the year, and deserving of closer examination, is Ethiopia's Simien Mountains National Park. This protected area, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, stands out not merely for its scenery, but for the confluence of dramatic geology and distinctive fauna found at significant altitudes. The landscape is characterized by sharp escarpments, deep gorges carved over millennia, and peaks reaching some of Africa’s highest points. While popular narratives often focus on peak tourist seasons, the Simien Mountains present a compelling proposition for off-season exploration.

Venturing into the park outside the main tourist periods allows for a different encounter with its dramatic topography and endemic species. The famed Gelada monkeys, with their complex social structures, are readily observed throughout the park, often in large troops. The geological formations themselves are noteworthy – a testament to volcanic activity and erosional forces that have shaped this part of the Ethiopian Highlands. Trails, though well-established, are generally less crowded during the quieter months, offering a chance for more focused observation of the unique high-altitude flora, including the striking Giant Lobelia. While the logistical aspects of travel to such locations always require careful planning, including acknowledging the altitude acclimatization needed for elevations exceeding 4,500 meters, the Simien Mountains offer a compelling destination for those drawn to environments that are both physically impressive and biologically unique. The cultural context, interwoven with the Amhara people and their historical presence in the region, adds another layer to the experience beyond pure natural observation. It’s a place where the geological narrative is as compelling as the biological one, and arguably more rewarding when experienced with a degree of solitude.














Madagascar's famed Avenue of the Baobabs presents an iconic vista of ancient trees, drawing travelers to this unique landscape. Reaching this location, known for its striking silhouette of Adansonia grandidieri trees, is more straightforward than one might assume, particularly for those familiar with Air France’s Flying Blue program. Flights to Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital, are available via Air France from numerous international hubs, offering a potential avenue for using accumulated points for travel to this part of the world. From the capital, a short domestic flight, roughly an hour in duration, connects to Morondava, the city nearest to the baobab avenue. A brief taxi ride from Morondava places visitors at the heart of the avenue, which notably has no entrance fees, making it accessible to all. The appeal is amplified during sunrise and sunset when the light accentuates the already dramatic forms of the baobab trees. While Madagascar might seem remote, the accessibility via established flight networks and the ease of reaching the Avenue of the Baobabs itself demonstrates that even seemingly far-flung destinations can be within reach for those seeking unique photographic and natural encounters, much like the locations highlighted in National Geographic's 2024 selections.







Another destination gaining prominence from National Geographic's 2024 photographic highlights is Iceland's Vatnajökull Ice Caves. These formations are celebrated for their otherworldly blue interiors and the constantly changing artistry of nature sculpted in ice. For those based in Boston, experiencing this glacial marvel may be surprisingly straightforward, thanks to the availability of budget airlines flying to Reykjavik. While Iceland itself might not be the ends of the earth, venturing into these ice caves is certainly an experience removed from the everyday. The appeal for photographers is obvious – the unique light and color within the caves, combined with their ephemeral nature, provide compelling subjects. Each winter, the caves reform, shaped by meltwater and glacial movement, ensuring no two visits are ever quite the same. Capturing these spaces photographically presents its own set of challenges, mainly due to limited light, but the resulting images can be quite striking. Navigating these glacial environments safely requires guided tours, adding a layer of organized adventure to the experience. Iceland's ice caves offer a different kind of remote travel – one focused on subterranean beauty and the dynamic power of glaciers, accessible without immense difficulty from major hubs like Boston. This accessibility makes them a worthwhile consideration for those seeking unique photographic opportunities in a natural wonder recognized by National Geographic.


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