Located 621 miles north of Fiji in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the island paradise of Tuvalu is the least visited country in the world, according to the UN.
The tiny island nation receives just 3,700 visitors a year with only three indirect flights a week running to the island.
Six atolls and three coral islands make up this emerald jewel in the Pacific measuring in at around 10 square miles.
With no direct international flights from major hubs, Tuvalu is well off the beaten path – most travellers fly from Nadi in Fiji or Tarawa in Kiribati.
Despite a recent surge in TikTok travellers, the island nation remains too remote for most international tourists. Sadly, the island is expected to be one of the first affected by rising sea levels due to climate change.
For those intrepid enough to make it to the unspoilt island, a tropical paradise awaits – swaying coconut trees and pristine beaches give way to the crystal clear waters of the South Pacific.
Vibrant coral reefs wait under the surface ready to be explored by underwater adventurers while white sandy beaches beckon to travellers looking for some time in the sun.
Accommodation in the remote island nation is limited but the main island of Funafuti boasts simple but comfortable guesthouses, lodges, and hotels.
Seafood lovers will rejoice at the fact that Tuvalu’s cuisine is unsurprisingly linked to the oceans surrounding the country as well as the ever-present coconut.
Traditional dishes include coconut crab and fish caught from the lagoons with bananas and breadfruit as common additions to meals.
Pulaka – similar to taro root – is the locals’ main source of carbohydrates. The plant – which is toxic raw – must be cooked in an earth oven before locals add coconut cream or local palm wine.
Revellers will be pleased to know that Tuvalu produces toddy – a local palm wine made from the coconut tree.
While Tuvalu remains so remote that most travellers will never visit, its friendly people, idyllic scenery and laid-back atmosphere certainly make it worth the trip.
