3. Turkmenistan: 8,697 visitors
Want to knock all the “Stan” countries off your bucket list? Well you can’t do that without checking out Turkmenistan, which has annual tourist visits of just 8,697. While some Turkmen—a Turkmenistan citizen—have settled in the historic cities, many continue in the traditional nomadic ways of their forefathers, living across vast deserts that take up eighty percent of the land mass. While it’s unwise to talk politics with Turkmen, especially as for decades their country was cut off from the rest of the world, you should be okay on topics like food, culture, and main attractions. Across the country, golden statues of Saparmyrat Niyazov, the country’s eccentric ruler until 2006, are scattered monuments (he’s the guy who renamed the months on the calendar after himself!). Tourists eager to explore the Central Asian location are also privy to camel and horse trekking (with Akhal Teke horses), the impressive nature reserve, Darvaza gas craters, and much more.
4. East Timor: 78,000 tourists
Situated among the Indonesian islands is the former Portuguese colony of East Timor, where 78,000 tourists vacation yearly. What’s interesting about traveling to this location is that though it’s far from well-connected to the rest of the world, it still sees more tourist action than one would expect (no doubt due to it’s close proximity to the top end of Australia). This could also have something to do with major attractions such as Atauro Island, which is great for eco-tourism, scuba diving, and other water-based activities. Check out Tatamailau, the highest mountain there, and Tais Market, where you can really immerse yourself in the country’s culture including tais weaving, created by the women of East Timor.
