Most Isolated Homes in the World

There’s too many people everywhere, and some of us have found it so crowded, they’ve removed themselves from the hustle and bustle entirely! From building lonesome mansions, mountainside huts, or one-house-islands, let's explore some of the most isolated homes in the world!

Thridrangaviti Lighthouse

Imagine being stationed alone for weeks on end, hearing nothing but the waves crashing around you. That’s the reality for a lot of lighthouse keepers. But if you thought living on a lighthouse out on the coast was isolating, you haven’t seen anything yet.

The Thridrangaviti Lighthouse isn’t found on the coast, it’s actually located on an isolated rock pillar, nearly 5 miles off the coast of southern Iceland. Built back in 1938, workers had the unenviable job of scaling the slippery rocks through rainstorms and winds, before reaching the pillar’s pinnacle and laying out the groundwork by hand.

But if you thought building it was nightmare-inducing, imagine having to stay at that lighthouse. You’re perched on a pillar 120 feet up above the crashing waves of the freezing Atlantic Ocean! And you can’t exactly call for help. Firstly, who’s getting phone signal in the middle of the ocean? And, secondly, it’s going to take them a while to even reach you!

Thankfully, the lighthouse was automated shortly after its creation, meaning no keeper had the terrifying task of staying at that remote home. Nowadays, with the invention of helicopters, a helipad has been constructed on top of the pillar, giving easier access to the lighthouse. Even still, any house you’ve got to ride a helicopter to reach has to go down as pretty isolated!

Incredible video from the stunning Þrídrangar lighthouse by Mylifeasahelicopterpilot

Elliðaey Island: Loneliest House In The World

Apparently Iceland has something of a thing for remote homes, because just 10 miles east of the Thridrangaviti Lighthouse is another particularly private property. Elliðaey is a small remote island around 5 miles off the coast of southern Iceland.

At 110 acres, that place is almost a tenth of the size of Central Park. Yet, despite the island’s small size and remoteness, there’s somehow a house there. The question is, why? Rumors spread that the house was built by a billionaire in case of a zombie apocalypse.

While that would be the best place for a zombie-proof abode, those whispers are wide of the mark. Instead, it’s the work of the Elliðaey Hunting Association, who built the house there back in the 1950s, as a base to sleep and eat, while they hunt for puffins near the island.

Despite the house, Elliðaey has no permanent population, so, no-one calls that lonely lodge their home. And, it’s no wonder, considering the lengths you’ve got to go to get in the front door! Anyone wanting to visit, has to take a 35 minute boat journey from the south coast of Iceland, before climbing up some steep, slippery rocks to eventually reach the island’s grassy slopes.

Sounds like quite the tiring trek. But anyone brave enough to reach the lodge is at least greeted by a dining area, 10 cozy beds, a kitchen, bathroom and even a workshop! Being so remote, there’s no running water there. Fortunately, rainwater is stored and used for various domestic purposes.

Doesn’t sound too nightmarish so far. However, at night things take a turn there, due to a thick fog that surrounds the island. If that wasn’t ghoulish enough, anyone staying there alone will only hear the constant sound of waves crashing into the rocks. That’s enough to drive a person mad!

Just Enough Room Island

Names tell us a lot about a place, perhaps none more so than Just Enough Room Island, one of the 1,800 islands dotting the St. Lawrence River off the coast of Alexandria Bay in New York. As the name aptly suggests, there really are not a lot of space there.

So, just how small is it? Well, at just 3,300 square-feet, it’s only slightly larger than a tennis court! There’s only enough space there to hold a tree, some shrubs, a small beach, and a house! While a tiny island doesn’t sound like the most suitable home, it was purchased in the 1950s by the Sizeland family.

The idea was to use the plot of land to build their own secluded holiday-home. In fact, so precariously placed is the house on Just Enough Room Island, that rising tides quickly cause it to flood. So, sandbags are virtually part of the furnishings there!

While that section of the St. Lawrence River stretches to a width close to 3 miles, the inhabitants of Just Enough Room Island do surprisingly have neighbors. One of the St. Lawrence’s 1,800 islands, includes the nearby inhabited Imperial Isle, found 250 feet down the river.

Drina River House

Strange as it may sound, Just Enough Room Island isn’t the only precariously place property found on water. The Drina is a 215 mile-long river that runs through both Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. Yet, the most mind-blowing aspect of that waterway is what you’ll find poking out the water midway through its route.

That is the Drina River House. Though the town of Bajina Basta is less than a mile away, anyone that wants to pay that hut a visit has got the terrifying task of swimming through the terrifying 400-foot wide section of the river. Considering that’s over double the length of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, anyone willing to check out that shack better be comfortable in the water!

But despite the arduous adventure anyone’s got to go through to reach that house’s front door, it’s worth the struggle. The question is, how did that hut get built in the middle of a 400-foot wide river in the first place? Turns out the Drina River House was originally built in 1968 by a group of swimmers, who discovered the rock while looking for a place to sunbathe. Following their find, they immediately decided that spot would be the ideal place for a shelter.

They transported the building parts and supplies to the island by kayak, while large components were simply tossed in the river upstream, allowing them to be caught as they floated past. Sadly due to the house’s remote river setting it’s said to have been destroyed by the river’s flow no fewer than 7 times! Yet, despite the elements, the Drina River House is still standing or floating, today!

Desolation Peak

While swimming through rapid waters to reach the Drina River House is no easy feat, it’s more pleasant than what anyone visiting Desolation Peak has to endure. As the name suggests, that place is pretty isolated. In all, that hut is found at a head-spinning 6,100 feet above sea level! For context, that’s over twice the height of the Burj Khalifa!

Anyone wanting to reach that high hut is going to have to hike for a back-breaking 4 hours. On top of that, Desolation Peak is completely surrounded by natural landscape, meaning the nearest town is some 40 miles away. Even the nearest road is around 15 miles away from that place.

Considering how remote that place is, you’d probably want to stay for a night to soak up the views, before heading back to civilization. However, that wasn’t possible for anyone who called Desolation Peak home. That hut found in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington, was built in 1932 by the United States Forest Service as a fire lookout.

Typically, a single man would head up to Desolation Peak in July and be stationed there until September. That’s right, someone would be stationed there for months, with nothing but their own voice to keep them company! Hopefully, anyone assigned the fire lookout post at Desolation Peak brings plenty of snacks with them, because taking a trip to the local shop is not going to be too pretty!

Hallig Habel

Just off the coast of northwest Germany, in the North Sea, sit 10 extremely low-lying islets, known as the Hallig Islands. Those Islands are so sunken, some of them flood up to 50 times a year! Yet, despite the risk of being swept out to sea, many of the Hallig Islands are populated.

Langeness, the largest of all those has a population around 100. While that may sound pretty measly, there exists a much more remote Hallig Island. At just over 2,000 feet long, and 300 feet wide, that island is certainly cozy. Yet, despite Hallig Habel’s small size, and threat of flooding, there exists a curious lonesome lodge there.

The house, located on an artificial mound, to prevent it from flooding, is actually a bird observatory. During the summer months, one brave soul has the task of keeping an eye on all winged things on Hallig Habel. And, considering how isolated that place is, it doesn’t sound like the greatest summer job.

For starters, Hallig Habel is some 2 miles from mainland Germany, meaning the only way on and off the Hallig is by boat. As for food and drink, well that stuff has to be delivered by ship. Let’s just hope those deliveries are prompt. Otherwise anyone stationed there better become pretty handy with a fishing rod!

Deserted House

The aptly named Desert House is found in the unforgiving Gorafe desert, in northern Spain. Clearly a desert, with its hot, arid conditions don’t tend to be the best places to build a house. And the Gorafe desert is no different. With deep dropping gorges, sweltering 100F heat, and of course, a distinct lack of water, even Bear Grylls would find it a struggle living there!

All that considered, the one hour trek to the nearest town of Gorafe, makes that place feel pretty isolating! So, what’s that house doing in such a remote spot? Well, the house was actually built and designed with isolation in mind. The ultra eco-friendly pad is structured by glass walls, providing panoramic views of the desert, letting inhabitants know just how alone they are.

With no built-in water system, rainwater is collected, before being filtered to make it all good to drink. While that may sound all well and good, how much is it really going to rain in the desert? Despite the probable lack of water, any adventure-seekers out there eager to stay at the Desert House will have to fork out up to $375 to stay there per night! If you manage to save enough cash to pay that property a visit, bring some water and pray for the best!

The Hermitage Of San Colombano

Found in the Italian commune of Trambileno, you’d be forgiven for missing the Hermitage of San Colombano completely. If you didn’t know, a hermitage is a place where religious figures retreat to escape the busyness of everyday life, allowing them to focus more closely on their faith. And, it’s fair to say the Hermitage of San Colombano is certainly a remote retreat, set at a dizzying 400 feet up a cliff-face!

Amazingly, that hovel reaches a similar elevated height to the Great Pyramid of Giza! Despite the climb, it’s believed a religious hermit lived in the cliff’s caves in the 8th century, while construction of the church likely dates back to the 10th century. Though it’s no longer an active hermitage, that holy house still has its church, as well as various fascinating frescoes on the wall.

But if you want to take a look for yourself, you better be prepared for an arduous ascent. For starters, visitors have to scale a rocky path, before ascending up a mammoth 102-step staircase carved into the rock. My thighs are burning just thinking about that journey! Reaching that holy house certainly sounds like a painful pilgrimage!

Foronon Del Buinz Mountain Hut

Traveling through 8 countries, stretching 750 miles-long, and reaching heights over 15,000 feet above sea level, the Alps are one of the highest and most extensive mountain ranges in Europe. Anyone trekking across that massive mountain range can expect to see alpine lakes, deep-dropping valleys and though not the tallest peak in the Alps, the Foronon del Buinz mountain ascends some 8,300 feet above sea level!

Yet, despite that heady height you can find this next property at its peak! Found at altitude around 8 times the height of the Eiffel Tower is the Foronon del Buinz Mountain Hut. The hut was commissioned by the family of the late mountain climber, Luca Vuerich, who tragically passed away in an avalanche nearby.

So high is the hut that building materials had to be flown in via helicopter over no less than 18 trips! It features a sharp sloping roof to prevent snow from caving the roof in. On the inside, there’s not a whole lot other than 9 beds and a small window! But the best part? That remote shack is completely free to stay-in. All you’ve got to do is survive that 8,300 foot trek up the Foronon del Buinz’s summit!

Buffa Di Perrero

Just over 60 miles west of the Foronon del Buinz Mountain Hut is another high home. The Buffa di Perrero is found at a staggering 9,000 feet above sea level. Located on the Mount Cristallo of the Dolomite Mountains in Italy, that place is found at an elevation greater than the highest point on the rim of the Grand Canyon. It’s also embedded into the vertical rockface.

You are probably wondering what that secluded shelter is doing there? For years, people pondered on its purpose. Was it some secret hermit cave? Maybe a clue to a lost civilization of mountainside dwellers? In reality, that bizarre building, known as the Buffa di Perrero, is a remnant of the First World War!

While you might think of trenches and muddy battlefields at the thought of World War One, that conflict also involved fighting between Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops in the Dolomite Mountains. It’s believed Italian soldiers somehow constructed that property as a means of shelter from the enemy and the conditions.

Somehow, someway, Italian soldiers managed to climb the mountainside, all while carrying building materials to construct the Buffa di Perrero. And that’s not even mentioning the constant threat of the enemy shooting at them!

Nowadays, the shack, containing nothing more than a few wooden chairs, is accessible by the Via Ferrata Ivano Dibona, a path kitted out with steel ladders, rungs and cables to help any adrenaline-junkies scale the mountain. Forget the Pantheon and the Colosseum, Buffa di Perrero has to go down as Italy’s most awe-inspiring piece of architecture.

Aare Gorge

Surprisingly, Buffa di Perrero isn’t the only nature-hidden home. The Aare Gorge, found in the middle of Switzerland looks like the perfect place to unwind and be at one with nature. Clearly someone out there wants to be at one with nature every single day, as tucked in the cliffs of that 650-foot deep gorge is a mysterious entrance point, revealing a hidden home inside the gorge. In fact, there are two entrances bored into the rock.

Aare Gorge and Reichenbach falls #switzerland #swissaround #nature by Hike For Happiness

So who calls that home? In reality, those cut-off caverns are empty. Originally built in 1940, those caverns were designed to be barracks for 185 officers. While it’s not clear which soldiers would be stationed there, chances are they belonged to Swiss officers, who, as part of the Swiss National Redoubt, would defend the country in case of German invasion.

Cramped as it may look from the outside, the caverns were said to contain: sleeping quarters, offices, and dining rooms. There was even a railroad within the bunker to transport officers out of the gorge. Despite all those fab features, those curious caverns were never used. Still, that doesn’t stop that from being a gorgeous isolated abode!

Solvay Hut

The Matterhorn is one of the Alps largest and most daunting mountains. In all, that massive mountain, straddling between Italy and Switzerland, has a summit over 14,500 feet above sea level. For reference, that’s not far off the height of the Foronon del Buinz Hut and the Buffa di Perrero stacked on top of each other!

Anyone with a fear of heights will be glad to know there’s no shack at the Matterhorn’s summit. There is however, one hidden hut found near the mountain’s peak. At a breathtaking elevation of over 13,000 feet, the Solvay Hut is quite the mission to get to!

If you were wondering how high 13,000 feet is, it’d take around 30 seconds for someone falling from such a height to hit the ground! Constructed in 1915, building materials were first carried up by donkeys to an elevation around 10,000 feet. From there a small cable car was used to transport the materials up to the 13,000 foot-high building site.

Incredibly, the building is still standing today, functioning as a welcome pit-stop for hikers around 3 hours into their climb, with 10 beds, as well as a radiotelephone. Despite how much a quick nap may be needed, there are probably not too many hikers drifting off in the Solvay Hut, when they’re that close to such a fearsome fall!

Moore Hall

It’s most people’s dream in life to have their own grand mansion that they can call home. Presumably, that was also the case with George Moore. He was a wealthy man, who made his fortune as a wine and brandy merchant during the 18th century. With his fortune he thought it’d be a good idea to splash the cash on a mega house.

So, in 1792, he had Moore Hall built in Mayo, Ireland. Long after George Moore passed, his descendants continued to live in the massive mansion. That was until 1923, when, during the Irish Civil War, Moore Hall was burnt down by the Irish Republican Army due to the then-owner Maurice Moore’s loyalty to Britain.

The house was in ruins, and it’s been that way ever since. Today, the desolate Moore Hall stands alone in the middle of some 80 acres of dense woodland. For context, that’s around the size of 60 American football fields! To get a real sense of just how isolated that mansion is, take a look at the bird’s eye view in the image below.

LilliHaus Floating House

While anyone unlucky enough to stay at Moore House will be greeted by a sight of trees, trees, and more trees outside the window, anyone residing at the LilliHaus has a slightly different view. Anyone looking out the window of that house will have a whole lot of water staring back at them.

You might think the LilliHaus is found on some small island, but no. Instead, that is an off-grid dwelling that can float on water, meaning owners can have their house sailing along the seven seas! That is the work of Brazilian firm, SysHaus, who developed that 10 foot by 39 foot property that can be sailed on top of a floating catamaran, reaching speeds up to 4 knots, or just over 4.5 mph.

The house, fitted with a bedroom, bathroom, and dining area, is surrounded by ceiling-high sliding glass doors, allowing anyone on-board to enjoy the wavy vista. When it comes to food, let’s just hope anyone that owns a liliHaus likes the taste of fresh fish!

Katskhi Pillar Monastery

The landscape near the village of Katshki in Georgia is dominated by rolling hills and lush green trees. That is, until you come across the site in the image below. Alien as it looks, that is a natural limestone monolith that towers 130 feet above the surrounding landscape. But even more jaw-dropping than the mega monolith, is what you’ll find on top of it.

With the arrival of Christianity to the region around the 4th century, the towering rock became a place of seclusion for stylites. They were a group of early Christians who became obsessed with preaching, fasting, praying and living on pillars. Between the 6th and 9th century they miraculously managed to build two churches atop of the pillar. Sadly for them, by the 15th century, the Islamic Ottoman Empire’s rule ended the puzzling practice, leaving the pillar uninhabited for centuries.

It wasn’t until the 1990s, when a local monk by the name of Father Maxim Qavtaradze built a new monastery. Building a monastery after climbing a 130 foot-tall pillar? Sounds like only a feat spiderman’s capable of. Turns out Father Qavtaradze ingeniously constructed a 130-foot long iron ladder along the pillar, helping him scale the column.

Katskhi pillar (კაცხის სვეტი) by View Of Georgia

If having to climb a 130-foot ladder somehow wasn’t isolated enough, monks are the only people allowed to the top of Katshki pillar! So, chances are, Father Qavtaradze comes across next to no visitors. That guy is essentially living on his lonesome on top of a rocky pillar that’s close in height to the Arc de Triomphe!

If you were amazed at the most isolated homes in the world, you might want to read about unbelievable hidden homes you won't believe exist. Thanks for reading!