The honest truth about reaching a remote place is that the journey is part of the trip. It doesn’t have to be stressful, though. Most of the difficulty comes from treating a long chain of connections as a set of unrelated bookings, and then discovering where the gaps are on the day.
The short answer
Plan the journey as one chain, not a series of separate bookings. Give every handoff more room than seems necessary, arrive at the gateway a night early, and keep a spare day at the end. Then ask your operator one question: who owns each link, and what happens if one slips?
Think in chains
Start by writing out the whole route, door to door, and counting the handoffs. A few examples from places we love:
- Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland: fly into Gander, drive about an hour and a half to the ferry terminal at Farewell, then take a ferry of roughly 45 minutes.
- Mnemba Island, Zanzibar: fly into Zanzibar, drive about an hour and a half to the northeast coast, then take a short boat ride and wade ashore.
- Torres del Paine, Chile: fly from Santiago to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales (around three and a half hours), then continue by road. Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales is about three hours, and the park is roughly another hour and a half to two hours beyond that.
- Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, Namibia: fly into Windhoek, then continue by light aircraft to the camp’s own airstrip.
Every arrow in a chain like that is a place where something can run late. Counting them is the first step to planning around them.
Give every handoff room
Some links have built-in limits, and those are the ones to respect:
- Daylight. Mnemba’s boat crossings are made in daylight only, so a late flight into Zanzibar can mean a night on the mainland.
- Weather. The Fogo ferry runs several times a day, but the timetable depends on the weather, so check it before you set out.
- Morning transfers. For Torres del Paine, travellers are often advised to overnight in Puerto Natales so they can catch a morning transfer into the park instead of arriving late.
The simplest rule is to arrive at the gateway the day before the final leg. It costs a night and removes most of the risk.
Who owns the connection?
If you book every leg yourself, each one is independent. If the first flight is delayed, the ferry will not wait for you, and nobody is responsible for fixing the gap.
If you book through an operator or advisor who arranges the whole chain, they can usually adjust the later legs when an earlier one slips. Before you commit, ask:
- Who arranges each leg, and who do I call if one is delayed?
- What are the cut-off times for the boat, ferry or aircraft?
- What happens if the weather stops the final transfer?
Keep the essentials close
Small aircraft and boats have tight space and weight limits, which means checked bags can travel separately or arrive later than you do. Keep your medication, documents, valuables and anything you can’t replace in hand luggage. We cover baggage limits in more detail in our packing guide.
Paperwork and cover
Check passport validity and entry requirements for every country on the route, including any you only pass through. It is also worth considering travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, since remote places can be a long way from a hospital. Read what the policy actually covers before you rely on it.
Leave a spare day at the end
The return journey is a chain too, and it can run late in the same ways. Leave a day before anything you can’t move, such as a wedding, a work deadline or a connecting long-haul flight.
The final leg at a glance
| Destination | Final leg | What can interrupt it |
|---|---|---|
| Fogo Island Inn | Ferry from Farewell, about 45 minutes | Weather, ferry timetable |
| Mnemba Island | Short boat ride, wade ashore | Daylight, weather |
| Torres del Paine | Road transfer from Puerto Natales | Distance, arriving late in the day |
| Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp | Light aircraft to the camp’s airstrip | Weather, baggage limits |
Frequently asked questions
How early should I arrive before a remote transfer?
Many travellers arrive the day before. That gives you a buffer for delays, rest after a long flight, and a calmer morning for the final leg.
Can I book each leg myself?
You can, but each leg becomes independent. If one is delayed, the next may not wait. Booking the whole chain together, or through someone who owns it, gives you a point of contact when plans change.
What happens if weather cancels the final transfer?
It depends on the property and the operator. Ask in advance what the plan is, whether there is a fallback, and who pays for an extra night.
For specific routes and seasons, see our guide to the world’s most secluded luxury escapes. Flight schedules, ferry timetables and seasonal opening dates change, so confirm the details with each property before you book.
Featured photo: sand dunes at Sossusvlei, Namibia, by Mineia Martins, via Pexels.