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🔒 Top 10 most closed countries in the world

Last updated Mar 14, 2025

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Globalization is doing its job: nothing stops a person from being able to travel. Finance, time and visa are the three pillars on which any trip is based. True, despite the progress on the globe, there are still some of the most closed countries in the world, where it is not so easy to get to. Since forbidden fruit is always sweet, and there will always be a demand for adrenaline in the blood and exclusiveness, countries that are difficult to get to will not lose popularity. In our material we tell you which are the most closed countries in the world and how to visit them.

Butane

While most people know about the Himalayas, only a few have heard about the kingdom of Bhutan, which is located in these mountains. No wonder: the country between China and India is one of the most closed. According to data for 2021, about 800 thousand inhabitants live in the “Land of the Thunder Dragon” (a name reflecting the cultural heritage of the state).

The territory is a nature reserve: a lot of green spaces (3/4 of the area is covered with forests), active use of hydropower – all this has made the closed state the only country in the world with negative carbon emissions.

Moreover, there are no factories with emissions in Bhutan, and there is a taboo on the use of pesticides. Despite the fact that the kingdom is considered poor, the locals eat only eco-friendly products and drink water from mountain springs.

Therefore, in an effort to protect the environment, as well as identity and architecture, until the mid-80s of the last century, the borders were closed to foreign tourists. To understand: the ban on the Internet and television was lifted only in 1999. The reason for the restriction is banal – the desire to protect the country from the influence of other cultures. With the official opening of borders, the pass was not easy to obtain either—permission from the king or queen was required.

Almost 100% of Bhutanese practice Buddhism. This de facto religion has been the only one here since approximately the 2nd-3rd centuries AD.

The total closure of the country happened quite recently. For two years from the start of the pandemic – until September 23, 2022 – no tourists set foot here again.

From 2023, the Bhutanese government has revised its foreigners policy. Currently, visas are issued to travelers who have a voucher from a local company. It is important that the tour operator is accredited by the Kingdom's Ministry of Tourism. The maximum period of stay in the country on a visa is 30 days. The mark is placed directly at the airport.

However, you can’t get by with just a paid visa—visiting the state will cost a tidy sum: you still have to pay a fee for every day you stay in Bhutan. If previously it was $200 – 250 for an all-inclusive package, then recently the daily fee “for sustainable development” will be $200. And this does not include additional costs for food, transportation and accommodation.

The government explained this fee increase as compensation for tourism's carbon footprint, improving carbon-neutral infrastructure, improving the skills of tourism workers and the kingdom's recovery from the pandemic. So now the kingdom of Bhutan is a closed country and expensive.

North Korea

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is officially considered the most closed country in the world. It would be too trivial to begin a material with her. It’s not that we should strive for originality in this matter, but it’s worth leaving a bit of intrigue. This country has maintained an isolationist policy for centuries. The official reason is protection from Western imperialism.

The main prohibitions in North Korea are traveling without a guide and communicating with locals – in short, this is what every foreign tourist can expect when entering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Surprising: you also need to be prepared that upon entering the country your passport will be taken away and given back only the day before departure – these are the rules.

There is no way to get to the DPRK on your own. But with travel companies that are based in China, or with foreign companies working in conjunction with Korean ones (for example, in Russia these are the companies NKorean and Koreanconsult) – it’s easy. There are plenty of tours for different dates – in this sense, the tours are similar to Egypt and Turkey.

A representative of the organizer’s company travels with each group, and two more guides are assigned to the group on site. In fact, it makes no difference at all which company you go with. The tourist program was very strictly regulated – all groups watched the same thing.

The gadfly's excursion shows you the most important sights of Pyongyang and takes you to one or two restaurants. If the dates of the visit coincide with any sports festival or event, you are invited to attend the event.

Despite the closed nature, there is one advantage to visiting the country – no one will try to attack or rob you.

With our partner Trip.com you can always find the right tour! We cooperate with a reliable and experienced travel agency that offers a wide range of tours to different destinations.

Turkmenistan

To get to Turkmenistan, you need to obtain not only a visa, but also an invitation with permission to enter from a private individual or organization. It is very difficult to visit the country for tourism purposes. The exception is foreigners invited by the government or business partners.

Since the start of the pandemic, the country has been completely closed to tourists for four years. However, in 2023 there is still no much progress. Despite the fact that the international airport now operates flights to other countries, they can be used mainly by citizens of Turkmenistan.

To somehow get into the country, the most resourceful go to Iran. There they ask for a visa to Turkmenistan in order to get to Kazakhstan. Everything looks as if the person is simply trying to take advantage of Turkmenistan transit. “Marble and Emptiness” – this is how they talk about the country today.

Libya

After the outbreak of civil war in 2011, the country plunged into chaos. It “broke up” into several parts, which alternately fought with each other.

In October 2021, a historic tourism event took place. For the first time in 10 years, foreign travelers came to the region! The head of the travel agency, which, together with officials, organized the Europeans’ trip, said that preparing for the visit took four months and it was a “marathon effort.”

Now the situation has not gotten better. There are no tourist information offices in Libya that provide real practical assistance to travelers. You need to find out everything in advance and get your bearings on the spot.

However, we will warn you in advance that you should not even think about traveling to Libya if your passport has an Israeli visa or a stamp about visiting the Promised Land. There are conflicting relations between countries.

Eritrea

African North Korea or the most closed country on the black continent. Despite the fact that Eritrea borders Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti, all its land borders are closed. So to the question: which country cannot be reached by land, you already know the answer. This is done to prevent locals from leaving the area. So the only way for a tourist to find himself in this state with closed borders is to fly by plane.

True, this is where freedom of movement ends. In order for a traveler to explore anything outside the capital, he must apply for permission from the Ministry of Tourism. Each object is a separate request indicating the date of the visit.

About 80% of the territory of Eritrea was completely banned from visiting tourists. There are checkpoints everywhere. If you are spotted in a restricted area, expect interrogation and a fine.

There are also big problems with the Internet in Eritrea. Wi-Fi is present in some places – for example, in some hotels and Internet cafes, but, as experienced tourists admit, there is only one name for it.

It doesn’t matter where you go – to the most closed or open country in the world. Studying and observing the laws of the state, respect for traditions and rules – these are the norms thanks to which you will protect yourself and your vacation. By the way, you will find the second part of the most closed states in this material.