Inside the world’s most ISOLATED town that can only be reached by taking a six-day boat ride

No cell phone signal, one pub and no crime, welcome to the idyllic surrounds of the world’s most isolated town.  

In a TikTok, content creator Tiana educates her followers about the far flung reaches of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, which is the only settlement on the volcanic island of Tristan da Cunha in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean.

The quickest way of getting to the round outcrop – which measures just 38 square miles – involves taking a six-day boat trip from Cape Town in South Africa as there is no runway for airplanes to land. 

Adding to the difficulty of getting there, there are less than 10 scheduled boat trips a year.  

Edinburgh of the Seas is on the north coast of Tristan, and Tiana notes that the small community is home to around 250 people, and ‘they’re all British citizens because this is a territory of the United Kingdom.’

Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is the only settlement on the volcanic island of Tristan da Cunha

A website for the island details some of the sites, including the post office, museum and handicraft center, the Albatross Bar located inside the Prince Philip Hall, the Café da Cunha and the Island Store 

The self-proclaimed ‘weird travel and history’ specialist continues: ‘Everybody [on Tristan] is supposedly a descendant of an initial group of 15 people who moved here during the 1800s and early 1900s. 

‘It’s also the smallest place in the world where English is the native language although they do have their own unique dialect.’

Touching on some of the town’s attractions, Tiana highlights that that there ‘only a few’ businesses operating on Tristan. 

A website for the island details some of the sites, including a post office, ‘unique’ golf course, two churches, and museum-cum-handicraft center.

When it comes to wining and dining on the island, there is just one bar – the Albatross – which is located inside the Prince Philip Hall, there is an eatery called Café da Cunha which has ‘varied menus displayed in advance,’ while the Island Store has ‘sufficient stocks for all visitors.’

Along with a quirky town center, another draw to the island is the abundant wildlife. 

Adventure cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions, which runs annual trips to Tristan, reveals that the island has ‘earned the BirdLife International designation of an Important Bird Area,’ with some of the standout species including the Tristan Wandering albatross, Antarctic Terns and Northern rockhopper penguins.

In terms of what the islanders do for income, Tiana says ‘everybody is primarily a farmer, a fisherman or a government worker.’

Touching on some of the town’s attractions, Tiana highlights that that there ‘only a few’ businesses operating on Tristan

A website for the island details some of the sites, including two churches (above, St. Joseph’s Catholic)

There is just one bar on the island, the Albatross Bar, which is located inside the Prince Philip Hall (seen above)

She adds: ‘There are a few kind of one offs, so there are a few doctors and there’s one policeman even though allegedly nobody’s ever actually been arrested here anyway.’

For those who are interested in visiting Tristan, Tiana warns that preparations must be made well in advance. 

A page on the island’s site around ‘organizing a visit’ also outlines the necessary steps to pitch up for stay.

It reads: ‘Your first task before planning a visit is to email the secretary to the administrator to outline the full purpose of your visit, proposed dates, your nationality and age, preferred shipping, and accommodation sought. 

‘Potential visitors to Tristan should be aware that visits must be authorized in advance by the Island Council. 

Along with seeking permission to stay on Tristan in advance, other requirements include a ‘fully paid return passage, health insurance to include cover in case of medical evacuation to Cape Town and sufficient funds to cover [an] entire stay’

‘The Council will need to know full details including names of visitors, purpose of visit and length of stay. 

‘Depending on the answers to these questions further information may be requested.’

Along with seeking permission to stay on Tristan in advance, other requirements include a ‘fully paid return [boat] passage, health insurance to include cover in case of medical evacuation to Cape Town and sufficient funds to cover [an] entire stay.’ 

When it comes to finding a place to stay on Tristan, Tiana points out that there ‘aren’t any hotels on the island so you either have to rent a guest house or just stay with a local family.’

Accommodation starts from just under $40 a night.