Gereshk, Afghanistan

You'd be hard-pressed to call Gereshk a thriving hub. With a population of just 43,588, this provincial city in southern Afghanistan is a far cry from the glitz and glamor of the capital. The hot desert climate, characterized by scorching summers and frigid winters, is no picnic. And the bureaucratic headaches are persistent - just ask the U.S. Special Forces who grappled with a civilian's death on their base in 2003. While the city does have some basic amenities like bazaars and universities, on the whole, Gereshk is better suited for the hardened expat than the average adventurer.