Thung Song, Thailand

This rural district in southern Thailand has some harsh realities for expats. With a population of just 125 villages, Thung Song is a sleepy backwater far from the bright lights of Bangkok. The local government's insistence on a controversial $2.3 billion dam project, despite community opposition, is a sign of the heavy-handed bureaucracy foreigners may face. And while the local sambar deer population has rebounded to around 20 animals thanks to conservation efforts, the remote, forested setting means outsiders should be prepared for a simple, isolated lifestyle. Thung Song is best suited for self-sufficient nature lovers content to live off the grid.