The World is an ever-changing landscape which has seen many empires and civilizations rule over certain lands for varying periods of time throughout history. As it currently stands there are 195 countries in the world recognized by the United Nations, the newest of which being South Sudan who gained independence from Sudan in 2011. So what of the old countries which no longer exist? Many have undergone name changes after liberation from colonialism such as Ceylon which became Sri Lanka, and many simply no longer exist as they once did.

Luxury travel agent Azure Collection have been running the #DiscoveringTheLostCountries campaign to encourage people to visit these once independent nations, and here is where you can discover some of that old world in the modern age.

Ashanti Empire

The Ashanti Empire is heavily studied by historians because of the way in which it quickly gained economic and military strength after its beginnings in the 17th Century. The Royals of the empire were exiled to Seychelles by the British but eventually gained protection status and became independent once again from British rule. The empire ruled what is the modern day city of Kumasi in Ghana,and this area is still recognized as an independent state by Ghana and it even still has an emperor.

Sikkim

Sikkim is a land which is nestled in the Himalayan mountains not far from the Nepalese border. The country is now a state under Indian rule and has been since 1975, prior to that however it was an independent monarchy with quite the colorful history. Sikkim had strong links to the British, its monarchy would often be Buddhist priests and they faced a number of conflicts with neighboring groups seeking power. These days Sikkim is a fascinating place where 11 languages are spoken and the citizens are from a mixture of Nepali, Indian, Tibetans and many are of original Sikkim origin. Tourists here can enjoy the melting pot of culture and some of the most incredible mountain views which can be found in India.

Basutoland

Basutoland was once a strong empire in the south of Africa which is today known as Lesotho. In the middle of the 19th Century its ruler King Moshoeshoe I asked for help from the British to fight off invaders, and as you can probably expect, it was then colonized and in 1868 became a British territory. In 1966 it gained its independence and became modern day Lesotho, complete with a monarchy. Visitors to Lesotho can expect to see some of the most spectacular natural wonders and environments which vary from snow-capped mountains to arid deserts and lush national parks.

Tavolara

This was once the small kingdom in the world, set just off the island of Sardinia, Tavolara was just under 4 miles long and around half a mile wide. Discovered by Giuseppe Bertoleoni who named himself king and his great-great grandson is the current king of the island. The country has never been legally recognized which is why it is under Italian rule, with some areas of the island owned by NATO. Visitors will love the weather and the rich marine life which can be found when snorkeling and diving.

Vermont

Believe it or not the state of Vermont was its own independent country between 1777 and 1791. After many battles for territory the people of Vermont declared themselves  an independent state, they issued their own currency, ran their own military included a draft and even had their own postal service. In 1791 Vermont signed up to the Union and became one of the first 13 states to do so. Visitors to Vermont enjoy the glorious natural surroundings and forest land, the ski resorts and this is also where a majority of maple syrup is made, something which tourists cannot wait to discover.

Which would be your favorite ‘lost country’ to visit? Here are some more options from our friends at Azure Collection.