The benefits of embarking on a regular digital detox can include reduced stress and anxiety, increased productivity and mental clarity, and a renewed sense of connection to our world and the people around us. But if you’re the sort of person who finds it hard to refrain from checking emails or late-night scrolling on social media, the simplest solution is to treat yourself to a digital detox holiday.
Technically, any holiday can be a digital detox holiday if you treat it as an opportunity to unplug and unwind. For some people, an itinerary packed with memorable activities and experiences is a highly effective way to refocus their attention away from devices. Others may require a more extreme approach, opting for a wellness retreat with a strict device-free policy.
How long is a digital detox? That’s really up to you, but even a 24-hour digital downtime can work wonders if you’re ready to hit the reset button. From off-grid daytrips to extended screen sabbaticals, these are some of our favourite destinations where you can treat yourself to a low-tech, or even no-tech, break.
Although only a short journey from Australia’s largest city, the World-Heritage listed tranquillity of NSW’s Blue Mountains will have you feeling like you’ve been transported half a world away from busy streets and bustling crowds. Tuck yourself away in a boutique eco-retreat or wellness lodge, where the soundtrack to your blissful offline escape will come from birdsong instead of blaring car horns.
Whether you’re soaking in a cliff-top bath, exploring ancient rock formations, or meditating in nature, the dramatic landscapes and serene bushland of the Blue Mountains are the ideal location for a weekend of unwinding.
It’s only a three-hour flight from Australia’s East Coast to reach Queenstown in New Zealand’s spectacular South Island, followed by a two-hour drive to reach the tiny town of Te Anau, which serves as a gateway to the towering waterfalls, misty fjords and ancient rainforests of Fiordland.
Whether you’re kayaking the serene waters of Milford Sound, hiking the legendary, multi-day Kepler or Routeburn Tracks, or simply soaking in the silence in a secluded eco-lodge, it’s effortless to leave the digital world behind when you’re immersed in the raw beauty of this place.
Aim for the lush rice terraces and jungle-cloaked valleys of Ubud, nestled in the lush heart of Bali, if you’re looking to find digital sanctuary with a touch of soul. Many of the region’s retreats and eco-resorts actively encourage their guests to unplug, offering silent yoga sessions, meditation classes, and blissful spa treatments that will nourish your body and mind at the same time.
Whether you’re journalling by a lotus pond or watching the sun filter through the palm trees at a tranquil temple, Bali is a spectacular destination for a tech-free retreat to restore your sense of balance.
With an ever-growing reputation as one of the world’s best eco-tourism destinations, Costa Rica’s lush rainforests and pristine beaches provide all the tranquillity and natural beauty you could hope for in an off-grid holiday.
From waking up to the sounds of howler monkeys in the jungle, to soaking in natural hot springs near Arenal Volcano or practicing yoga by the ocean in Nosara, the opportunities to unwind, reset, and truly recharge are almost endless.
Sometimes the best way to resist temptation is to throw yourself into a totally new environment, and there are few more idyllic locations to cast off your real-world worries than amidst the towering peaks and glacial lakes of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile’s Patagonia region.
You could tackle the famously challenging multi-day W circuit or stick to sampling a selection of easier day hikes. Either way, the park’s renowned, remote beauty is far more captivating than anything you’ll find on your phone screen. There’s minimal light pollution to veil your view of the sky, so you can replace that bedtime scrolling habit with nightly star-gazing sessions.
There’s nothing quite like a good old-fashioned road trip to clear your mind and re-energise your senses, and California’s iconic Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is one of the world’s great driving routes. From watching surfers ride the legendary shore breaks of Santa Cruz to laughing at the antics of newborn elephant seal pups on a pebbled beach, there are endless opportunities to connect with nature along the 1055-kilometre stretch of scenic highway.
You’ll know you’ve reached what is considered the most picturesque section of your journey when you cross the arched expanse of Bixby Bridge, just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Big Sur is renowned for its rugged coastline, where the Santa Lucia mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. Go on a hike through the towering redwoods, watch the sunset from a clifftop lookout point and enjoy the almost complete absence of cell phone coverage.
You can reasonably assume that a country which is famous for its Gross National Happiness Index would be an inspired choice for a digital detox holiday… and you’d be right. The Kingdom of Bhutan, which is nestled deep in the Himalayas, deliberately limits mass tourism so that locals and visitors alike can embrace a slower, more intentional way of life.
Internet access is limited in many areas of Bhutan – particularly in the mountainous regions and rural villages. Throughout your stay, you’ll be gently encouraged to set aside your devices and immerse yourself in the moment. It’s an idyllic location for cycling and hiking holidays, where you’ll find crisp mountain air, pine-scented forests and ancient cliffside monasteries like the iconic Tiger’s Nest.
If you’re looking for a detox location that is remote and unfiltered, Antarctica may be the answer to your prayers. It’s one of the world’s last true wilderness areas, renowned for being both eye-wateringly beautiful and unapologetically raw. It’s easy to discard your devices when each waking moment is spent soaking up so many spectacular sights.
You’ll cruise past towering icebergs, watch penguins waddle across empty icefields, and witness the surreal silence of a glacier calving into a sapphire-blue sea. Each unique experience serves as a fresh opportunity for you to feel truly alive and totally in tune with the rhythms of nature.
With its unique blend of ancient culture, dramatic desert landscapes and quiet coastal beauty, Oman is a complete contrast to the region’s glitzier destinations like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. From camping under the stars in the vast silence of the Wahiba Sands, to diving in the vibrant reefs of the Daymaniyat Islands or floating in the calm, clear waters of the Arabian Sea, it’s easy to disconnect from the hectic pace of modern life.
Stay in one of Oman’s renowned luxury desert lodges or eco-retreats, which are intentionally remote to ensure you enjoy minimal connectivity and maximum tranquillity. For the ultimate desert-style detox, take a guided tour of the Empty Quarter (Rub’ al Khali) and spend a night under the starlit canopy of an authentic Bedouin camp.
The rolling green and gold hills of northern Italy are rich in natural beauty, amazing food and unplugged living. Tourists flock to Tuscany to enjoy its medieval hill towns, olive groves and picturesque valleys, but its neighbour, Umbria serves up the same spectacular beauty with fewer crowds.
A historic country villa surrounded by grape vines is the ideal base for a blissful week exploring the narrow stone streets of Spello and Montefalco, where you can enjoy long, lazy meals that celebrate mouthwatering local ingredients like truffles and wild boar. Take a day trip to Perugia and spend a tranquil morning marvelling at the artistic genius of the town’s famous Renaissance-era frescoes, then find yourself a table at a courtyard café and treat yourself to a fresh pastry and a taste of la dolce vita.
The Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights require no modern technology to produce the world’s greatest light show: a kaleidoscope of colours that dance and shimmer across the night sky. Even if you’re not lucky enough to witness this marvel of nature during a visit to Finnish Lapland, it’s still a magical location for your digital detox – especially in the depths of winter when the landscape is thickly blanketed in crisp, white snow.
Spend your days gliding through hushed forests on a dog sled or snowshoeing across frozen lakes, then settle in for a night of sky-gazing from the comfort of your cosy glass dome. You may even spot a certain festive father figure putting his team of reindeer through their paces on a night-time training flight from nearby Santa Claus Village.
In a world that seems to never stop buzzing, it’s important to regularly take time out from digital life to reconnect at an analogue level. If you’re ready to disconnect from the cloud and spend more time gazing at actual clouds, your personal travel manager is ready to help make your digital detox holiday happen.
TravelManagers respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands where we work and gather, and those we visit.
