Top 4 destinations for a digital detox holiday
From woodland escapes to wellness retreats, travel provides an opportunity to disconnect from technology and embrace the slow life. We’ve delved into Tripadvisor and NationMaster data to uncover the best digital detox destinations worldwide and have curated our specialists’ top experiences in each one.
Below, you’ll discover the best places to detox from technology based on various travel styles. You might choose to indulge in treatments at a spa hotel, head out on scenic hikes in the countryside, keep your mind engaged in creative workshops, or connect with nature in some of the world’s best national parks.
1. Thailand: best for spa & wellness
By Southeast Asia specialist Anna
Soothing pressure, gentle stretches, and deep breathing… Thailand’s signature massage is just one of the reasons the country has been hailed the wellness capital of Asia. Spa resorts are certainly not a rarity, but some stand out from the rest, helping you to fully embrace an offline holiday.
Wellness is a core value at Six Senses resorts across the globe, and there are two in Thailand, each with a setting that steals attention away from any digital device. Six Senses Yao Noi overlooks a classic Thai seascape, with limestone karsts piercing the water. Its hillside spa offers a full-day wellness programme, which includes a herbal-infused massage, guided meditation, and a facial. Meanwhile, Six Senses Samui gazes across the glittering Gulf of Thailand, where you can enjoy Thai healing therapy and hot stone massages.
For a completely unplugged holiday experience, I suggest staying at Chiva-Som, near Hua Hin. You’ll meet with a health and wellness advisor when you arrive who’ll help design the stay around your personal wellbeing goals. Best of all, there’s a strict no-digital devices policy in all public spaces, so you can take full advantage of a digital detox.
2. USA: best for hiking
By USA specialist Emma
From stark canyon paths to wildlife-rich trails across alpine meadows, the USA’s hiking trails reflect the country’s diverse topography. You could visit on several occasions and have a completely different hiking experience in every place you go.
To give you a chance to truly escape technology, I’ll pair you with private guides who’ll do a far better job at leading you to the best trails and quieter corners than any app would. On Hawaii’s wildest island, Kauaʻi, a guide can take you to hidden waterfalls and along the emerald Nā Pali cliffs. Or, you could learn about the Sinagua people as you walk through Sedona’s burnt orange landscapes, carved with natural buttes, towers, and bridges. For wildlife, the Rockies’ many trails give you a chance to see bighorn sheep, moose, golden eagles, and other quintessentially American wildlife.
Where you stay also has a bearing on the success of your digital detox, so I’ll find places that immerse you in nature and keep you away from your phone. You could retreat to a sleek Airstream trailer nestled in the woods of Yosemite, a luxury tent overlooking Zion National Park’s red rocks, or a private log cabin just outside of Yellowstone, just to name a few options.
3. Japan: best for workshops & classes
By Japan specialist Clio
Spending time away from digital devices can spark your creativity, and there’s no better place for hands-on workshops and classes than Japan. With a rich history of crafts and cuisine, you can escape the distraction of technology in both cities and rural areas by connecting with local experts.
You could try woodblock printing in Tokyo, mochi making on a farm near Lake Biwa, or a traditional obanzai cooking class in Kyoto, which focuses on locally grown, seasonal produce. Though, I think one of the best ways to unwind and go offline on your holiday is by joining a calligraphy class. Led by a sensei, you’ll reconnect with the art of putting ink to paper as you learn how to form intricate kanji characters on washi (traditional paper). The process is slow and meditative — you’ll grind your own ink and select from an array of brushes before creating your artwork.
I also recommend taking the train to Fukui, home to Eiheiji Temple, where you can learn all about Zen Buddhism at the neighbouring Hakujukan lodging. Wake up to chanting at dawn, soak in the warm open-air baths, and refine your meditation skills in the peaceful temple setting.
4. Australia: best for national parks
By Australia specialist Lee
Not only does Australia have the most national parks of any country in the world, but it also protects a vast wealth of Aboriginal culture, wildlife, and ancient landscapes in and around them. Hiking is a given, but there are many other ways to explore Australia’s parks that also help you break free from technology.
In Ningaloo Reef, just off Cape Range National Park, you could swim in coral-dotted waters with whale sharks, turtles, and manta rays. In Kakadu National Park, Aboriginal guides and artists will share the land’s culture, storied history, and ecological richness on a cruise along the forest-fringed East Alligator River. Freycinet National Park boasts night skies so clear you can spend hours staring up at the twinkling constellations, while the rainforests of Blue Mountains National Park are rich with birdlife.
Wherever you choose to focus your time, I can help you pick stays that further nurture your digital detox. Sal Salis is a safari-style tented camp on the water’s edge of Ningaloo Reef. It offers luxury without modern appliances, helping you to stay connected with nature. Spicers Sangoma Retreat is tucked in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, with a serene spa and cuisine inspired by local produce. There are also rainforest eco-lodges, bushland cabins, and luxury beachfront hotels, so your time away from technology will always align with your tastes.