No phones, no news, no unanswered messages, stress. The concept of “blackout travel,” also known as digital detoxing on the road, is increasingly popular as we look to unplug from our devices. While many travelers rely on the internet to get them from point A to B, others actively seek out accommodations and even countries where digital connectivity is not required.
Initial research into digital detoxing is promising. Most people find it less challenging than anticipated, with many becoming more productive and less stressed.
Based on reviews and expert opinion, we’ve compiled the best places for a complete digital detox and why blackout travel could be great for your soul.
Bhutan
Bhutan, the world’s only carbon-negative country, tops our digital detox travel destinations list. This mountain kingdom has poor cell reception and limited network coverage outside of Thimphu, the capital, so you’d struggle even if you wanted to head there as a digital nomad.
But why bother staring at your screens when there’s so much natural beauty to take in? Bhutan only opened up to outsiders in the 1970s, but the vast valleys and stunning natural landscapes have propelled the country to the top of many bucket lists.
This country also prioritizes its citizens’ gross national happiness over its gross domestic product. When you go offline in Bhutan, you can sip suja (butter tea) with monks and practice morning mindfulness in the tranquility of Punakha, Bhutan’s very own Valley of the Kings.
Where to Stay: Six Senses Bhutan
Six Senses comprises 25 suites and villas in a forest canopy, surrounded by ancient temples overlooking Thimphu. Begin each day with yoga or meditation at the lodge’s Prayer Pavilion, and spend the rest of your time in solitude, overlooking the paddy-lined lower valleys and taking in the enviously slow pace of life in this Himalayan outpost.
The food is served in the Namkha Restaurant, which has cloud-inspired ceilings and panoramic Himalayan views. The farm-to-table ethos delivers seasonal Bhutanese classics like momos (dumplings) alongside red rice and fresh trout, a local favorite.
The Faroe Islands (Denmark)
Part of the Kingdom of Denmark but between Norway and the United Kingdom, the Faroe Islands serve as a northern European escape from the digital demands of everyday life. Mountain scenery, fjords, waterfalls, and expansive green pastures await if you make it to these isolated islands, perfect for reconnecting with nature and switching off.
It’s also not difficult to get off the beaten track in the Faroe Islands, which have a population of around 53,000, fewer than the number of people who attend the average NFL match.
While there’s no typical tourist trail in the Faroes, all the best activities and POIs are nature-based. The Mulafossur Waterfall is a wonderful place to sit and spend the afternoon, watching as the water cascades into the roaring Atlantic below.
Where to Stay: Hotel Føroyar
While there are plenty of places to stay within the charming capital, Tórshavn, we recommend the rustic Hotel Føroyar as your base for a digital detox in the Faroe Islands. While you can walk to the capital in just 30 minutes, the hotel feels rural and set apart, blending minimalist Nordic architecture and design with natural turf roofs, helping you feel at one with nature.
The Ress Spa is also one of the best in the Faroes. The signature Rasul treatment is an ancient bathing ritual known for deep nourishment. Treatments start at $65.
| Rooms from | $280 per night (standard room with sea view and breakfast) |
| TripAdvisor Rating | 4.0/5.0 (600+ ratings) |
| More information | hotelforoyar.com |
Iceland
Not far from the Faroe Islands, Iceland is another northern European retreat for a revitalizing digital detox. Active volcanoes, geysers, and the Northern Lights are just some reasons people travel to this sparsely populated, rugged island, and you can experience nature at its wildest during your stay.
Another reason is that Iceland is incredible from a digital detox perspective because it’s so easy to navigate. The roads are quiet, paved, and easy to drive on, making navigation of the entire island easy without the need for your phone or GPS.
There are also natural spas, five-star resorts, and isolated mountain-side cottages, offering different levels of comfort and tranquillity for your stay.
Where to Stay: Hótel Jökulsárlón
Known as Iceland’s Glacier Lagoon Hotel, Hótel Jökulsárlón is the perfect destination for a digital detox. While Wi-Fi is offered at the property, switch your phone off, leave your laptop in your case, and gaze out the huge windows at the surrounding mountains and glaciers. If you’re there during the right season, this is also a brilliant place to see the Northern Lights without leaving your bedroom.
While many Icelandic hotels don’t cater overly well to vegans and vegetarians, the cozy restaurant at Hótel Jökulsárlón is an exception, offering vegan steak options and numerous vegetarian dishes sourced from the local area.
| Rooms from | $605 per night (Double room with glacier view) |
| TripAdvisor Rating | 4.6/5.0 (50+ ratings) |
| More information | hoteljokulsarlon.is |
Mongolia
Often described by visitors as soul-stirring, Mongolia is a top place for digital detoxing. The vast emptiness of the Gobi Desert is difficult to put into words, featuring endless horizons, roaming wild horses, and the gentle ebb and flow of nomadic life.
While the modern metropolis of Ulaanbaatar is hyper-connected, the rest of the country isn’t. Vast swathes of the Mongolian steppe and the Gobi Desert are untouched by mobile signal or Internet, with limited to zero access to the outside world.
If any country lets you reconnect with nature at its purest, wildest, and most isolated, it’s probably Mongolia.
Where to Stay: Three Camel Lodge
One of the only luxurious, eco-friendly resorts in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia’s Three Camel Lodge is a spectacular venue for your digital detox. You’re invited to stay in traditional felt gers (yurts) amidst the peacefulness of the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park. The lodge is entirely off-grid, running from solar power and built without nails or concrete, in line with Buddhist principles of harmony with nature.
No Wi-Fi is required here. Off-grid, nature-based adventures like camel and horse trekking, visits to dinosaur fossil sites, and cultural experiences with Mongolian nomads are all possible. Oh, and the stargazing at night is truly spectacular, with zero light pollution to interfere with your views.
| Rooms from | From $2,425 for two nights (minimum stay) |
| TripAdvisor Rating | 4.5/5.0 (150+ ratings) |
| More information | threecamellodge.com |
Plan Your Digital Detox Travel
Whether you select Bhutan, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, or Mongolia for your digital detox, here are some simple tips and steps to help you plan your trip before disconnecting:
- Notify your nearest and dearest that you’re going offline and can’t be contacted for your stay. This will stop unnecessary worry.
- Define your digital detox. No screens? No Internet? No social media? Digital detoxing looks different to every person, so set your boundaries.
- Plan screen-free activities. Wherever you go, consider what you might like to see and do to fill your time.
- Be practical and take what you need offline. If you’re going 100% screen-free, sort your banking out beforehand and make sure you have enough cash to travel with. Equally, download and print maps if you can’t rely on GPS.
It’s sometimes difficult to remember there’s a whole world out there, outside of the Internet. A digital detox is a wonderful way to reground yourself and to disconnect.
Here is our list of the best remote hotels. You can also just go for stargazing or hiking in the US National Parks.
