Sometimes the best remedy for stress is an escape that will take you far from the crowds, to a remote place where you can leave the chaos of the “real” world behind. If you’re in need of a vacation where you can completely forget about your cares, unwind, and recharge, there are plenty of options whether you want to stay closer to home or jet off thousands of miles away. This list is sure to inspire you to book, with everything from private islands with postcard-perfect beaches to luxurious resorts nestled in rugged wilderness areas far from civilization.
Alila Jabal Akhdar - Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Oman
Nestled in the Al-Hajar Mountains of northeastern Oman, about 2.5 hours from Muscat, Alila Jabal Akhdar sits at over 6,500 feet in elevation, surrounded by remote, rugged landscapes. It’s a paradise of unspoiled beauty for the adventure traveler looking to escape the city, inspired by traditional Omani construction methods and ancient forts. You’ll be surrounded by craggy peaks and steep gorges while enjoying plenty of luxuries like indoor and outdoor pools and a lavish spa with breathtaking views. Choose from spacious rooms, suites, and villas, all of which have terraces with mountain views, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and minibars. Book a villa for a private pool, whirlpool tub, steam room, and butler service.
NIHI Sumba - Sumba Island, Indonesia
Remote Sumba Island is about an hour’s flight from Bali and to reach NIHI Sumba, you’ll be met at the airport by your driver for the 90-minute ride in an open-air safari-style jeep. But it’s well worth the effort as you’ll know as soon as you’re greeted with the staff’s friendly smiles. The resort was named the world’s best hotel for two consecutive years by Travel + Leisure, yet it’s a sustainable, environmentally friendly property. All-inclusive rates include mouthwatering meals and drinks, and accommodation in one- to five-bedroom villas with private pools that overlook a beautiful beach and the endless blue of the sea. They even come with your own private butler. You’ll have a choice of a wide range of activities like world-class surfing when a swell hits, outstanding snorkeling when the water is calm, horseback riding on the sand, and unique cultural experiences like visits to local villages and an artisan market.
Explora Rapa Nui - Easter Island, Chile
Located in the middle of the South Pacific on Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, the world’s most remote inhabited island, Explora Rapa Nui requires a five-hour flight from Santiago or Papeete, Tahiti. It’s easy to forget about stress back home while you’re here, with the eco-friendly resort offering fantastic ocean views, a pool, and open-air Jacuzzis. Of course, you’ll also be able to marvel at the haunting monolithic stone figures called moai, with their mysterious origins making the island famous. Customized excursions can be enjoyed too, with everything from a tour of the Moai route to cycling to a tuna fishing village. Afterward, refuel with a delectable menu featuring fresh seafood and Chilean wines.
Fogo Island Inn - Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Canada
Fogo Island Inn is an all-inclusive resort that sits along the rocky shores of Fogo Island, a small island off northeastern Newfoundland and Labrador. Canada’s easternmost province is remote enough on its own, but this place is an escapist’s fantasy come true. It stands out on the windswept landscape, boasting panoramic ocean views from every room. Each one includes a fireplace or wood-burning stove and a giant soaking tub, along with handmade Scandinavian-inspired furniture. You can watch for passing whales and icebergs from your room, which includes binoculars, or the rooftop hot tub.
Amangiri - Canyon Point, Utah
Set across 600 acres in a rocky valley in the southern desert of Utah, Amangiri feels like an entirely different world, harmoniously blending into deep canyons among dramatic limestone formations. It’s hosted many celebrity guests with its luxury, seclusion, and majestic beauty in every direction. Guests can explore the desert on a hike led by their own personal guide, head out on horseback for a ride through the red rock canyons, and then enjoy a relaxing treatment at the luxurious spa. The chic modern suites come with their private courtyards and fireplaces, while many also have private pools and terraces with panoramic views.
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas - Baa Atoll, Maldives
Located in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve-listed Baa Atoll, Anantara Kihavah is a private island resort with overwater and pool villas and residences. It includes the only overwater observatory in the Maldives and also offers an unforgettable underwater dining experience at SEA. The island is encircled by a pristine white sandy beach and a turquoise lagoon with a house reef that’s teeming with hundreds of species of tropical fish, hawksbill turtles, reef sharks, and eagle rays. The pinnacle of palatial seclusion, each one of its romantic hideaways comes with large infinity pools, dining pavilions, wooden sundeck, and expansive areas for relaxation that have swinging daybeds, hammocks, and lounge chairs.
UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa - Trancosa, Brazil
UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa sits on a hilltop that overlooks the Atlantic in the remote fishing village of Trancoso in Bahia, requiring a flight to Rio, Salvador, or Sao Paulo, followed by a flight to Porto Seo, just under an hour’s drive from the property. It was constructed out of restored fishermen’s casas, aimed to help guests feel like they’re part of the community. Surrounding rainforest conceals each one of the 11 villas which come with a kitchen and private garden, each with a unique design personality, kitchen, and private garden. There are even opportunities to join a local family for a Bahian meal. The hotel’s restaurant has a menu based on authentic local specialties like fish stew and the staff even invites guests into the kitchen to watch as they’re made.
Hotel Ranga - Hella, Iceland
Located far from city lights in South Iceland’s secluded countryside where there are more horses than people, Hotel Rangá is the perfect spot for watching the northern lights – you’ll even get a wake-up call if they make an appearance while you’re sleeping. An oasis for adventurers who want to go off-grid, it includes geothermal heated outdoor hot tubs and stargazing sessions with a resident astronomer at the property’s high-tech roll-off roof observatory. While summer isn’t the time to come for the aurora borealis, it does bring opportunities for hiking, golfing, and fishing nearby. The gourmet restaurant will soothe hunger pangs afterward with a menu featuring Nordic cuisine, including fresh local salmon.
Casa Palopo - Solola, Guatemala
Casa Palopo is perched on a hill overlooking Lake Atitlan and three soaring volcanoes. A 15-room boutique villa resort, it’s a journey to get here, requiring a 3.5-hour drive from Guatemala City or a much faster helicopter ride with a landing pad right on the premises. The isolated lodge has a gorgeous solar-heated pool and an excellent fine dining restaurant for enjoying meals with uninterrupted sunset views. Suites feature private sun decks and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the picturesque views – or, you can book the ultimate option, a secluded private villa with two bedrooms and a pool.
COMO Uma Punakha - Punakha, Bhutan
One of the highest altitude countries on the planet and one of the least visited, while Bhutan puts a tight limit on the number of tourists, with many rules for booking and prepaying guides and hotels, that keeps it from becoming overdeveloped. COMO Uma Punakha is one of the hotels that can provide a seamless trip with everything from visas to flights. The 11-room resort lodge offers a variety of activities, including guided biking and hiking with visits to the famous high-altitude monasteries. There are scenic helicopter adventures, opportunities to practice yoga and meditation and enjoy a range of holistic, Asian-inspired treatments at the on-site spa.
Explora Patagonia - Torres del Paine, Chile
One of the most remote and famous wilderness mountain lodges, Explora Torres del Paine is located in Chilean Patagonia. It sits along a lake just below the towering jagged peaks of the Torres del Paine massif, providing a great base for exploring the diverse landscapes of the national park. The all-inclusive experience includes more than 50 different half and full-day hikes and horseback rides, some of which will get you close to calving glaciers. There’s a bathhouse with an indoor pool and spa to relax at afterward, while the on-site eatery offers delicious meals that can be paired with a carefully selected list of Chilean wines.
Skylodge Adventure Suites - Cusco, Peru
Talk about remote and secluded, at Skylodge Adventure Suites, guests can sleep within a completely transparent hanging bedroom over the Sacred Valley of Cusco. The capsule suites come with private bathrooms, tucked into the mountainside requiring a climb of 1,200 feet or a one-hour hike along a trail and ziplines.
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge - British Columbia, Canada
Set along a remote coastal stretch of Vancouver Island, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is a unique “eco-safari” style resort. You can only get there by floatplane or boat, but your reward is to be surrounded by thousands of acres of pristine rainforest in a place where eagles, bears, and whales far outnumber humans. Accommodation is in safari-style ultra-luxe tents, complete with radiant floor bathroom heating. There’s a tented spa and a nearly endless list of activities, including hiking, horseback riding, whitewater, and flatwater kayaking.
Hotel Pilatus-Kulm - Kriens, Switzerland
This historic hotel sits at the top of Pilatus, one of the world’s steepest railways with a gradient of up to 48 percent. Its rooms and suites provide jaw-dropping views of the alpine panorama, glorious sunrises, and incredible stargazing from 6,995 feet above sea level. Accessed by gondola, it hosts diverse restaurants and bars, while rooms and suites have an alpine design, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Some boast panoramic mountain views.
