The first time I entered one of Sunnd’s geodomes, I almost gasped. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Superior, surrounded by forests that seem to go on forever. At night, with no light pollution, the stars were so bright that I could see the Milky Way without even trying.
What makes Sunnd special isn’t just the location, it’s how carefully everything is designed. The wood-fired hot tubs (an absolute paradise after a day of hiking) are heated with fallen wood. And the guided tours of ancient indigenous pictographs taught me more about the region’s heritage than any museum.
I spent three nights there and will always remember waking up to the mist rolling over the lake. One morning, I saw a moose drinking on the shore, undisturbed by my presence. This moment of connection with nature is what always brings me back to places like this.
It is ideal for single travelers or couples who want to disconnect while having comfortable facilities (no difficulty required). And even though it’s not very cheap, the experience justifies every penny spent.
My advice is to book directly through the Sunnd website rather than comparison sites – you will often get better rates. And do it early, especially in summer and fall, because they only have a handful of domes and fill up quickly.
2. Darwin Ranch, Gros Ventre Wilderness, Wyoming, United States
Imagine rustic log cabins nestled in a Wyoming valley so remote you need a 4×4 to get there. This is Darwin Ranch, where I spent what might have been the most transformative week of my life one summer.
Each morning began with freshly baked bread and locally roasted coffee before heading out to fly fish in crystal clear streams. I had never ridden a horse before, but by the third day I was trotting confidently through alpine meadows teeming with wildflowers. The guides were great – patient with beginners like me but also happy to challenge more experienced riders.
What I liked the most were the evening meals. After a day in nature, everyone – guests and staff – gathered around a huge wooden table for family dinners with food grown in their own gardens. Conversations flowed as easily as local wine and I made friends who I still keep in touch with.
It’s not a budget option at around £575 per night all-inclusive, but for that you get absolutely amazing accommodation, activities and food. It’s perfect if you want adventure without sacrificing comfort.
You will need to book 6-12 months in advance for summer places. Trust me, I tried to extend my stay while I was there, and they were sold out for the next two seasons.
3. Our Father, Sweden
There’s something completely supernatural about staying on a small Swedish island where your only coordinates are longitude and latitude. Pater Noster sits on a craggy rock in the North Sea and getting there is half the adventure.
I spent three nights there last September and the first thing that struck me was the silence. Not just calm – pure silence, interrupted only by waves and seabirds. My accommodation was minimalist, in the Scandinavian way, with sheepskin throws and huge windows framing the endless sea.
Here, days are not about doing, but about being. I spent hours watching the water change color with the sky. I went fishing with the keeper and caught some mackerel which we grilled for dinner. I read half a novel in one sitting because nothing could distract me.
It’s the perfect place for solo travelers in need of free space or creatives looking for inspiration. I came home with more writing than I had in the entire month before in London.
By booking through their website, you get the best rates, but be prepared to be flexible on dates: there are only nine rooms and weather conditions sometimes mean rescheduling arrivals.
4. Hike Acatenango Volcano, Guatemala
One winter, I found myself huffing and puffing on the side of the Acatenango volcano in Guatemala, questioning all of my life choices. But then night fell and across the valley, the Fuego volcano began to erupt, spewing bright orange lava into the dark sky every 20 minutes like clockwork.
I’m not going to lie, the 4 hour hike was a challenge. My quads were screaming and the altitude had me taking breaks every few hundred meters near the summit. But camping on the side of an active volcano, watching nature’s fireworks while huddling around a campfire with new friends… is worth every labored breath.
The sunrise push to the summit was another challenge: a 5 a.m. wake-up call to climb the final stretch in the dark. But standing above the clouds as dawn broke over the landscape, with volcanoes peeking through a cotton blanket of mist, was one of those moments that will stay with you forever.
This one is ideal for travelers on a budget: tours cost between £50 and £100, including guides, equipment and meals. Book through OX Expeditions in Antigua if possible; their guides are amazing and safety conscious.
And for heaven’s sake, take warm layers! It’s so cold at the top – I had five layers on and I was still shivering.
5. Kinabatangan River, Malaysian Borneo
Driving down the Kinabatangan River at dawn, I held my breath as our guide cut the boat’s engine. There, a few meters away, a wild orangutan was building its nest for the night, methodically bending branches to make a comfortable bed.
Bornean wildlife encounters aren’t like your standard safari: they’re intimate, up-close and often unexpected. During my three-day riverboat excursion, I spotted proboscis monkeys with their comical noses, pygmy elephants bathing on the shore, and hornbills soaring above us.
The eco-lodges along the river are basic but comfortable, with mosquito nets and cold showers that feel great in the humid heat. What they lack in luxury, they make up for in location: my balcony literally hung over the water, from where I could watch the crocodiles swim by while sipping my morning tea.
This experience is perfect for wildlife lovers and photographers. The guides are passionate about conservation and know exactly where to find the animals without disturbing them.
Book through Borneo Nature Tours at least three months in advance, especially if you are traveling between March and October. And don’t skimp on time: give yourself at least three days to really feel the rhythms of the river.
6. Sea Kayak and Adventures, Sea of Cortés, Mexico
There’s nothing like paddling a kayak on a deserted beach, knowing you’re the only humans for miles around. Mexico’s Sea of Cortés is one of the most biodiverse seas on the planet, and exploring it by kayak was an adventure I didn’t know I needed.
I went on a five-day expedition with Mar y Aventuras, camping on different beaches each night. During the day, we paddled through turquoise waters, stopping to snorkel with sea lions and tropical fish in what felt like our personal aquarium. Our guides knew every hidden cove and were brilliant at spotting wildlife: we saw dolphins, manta rays and even a whale shark on my trip.
The best part was how accessible it was. I had never kayaked like this before, but after a full safety briefing and technique lesson, I was confidently navigating the gentle waves. And even though camping was basic, falling asleep to the sound of the waves just a few meters from your tent is pure luxury in my opinion.
This adventure offers excellent value for money, with 5-day tours costing between £500 and £800, including equipment, guides and all meals (freshly made fish tacos on a beach? Yes, please!). October to April offers the best weather – I went in November and it was perfect.
It’s time to see the world off the grid
If you want to disconnect and experience a real adventure, here are my hard-earned tips:
- Where possible, always book directly with operators: you will often get better rates and more flexibility if plans change.
- Small groups make for better experiences. I found traveling with 8-12 people to be the sweet spot for social interaction without feeling crowded.
- Most of these destinations book up 6-12 months in advance for peak seasons, so start planning now for next year.
- Pack thoughtfully – I froze in Acatenango because I underestimated how cold it would be, and my camera died in Borneo because I didn’t have a suitable waterproof case.
- Choose operators with good sustainability credentials. The places I’ve mentioned all work hard to minimize their environmental impact and support local communities.
There is no point in waiting to see the world in its best light. Choose an adventure from this list and start planning today. Your off-grid escape awaits: trade your screen time for stargazing, wildlife encounters, and stories you’ll tell for years to come.
