The Best Places To Travel When Going Analog, According To Travel Experts

This just in: analog tourism is a wellness travel trend that will become popular in 2026. This doesn't just mean traveling with an analog camera. We're talking one step up from a digital detox, where you may even travel without a smartphone (!). Analog travel is travel stripped down to the basics, with old-school cameras, maps, guidebooks, compasses, a deck of cards, notebooks, and the like. 

Analog travel is taking off as more and more people experience digital burnout. An estimated 92% of the world is connected to cell phone coverage, and improving technology means phones are hardier, take better pictures, and provide essential services from banking to video calls. In other words, it's increasingly difficult to travel without your smartphone. And yet, studies show even limited phone usage can both lessen enjoyment and impact your memory of the moment. 

There are a variety of ways to analog-on while traveling, like a classic wellness retreat, off-grid resorts, pilgrimages or long hikes, silence immersion experiences, or even just bringing must-have analog travel items along. Analog trips can be taken all over the globe, but certain destinations are ahead of the pack. Using reviews from real travelers, along with information sourced from local experts (plus a healthy dose of personal experience), we've compiled a list of 14 of the best places to travel when going analog.

Iceland is an ideal place to go analog, with its outdoor experiences, general remoteness, and beautiful off-grid accommodations (not to mention, it's one of the safest countries in the world to visit). About 90 minutes outside of Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, is the haven of Hotel Ranga. With hot springs, chances to see the Northern Lights, and easy access to the beauty of Iceland, you'll want to forget about your phone. 

To make it even easier to really go analog, Hotel Ranga has created an optional "Analog Menu" add-on package, where you get a map of Iceland (with local favorites marked), a deck of cards, an Iceland coloring book, and a disposable camera. Eyrún Aníta Gylfadóttir, marketing manager at the hotel, helped create that Analog Menu after noticing an uptick in travelers searching for ways to disconnect: "To live in the present and not just for the 'gram, and enjoy the experience as it is happening is a really special treat for guests in today's age" (via Success.com). The Analog Menu is 21,100 ISK (approximately $171) added on to your stay, while a one-night stay at Hotel Ranga starts at $489 per night. 

Going hand-in-hand with analog travel, there's been renewed interest in pre-industrial activities to further disconnect from screens. One destination that embraces this is the Viceroy at Ombria Algarve, near Portugal's picturesque Algarve Coast. According to the general manager, Duarte Gonçalves da Cunha. "We wanted to create something that reflects the slow, traditional way of life here...we believe it offers guests a more immersive connection to Portugal," he said (via Ombria).

While the hotel offers complimentary WiFi, many of its activities are designed to encourage unplugging from your phone. Guests can take part in herding sheep or making honey, bread-making or picnicking, horseback riding or stargazing, along with ancient crafts like Portuguese tile painting, local esparto weaving, and traditional pottery.

The Viceroy at Ombria Algarve also has a spa where they encourage guests to unplug to properly connect their bodies and minds with the surrounding nature, which is infused throughout the property. Rooms at the Viceroy in Portugal start at around $305, but expect to pay twice as much in the high season (July and August).

After suffering burnout, the duo who created Unplugged Cabins realized that the best cure for burnout was to go analog. After struggling to find easily accessible locations designed for just that inside the United Kingdom, they decided to build modern, off-grid cabins, all within an hour (or two) of major metropolitan areas. 

What started small soon gained momentum. As co-founder Hector Hughes told the BBC: "When we first started Unplugged in 2020, digital detoxing and analogue living was pretty much unheard of. Now, over half of our guests cite burnout and screen fatigue as their main motivation for booking." Today, there are over 30 Unplugged Cabins scattered around England and Wales,

The cabins are designed to blend seamlessly into nature, encouraging a connection with the natural world. In addition, there's no WiFi on site, and they even provide a lockbox for your phone and electronics, along with board games, as an extra incentive for a true analog vacation. The cabins are rented out for a minimum of three nights, based on the evidence of the "Three Day Effect," which is considered the optimal time to unplug. The cabins vary in price and amenities, but start at approximately $550 (for the entire stay). 

If you're hoping to still have the all-inclusive Mexican vacation of your dreams while going analog, there's an option for you. The Grand Velas Resorts, in Los Cabos, the Riviera Maya, and the Riviera Nayarit, in response to entire families looking to unplug, have a "Detox Concierge" available on hand at each resort, who, for guests interested in going analog, will cleanse their room of electronics (like TVs) and then take them away for safekeeping — the TV is replaced with select board games. The resort's director of sales, Denys Montes De Oca, told Travel Pulse that the program is designed to help guests "reconnect with loved ones and the outside world through specially programmed activities."

Each location has plenty of activities to keep your screen-free days from getting boring, from complimentary sailing, kayaking, yoga, along with access to beaches, pools, and spas. On the Riviera Maya, give up your electronics to the Detox Concierge for extra excursions (on the house), including bike tours and snorkeling. All-inclusive stays at any of the Grand Velas Resorts in Mexico start at approximately $1,000/night, although there are offers periodically throughout the year.

Palmarola Island, an easy trip from Rome, is an uninhabited island and an ideal place to go full analog. When they say uninhabited, they mean it: no shops or stores, markets or roads. There's not even electricity, although the only hotel-restaurant on the island, O'Francese, has a generator they use at night. If necessary, you can hike to the top of the island for cell service, but even then, it's not guaranteed.

Ponza Island, the main gateway to Palmarola, is also part of the Pontine archipelago — the only boat leaves at 11 a.m. every day from Ponza's port. To reach Palmarola from Rome, take a train to Anzio, then a ferry to Ponza, where you'll catch the daily. 

Rates at O'Francese start at $177/night, and include board or half board (handy, since there's nowhere else to eat). Guests are also provided with sun loungers, umbrellas, and canoes...throw in some sunscreen, and really, what else do you need? Maria Andreini, an Italian who visits the island yearly, puts it best to CNN: "There's so much, and so little, to do. We spend our days snorkeling and suntanning. ... At night we lie on the beach and stargaze, we walk around with torches. At dawn the owners wake us up to admire the sunrise. It's stunning." 

Botswana is becoming a new hotspot for wildlife tours, and remote nature of much of Botswana means that it's easy to go analog, and sometimes even necessary. There are multiple remote safari camps in Botswana near the incredible, UNESCO-listed Okavango Delta, as well as the Moremi Game Reserve and the Khwai Wildlife Concession, where you'll have access to astonishing numbers of wildlife (lions and zebras and rhinos, oh my). 

One such lodge that will make you forget about your phone (and the rest of the world in general) is the O Bona Moremi Safari Lodge, situated on the Khwai River. Solar-powered tents all have their own patio for wildlife viewing, and excursions include Jeep safaris, wildlife treks, night drives, and trips in a traditional Mokoro canoe. Add in incredible stargazing, visits to local villages, locally sourced food, and campfires, and really — the only screen you'll want near you is a camera. As one local guide told National Geographic: "Safaris are a rare opportunity to be present. ...The multi-sensory experience is easily disrupted by the impulse to share stories with those not there to witness them."

Ultimately, O Bona Moremi is the ideal place to ditch the overhyped trend of oversharing. Rates for the O Bona Moremi Safari Lodge begin at $470/night (for two people). All-inclusive rates start at $600/night for double occupancy. 

The island of Bali, Indonesia, is one of the pioneers of the wellness vacation, and is also leading the way when it comes to digital detox and analog trips. As one writer noted after experiencing Bali: "It's not hard to do a social media detox while you're [in Bali]. You'll want to let go of the outside noise" (via Observer.com).

One of the best tropical vacation destinations on the planet is also one of the best places to pursue an analog trip. Not only is much of Bali still remote, with limited network access, but many resorts are promoting digital detox or analog experiences. The socially-minded, environmentally-friendly Sanak Retreat Bali, near the mountain town of Munduk, feels like a whole different world compared to the buzzing wellness mecca of Ubud, about two hours southeast, with its forests, traditional villages, and cooler climate. 

The peaceful location, where you'll stay in wooden bungalows with views of the rice fields, just begs for an analog vacation. Sanak Retreat encourages this, especially for families, with the Family Package, which includes two nights in a two-bedroom bungalow, along with analog activities like local cooking classes, waterfall treks, massages, and crafts. Rates for the family package start at around $624 for the entire stay.

Chile is known for some of the most incredible landscapes in the world, like the vast Atacama Desert, a gem for an analog trip. As the travel guides from The Sybarite note: "[An Atacama] desert journey is about so much more than landscapes...It offers a level of immersion and reflection that is rare in today's world. Perfect for those ready to disconnect from the noise and reconnect with something deeper." 

The Atacama Desert is thought to have the clearest skies on Earth, thanks to little light pollution, some of the driest air around, and its high altitude: the main town, San Pedro de Atacama, is about 8,000 feet above sea level, but much of the desert reaches heights of 17,000 feet. 

For the ultimate Atacama analog experience, stay at the Explora Atacama near San Pedro de Atacama. Although the Explora Atacama does have cell service and WiFi, WiFi is especially intermittent, and the surrounding nature and on-site activities make unplugging ideal. Explora Atacama has its own on-site Observatory, for bathing opportunities galore. Explora Explorations are also included with your stay, led by local guides, who take you to all corners of the desert. Hidden spas, beautiful vistas, and endless stars...it's tailor-made to be screen-free. All-inclusive rates at Explora Atacama start at $770/night, although the hotel recommends at least five nights to fully experience the desert.

Bhutan, deep in the Himalayas, is one of the world's best wellness destinations to visit in 2026 and a key destination for analog wellness. The strands of wellness are woven through the very fabric of Bhutan, from the meditation-heavy religious practices, fresh air, slow pace of life, and even the government's prioritization of "Gross National Happiness" over a Gross National Product. These all make Bhutan "packed with possibilities for experiencing a serene, digital detox tour...You can find different options for your experience: immersive meditation programmes lasting days, or solitary retreats for a few hours in the quiet beauty," noted Travel + Leisure.

There are dozens of options for an analog retreat, at varying prices, but for those on more of a strict budget, look no further than the Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary near Paro. The Spirit Sanctuary, a secluded mountaintop retreat, offers a variety of packages that combine silence, wellness, meditation, and nature bathing. The annually-offered Reset & Detox program, every January and February, starts at $5,000 for two people and includes food, board, daily yoga classes, daily meditation, guided hikes, wellness treatments, consultations, cooking classes, use of the sauna, and more. You can also get a day pass to experience the spa even if you're staying elsewhere, starting at $350/day.

There's no better place for unplugging than America's best idea: it's many national parks. The sheer number and diversity are astonishing, and most have large sections that are naturally off the grid. As  Erin Stender, CMO of camping website Campspot told EuroNews: "Campers today aren't just looking for a break. They're seeking a meaningful way to reconnect with their roots...it's about actively seeking solace and simplicity in an increasingly complex world."

Under Canvas properties, found in 13 national parks, make it easy to go analog, as the tents are intentionally WiFi-free. Under Canvas has tents in some of the country's most famous national parks, including Yellowstone (in both West Yellowstone and north in the Paradise Valley), Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Zion, Great Smoky Mountains, Acadia, and Glacier, Montana's picturesque national park.

Each luxurious, safari-inspired tent comes with complimentary camp activities, its own "adventure concierge," communal firepits, and on-site dining options (at certain locations). The tents sleep two to four people and start at around $200/night, although they can cost upwards of $1,500/night. Note that each location has its own season, so you'll want to check the website for dates.

Between surfing retreats and desert escapes, Morocco has plenty of places for that analog vacation (not to mention it's one of the most affordable countries in the world to visit in 2026), and the Desert Camp Chraika is especially ideal. The Desert Camp Chraika is located deep in the sandy dunes of the Sahara Desert, where there's no signal and no Wi-Fi, so it's impossible to be glued to your phone (unless you're taking a lot of pictures, and even then, beware of the sand damaging your device). 

The camps desert tours are specifically designed to get busy, exhausted, disconnected people to truly embrace rest and restoration. Silence is key, and so is exploring the dunes, visiting local villages for cooking classes and traditonal hammams (bathhouses), slow meals under the stars, made all the brighter thanks to virtually no light pollution. Explore hidden oases, experience a quintessential camel ride, get a little crazy on an ATV desert tour, and get in touch with nature, and therefore, yourself. Huts at Desert Camp Chraika start at approximately $47/night, and desert tours, from 3-9 days, including room, board, transport, and activities, start at approximately $200.

The Amazon Rainforest, which sprawls across nine countries, including parts of Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru, is so remote that there are some people who have never been contacted by the outside world. You won't go quite that far into the jungle (and don't try), but it's still easy to go completely off the grid in the Amazon, and sometimes impossible to stay on the grid in the first place. 

Most trips into the Amazon involve at least a short trip down a river (if not the Amazon itself), either to a remote jungle lodge or camp. There are several companies that lead cruises through the Amazon as well, with daily excursions. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions (more on them below) lead regular cruises through the Amazon, and tour companies like PeruNorth take visitors on immersive Amazon tours. While the trips will be comfortable, don't expect a lot of technology. As river guide Francesco Galli Zugaro told National Geographic: "Some people ask me if we have TV on board... You're looking at it. A moving window on the Amazon." Which is kind of the whole point.

Why go analog in one place when you can go analog all over the world? National Geographic partners with Lindblad Expeditions to lead nature-focused, photography-heavy cruises all over the world, in some of the remote corners of the Earth, from the Amazon (see above) to Alaska, Antarctica to the Arctic, the Galapagos to Egypt. 

Wi-Fi and cell phone service are naturally limited out on the open ocean, and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions also makes a concentrated effort to provide ways to unplug, through frequent naturalist talks, complimentary-use photography gear, and endless opportunities for adventurous excursions. Lindblad Expeditions spokesperson Bradley Norman says that "by nature, our trips encourage people to disconnect" (via Success.com).

You're guaranteed the adventure of a lifetime, whichever Nat Geo cruise you take. The small, sustainable cruise ships go all over the world, and last from five days to more than two months. The price varies wildly depending on duration and location: the cheapest offer at the time of writing is a 6-day trip around Baja California, starting at $2,524 per person.

We consulted experts for global statistics about analog wellness, like the Global Wellness Institute, and gained insights from travel experts, travel blogs, and tourism boards. We also relied on magazines, newspaper articles, reviews from sites like Reddit, and personal experience. In addition, we utilized the official destination websites to ensure accurate, up-to-date information and prices.