Access to Wi-Fi is ubiquitous. For better or worse, it’s possible to stay connected even in some of the most remote areas on Earth. That makes it difficult to unplug, no matter how deeply you crave a trip that takes you away from it all.
However, if you know where to go, Wi-Fi-free locations still exist. Find one, and you can break free from the pull of endless scrolling, the desire to keep up with social media trends, and the pressure to check in with work even when you are out of the office.
Most of us have forgotten what it’s like to be truly present, says Leigh Barnes, president of the Americas for Intrepid Travel. “Choosing to disconnect, even for a few days, is one of the most valuable gifts you can give yourself,” he explains.
Getting away from Wi-Fi is good for you in other ways, too. “Stepping off the grid helps you break the cycle of constant alerts and information overload and gives your brain space to reset,” says Christina Lee, a psychiatrist with Kaiser Permanente. It can also sharpen focus, increase life satisfaction, improve creativity, and ease depression and anxiety, Lee elaborates.
Ultra runner Stefán Pálsson, who regularly hikes the Wi-Fi-free Laugavegur Trail in Iceland, has experienced the benefits of traveling without being connected first-hand. “I honestly hope the internet never finds its way out here. It’s good to know there are still places that force you to unplug, be present, and just exist fully in nature,” he says.
(Do you like getting lost? Orienteering might be the travel trend for you)
Serian Camps: Kenya and Tanzania
Although many safari camps throughout sub-Saharan Africa now offer Wi-Fi, the owners of Serian Camps in Kenya and Tanzania intentionally keep their camps disconnected. “Safaris have always been, and should remain, a deeply personal experience,” says Andrew van den Broeck, a private guide with Serian Camps. According to van den Broeck, “safaris are a rare opportunity to be present within a system that neither pretends nor intends to entertain. The multi-sensory experience is easily disrupted by the impulse to share stories with those not there to witness them.
Want to get away from it all? Here are 6 amazing places without Wi-Fi.
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