With an increasing dependency on the digital support system, it is often difficult to truly switch off. To beat tech-fuelled burnout, ‘digital detox’ resorts are on the rise. Put away your phone and surrender to the romanticism of a device-free and guilt-free era. Unplug or reconnect- whatever you may call it-trust these retreats for body-mind-soul well-being.
HOANIB SKELETON COAST CAMP, PALMWAG, NAMIBIA
Some landscapes demand your full attention, and the thought of being distracted by a smartphone screen in Namibia seems almost sacrilegious. So, it’s perhaps fitting that many of Namibia’s wilderness camps remain untainted by Wi-Fi. Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp is a semi-futuristic tented camp that has already scooped a string of design awards, with minimalist, tasteful interiors that bring a touch of Scandinavian style to your safari. This desolate stretch of coastline is so-named because of the numerous shipwrecks and animal skulls-elephant, oryx, springbok, even lion-lacing the shore. Elephants-and at the right time of year, the rare desert lions-of the Hoanib River Valley are the main draw here, for travellers who fancy a safari less ordinary. Namibia’s landscapes work their magic on your mind in record time, so you can expect to have your priorities reshuffled and your zen restored. By the time you leave, watching elephants wander around the camp will seem normal, and the ping of a WhatsApp message will seem weird.
KACHI LODGE, BOLIVIA, THE US
Disconnect from worldly worries and relax in minimalist luxury surrounded by the Uyuni Salt Flats of Bolivia at the Kachi Lodge, which is the ultimate glamping destination. The modern dome architecture gives the resort the look of a space station situated in the middle of the arid flats. Detox from the digital world with traditional Bolivian cuisine by day and enjoy unobstructed views of the starry skies by night.
MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MIAMI, THE US
Mandarin Oriental located on the exclusive Brickell Key, makes it easy for guests to disconnect during their stay. The ‘Power Off in Paradise’ package encourages guests to put down their devices and be present. Guests are welcomed with a wellness basket filled with mindful, non-digital activities, such as a puzzle or a board game. Activities include private yoga, a singing bowl session on the beach and freshly-prepared, healthy bento box lunches. The 120-minute Digital Wellness Escape treatment at the resort’s five-star spa aims to ease stresses and strains from the frequent use of digital devices.
CHIVA-SOM HUA HIN, THAILAND
Thailand’s Chiva-Som is one of the world’s foremost temples of wellness, rejuvenating minds and bodies for more than 25 years among the lush beachside surroundings on Hua Hin’s coast. To maintain the resort’s serene ambience, use of electronic devices outside of one’s room is discouraged. Instead, Chiva-Som hopes guests disconnect from their digital personas and reconnect with their organic selves via a menu featuring a mix of more than 200 expert-led treatments and programmes, from detox regimens and crystal massages to physiotherapy sessions and aqua aerobics.
HILTON SHILLIM ESTATE RETREAT & SPA, VILLAGE SHILIMB, MAHARASHTRA
Hilton Shillim’s fame knows no bounds! It is a sought-after retreat and spa that Bollywood celebrities resort to after a strenuous schedule! In fact, actor Akshay Kumar along with his family took up a travel retreat to Hilton Shillim earlier in 2019. Sprawled across 320 acres with a lush landscape of the Sahyadri range, the setting that Hilton Shillim provides alone is very therapeutic to the mind and body. The refreshing wind teamed with the natural beauty of the place would invigorate you instantly. Further, their relaxation centre and al-fresco showers, along with a fancy yoga pavilion would leave you mesmerised. Surprise yourself and your partner with a romantic getaway to Hilton Shillim and find the digital detox that you have been secretly craving for!
RESORT AT SQUAW CREEK, CALIFORNIA, THE US
Resort at Squaw Creek is a four-hour drive from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco. The luxury resort invites guests to reset and adopt a fresh headspace to take home through a host of digital detox spa offerings and outdoor activities. Head outside for guided recreational activities and day-long excursions-from bike tours and horseback rides to rafting trips down Truckee River-or venture out solo to soak up the natural surroundings at your own pace. Return to the resort and continue the serenity with a massage treatment, facial or body treatment that will help you unwind from it all.
WILD DUNES RESORT, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, THE US
Sure, you can take in Charleston’s rich history, acclaimed culinary scene and stunning architecture. But just 30 minutes from downtown, you can treat yourself to something truly indulgent: self-care. With the new Digital Detox Retreat at Wild Dunes Resort, visitors are encouraged to lock away their phones and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the Charleston Lowcountry. Paving the way for holistic wellness, this three-night retreat includes experiences to nourish the body and the mind, such as outdoor activities paired with spa treatments.
PETIT ST VINCENT, ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
One of the Caribbean’s most exclusive private island resorts is also one of the best designed for unplugging. Southern Grenadines-based Petit St Vincent invites the jet-setting populace to untether themselves from the pull of infinite scrolling (there is no Wi-Fi throughout the island, save for a small reception area) and, instead, connect to the stunning tropical beach-scapes around them. The saturated sea-view from each individually designed cottage is restorative in its own right, to the point where guests might not notice the absence of telephones and televisions in the rooms. Beyond the accommodations, superb snorkelling, beach-barbecue dinners, hilltop spa massages, and simple hammock-swaying in the ocean breeze make perfect antidotes to any internet addiction.
FORT CLONQUE, ALDERNEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS
There are no TVs, telephones or Wi-Fi in any of the nearly 200 properties owned by The Landmark Trust, and Fort Clonque, built on a rocky outcrop off the Channel Island of Alderney, is no exception. Founded in 1847 to fend off the French, it was designed to accommodate a battery of 10 guns, two officers and 50 men-however, owing to advances in naval capability, it was soon disarmed after completion. Delightfully, at high tide, the whole fort is cut off from the rest of the island, so there’s nothing to do but admire the elements at play and to practise the lost art of conversation. From Fort Clonque, Alderney and its Zig-Zag coastal path can be reached on foot via a causeway at low tide.
KURUMBA VILLAGE RESORT, COONOOR, TAMIL NADU
A 5,000-year-old system of healing is followed at the Kurumba Village Resort. Imagine engaging in such an authentic therapy that facilitates strengthening of tissues, stimulating blood circulation and helping with weight loss and removal of cellulites. You will leave the property feeling and even looking younger than your actual age. Team it with their in-house yoga therapies that teach essential asanas and pranayama techniques to treat yourself to an enriching healing session. Further, the fact that Kurumba Village Resort is nestled amid lush-green forests with a great source of serenity and calmness in the air, adds to the wholesome experience. And, you wouldn’t even be bothered by your work messages and emails while you’re on your travel digital detox, letting it serve as your perfect romantic sojourn.
TIGH NIGHEAN BHAN, TROTTERNISH PENINSULA, ISLE OF SKYE
The lack of Wi-Fi and mobile reception at this remote hideaway for two is in keeping with the traditional setting of a thatched blackhouse on Skye’s wild Trotternish Peninsula. Tigh Nighean Bhan (or ‘house of the fair lady’) was originally built by the church as a reading house, and was restored in recent years by architects Rural Design to include a smart bathroom and open-plan living/kitchen area. The cottage has views towards the Western Isles of Harris and Lewis (there are sailings from the nearby port of Uig) and is close to the rugged walking countryside and the Old Man of Storr.
YOGAMAGIC ECORETREAT, ANJUNA, GOA
Located in the midst of the gorgeous tropical gardens is the alluring YogaMagic EcoRetreat property. The luxurious tent structures of YogaMagic along with its coconut groves and island-like vibe would transport you to a whole new world. In fact, if you peruse through the pictures of this property, chances are you would be invested in spending a weekend here! The organic and wholesome food teamed with the eco-chic lodging makes for quite an authentic boutique retreat. Further, you would also get to learn more about some of the sustainable means by which they run the place. It is fascinating and rejuvenating. You can opt for a travel getaway in Goa, which doesn’t necessarily have to have the noisy nightlife or the crowded beachfront.
CABN – ADELAIDE HILLS, ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA
Booking site Cabn was set up to provide people with a means to disconnect from the daily rush of meetings, calls and to-do lists. Its off-grid, sustainable and eco-friendly tiny houses are set in some of Australia’s most stunning landscapes, offering a picturesque escape. Recharge at places like Cabn’s Adelaide Hills location in South Australia. You’ll feel refreshed after a stay at the peaceful country retreat where your only neighbours are kangaroos, bears and bandicoots.
LOG CABIN WILDERNESS LODGE, ALASKA, THE US
Alaska’s Log Cabin Wilderness Lodge is one of the most remote campgrounds in the US. With the nearest town a half-hour drive away, it’s both off-the- grid and far removed from the nearest cellular tower- making it easy to disconnect for a few days. When your eyes aren’t glued to a screen, you might spot the midnight sun, the northern lights and wildlife like moose and eagles roaming the lodge’s 11 acres of Alaskan wilderness. Fun fact: Hollywood’s Golden-age actor John Wayne stayed here in the park’s early days.
LAKE PLACID LODGE, LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK, THE US
Deep in the heart of New York’s Adirondack Mountains, guests can take advantage of the clever ‘Check In to Check Out’ package offered by Lake Placid Lodge. The five-star hotel provides guests the opportunity to leave their phones with the front desk to get a fourth night free, made-to-order breakfast, turndown service, chef- prepared snack and wine, in addition to all the amenities and activities at the resort. A true four-season destination, visitors will enjoy mountain-biking, canoeing, and hiking in the warm weather or snowshoeing, skiing and dog-sledding during the winter. There’s so much outdoor recreation in the Adirondacks that guests will hardly notice their phone’s absence.
JACK’S CAMP, BOTSWANA
Plopped in the middle of the stark Kalahari is one of Africa’s most legendary safari lodges, newly reimagined in 2021 with updated 1940s-style interiors and expanded tents that boast personal plunge pools. What hasn’t changed about Jack’s Camp though is its low-tech profile, where televisions are absent and internet access is nonexistent. The remote vastness of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and surrounding wildlife provides a more natural distraction for guests-here, you might encounter meerkats, partake in bushwalks with local tribespeople, search for Kalahari lions on game drives, or simply unwind in Instagram-free peace at the camp’s lavish swimming pool pavilion.
LOVANGO RESORT & BEACH CLUB, THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS
Lovango Resort & Beach Club is the US Virgin Islands’ splashy new private island getaway and the territory’s first new resort in over 30 years. Sustainability is at the forefront of Lovango-the property is 100 percent solar- and wind-powered, and runs a desalination process producing potable water for island guests. While the resort doesn’t have official digital- detox features, the lively beach club, boat charter offerings, and arresting seaside views from every vantage point-especially from one’s villa or luxury treehouse-will make you want to put the laptop down and stay in the present.
CAMP NAVARRO, ANDERSON VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, THE US
Northern California’s Camp Navarro is known for its ‘Camp Grounded’ programme, which redefines the concept of a corporate and family retreat. Tucked away in the Anderson Valley, the 120-acre camp features a Great Hall, 32 rustic cabins and 42 teepee tents, all under the shade of soaring redwoods along the North Fork of the Navarro River. Camp activities include all the classics, such as archery, rock climbing, lawn games and miles of hiking trails-making it an ideal spot to get outside for team-building with colleagues or memory-making with family.
Text by: Aishwarya Chattoraj