Tourists go to the ends of the earth for digital detox

Luxury cruise experts Panache Cruises have reported an increase in demand from those seeking to escape to locations beyond the reach of mobile phone signals and the internet.

They have now named the best destinations across the world for those wanting to unwind and unplug from the constant connectivity of technology and the stress it can cause.

There are still some places where it is possible to escape the reach of technology, such as the Svalbard archipelago, around 1200 miles north of Norway – popular with those seeking the Northern Lights.

At the opposite end of the globe cruises to the Antarctic are booming with tourists choosing penguin spotting over emails. 

The Sinharaja Rainforest in Sri Lanka has no access to the internet and visitors can instead take time to unwind and explore the acres of biodiversity and unique tribal culture. 

Kenya is also a fantastic destination for de-stressing, with magnificent wildlife across the savanna grasslands and spending the evening winding down by gazing at the starry night sky in the Koija Community Starbeds rather than scrolling through social media before bed.

While cruise ships usually offer internet connections, speeds can be very slow and the service expensive and often unreliable, especially in remote locations.

James Cole, founder and managing director of Panache Cruises said: “We are seeing increasing popularity for remote holiday destinations with many customers reporting they are looking forward to switching off their phones and escaping technology for a while. 

“Some really struggle to switch off but by choosing to journey to a truly remote location where even on-board connections will be slow at best, they may find it easier to go cold turkey.

“Luckily even in 2023 there are still some spots on earth beyond the reach of the internet and mobile phone signals. 

“By travelling to some of the world’s most remote locations where there is zero access to the internet or even the slightest bit of phone signal; a complete digital detox in 2023 can be achieved.

When you go on holiday it’s now become standard to upload pictures of your travels on social media – but with a completely unplugged trip away it instead becomes mandatory to take in the memories for yourself and look at the stunning landscapes and exotic wildlife through our own eyes, rather than through a screen.

“Getting away from technology and hectic schedules is a great stress-buster – the Valley of Flowers in India is full of some of the world’s most exotic and endangered animals, and Antarctica is truly one of those destinations where you can completely escape from the chaos of everyday life.”