Unplug and feel alive again
Between endless scrolling, work emails, and constant notifications, our brains barely get a break. More people are realizing they need to hit pause and swap screen time for real-life moments.
Whether it’s standing under a waterfall, hiking through quiet forests, or breathing in ocean air, each place lets you disconnect from tech and reconnect with yourself. Here’s where travelers are heading in 2025 to recharge their minds, bodies, and souls.
Boise’s riverside simplicity
Boise ranks high for those craving a break from digital noise. The sprawling Boise River Greenbelt invites you to bike or stroll for miles with no interruptions, and the city boasts a growing number of off-grid spots.
With 5G coverage more limited here than in bigger metro hubs, it’s the perfect place to breathe deeply and reconnect. From vibrant farmers’ markets to peaceful foothill trails, Boise encourages you to slow down and savor the moment.
Henderson’s desert calm
Just a short drive from the bright lights of Las Vegas, Henderson offers a peaceful desert escape perfect for unplugging. With warm sunshine, quiet hiking trails, and shimmering lakes, it feels like a world away from the usual hustle.
You can kayak on Lake Las Vegas, explore the stunning Sloan Canyon, or simply soak up the calm rhythms of nature. Henderson’s relaxed vibe makes it easy to slow down, clear your mind, and enjoy the simple joys that don’t need a screen to shine.
The Faroe Islands, Denmark
Here, the internet often takes a back seat to nature’s show. Towering cliffs, dramatic waterfalls, and puffin-filled coastlines create a world that feels untouched.
Spend your days hiking between tiny villages, spotting whales off the coast, or watching seabirds swoop across the sky. Without constant pings from your phone, you’ll notice the little things, like the way the wind whips over the sea or the taste of fresh-caught fish.
Colorado Springs’ mountain reset
First on our list is Colorado Springs, proudly leading the digital detox rankings in the latest report from Upgraded Points in 2025, and it’s easy to see why.
With 56 miles of trails for every 100,000 residents, plus about 60 off-the-grid Airbnbs per 100,000 people, and limited 5G coverage, this place practically forces you to unplug.
Imagine hiking among red rock formations or soaking in starry desert nights without a ping in sight. Boise and Henderson aren’t far behind, offering similar low-tech vibes and plenty of nature to dive into.
Bhutan’s mindful mountain magic
Bhutan isn’t just scenic, it’s built around the idea that happiness matters more than productivity. The country measures success with its “Gross National Happiness” index.
You can join meditation retreats in peaceful monasteries, hike in the Himalayas, and spend quiet evenings sipping butter tea with locals. By the time you leave, your mind feels lighter, your shoulders drop, and your phone feels like the least interesting thing you own.
Big Sur’s wild coastal escape
Big Sur feels like California turned up to eleven, with giant redwoods, rocky cliffs, and ocean views that make you forget the world exists.
Cell service here is famously unreliable, which makes it perfect for those who need an enforced break from scrolling. Spend your mornings hiking, your afternoons soaking in cliffside hot tubs, and your evenings stargazing under skies so clear they feel unreal.
Maldives overwater calm
The Maldives is the kind of place where time slows down the moment you arrive. Turquoise water surrounds your villa, and the loudest thing you’ll hear is the splash of a fish.
Spa days, snorkeling with reef life, and barefoot dinners under the stars replace your usual routine of emails and social media checks. It’s impossible to feel stressed when the horizon is just endless blue.
Costa Rica’s unplugged rainforests
In Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula or at Pacuare Lodge, there’s no phone signal to tempt you. You’ll be too busy exploring the rainforest to care.
Wake up to the sound of howler monkeys, hike under leafy canopies, or practice yoga beside a rushing river. Evenings might mean candlelit dinners or swinging in a hammock as fireflies flicker by.
Scottish Highlands solitude
Foggy mountains, still lochs, and the kind of silence you can hear, Scotland’s Highlands are made for deep breathing and long walks.
You can stay in an off-grid bothy, wander sheep-dotted hills, and watch sunsets fade over rugged cliffs. No Wi-Fi here means you trade memes for misty mornings and Netflix for nights by a crackling fire. It’s a slower, simpler kind of beauty.
Ojo Caliente’s hot springs escape
In New Mexico’s high desert, Ojo Caliente offers a rare combination: total relaxation and zero digital noise.
There’s no in-room Wi-Fi or TVs, so the focus is entirely on soaking in mineral-rich hot springs, trying mud baths, and letting your mind wander. Even the starry desert nights feel therapeutic.
Monte Isola’s lake island peace
Italy’s largest lake island has no cars, spotty mobile coverage, and views that could tempt anyone to slow down.
You can walk from one end to the other, eat fresh-caught fish at family-run trattorias, and spend afternoons sketching or reading by the water. Without traffic or constant alerts, the pace here is deliciously slow, like the first sip of espresso in the morning.
Koh Yao Noi’s barefoot retreat
This Thai island offers treetop huts, long stretches of quiet beach, and sunsets that demand your full attention.
Fitness retreats here often ban phones entirely, encouraging jungle hikes, ocean swims, and early morning yoga. The lack of screens makes every sensory detail, birdsong, warm sand, salty air, so much sharper.
Patagonia’s pure wilderness
In southern Chile, Patagonia is as far from daily noise as you can get. Jagged mountains, turquoise lakes, and glaciers make it a photographer’s dream, even if you barely touch your camera.
With no reception in many areas, your days revolve around long hikes, campfires, and conversations that stretch into the night.
Westfjords’ Icelandic calm
Iceland’s Westfjords are wild, remote, and nearly untouched by mass tourism.
You can soak in natural hot pools while looking out over the Arctic Ocean, hike along sheer cliffs, and watch puffins nest. With patchy connectivity, the outside world fades away fast. What’s left is the sound of waves, the cry of seabirds, and the realization that quiet can be its own kind of luxury.
Los Angeles’ surprising reset
It might sound strange, but LA has pockets perfect for an urban detox.
Hike Griffith Park trails without touching your phone, meditate at a Malibu beach, or try a tech-free yoga retreat. You’re still near the city buzz, but these green spaces and mindful moments create a bubble of calm right in the middle of it all.
Central America’s hidden corners
Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador offer unplugged escapes with volcano views, untouched beaches, and charming local towns.
You can surf in the morning, explore colorful markets in the afternoon, and watch the sun melt into the horizon at night. Without the digital rush, days here stretch in the best possible way.
Bodrum Peninsula
On the Bodrum Peninsula, Sianji blends luxury with true digital downtime.
Here, detox meals, massages, and yoga sessions take place in lush gardens and sea-view terraces. Without notifications interrupting your thoughts, you can actually taste your food, feel your breathing slow, and notice every shade of blue in the water.
For cat lovers, there’s also a little-known Japanese island where furry residents and unspoiled nature help you reconnect without ever needing your phone.
Why 2025 travelers are unplugging
A recent New York Times travel report shows more people want breaks from screens, with searches for tech-free stays up 17% this year.
Parents, in particular, are looking for vacations where kids can swap gaming for real-world play. Resorts and retreats are responding with “digital detox concierge” services, wellness programs, and even no-phone zones.
And if you’re ready to unplug too, Northern Thailand’s laid-back charm might be exactly the reset your travel plans need.
Which of these destinations would you choose for your own digital detox, or do you have a secret spot you swear by?
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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
