Going off-grid can mean turning off your phone and getting out into nature. But these properties take it to whole new levels – quite literally, in the case of hotels clinging to hillsides or perched atop mountains. From the world’s highest hotel in the Himalayas to a tropical hideaway in Belize, these are some of the most remote places to stay around the world.
A minimalist masterpiece, Fogo Island Inn describes its location as “on an island, off an island” – which gives some idea of how remote this is. The hotel is tucked away in a traditional fishing village on the northern coast of Newfoundland’s Fogo Island. Each of the 29 cozy-chic suites has access to a wood-fired sauna and rooftop hot tubs. There’s also a cinema, contemporary art gallery and a library specializing in Newfoundland’s history.
This spot is located next to Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve so, while you might not meet many humans out here, you'll most definitely have a few (safe) wildlife encounters. The Oberoi Vanyavilas is a three-hour drive away from Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, with accommodation in luxurious tents. These are carefully spaced out, providing lots of privacy, and each has a large four-poster bed and freestanding bath.
On a hillside overlooking a thick bamboo forest and close to Thailand’s border with Laos, Four Seasons Tented Camp is the ultimate hiding place. While seclusion is the main draw, guests can choose to go beyond the retreat and experience the local area on day visits to the city of Chiang Rai. The resort also offers an all-inclusive package of spa treatments, meals and transfers.
With little else but desert surrounding it, the Qasr al Sarab Desert Resort is the ultimate oasis. A two-hour drive from Abu Dhabi, the resort is located on the border of the Empty Quarter – the largest uninterrupted stretch of sand in the world. There are plenty of opportunities to relax within the resort, either with a massage in the spa or a swim in the infinity pool, or guests can book activities from Emirati cooking classes to camel trekking in the desert.
Clinging to a cliff at the northern tip of the tropical Hamilton Island, part of the Whitsundays and close to the Great Barrier Reef, Qualia is one of the most serene and beautiful escapes Down Under. Or anywhere, for that matter. The resort has two infinity pools, each facing the ocean, plus two restaurants and a bar. If you want to make contact with civilization, Whitehaven – the most photographed beach in Australia – is nearby.
Being in the middle of nowhere looks pretty lovely at Dunton Hot Springs, a remote all-inclusive resort in the San Juan Mountains. Wild and rustic on the outside yet cozy and warm on the inside, the cabins at this hotel are part of a restored 19th-century mining town. The so-called ghost town is known for its naturally warm, calcium bicarbonate springs, which can be taken in the original bathhouse, at source (under the stars) or in the pool.
Get back to nature at Mashpi Lodge in Ecuador, nestled in the Mashpi Nature Reserve in the Ecuadorian Andes. It feels like it’s been dropped in the middle of the jungle, with floor-to-ceiling windows bringing rainforest views into the spacious rooms and lounge areas. Nearby hiking trails wind past gushing waterfalls while the stunning restaurant serves Ecuadorian dishes in a space surrounded by trees.
You can almost touch the stars at 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat. It's located more than 10,000 feet (3,100m) up Gornergrat ridge in the Swiss Alps. With unparalleled views of the Matterhorn, it offers an incredible mountain experience. There are 22 comfortable rooms, two restaurants and countless opportunities to make the most of your surroundings.
The adventure begins before you’ve even arrived at Blancaneaux Lodge, which is reached via a drive along dirt roads past granite bedrocks and through tropical forests. Tucked away deep within the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in Belize, the hotel, created by Francis Ford Coppola, is all about luxury. Accommodation is in riverfront and garden view cabanas, cottages and villas, and all guests are treated to fine dining meals, spa treatments and guided forest walks to nearby waterfalls and natural pools.
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A gorgeous private island retreat in the Caribbean, Petit St Vincent is ideal for forgetting the rest of the world. There are no phones or televisions in the rooms and no internet throughout the resort. Instead, you’ll have to fill your time with snorkeling, scuba diving or just lounging on the deck of your private villa – it's a hard life. There are just 22 villas on the island, which is in the heart of the Grenadines archipelago and around 40 miles (64km) from the bigger Saint Vincent.
Easter Island is one of the most remote spots on Earth usually drawing in intrepid travelers. But it’s not an easy destination to reach, so Explora en Rapa Nui is the ideal place to rest after the long journey. The 5-star hotel is around five miles (8km) from Hanga Roa, the island's main town. Every room overlooks the ocean, while the gorgeous heated infinity pool gazes out across the island’s volcanic landscape and rolling green hills.
Hotel Búdir in Iceland is one of the best places from which to enjoy the country's jaw-dropping beauty. All rooms come with stunning views of the glaciers, mountains or lava fields, while the restaurant’s menu reflects the landscape with regional ingredients. A two-hour drive from the capital city Reykjavík, the hotel also offers several ways to explore the landscape including fishing, glacier hikes and whale watching.
This once-abandoned medieval village in Italy’s Abruzzo region has been lovingly restored and turned into a chic, rustic hideaway. Sextantio Albergo Diffuso is spread throughout the village and a lot of effort is made to introduce guests to the local history and culture. A wide range of classes are offered, from soap-making to baking traditional bread.
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Set in a beautiful countryside location, Pädaste Manor is just a two-hour drive from the capital of Tallinn yet feels extremely remote and peaceful. Beautifully decorated rooms await after a day of fishing or horseback riding, while the restaurant serves superb traditional Nordic cuisine. The hotel can be reached by a ferry or helicopter ride and is great for reconnecting with nature without having to jet off to the farthest corners of the world.
For the ultimate Northern Lights experience, book a stay at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finnish Lapland, a subarctic wilderness region also known for a phenomenon called the midnight sun. Hidden deep in a forest, the thermal glass igloos and traditional wooden chalets offer excellent views of the light show in the sky. The chalets and some of the igloos even come with a private sauna.
Although the hotel isn’t too far away from the center of Ubud, there’s nothing but green tropical jungle and total serenity around. Four Seasons Resort Bali is surrounded by verdant tropical valleys and set right by the Ayung River, and each of the suites and villas feels like a retreat within a retreat. The resort also has four dining options including an Indonesian restaurant and cocktail lounge, plus an outdoor pool and spa.
Surrounded by the Mars-like landscapes of Utah, Amangiri feels like an escape to a different planet. With nothing but canyons, gorges, mesas and ridges in every direction, it’s a truly off-grid getaway. The resort offers plenty of adventures, from horseback riding to private plane tours of Lake Powell. Alternatively, guests can just relax by the swimming pool or at the spa – always with at least one eye on the views.
Wake up to monster-sized icebergs right outside your bedroom, spot seals frolicking in the water and go on dog-sledding adventures – staying at Hotel Arctic in western Greenland is a one-of-a-kind experience. Although it’s not as far away from civilization as some of the hotels on our list – Ilulissat Airport is just five minutes’ drive away – it certainly feels like it, especially from the rooms and common areas that gaze right over Disko Bay.
Safari-style tents and thatched buildings, a sunset-facing bar and a totally secluded ambience are just a few things that Fundu Lagoon has to offer. Accommodation is in tented rooms on a hillside gazing through tropical trees to the Indian Ocean. With the island’s white-sand beaches steps away and the sound of the waves lulling you to sleep each night, it’s like a personal slice of paradise.
Hotel Everest View offers, as you might have guessed from the name, first-class views of the famous Himalayan mountain. Located 13,000 feet (3,962m) above sea level, it’s also officially the highest altitude hotel in the world. So pretty remote, then. There are 12 rooms with Everest views, a restaurant serving regional Khumbu cuisine and a bar, all just above Namche, the village closest to Everest base camp. To get to the hotel you'll have to splash out on a helicopter transfer from Kathmandu or trek in true Himalayan style.
Many who travel to Hawaii never venture to its more remote eastern reaches, which is where this gorgeous hotel is hiding. Imagine waking up in a bungalow overlooking the Pacific, with the palms swaying in the breeze and waves crashing into the rocks on the beach – that’s what Hana-Maui Resort is all about. Leave the crowds behind and enjoy peaceful coastal walks, or learn how to fish with a Hawaiian throw net. Wai'anapanapa State Park, famous for its black-sand beach and coastal views, is a short drive away.
The grandeur of the Scottish Highlands is on full display from the shores of Loch Torridon, where this glorious resort lives. Each of the boutique rooms at The Torridon looks out to the lake or to the 3,461-foot-tall (1,054m) mountain Liathach. It’s more of a complete experience than a base for further exploration, with activities on site ranging from spa treatments to mountain biking and gorge scrambling.
Everything about Shangri-La's Boracay Resort screams – or rather whispers – privacy and peace. Guests arrive on the island by speedboat that slices through the azure ocean, and are then transferred to the hotel’s beautiful rooms and villas, some of which have private pools or hot tubs. There are four restaurants within the resort, which is right by the beach and backed by verdant hills.
Picture pristine beaches, sparkling waters and barely a hint of civilization in sight and it probably looks quite a lot like Le Taha'a Island Resort. Located on Motu Tautau, a 20-minute helicopter ride from Bora Bora, the resort has 45 water villas and 12 beach villas, each with its own outdoor shower and outdoor seating area. The grounds are dominated by lush tropical gardens, with three restaurants and two bars on site, and guests can take kayaks and paddle boards out free of charge.
Alila Jabal Akhdar is one of Oman's best-kept secrets. Right on the edge of a canyon and 6,562 feet (2,000m) above sea level, the hotel's incredible location means there’s little but mountains in every direction. You can book guided hiking and cave exploring trips as well as Arabic-inspired dinners, swim in the outdoor infinity pool or just hang out in your luxury villa with private pool.
Set amid the dramatic and sparsely populated Cederberg Mountains and around three hours’ drive from Cape Town, Bushmans Kloof is a former 19th-century farm that has been transformed into a hotel with charming rooms, suites and villas. The restaurant serves dishes made with herbs and vegetables from the property’s organic garden, while guests can book activities such as canoeing, hiking and trips to discover the area’s rock art heritage.
Wolwedans is actually a series of remote camps and lodges, each set amid the dune-rippled highlands of the NamibRand Nature Reserve and with nothing but clay-colored desert around. The focus here is on sustainability and small-scale luxury, with accommodation in wood-and-canvas cottages, chalets and villas, with private terraces for watching sunrises and sunsets. Take a safari drive or a hot air balloon ride to truly appreciate the remoteness of this destination and, in the evening, enjoy dining under the stars.
Perched on cliffs overlooking the northern Pacific and backed by ancient rainforest, the Wickaninnish Inn brings boutique luxury into the wild. Although the Tofino-Long Beach Airport is just a 20-minute drive from the hotel, there's not much else in the area apart from the stunning wilderness landscapes of Vancouver island – which is more than enough. Each room has a giant soaking tub, a fireplace and a balcony for ocean-gazing during the day and stargazing at night.
This vast resort shimmers like a mirage surrounded by otherwise empty desert. Hilton Salwa Beach Resort opened in 2021 near Qatar’s border with Saudi Arabia and thankfully, considering it is pretty much in the middle of nowhere, has everything guests could possibly need and probably a little more besides. The size of a coastal town, it comes with around two miles (3.5km) of private beaches set around a harbor, a row of pool villas, 20 food and drink outlets, immaculately planted gardens and even a theme park.
Located in Sweden’s northernmost reaches, Arctic Bath is a true floating hotel. In summer it glides serenely on the Lule River but the scene gets really dramatic once the ice sets in. The six-room property is then fixed to the spot and accessed via a pontoon, with the blue-white surroundings emphasizing the intriguing, forest-inspired architecture. Saunas, hot tubs and the spa help warm guests on chilly days – especially after ice-swimming, a popular activity for the brave.
The name is a nod to one of the original Seven Wonders of the World and the Hanging Gardens of Bali, near Tegalalang, must be about as close as it gets. Tucked away in a lush jungle forest, accommodation is in gorgeous villa suites with private terraces. The main draw of this unique place, though, must be the mesmerizing infinity pool. Seemingly suspended mid-air and set over two levels, it’s one of the incredible features that makes this hotel a destination in its own right.
For a truly off-grid escape, head to Three Camel Lodge in Mongolia. Accommodation is in gers – the Mongolian word for yurts – which overlook the Gobi Desert and the Gobi-Altai Mountains. Each is wonderfully cozy with wool carpets, camel-hair blankets, hand-carved furniture and wood-burning stove. The hotel also has a restaurant, Bulagtai, serving regional specialities, and offers extras like desert picnics and traditional massages.
Where could be more remote than a camp in Antarctica? White Desert Whichaway Camp is the ideal base for several Antarctic adventures, from visiting the geographical South Pole to getting to know the nearby emperor penguin colony. The six state-of-the-art pods at the camp are spacious with a comfortable sleeping area, a writing desk and a wash area and toilet. The rest of the camp comprises a kitchen and three centralized pods that make up the reception, lounge and dining room.
Set in the vast expanse of Patagonia and located halfway between El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park, EOLO is gloriously remote. The 10,000-acre property offers horseback riding, mountain bike rides, trekking and bird watching. With just 17 rooms, each with expansive views of the ruggedly beautiful scenery, it’s the perfect place to shut off the rest of the world.
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