The 15 Best Places In the World to Take a Wilderness Retreat
Most of us are far too connected to our technology and our urban environments. Sometimes, we all need to get away from it all. Click here to check out the 15 best places in the world to take a wilderness retreat.
Do you ever feel too attached to technology? You’re not alone: an estimated 420 million people are literally addicted to the Internet.
Between our obsession with screens and our often indoor sedentary lifestyles, it’s understandable why most of us feel disconnected from nature. There’s even evidence to suggest that this disconnect from nature can be detrimental for both our physical and mental health.
Disconnecting from your technology and getting away from your everyday life can do wonders for your mood and your overall mental health. Take the time to get away from your normal life by going on a wilderness retreat.
There are thousands of beautiful locations around the world that would be perfect for wilderness retreats to help you recharge. Here, we’re going over 12 of the best places for a wilderness retreat.
1. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Alaska has long been known as a land of undisturbed wilderness. With over 660,000 square miles of land and a population of only 740 thousand, you’ll have miles and miles of gorgeous solitude for you to enjoy.
While there are numerous state parks, cabins, and lodges that you could visit, we recommend the Kenai Fjords National Park. This is one of the lesser known national parks meaning it will most likely just be you and the wild natural surroundings.
First, you’ll have to fly to Anchorage. Then, you need to take a 3-hour ride. After that, you’ll need to take a boat, all just to get to the national park. There are lodges and cabins you can rent out to stay in right in the national park.
You’ll look out at acres of pinewood forests, beautiful snowy mountains, and gorgeous natural waterways.
2. Base Camp Greenland
Despite the name, Greenland isn’t very green at all. It’s actually mostly covered in ice, glaciers, and the world’s second largest ice sheet (second only to Antarctica).
At the Base Camp resort, you can stay right alongside the ice sheet and participate in activities like kayaking in the Greenland sea, hike through glacial passes, and go on expeditions looking for loons and arctic foxes.
3. Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are famous for Charles Darwin’s animal research that helped him formulate his famous theory of evolution and natural selection. You can also visit these amazing islands full of diverse wildlife you can’t find anywhere else on the planet.
You can enjoy tropical weather and take treks through the wilderness to see animals and natural habitats you can’t find elsewhere. You can even go on volunteer animal vacations: you’ll help with animal conservation, sea turtle research, and more.
4. High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
The High Atlas Mountains of Morocco are home to some of the highest peaks in North Africa, which gives the entire area gorgeous mountain landscapes complete with snow-capped peaks, sheer cliffs, and clean mountain air.
This remote area has a few lodges that you can stay in to be immersed in the natural landscape of the mountains. You’ll feel completely disconnected from the “real world” when you’re high up in the mountains of Morocco.
5. Tanzania
Tanzania has a little bit of everything when it comes to wilderness retreats: lakes, rivers, mountains, Serengeti safaris, and gorgeous African animals.
So whether you want your wilderness retreat to involve hikes up the famous Mount Kilimanjaro or guided tours to see lions and elephants in their natural habitat, Tanzania has got your covered.
Check out Tanzania Safari Itineraries to find the wilderness trip that fits exactly what you’re looking for.
6. Patagonia
Patagonia isn’t just a clothing brand. In fact, the brand is named after the Patagonia mountain range that spreads through Argentina and Chile.
Going on a wilderness retreat in Patagonia will showcase the natural beauty of snowy mountainous landscapes, glaciers, and huge open plains. You can take week-long guided hiking tours or explore the open landscape of Torres del Paine National Park yourself.
7. Phantom Ranch, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is considered one of the natural wonders of the world. Found in Arizona in the United States, the Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and about 1 mile deep. Even just viewing the Grand Canyon is a transformative experience that makes you understand just how powerful and immense nature is.
But what if you could actually stay in the Grand Canyon for a wilderness retreat? At Phantom Ranch, you can do just that.
First, you have to make the descent all the way to the bottom of the canyon (a mile down!). Then, you’ll be taken to the oasis that is Phantom Ranch. With simple cabins to make your stay rustic and natural, you’ll be sleeping in one of the largest canyons in the world.
During the day you can take hikes throughout the canyon and visit key locations like Bright Angel Creek. You’ll also have a great view of the stars at night without city lights to dim the expansive night sky.
8. Scotland
After all of the exotic and exciting places we’ve gone over, you might be a bit underwhelmed by the idea of Scotland for your wilderness adventure. Well, you might want to rethink that.
Scotland is one of the only countries in the world where “wild camping” is legal everywhere. Wild camping means that you can go anywhere, pitch your tent, and sleep under the stars without paying for a campground or being at risk of getting a fine.
Simply pack your tent, some warm clothes, fire-starting supplies, and you’ll be ready for your wilderness camping adventure. Scotland camping will let you find quiet solitude in the wilderness whether that’s on the coastline beaches or on expansive farmland.
9. Esp?ritu Santo Island, Mexico
Really looking for complete isolation during your wilderness retreat? Then you should consider the Espiritu Santo Island in Mexico. It’s uninhabited except for tourists and travelers looking to get away from it all.
You won’t see any true inhabitants on this island–well, you won’t see people. You’ll see the rare black jackrabbit, sea lions, sharks, parrotfish, great blue herons, and more.
Between the tropical reefs teeming with fish, the turquoise blue waters, gorgeous cliffs, and camping on the beach, this is the wilderness retreat of a lifetime.
10. Yukon, Canada
Let’s jump from tropical Mexico to the cold environment of the Yukon in Canada. You’ll really have to disconnect from everything here: you’re almost guaranteed to not have any WiFi or cell phone service anywhere in the Yukon.
You’ll be too busy with all of the natural wonders of the Yukon to even worry about that. Between kayaking on rivers, trekking through untouched forests, looking out for bears, looking as sprawling mountains, and swimming in natural lakes, an Internet connection will be the last thing on your mind (which is the point of a wilderness retreat, right?).
11. Kolarbyn Eco-lodge, Sweden
Continuing on the idea of complete disconnection from the “real world”m the Kolarbyn Eco-lodge in Sweden really takes you away from all of the comforts of modern living. You’ll have no running water, no electricity, no WiFi, and no cell service.
What you will have is a small cabin on the edge of a gorgeous lake that overlooks mountain ranges and lush forests. You’ll spend your days hiking, chopping wood, and cooking over a fire before fall asleep under the stars with only candles for light.
12. Whanganui Journey, New Zealand
New Zealand is home to the 9 Great Hikes. Each of these long treks takes you through the beautiful country that will take you through natural waterways, through forests, along coastlines, and more.
One of these Great Hikes is called the Whanganui Journey. This one is special since it is only accessible by boat. You’ll either kayak or paddle along the Whanganui River with forests, lush greenery, tropical birdsong, and rocky coast to guide you.
The entire journey can take anywhere between 3 and 5 days depending on your pace and how many times you stop to stay and campsites and cabins. There are also detours to famous locations, like the Bridge to Nowhere, that you can view along the way.
Best Places to Take a Wilderness Retreat: Wrapping Up
Taking the time to get away from your life can help you mentally and physically recharge. Being in nature heals the soul; a wilderness retreat can be the cure for feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and disconnected from the planet we live on.
Everyone wants something different from a wilderness retreat. Whether you want a gorgeous tropical vacation filled with coral reefs and sunshine or you want to strip yourself down to the bare minimum with no running water or electricity, one of these 12 destinations will work for you.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me! You can also check out the rest of the site for hotel recommendations, travel tips, and more.