All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
There is something unnerving about stepping foot in Antarctica for the first time. The harsh environment, mostly devoid of human presence, feels almost terrifying in its vastness—but that feeling quickly gives way to awe and excitement. You realize that the white expanse engulfing you is actually a palette of greys, blues, and even pinks and purples during certain times of the long days, and that what seems like an empty desert of ice and snow is buzzing with life and activity. There is only one difference: that life and activity is very different from what we are accustomed to as urban creatures.
I had arrived on the White Continent in late November on a National Geographic-Lindblad expedition ship after three flights took me from Washington DC to Miami, then Buenos Aires, and, finally, Ushuaia, on the southernmost tip of South America—and a little over a day of surprisingly smooth sailing across the famously treacherous Drake Passage. The reason for this lengthy trek was my almost two-decades-old pursuit of remoteness.
As a travel writer, I’ve always been drawn to cultures and destinations that are distant from my own. I often travel for days to reach the most remote corners of the world. While venturing out into far-off territories brings a sense of adventure, on a more personal level, these trips provide me with more than just the thrill of the unknown.
In the age of over-tourism and trendy travel destinations, along with the predictability that comes with visiting them, exploring an unfamiliar, isolated place can yield mental health benefits, such as boosting confidence and creativity, enhancing empathy, and fostering a deeper connection with nature.
"When you’re going somewhere that is completely off-the-beaten path, it really does make you just be present with yourself in a different way," Northern Virginia-based psychotherapist and owner of Looking Glass Therapy Services, PLLC, Alice McGuin, LCSW, says. “So not only are you getting the dopamine hit of being in a new place, doing something novel, which is always going to hit that reward center of your brain, you’re also getting back to yourself [...] You are forced to be just with yourself and the place where you are.” By becoming more attuned to our own rhythms, we can also enhance our relationships, as “you cannot connect with others if you are not connected to yourself,” McGuinn explains.
Traveling to distant regions also deepens our sense of awe, which can be transformative for both the body and mind. According to The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, the sense of wonder has been linked to generosity, humility, and compassion. One study showed that awe improves our critical thinking by introducing a sense of uncertainty, prompting us to focus carefully and pay great attention to detail in our environment.
“[Travel to remote areas] allows us to feel confident in ourselves, often because we are being resourceful,” McGuin explains. “And a lot of that [has to do] with being taken out of the habit of our day-to-day life. [We say to ourselves], ‘I have to figure things out.’ And what that does in our brain is it gives us neuroplasticity. It helps us make new neural networks in our brains.”
This, in turn, can boost our creativity and help us discover novel solutions to personal and professional challenges. Because remote regions are often less visited and explored, we often let go of conventional expectations and predictability, which, while nerve-wracking at first, can be very rewarding in the long term. As McGuin sums it up, “Novelty breeds creativity.”
A 2014 study of 46 workers in the Netherlands found that their “cognitive flexibility” increased after spending several weeks abroad. The study theorizes that because travel relieves our minds of the daily stresses of our jobs and “negative stimuli,” the “probability of creative ideas increases.”
Traveling to remote regions can also help forge a much deeper and meaningful connection with nature. A couple of years ago, during a hiking trip to a lush valley on the island of Tahiti, I was caught in a downpour as three other travelers and I reached a lake. With no one else around and just the sound of the raindrops incessantly hitting the greenery that enveloped us, stirring the lake’s surface into millions of ripples, I felt like I was meditating with my eyes open.
“We are organic beings. So when we are immersed in these environments of organic materials all around us, other living things, it does bring us back to ourselves,” McGuin says. “It brings us back to a primitive part of ourselves that we don’t get to experience in modern society on a day-to-day basis.”
And while over-tourism is certainly an issue in some places, there are still remote destinations where crowds are thin and nature-abundant, places that allow you to experience and bring home the benefits of their seclusion. Here, we round up a few of the best.
Rangiroa (Te Kokōta), French Polynesia
Comprising of over 100 islands scattered in the South Pacific, French Polynesia has much to offer those seeking seclusion. However, Rangiroa—located in the Tuamotu Islands, about an hour from Tahiti—stands out with its incredible natural richness and cultural diversity. As the largest atoll in French Polynesia, Rangiroa is made up of hundreds of picture-perfect white and pink-sand palm-tree fringed islets, with only a handful of them populated.
One of the main draws is its vast lagoon, the largest in French Polynesia, teaming with marine life, providing plenty of opportunities for underwater exploration. You’ll also find French Polynesia s only winery here, located on a scenic islet in the middle of the lagoon.
Where to Stay: Hotel Kia Ora Resort Spa in the village of Avatoru has 58 thatched-roofed bungalows, including ten overwater with glass-bottom floors, and a spa hidden in a coconut grove. Or, for something even more secluded, consider the newly opened Motu Fara, a private island with just two villas with pools and an overwater restaurant.
Antarctica
While Antarctica is becoming increasingly popular with travelers—it receives about 120,000 visitors each year—the White Continent is 1.5 times larger than the continental US, and remains the last frontier for human development.
Places like Deception Island in the South Shetland Islands, which is the caldera of an active volcano, resulting in steam venting from its black sand shoreline, and Danco Island, home to a large gentoo penguin colony, are awe-inspiring and may even challenge your expectations of what Antarctica is like. My days there were filled with engaging scientific lectures on the ship, land excursions, kayaking among towering glaciers, and even a polar plunge in the freezing waters.
Where to Stay: Multiple cruise operators offer Antarctica itineraries, and if you’re not keen on experiencing the Drake Passage, several, including National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, Quark Expeditions, and Silversea, can fly you direct to the White Continent. Just keep in mind that leisure travel to Antarctica is strictly controlled by The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), which prohibits ships carrying over 500 passengers from making landings, so choose a small ship staffed with experienced experts and scientists who can curate a memorable experience.
Lofoten Islands, Norway
While Norway is receiving considerable attention from tourists these days, the country’s remote Lofoten Islands archipelago, located above the Arctic Circle, is off the radar of many. The five main islands (and many more islets) extend over 70 miles in the Norwegian Sea and are a treasure trove of rugged landscapes, secluded bays, wild white-sand beaches, fishing villages with brightly colored cabins, soaring mountains, and miles of hiking trails.
The area is steeped in Viking history and is home to the largest Viking longhouse in the world (now the Lofotr Viking Museum), dating back to 500 AD. The Lofoten Islands are also in the so-called Aurora Oval, where the Northern Lights can be spotted—if conditions allow—for eight months of the year.
Where to Stay: For a remote retreat in the Lofoten Islands, Torunn Tronsvang, the founder of luxury travel curator Up Norway, recommends staying at Hattvika Lodge in the small fishing village of Ballstad in Vestvågøy Municipality. “Nestled by the sea, its beautifully restored rorbu [traditional fisherman s dwellings] cabins blend history with modern comfort, offering luxurious facilities—including a cozy bed and a desk with views of the village and water. It’s an ideal setting for focus and creativity, yet also a perfect basecamp for adventure and wellness,” Tronsvang said.
Mongolia
Mongolia is one of the least populated countries on Earth. With its sweeping landscapes, steppes, deserts, snow-capped mountains, and diverse wildlife, it is one of the last true wildernesses in Asia and the world.
“In a destination like this, travelers surrender to the vastness of diverse terrains—rafting the rushing waters of the Orkhon River, galloping on horseback across the golden expanse of the Gobi Desert, and trekking to the majestic Tsambagarav glacier, where a towering waterfall cascades into the silence,” Tom Marchant, the co-founder of Black Tomato, says. “Along the way, you ll forge a deep bond with the land, its people, and perhaps most profoundly, rediscover something within yourself.”
Where to Stay: Black Tomato’s new 12-day itinerary jets travelers to some of the most remote corners of West Mongolia, allowing them to go completely off-the-grid and immerse themselves in the nomadic lifestyle of the country—feast on local fare, learn to round up livestock, and join eagle-hunters in the mountains. The trip is part of the company’s newly launched Pursuit of Feeling platform, offering an emotion-led approach to booking travel.
Greenland
Greenland recently upgraded the airport in its capital, Nuuk, making it easier to reach the world s largest island (United Airlines will start flying there in June 2025), an autonomous Danish territory. And while a trip here can be extremely active with kayaking, whale watching, hiking, and climbing in the wilderness in the summer and ice fishing, dog sledding, and witnessing the Northern Lights in the winter—there are also plenty of opportunities for quiet reflection. Be prepared to let go of some control of your itinerary, as weather conditions can be unpredictable and WiFi coverage is limited. Instead, embrace the unknown and unfamiliar—travel between towns and settlements is mostly by boats, planes, helicopters, kayaks, and dog sleds, as there are no roads outside urban areas.
East Greenland is dominated by towering mountains, vast valleys, and is home to the most isolated town in the western hemisphere, Ittoqqortoormiit, where wild animals roam and nature is at its purest. South Greenland, nicknamed Arctic Patagonia for its lush green scenery, is characterized by fjords, glaciers, and Viking ruins.
Where to Stay: Hotel Arctic in Ilulissat sits at the foothills of the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering Aurora glass cabins with panoramic views of Disko Bay, where you can stargaze from your bed.