Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile(01 of10)
Open Image ModalKennebec River, Maine, United States(02 of10)
Open Image ModalIn the depths of Maine, four hours northwest of Portland, a 12-mile stretch of the upper gorge of the Kennebec River offers a wet, wild and definitely remote adventure. A handful of outfitters offer rafting outings on the Kennebec and nearby Dead and Penobscot Rivers are filled with class two through five rapids. Part adrenaline rush, part splash park, a day or two on the river is a sure fire way to immerse yourself in the moment and truly embrace your surroundings. After all, with high rock walls that cut out most data feeds, a phone-drowning flood of water and the occasional up ended boat that scatters everything and everyone aboard, there is not much point in trying to communicate with anyone or anything else. (credit:Flickr:Rich Moffitt)
Great Ocean Ecolodge, Cape Otway, Australia(03 of10)
Open Image ModalSalkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Peru(04 of10)
Open Image ModalThe Salkantay Trek may be the long way to the Lost City of the Incas, but it will get you off the beaten path, literally. An alternative to the increasingly popular and crowded Inca Trail, this trek can vary from a five- to seven-day journey and takes you more than 15,000 feet in elevation before dropping down to the cloud forest and then back up to Machu Picchu itself. Make your way through the Salkantay Pass in the shadow of its 20,000 foot summit, pass through the 15 ecosystems, with everything from hanging glaciers to orchids and butterflies, or catch your first glimpse of the ancient mountain-top ruins — just don’t expect to “check-in” unless you have a satellite phone.
The lakes of northwestern Ontario, Canada(05 of10)
Open Image ModalWhy go fly fishing when you can go “fly-in” fishing? Much of upper Ontario is peppered with lakes of all sizes (and not much else). The more remote the lake, the more fish there are. So, for a chance to match wits with a 20-inch walleye or fight the good fight with a 30-pound pike, your best bet may be to board a small float plane and wing off to the wilderness for a week. Outfitters offer cabins and lodges in secluded spots (often the only house on a lake) throughout Ontario, flight included. Many promise you will see plenty of fish, game, great sunrises and peace and quiet but that you won’t hear a car engine the whole time you’re there. (credit:Flickr:Jeremiah John McBride)
Koh Tonsay, Cambodia(06 of10)
Open Image ModalHere’s your chance to sleep in a bamboo hut on stilts in a tropical paradise. The tiny island of Koh Tonsay, three miles offshore from the tourist town of Kep in the Gulf of Siam, is barely more than a square mile in area but is home to two beautiful beaches and clear waters. It has no cars or motorbikes and electricity for just a few hours in the evening. Don’t book your hut online, either. You can make your sleeping arrangements in person in Kep. Do stay over, though, both for dinner of incredibly fresh (pulled from the water when you order) seafood and a late-night swim in the bioluminescent water. (credit:Flickr:paularps)
Tarangire National Park, Tanzania(07 of10)
Open Image ModalBardsey Island, Wales(08 of10)
Open Image ModalKhan Khentii, Mongolia(09 of10)
Open Image ModalThe steppes of Mongolia remain largely unchanged by time. Nomadic herdsmen have roamed this region for thousands of years and, to keep the lands and traditions protected, the government has established a “Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area.” To get a taste of this untouched land and ancient lifestyle, plan a yak trek where locals will take you through the region, most often on horseback, while yak-drawn carts bring supplies. Nights are spent in tents, known locally as gers, and days are spent on the move, exploring the extensive wildlife and changing landscape. This region of eastern Mongolia is where Genghis Khan was born and is rumored to be buried. Despite the fearsome warring traditions of the past, the herdsmen today are welcoming to those who cross into their world for a glimpse of their ancient lifestyle. (credit:Flickr:AJoStone)
Green Bank, West Virginia, United States(10 of10)
Open Image ModalTo find out about nature beyond our planet, sometimes it requires shutting down the electronic noise in our own backyard. In Green Bank, W.V., the use of cell phones, Wi-Fi or anything else that emits a radio frequency is forbidden. The reason? The town is home to the giant Green Bank Telescope, which uses radio signals to explore space. The telescope is surrounded by a 13,000 square mile National Radio Quiet Zone, which covers the eastern half of West Virginia and into a corner of Virginia. The FCC picked this region in the 1950s in part because the Alleghany Mountains served as a natural shield from signals that would interfere with the telescope’s work. So, whether you want a front row view of space exploration or an extremely quiet trip to the mountains (there are two national parks in the radio-free zone), this is your chance. Just bring some change for the pay phone. (credit:Flickr:r.j.wagner)