THE JOURNAL
Sea plane arrival at Amanwana, Indonesia. Photograph courtesy of Aman
From hot-dog legs to “pinching” a landmark with the thumb and forefinger from distance, Instagram holiday shots have long been a vainglorious sub-genre, veering from the banal to the downright bothersome. But now things are getting (more) ridiculous. Last month, the Californian town of Lake Elsinore was brought to a standstill when more than 100,000 visitors descended on the area, attempting to take pictures of a poppy “super bloom”. As a result, traffic came to a halt, the mayor got involved and an entire canyon was closed.
This kind of manic, likes-seeking behaviour defeats the very essence of holidaymaking – namely to relax, recharge and rejuvenate in a congenial context. Don’t make the same mistake yourself this summer. Instead, lock your phone in the hotel safe and engage with your surroundings without a head full of hashtags. Then, watch your stress levels sink and your mental resilience simultaneously rise.
To streamline this process, MR PORTER has unearthed five of the best anti-Instagram destinations to get you started, all without a selfie stick in sight.
Three Camel Lodge, Mongolia
Photograph courtesy of Three Camel Lodge
Heading to Outer Mongolia to escape digital stress might sound a little extreme, but where better to get away from it all? Three Camel Lodge, a luxury camp in the Gobi Desert, is 300 miles from the nearest Wi-Fi signal, let alone any mobile phone reception. Instead, days here are spent reconnecting with nature as you hike the surrounding hills and mountains, while staying in one of 40 luxe “gers”: round, woodfire-heated tribal tents. The award-wining lodge is owned and operated by the team behind the excellent Nomadic Expeditions, who’ll make everything very easy – except checking your Instagram feed.
Amanwana, Indonesia
Photograph courtesy of Aman
When it comes to rediscovering your mojo, you can’t go wrong on a tropical island, which used to be called… Mojo. Now Anglicised into “Moyo”, the Indonesian islet is an unspoiled nature reserve, 170 miles east of Bali. The good news is that you don’t have to rough it to commune with the elements here. Moyo is home to the spectacular eco-resort Amanwana: a luxurious property which treats its little corner of paradise with extreme care without compromising on comfort levels. All you have to do is turn up, find a hammock, peruse the cocktail menu and soak up the tranquillity. (Fair warning: the only inhabitants who welcome the intrusion of mobile phones are the macaque monkeys, who are known to steal anything shiny.)
Villa Stéphanie, Baden-Baden, Germany
Photograph courtesy of Villa Stephanie
This famous spa town in Germany’s Black Forest has been welcoming travellers in search of quietude for centuries. And at Villa Stéphanie – a handsome 15-bedroom mansion and destination spa – they’ve upped the ante further for the 21st century. Here, the inner walls are outfitted with a cunning copper grid, allowing guests to block all wireless communication with the simple push of a bedside button. Then, attention can shift completely to the beautiful rural surrounds, the extensive library and five-storey spa, with its private sauna and inviting list of treatments.
Comporta, Portugal
Photograph courtesy of Comporta
Made up of a small cluster of villages on Portugal’s picturesque Tróia peninsula, Comporta remains one of Iberia’s best kept secrets. Picture pristine beaches, emerald waters and pretty, whitewashed villas, framed by fragrant pine forests. Just 29 miles south of Lisbon, it’s perfect for an easy weekend retreat, yet steeped in pure tranquillity as it sits within one of Portugal’s most beautiful nature reserves, Reserva Natural do Estuário do Sado. There aren’t many hotels or restaurants here (which adds to Comporta’s charisma), but Black Tomato offers curated experiences based out of Sublime Comporta – a serene, chic haven amid the rolling sand dunes.
Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island, Australia
Photograph courtesy of Capella Lodge
Less than two hours’ flight from Sydney, the serene and still relatively undiscovered Lord Howe Island might as well be on a different planet. The result of a volcano eruption several millennia ago and located in the Tasman Sea, most of the car-free island is covered in bushland and only 400 people are allowed to visit at any one time. It’s all about deserted white sand beaches, lush jungle hikes and detached luxury here: back to nature with no modern intrusions but not short on luxury, either. Capella Lodge is the perfect example of this cleansing balance: a boutique jewel in the midst of a remote Robinson Crusoe-esque paradise.