Signal Severance
The Off-Grid Trend
Travellers are logging off to tune back in. From woodland cabins to craft workshops, remote travel is replacing endless scrolling with crackling campfires, shared moments and deeper conversations that put presence before posts.
Off-grid travel
insights
Gen Z want to get offline as much as possible whilst away
One in four plan to disconnect as much as possible from digital life
Travellers feel more present going off-grid, with
feeling closer to nature
Year-on-year increase in video views featuring #OffGrid
Detox destination
Lord Howe Island
Year-on-year search increase
Detox destination
Haikou
Year-on-year search increase
Two in five travellers admit it takes time to clear their head before they can stop checking their phone on holiday.
Gen Z want to get offline whilst away, with 25% planning to disconnect from digital life as much as possible.
57% of travellers say they’d feel more present going off-grid, as well as feeling closer to:
Travellers feel anxious if they can’t check their phones to know what’s happening in the world.
% feeling anxious
Trending digital detox travel destinations
These handpicked places are rising fast with travellers seeking unplugged retreats where nature, silence and slower living take centre stage.3
Year-on-year search increase
-
+95%
Australia
-
+60%
China
-
+55%
New Zealand
-
+54%
North Macedonia
-
+53%
Micronesia
Destination
Lord Howe Island
Australia
A rare place where nature sets the pace. Spend your days hiking Mount Gower, snorkelling pristine reefs, cycling between beaches and spotting wildlife. With strict visitor limits and few commercial distractions, Lord Howe Island makes it easy to put your phone away and immerse yourself completely in island life.
Destination
Haikou
China
A slower-paced coastal city on Hainan Island, Haikou invites travellers to unwind through seaside strolls, volcanic parks, hot springs and traditional tea culture. Far from the fast pace of larger Chinese cities, it’s a destination designed for slowing down, being present and embracing a more mindful style of travel.
Destination
Nelson
New Zealand
Surrounded by national parks, beaches and wineries, the small town of Nelson is built for simple pleasures. Hike Abel Tasman tracks, paddle sheltered bays or browse local artisan markets. The focus on nature and outdoor exploration makes it an ideal destination to switch off and recharge.
Destination
Ohrid
North Macedonia
Ohrid sits on the shores of Lake Ohrid, one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The atmosphere is much more like a peaceful lakeside retreat than a busy European city. You spend your days walking along the waterfront, swimming, taking boat rides, reading at lakeside cafes, and watching sunsets over the mountains.
Destination
Palau
Oceania
Palau is a small island nation in the western Pacific with relatively few visitors compared to places like Bali, Phuket, Hawaii, or Fiji. One of its biggest attractions is that it still feels undiscovered. Many travellers describe it as one of the most beautiful places they’ve visited that isn’t crowded with tourists. The atmosphere is quiet, low-key, and nature focused. Most days revolve around being on or near the water rather than rushing between attractions.
- TikTok search data comparing April 2025 with April 2026. ↩︎
- TikTok search data comparing April 2025 with April 2026. ↩︎
- This is a curated list selected from our trending destinations data. These destinations saw an increase in return flight searches between 1 January 2026 and 17 June 2026, for travel throughout 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, then selected for travel suitability. ↩︎