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Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this story misstated whether polar bears live in Antarctica. They do not.
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It was at a lodge in the middle of the Amazon rainforest where Johan Konst was completely disconnected from the rest of the world for the first time.
The Dutch traveler was exploring Brazil with friends on a trip in April 2023. The group had visited Rio de Janeiro and Manaus before traveling about three hours to the world’s largest rainforest, where their accommodations had neither Wi-Fi nor cell service.
Initially, the lack of internet connection left Konst “a bit shocked.” He couldn’t get in touch with clients for his public relations firm or keep up with the news.
Then something shifted.
For the next five days, Konst embraced being with his friends and nature. During the day, the group went on boat excursions down the Amazon River. At night, they got to know their fellow international travelers at the lodge.
“The first day, it was like, ‘OK, what’s happening?’ Then after the first day, it was actually pretty nice, because you really feel like the world’s going very slowly and you see things you wouldn’t have seen if you were on a cell phone,” he told USA TODAY.
Konst said he ended up loving the experience. Though it was scary at first to unplug from texts, emails and social media, it became refreshing to realize the “world goes on without you. It doesn’t really matter.”
More travelers are leaving their cell phones and laptops behind and seeking out destinations with no cell service or Wi-Fi. Called “deadzoning,” these trips force people to disconnect with technology and reconnect with themselves, others and nature, according to research by the small-group adventure operator G Adventures.
In data collected last year by the travel company, 58% of travelers said they use a trip without internet connection to “relax and destress,” and 41% want to “disconnect from the pressures of work and everyday life.”
For these travelers, deadzoning is the antidote to today’s fast-paced hustle culture and its resulting burnout. These trips aren’t just about going to the most stunning destinations or hitting the top attractions to share on social media. They’re meaningful moments for travelers to rest and reset.
No cell service, no problem
There’s no doubt modern life can feel stressful, with our phones constantly pinging with notifications and doomscrolling eroding our mental health. In 2024, Americans spent an average of 4½ hours on their phones each day, a 52% increase from 2022.
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It’s easier said than done to break free from our devices. Some studies show our brain’s reliance on them is similar to drug addiction.
Younger generations especially carry the burden of being too connected, and more are choosing to disconnect wherever they can. More than a quarter of travelers ages 25 to 30 said they felt happiest on trips when they turned off their devices, according to G Adventures.
G Adventures expedition leader Matt Burnaby sees this transformation in real time on his trips to remote, undeveloped destinations, such as an 11-day Antarctica cruise (Wi-Fi is technically available on the ship via Starlink, but it costs an additional fee that acts as a barrier for some passengers). As the ship sails the Antarctic Peninsula, passengers go on excursions, such as taking a Zodiac or kayaking, to view wildlife and immerse themselves in nature.
“We get a lot of comments from guests who are surprised by a sense of, I guess the best way of putting it is, freedom,” Burnaby said. “I think a lot of people don’t realize how connected − I mean, particularly to their phones − they really are.”
This is the philosophy behind deadzoning: The lack of service forces people to be present and find connection in the real world, not from behind a screen.
“I would say that you don’t really know how important it is to disconnect until you try and the effect of realizing your attachment to social media or being online or just your phone in general,” he said. “It’s not just disconnecting in that moment but the lasting effect of realizing it stays with you after the voyage as well.”
Travelers don’t always need to go to far-off places to go offline, either. CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert recently launched a “Do Not Disturb” program meant to help travelers disconnect from their devices and be more mindful on their vacation. Guests will be given a “phone cocoon” to physically store their devices, attend screen-free communal meals and spend their time in wellness classes.
Deadzoning destinations
For travelers curious about deadzoning, here are some of the top destinations to try your digital detox, according to G Adventures.
- Ecuador: Travelers spend four nights in the Amazon rainforest, staying with a local host family. During the day, they take jungle walks to waterfalls, visit an animal rescue center by canoe and experience a shaman ceremony.
- Northern Thailand: Starting in Chiang Mai, travelers trek into the mountains to visit remote villages and explore deep caves on a bamboo raft.
- Antarctica: Travelers explore “the White Continent” on Zodiacs, hoping to spot whales and penguins.
- Patagonia: Experienced hikers take on the trails of Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Park in Chile and Argentina’s Patagonia, with glaciers and pristine mountains as their backdrop.
- Southern Africa: For two weeks, travelers camp in Namibia’s desert landscapes before heading to Cape Town. Then they venture into Etosha National Park on a safari.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Burned out? This travel trend wants you to lose cell service.
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Reporting by Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published July 5, 2026 at 1:52 PM.