Dotted with sparkling sea lochs and picturesque villages,
Argyll’s Secret Coast is kept that way for a reason. Experience
true JOMO (joy of missing out) as you delve into the
Scottish hinterlands, exploring forests, hiking hills and
soaking up romantic views across Loch Fyne and the hills of
Kintyre.

Where to stay: Perched on Islay, one of the
Inner Hebrides islands, Machrie Hotel & Golf Links
offers restored glamour paired with striking views of peat plains,
the Mull of Oa or the glistening Atlantic.

A recluse’s dream come true, Lamu
is a historic Unesco World Heritage site in Kenya.
Home to wandering donkeys and bobbing dhow boats, this Swahili town
is the place to amble down side streets and soak up the laid-back
atmosphere. For a true escape, come for the annual yoga
festival.

Where to stay: Retreat to the tranquil realms
of Ocean Spa Lodge, where deserted beaches and spacious
suites offer the idyllic hideaway. Don’t miss the spa at this
wellness-focused retreat; it specialises in therapies based on
ancient East African relaxation methods.

On the eastern edge of Bass Strait, this edenic island is
sparsely populated with rural communities and fishing villages.
Spend days here getting back to nature; bushwalk through lush
greenery, mountain bike up rugged cliffs or while away the hours
fly-fishing.

Where to stay: Disappear into island life at
Flinders Island Gourmet Retreat at Cooma
House, where the temptation to spend all day on the beach is
curbed only by the lure of cooking courses. Choose between
mastering the basics or a speciality course on how to utilise
garden produce.

If a trip with limited signal and WiFi-less properties is what
you’re searching for,
Svalbard is the place to go. This dramatic archipelago is
filled with powdered peaks and icy glaciers. Light here is
never-ending in
summer months, and non-existent come winter. With a polar bear
population which rivals that of people, this is a land of mystical
fairy tales and epic legends.

Where to stay: Located in Haugen with views
over
Longyearbyen and the Lars and Longyear Glaciers, Funken Lodge
offers a tranquil base for an Arctic adventure. Curl up by the fire
until the early hours before pulling on several woollen layers and
heading outside to try and catch a glimpse of the shimmering
Northern
Lights.

The lesser-visited half of the Caribbean’s Saint Kitts and
Nevis,
this is the place to come during off-season to experience
palm-fringed beaches all to yourself and restaurants without
queues. During the day, take a boat out to Booby High Shoals to
dive amid stingrays, sea turtles and colourful fish – don’t be
tempted to bring your phone, you won’t be needing it under the
waves.

Where to stay: Avoid any unwanted company by
staying at Paradise Beach’s Ocean Villa. On
a 10-acre estate, the four-bedroom villa is Balinese-inspired,
thatch-roofed and comes with a tropical private garden, terrace and
pool.

It’s small wonder that the Jackson Hole valley is gradually
becoming a popular holiday destination. Stay on the outskirts for
easy access to the towering Grand Teton National Park and the
magnificent Gros Ventre Range. Spend days strolling along streams,
hiking and keeping one eye open for roaming grizzly bears.

Where to stay: After a day trekking through
Wyoming terrain, return to Caldera House for a soak in the
infinity-edge hot tub overlooking the valley, or a steam in the
cedarwood sauna.

Once a small fishing village, Trancoso
now offers a few more contemporary comforts while maintaining a
down-to-earth feel with famed beaches and tranquil sunsets. Switch
on your OOO, pack those books that have been gathering dust on your
nightstand and don’t look back.

Where to stay: Stay at Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa for
oh-so-stylish design paired with a laid-back atmosphere and a
sustainable focus.

Deep within the
Himalayas, the town of Almora sits 1,638m above sea level amid
dwindling pines and ancient oaks. Come to breathe in fresh,
unpolluted mountain air against snow-capped peaks and rejoice in
true solitude.

Where to stay: Designed as an homage to the
mountains, The Kumaon hotel features
floor-to-ceiling windows providing mesmerising views of Nanda Devi,
India’s second highest mountain, while interiors use local
materials such as fly-ash bricks, indigenous pinewood and linen
woven nearby to create a minimalist aesthetic. Sip a coffee while
soaking up a vista of the pine-covered valley below.