Peruvian Amazon
Satellite phones won’t work in this stretch of the Amazon. Instead, watch for wildlife as you wind upriver into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.
International Expeditions, has a 10-day tour for $2,898 per person. Launching in January is a luxurious new boat, the
M/V Aqua, which will sail on shorter (three-, four-, or seven-day) excursions. Rates start at $1,950 per person.
Tibet
Trekking up the Kangshung Face of Mount Everest is not for the casual traveler, of course, but this
27-day hike up the east side of Everest is one of the world’s most remote and exhilarating journeys. Prices start at $6,495. Geographic Expeditions also organizes gentler custom adventures in Nepal, Bhutan, and the Indian state of Sikkim, an emerging destination.
Antarctica
Fathom Expeditions’ trip to the southern continent retraces many of the steps of famed Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, repeating some of his landings. The company keeps the expeditions small, ventures onto the glaciers for hikes, and emphasizes good food and wine onboard its 82-passenger boat. Trips are priced upwards of $5,895. Penguins and whale sightings are free.
North Pole
Even the hardiest satellite phone is going to have trouble connecting from the top of the world.
Quark Expeditions offers a 16- or 17-day jaunt by nuclear-powered icebreaker, taking off from Murmansk, Russia. Trips come complete with helicopter sightseeing. The cabins are plain but comfortable, and there’s an indoor pool and sauna onboard. Rates start at $22,900.
Zambia
This relatively unspoiled country in southern Africa is also mostly unconnected. Try white-water rafting on the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls or viewing game in Kafue National Park, where lions, leopards, elephants, monkeys, and hippos congregate in the Lunga River.
Wilderness Safaris’ camps have sophisticated tents with canopy beds and spacious bathrooms, but expect minimal electricity. Prices vary.
Borneo
The steamy, equatorial climate and isolation of this island within the Malay Archipelago have resulted in an incredible diversity of flora and fauna. Hike in the rainforest, admiring the wildlife—including the indigenous orangutans—undisturbed. Activities include white-water rafting and cycling; accommodations range from rustic lodges to hammocks under the stars. Prices at
Intrepid Travel vary by trip.
Patagonia
A 12-day trek along the Aysen Glacier Trail, in remote Chilean Patagonia, crosses the Neff Glacier and includes camping in a Unesco world biosphere reserve. (
Mountain Travel Sobek, trips start at $3,595.) Or
Blue Parallel can fashion a trip mixing hiking, glacier viewing, and horseback riding in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, Argentina’s Perito Moreno National Park, or elsewhere in the region.
Fraser Island, Australia
A natural paradise in Queensland, along the southern stretch of the Great Barrier Reef, this island features sand dunes, rainforests, and 354 species of bird. Only a narrow strait separates it from the mainland, but it seems like a world away.
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