For When You Really Want To Be Alone
Tired of packed beaches, overbooked resorts, and fighting strangers for a spot in the hot tub? Yeah, we get it. Sometimes you just want to truly get away—like, helicopter-required kind of away.
Good news: we’ve rounded up some of the most jaw-droppingly remote (yet totally worth it) vacation spots on the planet. These places are so far off the beaten path, you’ll forget the beaten path even exists.
Whether you’re dreaming of snowy mountain escapes or sun-soaked island vibes, there’s a secluded gem on this list calling your name.
Minaret Station, Lake Wanaka, New Zealand
Tucked away in the Southern Alps and only accessible by helicopter, Minaret Station is the kind of place you daydream about when city life gets too loud. This 50,000-acre high-country escape is all about wide-open spaces, cozy luxury, and unforgettable adventures. It’s perfect for extended families or groups who want to reconnect — with nature and each other—far from the crowds.
Minaret Station: Accommodations
The resort has a main lodge that connects to four alpine chalets using raised wooden boardwalks. All the chalets are decorated in classic sheepskin and plaid country décor.
Guests can go hiking, fishing, jet boating, heli-skiing, and heli-biking.
Talus Lodge, British Columbia, Canada
A whopping 7,600 feet high up in the Canadian Rocky Mountains is Talus Lodge, the perfect remote getaway that can only be accessed by helicopter.
Talus Lodge: Accommodations
The two-story lodge can only accommodate 12 guests at a time. Guests can enjoy countless backcountry adventures like tobogganing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing, and hiking.
This lodge is almost completely off-grid, relying on wood stoves for heating, propane for cooking, and solar panels for electricity.
Tikchik Narrows Lodge, Wood-Tikchik State Park, Alaska
If "off the grid" had a postcard, it would be Tikchik Narrows Lodge. This rustic retreat sits deep in the Alaskan wilderness, more than 300 miles from the nearest road. The only way in is by seaplane, which makes the journey part of the adventure. It’s a dream for travelers looking to trade city noise for serene lakes, fresh air, and unforgettable fishing.
Tikchik Narrows Lodge: Accommodations
There is a main lodge and seven duplex guest cabins. The dining area and the main lodge boast 360-degree views of the lake, which is known as one of the best fishing spots in the world.
Purcell Mountain Lodge, British Columbia, Canada
Purcell Mountain Lodge is nestled into the high slopes of Bald Mountain near Glacier National Park. It takes a 15-minute helicopter ride to get there.
Purcell Mountain Lodge: Accommodations
The three-story mountain lodge offers 10 private guest rooms decorated with cozy mountain décor (wood beams, pine tables, wool throws). Bathrooms and showers are shared.
Guests can ski right off the alpine plateau, or snowshoe, hike or enjoy the on-site sauna.
Winterlake Lodge, Skwentna, Alaska
Perched on the western edge of the Alaska Range, Winterlake Lodge is a 15-acre slice of wilderness you can only reach by float plane in summer or ski plane in winter. It’s remote in all the right ways—think glacier views, wild trails, and cozy cabins surrounded by untouched nature. For adventurers craving both solitude and scenery, this one’s a dream.
Winterlake Lodge: Accommodations
There is a main lodge that offers a bar, dining area, wellness rooms and games area, and six guest cabins.
Guests can dog-mush, heli-ski, snowshoe, cross-country ski, explore glacial pools, white-water raft, fly fish, rock scramble, and more.
Nimmo Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Nimmo Bay is situated in the middle of the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia. You can only get to it by flying to Port Hardy on the tip of Vancouver Island, and then catching a helicopter or float plane to the property’s private dock.
Nimmo Bay: Accommodations
The resort has nine wooden cabins—six of them are perched on stilts on the edge of the lake, and three of them are tucked up inside the forest. The main lodge actually floats on the lake.
Guests can go bear or whale watching, paddle boarding, kayaking, windsurfing, hiking, fly fishing, or enjoy cedar hot tubs by a cascading waterfall.
North Island, The Seychelles
Getting to North Island isn’t just a trip—it’s an arrival. With no dock for boats and no crowds in sight, this ultra-secluded paradise is only accessible by a 20-minute helicopter ride from the capital of Mahé. Once you land, it’s all turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, and barefoot luxury. If you’re looking to disappear in style, this is your island.
North Island: Accommodations
The resort has 11 luxury villas that offer personal plunge pools, sunken baths, and outdoor showers. Guests can enjoy various island activities, and enjoy the stunning views and amazing wildlife.
CMH Bobbie Burns, Alberta, Canada
CMH Bobbie Burns is about 15 minutes from Calgary but it remains an isolated location between Purcell and Selkirk Mountains.
C MacDonald, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
CMH Bobbie Burns: Accommodations
It boasts a 26-room ski lodge that boasts a climbing wall, game room, massages, an outdoor whirlpool and sauna, and a huge wine cellar.
Guests who go there are not casual skiers. The most popular activity includes heli-skiing on 224 adrenaline-pumping runs. Guests can also enjoy snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Kandolhu Maldives, North Ari Atoll, Maldives
Kandolhu may be small, just 450 by 650 feet, but it offers everything you’d want from a dream island escape. A 30-minute seaplane ride from Malé brings you to this tiny slice of paradise, where crystal-clear waters and white-sand beaches wrap around the entire island. You can walk the whole thing in five minutes, then spend the rest of the day unwinding in total peace. Kandolhu is a tiny island, about 450 ft by 650ft and it takes a half hour to get there by seaplane.
Kandolhu Maldives: Accommodations
This remote paradise offers 30 villas are surrounded by ocean and come equipped with AC, rechargeable torches, and a GoPro to help you document your adventures while snorkeling right off your sundeck.
Mica Lodge, British Columbia
The Mica Lodge is a five-star resort north of Revelstroke in British Columbia. It takes a short helicopter ride to get to it.
Mica Lodge: Accommodations
The main lodge is made up of only 12 suites. Heli-skiing groups of up to 20 guests can reserve a lodge equipped with a main lounge, hot tub, private massage quarters, and roomy suites.
The most popular activity at this lodge is fall-line tree-skiing, but there’s many other activities to enjoy as well.
Sheldon Chalet, Denali National Park, Alaska
Perched just 10 miles from the summit of Denali, the Sheldon Chalet is a small, five-room retreat that can only be reached by helicopter. It’s a place where the rugged beauty of the Alaskan wilderness meets luxurious comfort. With stunning mountain views and unparalleled solitude, this is the ultimate escape for adventurers seeking an unforgettable stay in one of the world’s most remote places.
Marc Cappelletti, Shutterstock
Sheldon Chalet: Accommodations
The eco-conscious mountain house offers simple, modern luxury and panoramic views. But this remote location does not offer internet or cell service.
Guests can go heli-skiing, fishing at hidden lakes, dog-sledding, rappelling into ice crevasses, and glacier hiking.
Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
Necker Island boasts a whopping 74 acres, and the owner is famously known—Sir. Richard Branson. The island is a popular destination for celebrities, actually, due to its remote location.
It can only be accessed by private jet to a nearby island, and then a boat or helicopter ride to Necker Island.
Sadie Whitelocks, Shutterstock
Necker Island: Accommodations
This luxury island resort offers several different guest houses that sleep from 6-10 people, and can be rented out privately.
Each has their own design, but most are equipped with personal pools, dining areas, lounges, and luxury modern amenities.
Norman’s Cay Island
This island feels like a secret—and getting there is part of the adventure. With no commercial flights and no permanent residents, the only way in is by private plane landing at the island’s own airstrip. It’s quiet, exclusive, and completely unplugged from the outside world. If you’ve ever dreamed of having an island (almost) to yourself, this is as close as it gets.
Norman’s Cay Island: Accommodations
The island offers luxury villas, bungalows, cabanas, and cottages.
Guests can enjoy boat excursions, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, sunken ship explorations, diving, paddleboarding, windsurfing, kayaking and more.
Final Thoughts
The resorts in this list aren’t your typical family vacation spots. These are stunning, off-the-grid escapes where luxury meets adventure—and the crowds are nowhere to be found.
Forget the packed beaches and stressful itineraries. These remote destinations offer a chance to truly unwind, reconnect with your people, and explore some of the most breathtaking corners of the planet.
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