Secluded Serenity

Source: Traveling by truck _ Traveling by truck. Kenya. Photo_ Curt … _ Flickr

With the advent of technology and self-help culture both, it has become obvious that now people prefer to work and travel according to their own preferences. Adhering to traditional and conventional methods isn’t what many people like doing anymore. Such people seek to create new experiences of their own and make these popular. Basically, almost everyone wants to become a trend-setter today.

Amongst the many trends that have been introduced as a result of this, one that comes on top is that of going to quieter and more private destinations for traveling. There has been a significant increase in the number of people who now want to or are traveling to remote, secluded destinations which are more private. This is quite different from the traditional method of mass tourism where travelers hustle and bustle together to go famous spots.

Why is it popular?

There are three main reasons why people have started going for privacy in place of the hustle and bustle defined by more traditional methods of traveling:

In today’s age when nothing has been left untouched by human beings, it is almost a privilege to go to places which have been left unexplored and uninfluenced by tourists. People who opt to go to more private places love going to such destinations only because of the authenticity and genuine interactions they encounter there.
Another key factor is the lack of digital overload while going to such places. Spots which haven’t been made into super tech savvy tourist destinations offer a recluse and time to detox from all digital interactions. This also helps them be more mindful of their mental wellbeing.
When a spot isn’t overcrowded by tourists, it is also saved from potential environmental and cultural threats and concerns. All of this is easily avoided by a lack of outside influence.

Types of destinations

One more question to think about is “Which types of destinations can we visit in the search for more privacy and authenticity?”. Let’s see:

The first option is to rent or buy private islands which will be exclusively kept for your use only. These are obviously the best places to go to since they can legally just be used by you except for some cases where you give permission to other people to visit. Here, you can build luxury resorts and keep personal staff for when you want to visit.
There are many wilderness lodges which are made in very secluded regions in forests and other such places which are also kept away from city-like affairs. An additional benefit is that such places also focus on environmental practices and lessen chances of any damage on nearby flora and fauna.
Remote countryside retreats are also a good option considering they are based in rural areas which house untouched, historic architecture.
We have made such progress in technology and development that even underwater and treehouse accommodations aren’t a problem. These options are a bit expensive but those who can afford it can surely opt to go to such places.
And lastly, some people can invest in a public vehicle with enough seating arrangement and set out for a group expedition. They can make a proper plan and go to any place they wish to go to with this small group. It will be much safer and fun.

Challenges

But like every other entity in this world, personal travel also entails its own share of problems when someone gets into it:

Like mentioned earlier, some options, like the private islands and underwater travel, can be quite expensive. Not everyone will be to access these types of destinations. But it doesn’t have to be the biggest problem for travelers. All these people are looking for is a nice, secluded place to travel to. It doesn’t have to be an expensive place- they can visit their own countryside and look for more money-friendly options.
Some places aren’t as accessible as the others. Weather and terrain conditions can make it difficult to travel to such places. But then again, this problem can also be solved by looking for places which are better options depending on what the person can manage to travel to. Another solution is to monitor weather and terrain conditions and choose the best time according to this.
A considerable amount of time is spent worrying about how outsider influence would impact the livelihood of local communities in the area. This is a viable concern considering tourists would be going to these places for their authenticity and their arrival would jeopardize this. This can be avoided by not disturbing the way things are at such places and not changing anything according to one’s own preference.
When people from well-developed regions go to travel to lesser-known destinations, their comfort might also face some difficulties because of a lack of certain amenities there. This is an issue which is very common considering these places aren’t prepared for serving tourist groups. While this can’t be avoided, tourists can take care of two things. Firstly, they can stay informed about the place they are visiting and planning for such issues. And secondly, they should refrain from criticizing these places just because of this lack. The destination might not be made for touristic entertainment and shouldn’t be criticized just because of this.

Other issues are minor and won’t be as big of a problem as these. And even these can be managed with proper planning. So, what’s the wait? Everyone can go for a fun trip outside as long as they have the heart and the resources to do so.

Resources

Baral, R., & Deepak Prasad Rijal. (2022). Visitors’ impacts on remote destinations: An evaluation of a Nepalese mountainous village with intense tourism activity. Heliyon, 8(8), e10395–e10395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10395
Allard, S. (2023). The biggest travel trends for 2024. Condé Nast Traveller India; Condé Nast Traveller India. https://www.cntraveller.in/story/the-biggest-travel-trends-for-2023/
‌Editor. (2023, May 30). The Rise of Digital Nomads and the Future of Nomadic Travel. Wander Magazine; Wander Magazine. https://wander-mag.com/articles/travel-well/digital-nomad-nomadic-travel/
‌Constantin, M., Genovese, G., Munawar, K., & Stone, R. (2023, May 4). Tourism in the metaverse: Can travel go virtual? McKinsey & Company; McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/travel-logistics-and-infrastructure/our-insights/tourism-in-the-metaverse-can-travel-go-virtual