It was too much to handle: What happens when remote travel goes wrong
Similar complaints are being fielded in remote locations all over the world. At Skog Aurora Igloos in Kalix, Swedish Lapland, a guest noted that the silence was so complete it almost made their ears ring. “They were so used to sleeping with the soft background noise of a city that the absence of sound kept them awake at first,” said founder Lea Pierrefitte. At one of Nomadic Resort’s luxury Thai resorts in a primary forest overlooking the Gulf of Siam, guests were so disturbed by frogs croaking in the night that they demanded that the caretaker team go out and round them up – all in a resort renowned for its biophilic and sustainable approach.
One guest in the Seychelles was unhappy that they were woken by birds in the morning – Kelly Forbes
These stories point to a growing chasm between the idea of a remote, nature-led holiday and the reality of experiencing one. With the dominance of off-grid travel in this year’s travel trend and behaviour reports, it seems likely that this clash will only grow as 2026 continues. Virtuoso’s 2026 travel trend report cites “space and serenity” as a key trend, while Vogue Business is calling disconnection the new luxury. Over the last year, A’Aru Collective has seen demand for remote island stays double. We want to escape our increasingly hectic, screen-driven worlds, but when we do, it seems we’re unable to handle the rewards.
When nature stops feeling idyllic
Tom Williams, founder of Desert Island Survival, believes part of the problem is that many people are no longer used to discomfort. “We have never lived in easier, more comfortable times,” he said. “The payoff is our ability to deal with adversity.”Source: It was too much to handle: What happens when remote travel goes wrong
