Modern Nomad is a weekly column dedicated to mobile gear, must-see world destinations, tips for life on the road, and traveling better through technology.
It’s difficult to truly get away these days. With a constant stream of social media photos and updates, it’s easy to forget just how massive our planet is. But there are still plenty of wild, remote outposts in little-discovered corners of the world. Here are three of our favorites:
Feynan Ecolodge (Jordan)
Large swaths of Jordan are rugged, wild, and remote. Located in the Dana Biosphere Reserve — one of the country’s most remote tracks of desert — Feynan Ecolodge feels light years from anywhere. The off-grid lodge is powered entirely by solar power, and only candlelight illuminates the rooms and hallways by night. The lack of light pollution in the surrounding area and a state of the art rooftop telescope both guarantee breathtaking stargazing opportunities. It’s no surprise that the lodge is consistently ranked among National Geographic’s top 25 ecolodges in the world.
Related: Nkwichi Lodge: Eco-awesomeness in Mozambique
Southern Ocean Lodge (Kangaroo Island, Australia)
Because of its geographic proximity to nothing, Southern Australia and New Zealand are blessed with some of the world’s cleanest water and air. Off the southern tip of the Australian continent lies Kangaroo Island — a remote outpost known for its pristine wilderness and natural scenery. The island’s aptly named Southern Ocean Lodge sits along its southern tip with sweeping views of the Southern Ocean. The ultra-modern hotel features a cantilevered design and is arguably the most luxurious lodge in all of Australia. Suite offers complimentary minibars stocked with some of the country’s best wine, heated flooring, private plunge pools, and floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic ocean views from the bedroom and bathroom. It’s humbling to relax on your private, outdoor terrace, gaze across the open ocean, and realize that the only patch of land across the vast expanse is Antarctica.
Three Camel Lodge (Mongolia)
The word “Mongolia” recalls an impossible, otherworldly landscape that seems completely uninhabitable. Large swaths of open tundra, brutal, never-ending winters, nomads trekking over mountains on camelback in search of somewhere (anywhere) to lay their heads for the night. For the most part, that’s exactly what it is. But, Three Camel Lodge provides luxury lodge-style accommodations in that vast expanse. Guests sleep in private, handmade gers (a traditional tent of the area’s nomadic people) with wood-burning stoves, plus handmade furniture, felt carpets, and hand-carved wood beds. A “skylight” in the ceiling opens to allow guests to sleep under the stars. Days are filled with camel riding and visiting the area’s traditional nomadic families. The lodge is only accessible via a two-hour jet flight from Beijing, followed by a one-hour prop plane ride, and finally a 90-minute drive down a long, remote dirt road. It’s as close as most travelers will ever get to the “middle of nowhere”.
