Sometimes, the best kind of trip is a true escape — an opportunity to unwind, reset your head, and actually hear yourself think. No packed itineraries, no racing the clock, no battling crowds or waiting in long lines. If you’ve been craving a break from crowded commutes and endless notifications, consider adding these nine peaceful places to your short list.
Yakushima Island, Japan
Off Japan’s southern coast, Yakushima is an island blanketed in ancient cedar forests with trees thousands of years old. The landscape features moss-covered trails, hidden waterfalls, and thick forests, which make every hike feel like stepping into another world. Despite being only a four-hour ferry from Kagoshima, it has almost completely avoided an influx of mass tourism. Visitors come for quiet walks, hot springs, and the chance to observe sea turtles nesting on its beaches. It’s the perfect place to add onto your next Japan itinerary if you anticipate needing a break from bigger city life.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Spanning over 10,000 square kilometers, Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat on Earth. During the dry season, it becomes a vast white expanse with cracked ground and no clear endpoint. During the rainy season, a layer of water covers the surface, giving it a mirror-like effect so seamless that it’s hard to tell where the ground ends and the sky begins. What makes it so peaceful isn’t just the emptiness, but also the scale. Even though it’s one of Bolivia’s most visited sites, the salt flat is so massive that you can still find space all to yourself. At sunset, the horizon glows in hues of pink and orange, and the peacefulness is sure to linger all evening. Spend the night in a local salt hotel, and you’ll wake up to total quiet and nothing on the schedule.
Isle of Skye, Scotland
The Isle of Skye is known for its rugged scenery — dramatic cliffs, rolling hills, and misty mountain ranges — and also for being one of the easiest places in Scotland to slow down and escape reality. Much of the island is made up of narrow roads that lead to quiet coastlines, tiny villages, and wide open stretches of land where not much happens. Stop the car, step outside, and everything will feel noticeably still. Even during peak season, many trails remain low-trafficked, especially inland or you are willing to go even more off the beaten path. By evening, the roads are mostly empty, and you’re more likely to see sheep than other people.
Bhutan’s Monasteries
In Bhutan, peace is built into how the country operates. Guided by Buddhist values, daily life moves at a slow pace, and that’s especially clear in its monasteries. Inside, groups of monks sit cross-legged on the floor, reciting prayers in soothing tones that echo through the room, while visitors can sometimes sit quietly in the back and listen. International tourism to Bhutan is limited by design and the country isn’t built around convenience or speed. But if you’re looking to escape the noise, this is one of the few places where silence isn’t the exception, but the norm.
Svalbard, Norway
Located far above the Arctic Circle, Svalbard is one of the most remote places you can visit without leaving civilization behind entirely. The Norwegian archipelago has more polar bears than people, and beyond its small town, it’s mostly untouched land, sea, and ice. Boat rides through glacier-filled fjords offer a peaceful experience while getting to appreciate nature in its most raw form. Depending on the time of year, you could experience 24 hours of sunlight or complete darkness, which quickly puts into perspective just how far removed from everyday life you really are.
Luang Prabang, Laos
Luang Prabang is a compact city in northern Laos, set between two rivers and known for its relaxed pace. The streets are lined with palm trees, golden temples, and elegant architecture. Visitors can spend their time strolling around town, having a coffee by the river, visiting local markets, or taking boats to nearby waterfalls and caves. Compared to the noise and traffic of other Southeast Asian cities, Luang Prabang feels low-key and manageable, and it’s a great starting point for exploring the rest of Laos, where things only get quieter.
Acadia National Park, Maine, USA
Acadia might be one of the most popular national parks in the U.S., but in the off season, it can feel like you have the place to yourself. A winter trip means snow-covered trails and bundling up for cozy walks along the coast without any crowds. The park’s 45 miles of carriage roads — wide, car-free paths originally built for horseback riding — are open for hiking, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing. Most popular stops, including Jordan Pond and the several big ocean overlooks, stay relatively empty, and you won’t have to plan around crowds, traffic, or full parking lots like you do much of the rest of the year.
Gobi Desert, Mongolia
The Gobi Desert spans southern Mongolia and is one of the most sparsely populated regions on Earth. Its landscape is a mix of sand dunes, rocky plains, and wide open grasslands that stretch for hundreds of kilometers. One of the most visited areas is the Khongoryn Els dunes, but since they extend for more than 100 kilometers, it’s unlikely you’ll see a crowd. Travelers often stay overnight in traditional yurts, which are simple but comfortable and usually hosted by local families. With no cities nearby and no light pollution, the night sky offers some of the clearest stargazing you’ll find anywhere on earth.
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands sit in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Norway, and getting there isn’t always straightforward. Weather in the region can be unpredictable, and ferries between some of the islands are often canceled due to rough seas or strong wind. But because of that, the islands aren’t overrun, and it’s easy to find space for yourself. You won’t find much beyond small villages where sheep roam freely and most shops and restaurants close early. Visitors can spend their time hiking along cliffs, driving one-lane roads, or exploring quiet trails. The logistics can be tricky, but that’s part of what keeps the Faroe Islands so peaceful.
Final Thoughts:
Not every trip needs to be packed with activities or set in a major city. Sometimes, the most memorable places are the ones where nothing much happens. Some might take a bit of effort to reach, but the lack of cell phone service and constant stimulation is exactly what makes them valuable. If you’re looking for a reset, these are the kinds of places that make it possible.