Published on June 14, 2012 by Sophie McGovern
Travelling along the well trodden tourist trail can leave us craving some real wilderness. Whilst many of the world's most beautiful locations are overrun with tour groups, it is still possible to ‘get back to nature’ without going on walkabout in Australia or joining a tribe in the Amazon.
Here are our picks of the world's best wilderness holiday destinations.
Scottish Highlands
Those in search of wilderness don't necessarily need to look a long way from home. The Scottish Highlands are renowned for their wild, untamed beauty and sprawling national parks. With challenging mountaineering routes, lochs and rivers for kayaking and trails for mountain biking, there are a plethora of opportunities for adventure and exploration. The rugged coastline is strewn with pristine beaches where wildlife spotting opportunities are plentiful, particularly in the summer months. Bottle nosed dolphins, minke whales and golden eagles are just some of the animals you might be lucky enough to encounter.
The Moroccan Sahara
Only four hours away by plane, Morocco is a country with a rich culture and diverse terrain. It serves as the starting point for thousands of tourists a year to journey deep into the Sahara Desert on camel back. Of anywhere in the world, Moroccan desert adventures are the most affordable, and true wilderness can be experienced in desert camps that are two days away from civilisation. The purest indication of the Sahara’s remoteness is the night sky, with an unfathomable amount of stars lighting the desert sands.
Trekking in Bhutan
For many, the ultimate destination for a wilderness holiday is the lofty terrain of the Himalayas. Crowning the mountain range above Bangladesh, the lesser travelled Kingdom of Bhutan not only contains some of the most magnificent walking routes the world has to offer, but also enjoys a culture and spiritual outlook on life that leaves many travellers doubly enchanted. Temples shrouded in cloud, verdant green slopes and dramatic peaks can be enjoyed on trails where you are unlikely to meet another party.
Cruise to Antarctica at the ends of the Earth
When every other continent of the world has been charted and explored, a trip to the tip of South America provides the opportunity to experience an unpopulated, changeable wilderness that belongs to no one. On a three week adventure, cruise ships travel south of Argentina from Tierra Del Fuego to a land of tundra and snow, where the earth's elements are at their most extreme, but also, mysteriously, their most gentle.
Safari in Tanzania
The largest country in east Africa, Tanzania's national parks are suitable sprawling. Mount Kilimanjaro looms over expanses of wilderness where some of the world's most magnificent animals roam. Added to this unique experience is the nearby Serengeti National Park and the Ngoronoro Crater, home to hundreds of pink flamingos. Watch the annual migration of wildebeests in April, hike up the highest moutnain in Africa or discover elephants and lions in their natural surroundings.
Note that visitors are advised to check the Foreign Office website for any current alerts when travelling.
Where in the world have you most experienced wilderness? Tell us about it here.
