Spending some time in remote cabin in Victoria’s alpine region was refreshing and detoxing. Coming from a dense Sydney suburb, we replaced busy street noise with complete silence; high rises with towering trees and rugged cliff faces; light switches with firewood; and asphalt with dirt tracks – but mostly, no tracks at all.

We spent time in a remote, off-grid cabin. We had a limited amount of power which came from a manual fuel generator, limited water, and no reception. While I love being able disconnect we had Starlink with us so we could log on and do work when we needed. As a freelance travel journalist I can now be out on the field and still be connected.

Sometimes we need to go remote to reconnect with ourselves and the world. This got me thinking about a couple remote areas in the world you can travel to and the things you can do there.

The Kimberley, Australia

Horizontal Falls

In Western Australia, the Kimberley is an isolated region. It  takes over Australia’s north-western corner, and is three times larger than England with a population of less than 40,000.

It’s a wilderness frontier where you’ll find wildlife, waterfalls, freshwater swimming holes, towering cliffs, impressive canyons, some of the oldest rock art in the world, and several outback stations.

Be sure to check out the Horizontal Falls. This tidal phenomenon is different to your traditional vertical cascades. Powerful daily tides of the Indian Ocean create a power current that has to naturally force it’s way through 2 tiny gaps in the McLarty Range.

The sheer volume and speed of the tidal flow that moves through these gorges create these immense rapids and a dramatic waterfall effect on each side.

You can find the Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay as part of the Buccaneer Archipelago and you can only see it by air via seaplane or chopper from Broome or Derby, or get up close and personal in a boat cruise 

Ladakh – India

Diskit Monastery, Nubra Valley

In Northern India, Ladakh makes up the eastern portion of Kashmir. It’s one of the country’s most remote regions and least densely populated place.

Ladakh is part of an area that has been fought over by India and Pakistan since 1947, and India and China since 1959. Ladakh is strategically important so you will find that the Indian military maintains a strong presence in the region.

Since 1974 the Government of India has been encouraging tourism in Ladakh however they don’t really need to try because Ladakh is breathtaking beautiful with it’s high-altitude rugged desert, incredible vistas and a vibrant cultural heritage.

If you like climbing mountains you can take on Tanglang La – one of the highest mountain pass in the region at an elevation of 5,358 meters.

For adventure biking the legendary Zoji La Pass takes you through some thrilling high-altitude terrain and some epic river crossing look epic.

For something a little less dangerous, head to the Nubra Valley to check out the Diskit Monastery. This monastery is the valley’s oldest and largest Buddhist monastery. It’s also a vibrant cultural hub where you can witness daily life blend in with ancient rituals and ceremonies of prayer and meditation. You can even time a trip during the Losar (Tibetan New Year) Festival that runs from Feburary to March.

To reach the Diskit Monastery you have to climb stone stairs on top of a rugged cliff. Your hard work will pay off in beautiful views of sprawling valleys, pretty peaks and the Shyok River, as well as the monastery itself.