7 Destinations To Indulge in the Quiet Travel Trend

On a pitch-dark fall evening, I leaned back against a wooden platform in the Tobeatic Wilderness in Nova Scotia, Canada, my chilled fingers wrapped around a tin cup of hot chocolate, and opened my eyes to gaze at the night sky. I spotted familiar constellations: the Big Dipper poised to take a scoop of water, Orion stringing his bow, Cassiopeia eternally suspended upside-down on her throne. Between and beyond them stretched a never-ending, silvery web of stars and planets.

I gasped. I'd never seen anything like it, and I'd never felt so small, a speck of life beneath billions of galaxies. The experience was an awakening — to the breadth of the universe, my connection to nature and the power of quiet travel.

In its 2024 Travel Report, social media platform Pinterest reported a 530% uptick over the previous year in searches for "quiet life," a 50% increase for "quiet places," and a 42% surge for "calm places." Meanwhile, flight-free travel booking site Byway predicts that 2025 will be the year to "slow down, reset and recharge."

The desire for such vacations is nothing new, says Marta Soligo, assistant professor in the College of Hospitality at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "People have been seeking quiet destinations for centuries, to clear our minds, get away from noise pollution and take a break from the many demands on our attention," she explains.

Quiet has health benefits, too. Silence may help decrease stress levels by lowering cortisol adrenaline levels, and can be more calming than listening to relaxing music. Other studies have found that 2 hours of silence per day led to the development of new neural cells in the brains of mice.

"Some of my best trips have been quiet travel," says Lisa Niver, author of "Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty." "I think there's this pressure, partially from social media, to come home with the best pictures or the perfect story. [The best approach] is to decide in advance your goal for the trip, and not overschedule. Make having quiet space a conscious choice, whether that's walking through a beautiful garden, reading a book on the beach, or taking yourself to an art museum."

Here are seven places where you can indulge in quiet travel.

Nova Scotia, Canada. In Canada's second-smallest province, along the Atlantic coast, take a fossil-spotting beach tour at Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site, where towering cliffs around the Bay of Fundy hold millions of years of geological history. Or marvel at the wild landscape and the world's highest tides — up to five stories in height, twice per day — at the Cliffs of Fundy Geopark.

Western Nova Scotia is a growing astrotourism destination. Patrick Wallace, co-owner of Trout Point Lodge, where I had my guided stargazing experience, says, "Inviting people to be present in the moment, whether it be looking up at the night sky or forest bathing or yoga, [helps clear] their minds of the million things that might be racing through. Having these unbroken hours to ourselves is so good for us."

Aragón, Spain. Spain is the world's No. 2 tourist destination, after France, and has been in the news for overtourism in its most popular cities, especially Barcelona.

But in peaceful, underutilized Aragón, in Spain's northeastern corner, you can walk elevated paths and see Neolithic cave art in jaw-dropping canyons. Or go hiking, waterfall chasing and birding in the "Lord of the Rings"‒esque Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park at the foot of the Spanish Pyrenees.

Take a leisurely pedal, with plenty of stops for wine tasting, in the rolling hills of the Somontano grape-growing region. Visit sepia- and terra-cotta‒washed Medieval villages, including hilltop Alquézar and Aínsa, which look like they haven't aged a day, let alone a few centuries.

Iceland. Iceland has only 330,000 inhabitants, making it one of the least densely populated nations. "Once you are outside of the capital city, Reykjavik, Iceland empties out entirely," says Ryan Connelly, cofounder of tour company Hidden Iceland.

The extraordinary landscape of the little-visited Westfjords features 1,400-foot cliffs, a staggering 320-foot waterfall, and a nature preserve for Arctic foxes and birds. To visit the country's most popular sights along the Golden Circle, Connelly recommends going in the early spring (avoiding the Easter holiday). This is Iceland's quietest time, when you can witness the migration of 120 bird species, including 10 million puffins, as well as 20 different whale species, and a landscape blanketed with the spiky purple flowers of Alaskan lupine.

Maine Highlands. In the centrally located Maine Highlands, which has a population density of only 10 people per square mile, explore thousands of miles of trail on foot, bike, skis, snowmobile or ATV. Go wildlife watching in Baxter State Park or Barnard Forest, part of Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness. At Moosehead Lake, the state's largest water body, fish or paddle among multiple islands, coves and inlets.

The region has two dark sky sanctuaries, AMC Maine Woods International Dark Sky Park and Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. In 2025, the latter will open the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, a 7,900-square-foot facility on Lookout Mountain that celebrates the Penobscot Nation's cultural heritage and land stewardship.

Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman is the largest and most touristy of the Cayman Islands, but Little Cayman, only 10 miles long and 1 mile wide, is serene and easy to navigate. Zip along the white sands on a bike or scooter, or lounge with a good book under the sun. Take a dip in the clear, multihued waters of South Hole Sound, or go scuba diving at Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park, where native sharks, stingrays, and turtles ply the waters around a 5,000-foot underwater cliff.

Larger by just a couple of miles, Cayman Brac is punctuated by several sweet towns between scenic limestone caves and sinkholes. Walk the trails through lush forests to spot a range of reptiles and birds, including colorful endangered parrots. The residents and chefs of Cayman Brac are serious about their fish. Catch your own, and you can bring it back to your resort to have it grilled for dinner.

Kii Peninsula, Japan. In Japan's Kansai region, along the Pacific coast of Honshu Island, the Kii Peninsula has been revered for centuries as the dwelling place of the gods — and an immersion in peaceful landscapes and spiritual heritage.

Walk the ancient pilgrimage routes in the UNESCO-protected Kii Mountain Range. Tour Okunoin, one of Japan's most sacred temples, or even stay in a Buddhist temple through the Shukubo Experience. Take part in a bathing ritual at Dragon's Nest Hot Springs at Oyado, The Earth, a hotel located in a primeval forest perched atop cliffs overlooking the ocean. Indulge in a private retreat at Ago Bay, Ise-Shima, a biodiverse landscape with coastal views for miles.

Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay, Mato Grosso do Sul is massive — about 138,000 square miles — which makes for a choose-your-own-adventure vacation.

Sustainable-tourism powerhouse Bonito/Serra da Bodoquena is renowned for snorkeling, diving, fishing, paddling and hiking along its beaches, rivers, waterfalls, sinkholes and caves. Ramble between small towns, natural pools and waterfalls along the 12-mile Ipê's Pathway, where thousands of ipê trees bloom in a riot of pink, purple, yellow and white for about two weeks in late spring.

The south is known for gastronomy. Try grilled manioc (cassava) and traditional churrasco, Brazilian barbecue made with choice-cut meats, from steak to alligator. Other staples include pintado, a mild-flavored local fish seasoned with annatto, and tereré, an iced tea made with yerba mate and fruit juice or sugar.

Robin Catalano A specialist in coastal experiences, the northeast U.S., and Spain, Robin Catalano is a travel journalist and the writer behind the travel blog Once More to the Shore. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, TIME, Smithsonian, Conde Nast Traveler, AFAR, Hemispheres, and a range of other publications, both national and regional. Read More