Lord Howe Island crowned the best 'off-grid' travel destination in 2026
Famous for only allowing a maximum of 400 visitors at a time, maximum of 400 visitors has been crowned the best off-grid travel destination for 2026.
A new study, by Goolets, looked into the best places for people searching for a relaxing holiday away from too many crowds.
The research ranked 25 popular off-grid destinations based on the average distance to travel to the nearest airport, bus stops, train stations, roads, hotels, and restaurants.
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Lord Howe Island has been crowned the best off-grid spot for 2026. Zach Sanders
Located 600 kilometres off the east coast of mainland Australia, Lord Howe Island has verdant mountaintops, pristine white-sand beaches and clear-blue waters teeming with colourful fish.
And yet, thanks to its visitor cap, the beaches are mostly empty, making it the perfect spot for people seeking a quiet but beautiful place to relax and unwind.
Not only that, but the restrictions are helping to preserve the environment and sustainable nature of the island.
Overall, the Aussie destination ranked first for the average distance to the nearest airport, bus stops, and hotels, with a total off grid score of 73/100.
Australia was actually the only destination with two locations in the top 10. No surprise really, given the remote nature of the whole damn country.
South Australia's Kangaroo Island placed sixth. It is renowned for its beaches and distinctive wildlife, including sea lions, koalas, and of course, kangaroos.
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Kangaroo Island in South Australia places sixth overall. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Outside of Australia, Rupununi was ranked second on the list. The region in southwestern Guyana, bordering Brazil, is the only South American destination in the top 10.
It is known for its vast and diverse wildlife, home to at least 600 species of fish and 600 bird species, including rare wonders such as the giant anteater, harpy eagle, and black caiman.
The Namib Desert in southwestern Africa ranked third and is one of three African destinations in the top 10.
The Namib Desert came third. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Famous for extensive sand dunes, the Namib Desert is also one of the most ancient deserts in the world at over 55 million years old.
Elsewhere on the list, Indonesia came in fourth place with Sumba, a popular isolated location for surfing.
Nordic countries Greenland and Iceland also made the list, with Bumthang in Bhutan rounding out the top 10.
The top 10 off-grid destination of 2026:
- Lord Howe Island, Australia
- Rupununi, Guyana
- Namib Desert, Namibia
- Sumba, Indonesia
- Mahale Mountains, Tanzania
- Kangaroo Island, Australia
- South Luangwa, Zambia
- Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland
- Kerlingarfjöll, Iceland
- Bumthang, Bhutan
