The bucket-list holidays where cameras are banned

India's Taj Mahal

For most people, a trip to India’s Taj Mahal or the temples of Thailand would be unthinkable without a camera – but some travellers are paying for the privilege of not bringing any technology to document their trip.


Launched today, Intrepid Travel’s Digital Detox tours take off-grid adventure to a new level: cameras, phones and laptops are all off-limits – and you have to sign a pledge to stay clear of Wi-Fi too.

Could you resist the urge to take a picture?

The operator’s four new itineraries include Ecuador, Thailand, India’s Golden Triangle and northern Morocco – surely the ultimate photogenic challenges for social media addicts and trigger-happy snappers. When you’re watching sunrise from a hot air balloon over Jaipur or navigating the colourful souks of Marrakech, wouldn’t you be itching for your camera?

“We want to give our travellers the chance to experience a destination for real, not from behind a camera,” said Michael Edwards, UK managing director of Intrepid Travel.
The rise of tech-free travel is well documented – see our guide to the best digital detox holidays if you’re that way inclined – but prohibiting cameras takes the experience one step further. However, after the news that a traveller smashed a 126-year-old statue while posing for a selfie in Lisbon, perhaps a photography ban isn’t a bad idea.

According to an Intrepid Travel customer poll, 33 per cent of travellers said they chose holiday destinations based on how it would look on their social media profile. And 38 per cent have spent more than an hour searching for Wi-Fi access on holiday.

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“Without all that time spent searching for Wi-Fi or updating Facebook, people will have a chance to connect with their fellow travellers, the local people and the destination itself,” said Edwards.

Temples and tuk-tuks in Bangkok

 For travellers who can’t bear to be completely disconnected from home, tour leaders will email round-robin daily updates to family and friends on your behalf. And if you really can’t hack it? They will – begrudgingly – hand back your illicit technology, although you’re encouraged to keep it to yourself.