‘Deadzoning’, or deliberately disconnecting from work e-mails, notifications and digital noise while on holiday, is gaining traction in 2026, says UTracks.
As flexible work arrangements blur the boundary between office and personal life, it says people are increasingly searching for holidays where they can feel unreachable.
“We have more freedom to work remotely than ever before, but for a lot of people that also means their work follows them everywhere,” says Natalie Tambolash, UTracks New Zealand gm.
While disconnecting, Tambolash says travellers are still embracing technology like navigation apps and phones for photos.
“Technology becomes more of a practical tool and less of a distraction.”
. . . Tours
Popular UTracks tours that inspire ‘deadzoning’, she says, include the seven-day Dolomites Guided Hike, travelling from the alpine town of Cortina d’Ampezzo to the peaks of Tre Cime and the historic WWI landscapes of the Tofane massif.
The eight-day Balkans High Trails and Culture Guided Hike takes hikers into the Prokletije Mountains across Kosovo, Montenegro and northern Albania, crossing borders and cultures.
Participants will hike from high mountain passes including Jelenak and on to valleys dotted with traditional villages.
And the eight-day Via Alpina Switzerland Hike takes travellers through Switzerland’s scenery, as hikers are surrounded by peaks including the Jungfrau, Schreckhorn and Mönch. See more on the walking tours HERE.
