Away Beyond

The elusive promise of the great escape, of leaving the BlackBerry at home and communing with nature, now rings hollow: experiences of "getting away from it all" are a dime a dozen. These remote sanctuaries require going that extra mile—or more.

Explorers have ascended the Peruvian Andes for centuries, but can now enjoy the down bedding and modern bathrooms of the Mountain Lodges of Peru. Guides pack guests' gear on mules, but hiking at nearly 5,000 meters still requires legwork ($2,500 for four nights; mountainlodgesof peru.com).

To get to Costa Rica's Lapa Rios resort, guests take a tiny turboprop into the rain forest, and then a thrilling four-wheel-drive jungle journey. A plush bungalow and a pool await, as well as an observation tower for spying on monkeys and scarlet macaws ($650 for two; laparios.com).

Australia offers understated but potent beauty, and Longitude 131º promises luxury in solitude. After a long flight to Ayers Rock and a jeep ride into the Outback, guests find plush tents on stilts facing majestic Uluru. Guided ventures into the great beyond reveal the fabled redness of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Guests return to a three-course meal with hearty local wine ($3,960 for two; longitude131.com.au).