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We’re not going outside much these days, and travel isn’t an option.

I’m sure everyone, especially those in the more naturally stunning parts of South Africa, is missing nature.

That said, while technology is making it easier to work from home, it also allows us to visit places without leaving the couch.

Or, as CNN puts it, “there’s nothing quite like wilderness to calm the spirit and recharge the batteries”.

Seeing as we’re experiencing nature online, we might as well extend our borders to include some of the most beautiful places in the world.

Off we go:

Alaska

Alaska boasts more genuine wilderness than any state in America.

Whales, wolves and grizzly bears. Glaciers, tundra and boreal forest. Snowcapped peaks that have rarely been climbed and colossal volcanoes that occasionally erupt. It doesn’t get much wilder than Alaska.

If that doesn’t calm the spirit, nothing will.

Patagonia (Chile)

Make sure to take in the Lake District if you find yourself in Patagonia.

Located at the opposite end of the Western Hemisphere, the Patagonian region of southern Chile and Argentina offers many of the same allures as Alaska: glaciers, fjords, copious wildlife and snowy peaks (the Andes in this case) protected within the confines of multiple national parks.

It also boasts one of the world’s most spectacular hiking trails.

Namibia

One of Africa’s gems, Namibia is a little closer to home.

Down south is Fish River Canyon and one of Africa’s epic hiking trails, a weeklong adventure through the unrelenting desert. Along Namibia’s long Atlantic shore is the Skeleton Coast (and its shipwrecks and gnarly wave breaks) and the colossal orange dunes of Sossusvlei and the surrounding Namib Desert.

Check out Etosha National Park next time you’re in the area.

Australia’s Northern Territory

Australia is filled with some truly unique animals, and also boasts stunning wilderness.

Saltwater crocodiles and snakes that can grow to more than five meters (17 feet) in length. A single rock (Uluru) that’s both half a billion years old and weighs more than 1.4 billion tonnes. Huge “road trains” — like big rigs out of Mad Max — that routinely pull four or more trailers behind them.

I’m not loving the snakes or crocodiles, but the rest of it sounds amazing.

Fiordland, New Zealand 

The steep terrain and extreme remoteness have preserved the natural beauty in this corner of the world.

Wilderness doesn’t get any more pristine than the medley of mountains, valleys, lakes and ocean that comprises Fiordland National Park on New Zealand’s big South Island.

Most of Fiordland is only accessible by boat, foot, or floatplane.

The Pyrenees, France and Spain

The Alps get all the credit for being Europe’s greatest mountains.

With Mont Blanc, they certainly have the highest peak in the west of the continent. But when it comes to pure wilderness escape — and long-distance backpack camping — nothing beats the Pyrenees that straddle the border region of France and Spain.

Those views are everything.

Lapland, Finland

The terrain in Lapland ranges from Arctic tundra, boreal forest, and valleys through to fjords.

Home to the nomadic Sámi people and their reindeer herds for around 3,500 years, the northern reaches of Finland, Norway and Sweden embrace Europe’s single largest wilderness area.

You’ll also find incredible wildlife like the brown bear, wolverine, Arctic fox, moose, and reindeer in their natural habitat.

I hope that helped to recharge those batteries.

[source:cnn]