[perry]

Any phone you use is connected to a cellular network regardless if you have a sim inserted or not, and it's location can be pinpointed easily using cell tower data as long as it has some sort of ID like an IMEI.
Is there a way to have a portable device that can be used to communicate without using cellular networks?

[KuhakuWolf]

Walkie talkies are an option

[TheMinister]

Pigeons ? hahah , hmm Laser Beam but that need some pre-shared fixed locations(x,y,z) between sender and reciever(it can reach between 100 to 350 km at night ). Encrypted walkie talkies are more easier and more mobile.

[Trafford3Devil]

goTenna mesh maybe the solution you're looking for.

[fluxx]

Walkie talkies are an option

You might be joking but take this to another level and you may be on to something within the world of amateur radio (which has many subsets of areas of specialization/interests)

There are groups who just take their mobile radios up to parks or mountains just to send emails/texts back and forth.

arrl.org/digital-data-modes

[Octagon]

Mesh networks, see the Briar project for instance.

[AtMonk]

Satellite telephone is all I can think of

[F13ND]

Hey there,

Think walkie-talkies for local chats, satellite phones for global reach, and mesh networks for your own digital hangout.