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Ahoy, me hearties! What have we got here? In the maritime town of Umeå, Stora Hotellet has been a refuge for salty ol’ sea dogs since 1895. Then, the Seaman’s Mission built what was the grandest hotel in the city, and soon members of high society were mixing with sailors on leave. To celebrate Umeå’s anointment as the European Capital of Culture in 2015, these historic digs were given a full nip and tuck. The six room categories are named for sailors’ preoccupations and elements of the decor – a chandelier made from rope and plexiglass that resembles a ship’s rigging and antique scientific equipment on display in the drawing room – represent the hotel’s former life.
The Superstition rooms, although compact, have deluxe bunk beds inspired by a boat’s cabin tucked into the hotel’s eaves, while the larger suites are more like you’d expect on the upper deck of a luxury liner (although one from a grander age). The super-cool restaurant, named after the hotel’s first manager, Gotthard Zetterberg, serves dishes given the names of other seaports around the world.
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A Deep South pad fit for cowboys
For all the artists, designers, adventurers and wanderers, this is a home away from home. Urban Cowboy was originally a historic Victorian mansion until it was transformed into the alternative B&B it is today. There are eight studio rooms all featuring claw-footed bathtubs and dream-like king beds.
The design, something the owners like to call Southwestern Deco, is bold, and communal lounge areas are created to forge connections. Whether you’re a musician, artist or whiskey connoisseur, you’ll be right at home. The mansion, in hip East Nashville, is surrounded by farm-to-table restaurants, craft coffee and live music. It’s also only a five-minute drive to Downtown, where honky-tonks pump out songs and shots till the early hours.
Morocco’s best boutique address
It’s easy to be distracted by the amazing decor – a clever blend of tribal and modernist – of this amazing four-bedroom villa near the old medina in the coastal town of Essaouira, but it’s the little things that make it exceptional. When you and up to seven of your closest friends arrive, the owner will be there to offer a guided tour of the surrounds and tell you exactly where all the best local restaurants, hammams and activities can be found (they’re also listed in a handy booklet). And while the rooms are definitely a sight for sore, travel-weary eyes, there are plenty of opportunities to catch a few rays even without strolling to the nearby beach. Nomad House is built around a central courtyard, there’s a large terrace complete with hammock on the second floor, and the top floor bedroom also has a private patio.
All aboard the Trans-Siberian Railway
Having enchanted travellers for decades, the Trans-Siberian Railway celebrated its hundredth birthday in 2016. Weaving through Eurasia from Beijing to Saint Petersburg, this 9289-kilometre journey is the ultimate adventure. Explore China’s Forbidden City and soak up the history of the Great Wall, then settle into your carriage. Lose yourself in ever-changing landscapes as you’re whisked to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital.
Drive to Khustain National Park, where indigenous takhi (Asian wild horses) roam the grasslands, and spend a night at a traditional ger (yurt) camp living as the nomads do. Next, it’s full steam ahead into Russia. Visit the glassy waters of Lake Baikal in southern Siberia, and marvel at the unique architecture and eye-popping colours of St Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin in Moscow, before arriving at your final destination, Saint Petersburg. It might seem like a long journey, but there’s no better way to watch the world fly by than on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Get smokin’ hot on a volcano safari
Smouldering volcanos and mummies sound more like what you’d find on the set of an Indiana Jones film rather than an island holiday, but a trip to remote Papua New Guinea offers more than snorkelling and beautiful beaches – although it has plenty of those, too. Head to Rabaul, on the island of New Britain, for a two-week volcano-viewing adventure with filmmaker and photojournalist Ulla Lohmann and climbing instructor Basti Hofmann. This once bustling city was destroyed by violent eruptions more than 20 years ago, and while soot-covered ruins remain, so does a resilient community.
Learn about the region’s seismic activity with a volcanologist, meet local foragers who gather megapode eggs buried two metres under volcanic ash, and spend your nights in simple guesthouses and tents pitched within view of the chugging cone. For one night you’ll sleep on a deserted island surrounded by an incredible reef, where you’ll practise your sunset photography and capture shots of the Milky Way. Jet back to Lae on the mainland for the second week and travel into the jungle to see the mummies of the Anga clan. In remote villages the bodies of the deceased are smoked for up to 30 days to preserve their flesh and are then cared for to ensure their spirits don’t misbehave. Toward the end of your trip you’ll bid sunlight goodbye and enter a vast limestone cave full of stalagmites, rock paintings and a burial ledge scattered with remains. It’s an experience unlike any you’ve ever imagined, and one you’ll never forget.
Mongolia in Focus
Pack your camera and adventurous spirit, because this is Mongolia, where wild grasslands, thriving markets and diverse culture are the perfect setting for anyone interested in photography. Here, a tutor will teach you to navigate your camera’s intricate functions and share techniques to craft the best shots. Learn the rules of composition while snapping the sunset over the Khongoryn Els dunes, experiment with shutter speed at the waterfalls of Ulaan Tsutgalan, and master portraiture when photographing nomadic families.
You’ll visit ger (yurt) camps along the way, immersing yourself in nomadic life and sampling traditional dishes like khorkhog (slow-cooked mutton and vegetables). You’ll even get out from behind the lens to construct a ger, distil your own vodka, and ride horses across the countryside. As stars dot the night sky, relax beside the campfire and compare the day’s shots with your fellow snappers.
Watch the aurora from your own igloo
Regular readers of get lost may have noticed our slight obsession with auroras. Imagine our delight (read: insane frenzy) when we discovered you could spend a night in an igloo with just the icy wilderness and dancing colours of the northern lights as company. Guests who stay at Blachford Lake Lodge, located in Canada’s northern wilderness and primo aurora-viewing territory, have just this option.
During the day you can go snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing or skating, then bed down beneath the night-long entertainment. Just let the booking people know you want to have the igloo experience – it doesn’t cost any extra – when you make a reservation.
A lone room in the wilderness
Hide away in your own slice of heaven. There are two PurePods about 20 minutes from Kaikoura (a third is located an hour from Christchurch), but each is located in a different spot to ensure complete privacy. And you need it, since the walls here are all made of glass. On a warm day, throw them open to completely surround yourself in fresh air and birdsong. In winter, you can lie in bed and stare out over snow-capped peaks. The pods are off-grid, but have everything you could need, as well as excellent extras like binoculars, reference books and board games. Bring food with you or have breakfast and dinner hampers delivered.
Sail in style on the Venetian Lagoon
Join a flotilla and cruise through the Venetian Lagoon. You’ll feel all class as you sail your own small boat, travelling in a fleet of up to eight, to –
Meet your guide in Casale, admire the brightly coloured buildings of the Burano islands, and splash some cash on keepsakes from the seven-kilometre pedestrian shopping street – the world’s largest – of Lido di Jesolo. Cruise to Chioggia, dubbed Little Venice for its serene township, to sample the freshest seafood at local markets, before cruising to the real Venice for gondolas, roses and a walk through St Mark’s Square. Socialise with your fellow sailors or explore at your own pace.
Get lost in the jungle at this lodge
What began as a reforestation project has culminated in a luxuriously rustic eco-lodge deep in the African wilderness. There are river and forest lodges at Mandina, but the most elegant by far is the Stilted Lodge, perched over the Gambia River. Spread over two levels, there’s a four-poster bed in the main room, a hammock on the deck and a day room from where you can watch life on the river. Live the life of a modern-day Tarzan and Jane and explore with your own guide. A favourite trip is the Bush Trackers Breakfast, where you rise at dawn to follow baboons into the forest then have a breakfast cooked the traditional way – on a shovel over the campfire.
