Break the shackles of modern civilisation and return to a nomadic state of bliss beneath the wide, open Texas sky at this off-beat camping site. Located in the high plains desert just outside of arts hub Marfa, El Cosmico is the perfect place to unplug, recharge, do something amazing or nothing at all.
The Ritz this ain’t – choose between a gorgeous vintage trailer, magnificent Mongolian yurt, Sioux-style teepee or safari tent, each decked out in style.
Begin your day at the outdoor bath house, share a meal with your fellow nomads at the alfresco communal kitchen, explore the incredible Donald Judd and Chinati Foundation art sites, settle in for an afternoon snooze in the hammock grove, and end your evening by soaking in a wood-fired hot tub under a clear, starry sky.
An adults-only holiday in Bali that’s far from the crowds? It’s rare, but possible. A stay at Alam Anda Ocean Front Resort & Spa goes way beyond the ordinary beach holiday, allowing you to experience this island in its real sense and immerse yourself in a traditional Balinese environment.
The four-star resort is boutique in size and offers beautiful, traditional single-storey bungalows and villas, each designed in typical Balinese style.
Pamper yourself in Alam Anda’s fantastic spa, wellness and relaxation area, then learn what Balinese cuisine is all about with a cooking class at the resort and a trip to the local market.
Water babies will find an exceptional dive centre at the resort, with world-class dive schools and a house reef just off the beach. There are some incredible dives in close proximity to the resort, too, including the wreck of the USS Liberty. For something land-based, a drive past rice fields, coffee and cocoa plantations to the great temple Pura Ulun Danu Batur at the edge of the crater of the Batur Volcano offers memorable scenery.
The beautiful, tiny and undeveloped island of Koh Totang is part of a 12-island archipelago in Cambodia’s Koh Kong province. The only accommodation here is Nomads Land, an eco-friendly guesthouse, restaurant and bar that relies solely on rainwater and solar panels, keeping it completely off the grid.
Five rustic bungalows face the beachfront, each with a private terrace and hammock perfect for lazy days. The island is surrounded by coral reef, so find a hidden beach on the rocky shore, grab a mask, and fin over the ocean life. Go searching for iguanas in the jungle. At night, phosphorescence gives the beach a neon glow and fireflies illuminate the sky. It’s only a five-kilometre boat ride to Koh Sdach, the largest island in the group – head there and check out the fishing village if you’re in need of a little more stimulation after a few days spent swimming and strolling.
Hidden away down a rough track just a short drive from the medieval hilltop town of Marvão lies Lost Valley of Ramila, a complex of eco-friendly buildings spread across the hillside. Choose from four cosy self-contained apartments, each with neat kitchenettes, spacious bedroom/living area and private terrace with a glorious vista across the hills. Down by the river stands the charmingly renovated, century-old mill, with thick stone walls, neat windows, rustic furnishings and, forming one of the two bedrooms, a sleeping platform. All bathrooms are modern with showers and terracotta floor tiles.
The setting is magical – think rocky outcrops covered in lichen, wild swimming in the river (or in the purpose-built hillside pool), secluded picnic spots beneath gnarled cork oaks, and wooden decking areas connected by pathways that meander through cacti, yuccas and olive trees. You can even try your hand making pizza or homemade bread in the traditional wood oven. Shops and restaurants are just a short drive away and the area is a dream for nature walks, photography, bird-watching and horse-riding.
The choice of accommodation is also an advantage; choose between newly built, eco-friendly apartments or one of the century-old mills, painstakingly restored to their former glory, with all the contemporary trimmings. But it’s the Sever River that makes this place even more special. As you meander along the river through the valley, enjoy your own private river beach, swing bridge or a nature walk through the São Mamede Natural Park.
Hidden away in a remote section of the north coast on Indonesia’s Seram Island is Ora Beach Resort, where accommodation is kept deliberately simple to highlight the sheer natural beauty of the surrounds. Only accessible by water, the resort is not easy to get to, but if you do brave the trip – via plane, ferry, car and fishing boat – you’ll be more than rewarded. Think steep limestone cliffs, powdery white sands, electric-blue waters, delicate coral reefs, mountains carpeted with riotously lush rainforest and more than 117 species of exotic birds.
Stay in one of the five stilted bungalows that jut out over the reef – perfect for fishing from the balcony – and get up close and personal with the breathtaking marine life on a dive or snorkelling adventure.
For a truly ‘out-there’ experience, sleep under the stars surrounded by wild animals, all under the watchful eye of the night rangers at Pamushana Lodge in Zimbabwe.
Don’t be put off by the idea of sleeping in the desert – this lodge is all luxury. With ensuites, air-conditioning and telescopes in every suite, you’ll struggle to decide whether to go on an animal-spotting safari or stay in and enjoy the lodge’s outdoor hot tub.
Perched atop Cape Town’s swanky Grand Daddy hotel, you can stay in a souped-up, USA-style vintage trailer park. Don’t think trailer trash, though – this is penthouse of all caravan parking lots. Local designers were brought in to reinvent the interiors of seven 1930s Airstream trailers, creating the chic aesthetic you see today.
Each of the over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek motor homes has its own theme – think Karoo, Safari and Surfing – and they’re spick and span following refurbishment. Big screen TVs, air-conditioning, ensuites and massage services give guests a taste of the real American dream.
Like something out of the film Waterworld, Kapalai Dive Resort is built on stilts on a reef amongst some of the world’s most stunning scuba diving in the Celebes Sea. For those wanting to escape the world, sitting on a deck chair watching the sun go down over the mainland on the distant horizon is the perfect tonic.
Rooms are more than comfortable – obviously all over water – with well-designed private decks for some serious après-dive chilling. The centre of the main dining room has an open void through to the reef below, and it’s not uncommon to see live versions of your dinner swimming past.
The resort is a web of rich wood walkways connecting the rooms with dining areas, the dive department and even a beach rotunda; the perfect spot for a cool sundowner. This might be predominantly a divers’ resort, but there is plenty to do for non-divers, with a white-sand beach materialising at low tide and excellent snorkelling from any part of the resort. For the divers, you’re only a 20-minute boat ride to Sipadan, one of the world’s most stunning dive sites.
Defend queen and country with a sea-bound stay on a repurposed fort. Built 2.2 kilometres off England’s Isle of Wight in 1867 to guard against the threat of invading Frenchmen, No Man’s Fort has since undergone a spit and polish, opening its doors to guests in .
Gone are the days when 70 soldiers would hole up within its granite walls – now the structure boasts 23 luxurious bedrooms, as well as a wine bar, rooftop hot tubs and a spa centre offering signature salt treatments.
What to do while you’re at sea all day? Eat like a trooper, of course. When you’re not supping on mackerel caught from below or toasting the monarchy with a flagon of rum, take to the water for a sea-kayaking session or show off your military prowess in an on-board battle of laser tag.
This little tropical getaway is situated at the edge of the longest lagoon in the world, the Marovo Lagoon (nominated for World Heritage listing). The diving and snorkelling are fantastic, with the seaward edge of the island dropping down to an incredible 2,000 metres. There are six spacious bungalows for families or couples, two units and two guest rooms. It’s the type of place where 20 guests is considered a full house. Uepi is the epitome of a lost island escape but with all the comfort trimmings.
The Solomon Islands is a country just waiting to be discovered and Uepi is a must on that adventure.
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