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Tucked between banana palms and the curving Luosuo River rests Xishuangbanna’s first five-star retreat. Its elegant design bows to neighbouring Thailand, blending ornate gold and wood with all the comfort of a modern hotel. Built over tranquil ponds and fronting the river, the hotel’s spa honours the water revered by the local Dai culture. Select an Anantara specialty or Chinese remedy and melt into your surrounds.
Explore the tropical forests of Xishuangbanna – search for elephants, and visit Dai villages and tea plantations – or stay on site to join a cooking class, Tai Chi or traditional tea ceremony and indulge in some gastronomic delights. Each private villa has its own plunge pool, providing instant relief from the heat, while you can also opt for a cocktail under the shade of a brolly by the central pool and deck.
highlightCategory: Stay
Where to rest your head at night
Piedras Bayas Basecamp
Yes, this tiny camp is in the Atacama Desert, but it’s also on the coast, making it a completely unique destination for adventurous souls. There are just three dome tents on wooden platforms – plenty of space between each for maximum privacy – with attached bathrooms and a shared service centre with kitchen and indoor and outdoor dining spaces.
The tents themselves have everything you could need, including a comfy bed, storage and, thanks to solar panels, around-the-clock electricity and hot water. From there, though, it’s every traveller for him or herself. You’ll need to hire a 4WD to get here – it’s pretty much overland for the final four kilometres of your journey (the camp is about 90 kilometres from Copiapó) – and bring in all the food you might require since there’s nothing nearby.
The landscape around here – dunes, beach and rocky headlands – is completely arresting and you could easily spend a few days just exploring on foot, swimming in the ocean or taking out the kayaks and getting an eyeful from the water. There’s every chance you’ll feel as though you’re the only people on earth while you’re visiting.
Patagonia Camp
Bunking down in one of the 18 yurts at this campsite in Chile’s south is sure to induce a certain serenity. From every angle – whether you’re lying in bed or sitting at the wood table – you can view the wilderness or, at night, the endless stars through the skylight, out the windows or from the private terrace. And an impressive wilderness it is too, located at the edge of Torres del Paine National Park with Lake Torro in the foreground and a backdrop of the snow-capped Paine Massif.
Each of the mini marquees features locally produced artworks, a private bathroom and, importantly, central heating. There’s also a communal area – all buildings are connected by elevated walkways to protect the environment – where you’ll find the bar and restaurant.
If you’re a hiker, in particular, be prepared for some amazing adventure. There are a number of treks you can take from the camp, including the eight-hour Torres Base Trek. Never fear if you’re not quite so sporty, since there are plenty of other walks to waterfalls and viewpoints where you can observe condors and other birds of prey. There’s also the opportunity to go kayaking and fishing.
Alto Atacama
Put your wallet away and surrender to this all-inclusive oasis in the desert. Isolated enough to capture the tranquillity of this lush valley in the Salt Mountain Range, 1600 kilometres north of Santiago, it is still only a short bike ride from the tiny town of San Pedro. The design of the resort, including its 42 luxurious rooms, is inspired by local village architecture.
Fill your days with the guided tours on offer – journeys to the El Tatio geysers or mountain biking the Inca are just two of the 30 options – escape the heat in one of the hotel’s six pools set to varied temperatures, or visit the llamas in their stable.
Elqui Domos
Serious stargazers are drawn to the Atacama Desert in Chile’s far north for the crystal clear views of the night sky. At Elqui Domos you can hone your astronomer’s eye from the comfort of your bed.
Snuggle up in one of seven igloo-like geodesic domes – each fitted with telescopes, private terraces, elevated loft beds and detachable roofs to allow maximum star power – or take in the twinkling panorama from a stylish, three-level observatory cabin. The hotel also offers nightly astronomy tours and twilight horse rides.
Remota
Superbly positioned at the mouth of Patagonia’s dramatic fjords, Remota draws inspiration from its ruggedly beautiful surrounds, but adds a unique modernist twist. Inside, the indigenous-inspired decor pays homage to the region’s rich past.
The all-inclusive resort offers daily excursions like kayaking to glaciers and horse treks to Torres del Paine National Park. But you’ll be eager to return for dinner. The ever-changing menu features fresh Patagonian delicacies, local wines and pisco sour, the staple Chilean cocktail. Unwind in the Finnish sauna, saltwater pool and outdoor jacuzzi.
Jacana Camp
Welcome to the other side of Africa, away from the dusty savannahs and endless plains dotted by baobab trees. The Okavango Delta is a floodplain, alive with wildlife of the sort usually observed as part of a David Attenborough documentary. Not only do you have the opportunity to experience this delta; you can stay here, at Jacana Camp.
Jacana’s five tents and its main lodge, with elevated dining platform, lounge area and plunge pool, are situated on an island in the delta. Surprisingly, you don’t need to stray far to get an eyeful of the amazing animals that live in the neighbourhood. Elephants and hippos play in the water below the camp, wildebeest and deer graze on the lush growth, and the birdlife – from long- legged waterbirds to rare species like Pel’s fishing owl – is ridiculously abundant.
During the day, glide silently through the water in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) or check out far-flung channels in one of Jacana’s motorboats. Land safaris take place in sturdy, open-sided 4WDs, and there’s even some basic fishing gear if you fancy throwing in a line.
Ayurveda Therapy in a Sri Lankan Village
Journey to Ulpotha and unwind with the traditional art of Ayurveda. A site of pilgrimage for thousands of years, the Sri Lankan village welcomes guests from around the globe who hope the hands of Dr Srilal Mudunkothge can balance their body’s energy. He’ll massage you with oils, slather on herbal pastes and douse you with a milk rice poultice. Wash the balms away in steamy herbal baths before graduating to the next step: elimination. Ulpotha’s program is light on the more challenging traditional excretions associated with Ayurveda, like vomiting, enemas and bloodletting, but you’ll partake in inhalation: a pleasant process of sniffing fragrant steam.
Practise yoga by the lotus-ringed lake and embrace the mantra that indulging in leisure and rest leads to a balanced life. The retreat runs an organic farm and reforestation program, and the Ayurvedic clinic treats more than 100 villagers a week, providing healing and medicine free of charge.
Nothofagus Hotel
There are four boutique properties in the pristine Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve, but nothing compares to Nothofagus Hotel, with its striking balance between whimsical design and luxe lodging.
Ensconced in temperate rainforest, Nothofagus resembles an inverted cone of spiralling wood and glass that emerges from the forest like a tree sprite version of the Guggenheim. In keeping with the natural aesthetic, the hotel is accessed via wooden walkways elevated above the rainforest floor, and the interior is built around a large nothofagus beech tree.
The cosy, wood-panelled rooms are a perfect base for exploring the lush, unspoiled reserve, and the hotel also includes a top-notch spa where you can unwind after a long day of trekking and bird-watching.
