If fantasies of being shipwrecked on a faraway isle fill your thoughts, check in at Jeeva Beloam. On a secluded beach surrounded by a nature reserve, you’ll find a string of recycled timber and alang-alang beach huts, all facing the ocean.
The huts have a rustic charm – complete with huge, netted beds – and guests spend their days basking on the beach, lazing on their terrace (Jeeva has a library should you finish the books you brought with you) and plunging into the ocean.
There’s snorkelling off the beach and sea kayaks for exploring the coast. Better still there’s no TV or wi-fi, so you can completely retreat and revive your addled mind.
Sleep amid prowling wildlife in rural India at Jamatra Wilderness Camp. Pitched right by a forest, this luxury glamping lodge gives guests the chance to get up close to nature with its array of shut-eye options.
Sink into bed in one of 10 luxury tents, snuggle up on your private patio with a hot water bottle to keep you cosy or, best of all, snooze in an alfresco suite. Set on a platform high on stilts, these four-poster beds, known as machaan, offer guests unbeatable star-gazing opportunities under a clear night sky and prime animal viewing come the crack of dawn. Spot deer, leopards and, if you’re lucky, tigers roaming from nearby Pench National Park. After a night out in nature enjoy breakfast back at camp, a daytime safari and afternoon cocktails in the shade of a huge banyan tree.
Far from the maddening crowds of Delhi and Jaipur is this exotic getaway in Marwar, a south-western region of rural Rajasthan, and the perfect mid-trip stopover for anyone suffering fort fatigue. This is desert country, but at the end of the 19th century a local noble, Thakur Chhatra Singh of Nimaj, created a dam on a seasonal stream so that farmers would have water all year round. On his new oasis, he built a hunting camp where dignitaries would come for sport and socialisation. Now his great-grandchildren have recreated the estate, with 11 luxurious hand-stitched and hand-painted traditional tents overlooking the dam, and two more private pavilions high on the hill.
Each has locally crafted furnishings, a private bathroom and its own peaceful sitting area overlooking the landscape. During the day you can explore the area with a jeep safari to rural Bishnoi villages. The Bishnoi people are nature-lovers who enjoy a rich cultural life, with their villages often home to potters, weavers, farmers and shepherds. There’s also the option of doing a wildlife safari.
The moment you arrive at this retro-styled, three-storey cafe, bar, restaurant and exhibition space you’ll know you’re off to a good start. There’s a relaxed vibe, delicious cocktails to try, poetry reading nights, upstairs gallery spaces, a dance floor and a screening room.
The space was established as a creative social club aimed at exposing art to a broader public audience in an informal environment. The strategically chosen name stands for Wonderful Thai Friendships.
Sky bars are so hot right now in Bangkok and sprouting everywhere like fresh foliage in the city’s towering canopy. At State Tower, whiz 64 flights up and emerge from the lift to be greeted by four smiling faces discretely checking how suitably you’re dressed. The punishment for attempting to enter a Bangkok sky bar in thongs is an evening of wearing the establishment’s heavy Amish-style black clogs and a guarantee of going home alone. Swan, preferably in your own footwear, down the broad staircase towards Sirocco’s neon-lit bar, perched on the side of the building like something from a movie.
With a panoramic view of the Andaman Sea, Baba Nest is one of the world’s most impressive rooftop bars. Open to only 20 guests at a time, it’s also one of the most exclusive; the bar occupies an island deck smack bang in the middle of a wraparound infinity pool. It’s the perfect place to watch the sunset blaze across the peninsula, or take in a sunrise – if you can last. Beanbags and low tables provide a home to park your rear and your glass while you cool off with your feet in the water and a sake mojito in hand.
Ditch any preconceived notions you may have of Afghanistan and step into the remote Wakhan Corridor. For 21 days you’ll traverse high passes, icy rivers and valleys on horseback, yak and your own two feet as you make your way through this rugged region. Ride through the Showr Pass, trek to Lake Zorkel and barter with nomadic Kyrgyz communities. On the last day, take in the spectacular Hindu Kush and soak in the hot springs of Sargaz. Not for the faint of heart, this is one tough trip, but its rewards are many.
Follow the path of the pilgrims to Rishikesh, the ‘City of the Divine,’ and take part in the International Yoga Festival. You’ll meet soulful gurus and long-haired hippies by the thousands as limber up and join in the festivities, which take place annually around the beginning of March.
Learn from the spiritual masters of India and join the throng to perform 108 Sun Salutations en masse at sunrise. Okay, so that means a 4am wake-up, but we know that you can drag yourself out of bed for this special occasion!
Tucked away in a former gallery on one of the oldest roads in Hong Kong, this chilled-out spot channels a Japanese vibe. Bar Ozu, with its plush couches, high ceilings and walls splashed with arty graffiti, manages to be both cool and unpretentious.
There’s an extensive list of Japanese whiskies, beers, signature cocktails and sakes – those unfamiliar with the fermented rice beverage can even try a flight of three samples. If you’re feeling adventurous, say kanpai with a Pasabi, the bar’s wasabi-infused cocktail. Laid-back reggae and hip-hop accompany the conversation rather than overpowering it, leaving you to enjoy some good company and delicious drinks.
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.
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