Sometimes you just need to disappear from the world for a little while and what better place to do it than a gorgeous lodge or hotel in the wildest of places. If you’re looking for somewhere that fits the bill, we’ve rounded up a collection of properties that are all destinations in their own right with an added sprinkle of magic – you’ll certainly never want to leave, that’s for sure. From architectural gems in Chilean Patagonia to pared back beach escapes in Madagascar, these properties are sure to top your bucket list.
Explora
Torres del Paine
Beneath the imposing gaze of the Paine Massif and its iconic granite towers, you won’t find a property closer to the ethereal scenes of Torres del Paine than the Explora. The spectacular, award-winning architecture frames the vistas outside perfectly and the wall-to-wall windows mean you can soak it all up from your pillowy bed. A wooden walkway leads you past the shimmering Lake Pehoe, ending at the wellness area, which boasts an indoor heated pool, sauna and four open-air whirlpools. When you’re not sitting enraptured by the view, the dip into the Explora’s curated menu of over 50 experiences from horseback rides with real-life gauchos, catamaran rides, and hikes into all corners of the park.
Ngaga Lodge
Odzala-Kokoua National Park
When it comes to off-the-radar, unplugged escapes, Kamba African Rainforest Experiences definitely gets our vote. They operate the only three camps in and around the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, all of which offer a glimpse into this lush and wonderfully wild region. Set in the heart of the verdant Ndzehi Forest, Ngaga Lodge is the gateway to the magnificent Western lowland gorillas (and eight other species of primate) and you’ll have the chance to track two nearby groups, the Neptunos and Jupiters. The lodge is also ideally-positioned for plenty of other adventures on foot including spotting forest elephant and night walks. In your down time, why not meander down to the Ngaga stream for a dip and a drink?
Adrere Amellal Ecolodge
Siwa Oasis
A day’s drive away from the nearest city, Adrere Amellal Ecolodge is a whimsical locale where everyday life instantly falls away. Sitting at the base of the majestic White Mountain on the edge of Egypt’s Great Sand Sea, the lodge looks like a sandcastle come to life with walls of mud, sand and sun-dried salt, beeswax candles and a spring-fed pool beneath the palms and olive trees. Dinner is served in a different location every day including lamp-lit courtyards and beside the tranquil Lake Siwa. When you feel like venturing out, there are horseback rides, jeep journeys amidst 100-metre-high dunes and soaks in freshwater springs. Come nightfall, turn your eyes skywards for the most incredible stargazing.
Song Saa Private Island
Koh Rong
A speck of emerald ringed by piercing white sand, Song Saa Private Island is Nirvana for travel-weary souls. After discovering the island on a boating trip around Koh Rong Archipelago, the now-owners knew this was a place to be preserved and the entire lodge was built by local hands. Time is your own on this private island, with meals served whenever you like – every morning a hand-written note with suggestions is delivered to your villa. Enjoy languid moments beside the seaside pool or head to one of the spa sanctuaries for a proper pamper. When you’re ready for a little more activity, there are Khmer-style cooking classes, treks through the tropical forest and underwater explorations too.
Sacha Lodge
Ecuadorian Amazon
After a sublime journey up the Napo River by motorised canoe, your destination will appear amongst the miles of greenery. Sacha Lodge is set within a 5,000-acre ecological reserve, which you have almost entirely to yourself. Enjoy quiet moments on the huge, hammock-strung terrace (a sloth may just decide to dangle beside you) or recline on the lakeside raft with a good book as birds flit over the water and caimans wallow nearby. Speaking of which, the lodge boasts the only lake pool in the Amazon! The cabins are pure rainforest luxury and it would be a challenge to leave your bed if not for the epic activities: wander along treetop suspension bridges, paddle the waterways in a dugout canoe, or hike the forest in search of a menagerie of wildlife – around 600 species of birds have been seen around the lodge.
Gili Lankanfushi
Maldives
Gazing out across the cerulean waters of the Indian Ocean, the villas at Gili Lankanfushi are the picture of beachside luxury. Every space at the resort, whether it’s your private pool or a massage bed with a window into the sea below, was designed to ensure your comfort levels are always at 100%. Personal hosts (aka the Mr Fridays) are always on hand to organise evenings at the jungle cinema or tailored dinners in the wine cellar, sunset cruises in the company of dolphins or whichever watersport takes your fancy. Set on coral island in the North Male atoll, the villas are in a gorgeous spot that you can pretty much call your own, but if that still doesn’t cut it, try the Private Reserve. 500 metres away from the resort, it’s one of the largest over-the-water villas in the world and even has its own speed boat to come and go as you please.
Serra Cafema Camp
Kaokoland
A beautifully-designed collection of villas on the banks of the tranquil Kunene River, Serra Cafema Camp occupies a devastatingly picturesque corner of northwest Namibia. With nary a soul around for miles – apart from the semi-nomadic Himba people – it’s startling to experience a level of luxury you wouldn’t think possible in such a remote destination. Expansive decks reveal delightful river views and Angola beyond, while the rooms are effortlessly stylish with striking photographs on the walls and refreshing plunge pools. While you could easily spend all day at the camp, you’ll also have the chance to do a little exploring including boat cruises to spot waiting crocodile, drives and walks through the untouched Hartmann’s Valley, and quad bike rides amongst the towering sand dunes.
Ananda in the Himalayas
Western Himalayas
One of the best destination spas in the world, Ananda is the perfect place to escape to for a few days off-grid. Nestled amongst 100 lush acres just outside the spiritual city of Rishikesh, you could spend a month at Ananda and it still wouldn’t feel like enough time… Scattered across the grounds, the villas are the most private offering and each boasts a hot tub, infinity pool overlooking the trees and a private butler. To add to the deeply tranquil atmosphere, there’s an endless menu of spa treatments including personalised consultations with an Ayurvedic doctor. You can also enjoy one-on-one yoga sessions in the peaceful grounds, play a round of golf or simply close your eyes and soak up the silence.
Masoala Forest Lodge
Masoala National Park
Only accessible by boat, Masoala Forest Lodge is the very definition of a Robinson Crusoe-esque getaway. As you arrive, there appears to be nothing but overgrown forest for miles, but on second look, you’ll spy the seven tented safari-style rooms amongst the canopy. During your stay, the forest will become your playground and days are spent exploring the network of trails as lemurs leap between the trees and birdlife flutters in a kaleidoscope of colour. And that’s when you’re not watching humpback whales spout from the beach, snorkelling in the indigo sea or snoozing in your gently swinging hammock. Masoala Forest Lodge also has a fantastic array of conservation activities to get involved with too. It’s seriously a destination all on its own.
The Highlands Camp
Ngorongoro Crater
A geometric art installation on the slopes of the Olmoti Volcano, far, far from the other camps of the Ngorongoro Crater, the Highlands Camp is as unique as they come. It is actually a collection of geodesic domes with several glamorous yet cosy central areas, a spa, and eight igloo-like rooms. From bed, you’ll enjoy striking views over the forest, luring you out of its comfort for a hike to the nearby Empakai Crater to see the flamingo-filled lake or to join local Maasai people for a lesson in their intricate beading work. Being at the Highlands Camp offers an exclusive experience of the wider Ngorongoro region and the crater itself, with its iconic wildlife, is just a short drive away. And every time you return, prepare to be wowed yet again by one of the most unique camps in Africa.
