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Off The Beaten Track

In the modern world we live in, it has become increasingly hard to truly get away from it all and switch off. Throw COVID-19 into the mix and the opportunities to enjoy a much-needed break have been made increasingly diffcult.

Experts predict that as a result of the pandemic, many more travellers will be actively seeking out less crowded and naturally beautiful destinations, searching for privacy, seclusion and peace.

If you are looking for the ultimate luxurious escape in unique and beautiful surroundings, we have hand-picked ten of the most exciting options available across the globe.

A paradise in Chilean Patagonia
Hotel Mari-Mari – Chile

With its idyllic setting of 9,000 acres of lush terrain and around 13 miles of Pacific coastline, Mari Mari Natural Reserve is South America’s premier luxury eco-resort.

This spectacular natural paradise is the perfect setting for excursions on land and at sea, where you can explore the lush terrain and coastline on foot, by horseback, kayaking or sailing. When your day’s adventure ends, you can sit back and enjoy the luxurious surroundings and exquisite cuisine expected of a five-star resort.

From £4,014 for 2 nights (minimum stay)
hotelmarimari.com

Connect with Australia’s heartland
Longitude 131 – Australia

With views direct to Uluru and across the desert to Kata Tjuta, Longitude 131° is Australia’s most celebrated luxury camp. Dotted among the red-rust dunes are sixteen tented pavilions, each offering connection with the outback landscape and its heritage as well as providing a glamorous base from which to explore the incredible Red Centre. Discover vibrant Aboriginal artworks alongside relics from the region’s explorers, a bar and restaurant offering contemporary Australian dining and friendly staff ready to share a yarn.

From £1,700 per night per room
longitude131.com.au

An Island off an Island
Fogo Island Inn – Canada

Fogo Island Inn hotel has set up a dramatic camp for rural retreat seekers off the northern coast of Newfoundland in a traditional fishing community. This award-winning hotel is built on the principles of sustainability and respect for nature and culture. Every one of the 29 one-of-a-kind guest rooms and suites has dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto the wildest and most
powerful ocean on the planet. The adventure continues in the dining area, enjoying the view whilst sampling perfectly crafted cuisine that uses ingredients dictated by Fogo Island’s still-wild world to create a menu that truly reflects the subarctic.

From £1,160 per night per room
fogoislandinn.ca

A deep wilderness lodge
Ultima Thule Lodge – Alaska

Ultima Thule is a wilderness outpost for the adventurous, located in the vast Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. In a remote area where there are no roads or maintained trails, it is perfect for people who want to experience the real Alaska.

After a day spent exploring the region by land or air, evenings are for relaxing at the lodge savouring beautifully curated dishes prepared using fresh Alaskan ingredients.

4-night packages start at £6,650 per person
ultimathulelodge.com

Castaway luxury for pioneering adventurers
Time + Tide Miavana – Madagascar

Fringed by white sandy beaches and sprawling coral reefs, Time + Tide Miavana stays true to the island’s secluded roots, creating a luxurious haven where guests can enjoy a world of lemurs and chameleons and a mosaic of unexplored coves.

Dotted along the pristine beach, the 14 villas are a masterpiece in luxury. Natural elements of sea, sand and air meet elegantly through inspired interiors and textures whilst floor to ceiling windows oer panoramic views of the Indian Ocean mere metres away. Take advantage of one of the arranged safari excursions or simply relax by your private pool and enjoy the view.

From £2,570 per person per night (includes conservation, sustainability and access levy)
timeandtideafrica.com

Luxury eco-adventure in the Galapagos Islands
Pikaia Lodge – Galapagos Islands

Pikaia Lodge is perfect for the environmentally conscious, physically active and adventurous traveller seeking close contact with the unique natural wonders of the Galapagos. The lodge offers the highest level of comfort and services that can be provided within the limitations of such a remote, restricted and eco-sensitive location.

Situated in Santa Cruz Island, the lodge’s central location makes it the perfect place to take advantage of the varied choices of guided land and marine day programs around the archipelago.

From £3,621 per person for 3 nights (minimum stay)
pikaialodge.com

A rainforest hotel in the clouds
Mashpi Lodge – Ecuador

Mashpi Lodge is the perfect venue to encounter 400 species of birds, trees and frogs found nowhere else in the world, complete with crashing waterfalls and incredible flora. Get ready to trek down hidden paths, splash through rivers, rise at dawn to spot rare birds, or fly high above it all aboard their Dragonfly canopy gondola.

The Lodge’s towering Dining Room stands two-stories high and serves as a spectacular space to enjoy the diversity of Ecuador’s cuisine.

From £783 per night per room
mashpilodge.com

The 5 Million Star Hotel
Buubble – Iceland

Sleeping under the stars or watching the magical dance of the aurora borealis is a lifelong dream for many. At the 5 Million Star Hotel this dream becomes a reality. Bringing you as close to nature as you can possibly get, the fully transparent bubble concept combines innovation, luxury and the magnificence of the iconic Icelandic landscape.

Take advantage of their Winter or Summer overnight tours in a chauffeur-driven SUV through some of Iceland’s most stunning scenery.

Summer and Winter overnight guided tours from £335 per person per night
buubble.com

An ecological oasis
Bushmans Kloof – South Africa

Nestled in the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains on South Africa’s dramatic lesser-known west coast, this magical wilderness retreat delivers open plains, sandstone formations and ancient bush art sites dating back 10,000 years.

Situated just three hours from Cape Town, Bushman Kloof accommodates up to 34 guests and delivers awe-inspiring activities, unique dining, ancient African culture, dramatic landscapes and outstanding nature experiences.

From £682 per night per room (all meals included)
bushmanskloof.co.za

Sleep in the trees
Treehotel – Sweden

Living up among the tall trees in the pine forest of Northern Sweden has never been so easy. Gaze out at Sweden’s spectacular nature or watch the Northern Lights illuminate the sky from a variety of unique and luxuriously fitted tree rooms, accessible by ramp, bridge or electric stairs. From here you can arrange trips by snowmobile, or in the Summer enjoy a family fishing adventure or guided forest hike and learn all about the berries you pick up along the way.

The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner delivering a seasonal selection of local Swedish delicacies from the northern pantry. Or take advantage of one of their perfectly packed lunches or ‘fika’ to enjoy whilst you explore.

From £590 per night for the Mirrorcube tree room
treehotel.se