Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.
Today (March 16, 2020): Top 10 world’s ultimate glamping sites.
Camping is the ultimate way to get back to nature. It makes for great storytelling around the camp fire, beautiful adventures in the majestic outdoors, and bonding with family and friends. However, many, especially discerning travelers are put off by the lack of facilities and suboptimal sleeping comfort. But there is an alternative these days: glamorous camping or ‘glamping’. Glamping offers the thrill of a camping adventure in the wilderness, but without compromising on comfort and with all five-star luxury amenities present. Here are the 10 most (ultra)luxurious glamping sites in the world that should be on your bucket list (if you have deep pockets).
There is more info (with YouTube clips & reviews) below the slide show. Think I missed a glamping site? Leave a comment, or take my poll below!
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10. ECOCAMP PATAGONIA, CHILE
EcoCamp is a glamping spot situated in the very heart of Torres del Paine National Park – one of most amazing places to visit in South America. It was the region’s first fully sustainable accommodation, complete with green technology. Guests here enjoy guided treks and wildlife excursions by day and share fabulous evening meals with new friends, before falling asleep gazing up at the star-filled sky through their dome ceiling. Domes are built in the same shape as the ancient Kaweskar tribe dwellings. The camp is still rather basic, so be sure to book one of the suite domes, the only ones with an ensuite bathroom, which were designed for sleeping in the highest level of comfort.
- Hotel website: EcoCamp Patagonia
9. LONGITUDE 131°, AUSTRALIA
Longitude 131° is a transcendent experience of discovery, located in the spirited heart of Australia. Facing majestic Uluru, Longitude 131° commands spectacular views of the outback icon and World Heritage listed wilderness of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Crouched in the lee of a red sand dune and set among desert oaks and spinifex, the luxury tented pavilions of Longitude 131° are dwarfed by the majesty of the landscape. Here, guests can delve into the foundation of Anangu culture and explore their irresistible land. Luxurious and unfettered, Longitude 131° will make your senses come alive.
- Hotel website: Longitude 131°
- Other accolades: Longitude 131° also features in my top 10 list of the best luxury hotels & lodges in Australia, the world’s most luxurious desert retreats, and the world’s best wilderness lodges.
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. $65 AUD spa credit per suite & $65 AUD bespoke experiences credit per suite to be redeemed against guest adventure of choice during stay).
- Review: read my review of Longitude 131° here.
8. SINGITA SABORA TENTED CAMP, TANZANIA
Singita Sabora Tented Camp is situated in an untouched wilderness area of the Grumeti Reserve, which spans over 350,000 acres in northern Tanzania and forms part of the Serengeti Mara ecosystem. The resort is ideally positioned on the renowned migratory route traversed annually by more than a million wildebeest, one of the world’s greatest wildlife adventures. The intimate 1920s-style explorer’s camp with 9 one-bedroom ensuite tents is permeated by a sense of nostalgic adventure. Steeped in character, Singita Sabora Tented Camp surprises guests with an opulence that is delightfully out-of-place with the rugged terrain of the surrounding savannah plains.
- Hotel website: Singita Sabora Tented Camp
- Other accolades: Singita Sabora Tented Camp also features in my top 10 list of the best hotels in Tanzania.
7. THE RITZ-CARLTON RAS AL KHAIMAH, AL WADI DESERT, UAE
An oasis of peace awaits guests at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert. The property comprises an Asian-inspired spa, a dedicated nature reserve (populated by Arabian gazelles, camels and oryxes), an 18-hole championship golf course and access to a private beach (reached by shuttle). A jewel amidst the endless sandscape, the resort is set against the waters of the Arabian Gulf and magnificent Al Hajjar Mountains, providing a surreal aura of desert romance. Here, tented roofs in the style of traditional Bedouin nomadic dwelling, modern villa furnishings in classic Arab style and the thrill of a private pool in the middle of the desert make each journey a veritable grand adventure.
- Hotel website: The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert
- Other accolades: The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert also features in my top 10 list of the world’s most luxurious desert retreats.
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Classic Travel (e.g. upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).
6. AMAN-I-KHAS, INDIA
Open from October through May each year, the best season for wildlife spotting, Aman-i-Khás is a wilderness glamping camp located in a rugged brushwood forest on the fringes of Ranthambore National Park. Combining the Sanskrit word for ‘peace’ with the Hindi word for ‘special’, Aman-i-Khás offers accommodation in 10 luxury air-conditioned tents each with soaring canopies draped in the Moghul style. There are also three separate tents for dining, spa treatments and relaxing. Twice-daily, guided wildlife viewing excursions take guests into the park to spot indigenous game including tigers, leopards, hyenas, sloth bears, crocodiles and chital deer. Aman-i-Khas is managed by Aman, one of the world’s most exclusive hotel brands.
- Hotel website: Aman-i-Khas
- Other accolades: Aman-i-Khas also features in my top 10 list of India’s best luxury hotels.
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and a 60 minute massage per room per stay).
- Review: read my review of Aman-i-Khas here.
5. CLAYOQUOT WILDERNESS RESORT, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, open from May to September, is an exotic paradox of indulgent luxury and remote, untamed wilderness within Canada’s Pacific Rim National Park. This unique 21st-century-safari-style glamping enclave of great white canvas suite tents, dining, lounge, and spa tents, offers exquisite cuisine and breathtaking adventures, giving visitors a rare taste of how the fortunate spent their summers ‘roughing it’ some 100 years ago. Twenty suite tents showcase antique furnishings, opulent rugs, down duvets, remote-controlled propane powered woodstoves and luxurious amenities. Watch out for black bears and whales though!
- Hotel website: Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
- Other accolades: Clayoquot Wilderness Resort also features in my top 10 lists of the best luxury hotels in Canada and the world’s best wilderness lodges.
4. MOMBO AND LITTLE MOMBO CAMP, BOTSWANA
Mombo Camp, situated in the northern point of wildlife-filled Chief’s Island in the Okavango Delta, is built under large, shady trees overlooking a floodplain generally filled with life. The camp’s nine spacious ensuite tents are raised 2 m (6.5 ft) from the ground, with a long veranda, a sala and indoor and outdoor showers. Mombo Camp’s main living, bar and dining areas are under thatch, while the boma adds traditional flavor to a delicious dinner under the stars. There are two plunge pools in which to soak and a gym to work off the excellent food. Little Mombo, situated on Chief’s Island, is a smaller and more intimate camp to its sister and has its own dining and lounge area and a sparkling pool.
- Hotel website: Mombo & Little Mombo
- Other accolades: Mombo and Little Mombo Camp also feature in my top 10 lists of the world’s most expensive hotels and Africa’s most luxurious safari lodges.
3. AL MAHA DESERT RESORT, UAE
Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, is nestled in a verdant palm oasis, deep within Dubai’s magical dune and desert landscape. Al Maha showcases the heritage and architecture of the Bedouins and also offers a sense of desert adventure. The suites, reminiscent of Bedouin tents, blend gently into the desert and offer unsurpassed luxury. Beautifully furnished with a unique collection of authentic Arabian artifacts and antiquities, all suites boast private pools and offer spectacular views of the Dubai Desert Reserve and its wildlife (gazelles & Arabian oryx).
- Hotel website: Al Maha Desert Resort
- Other accolades: Al Maha Desert Resort also features in my top 10 lists of the hotel rooms with a spectacular view and the world’s most luxurious desert retreats.
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $ 100 USD resort credit).
- Review: read my review of Al Maha Desort Resort & Spa here.
2. FOUR SEASONS TENTED CAMP GOLDEN TRIANGLE, THAILAND
A natural paradise surrounded by majestic mountains, Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle is set in an exquisite bamboo jungle close to some of Thailand’s oldest civilizations. Here, guests can ride an elephant, take a nature stroll, and discover the customs of northern Thailand’s most colorful hilltribes. Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle contains just 15 tents, where guests can stretch out in 54 sq m (581 sq ft) of living space appointed with leather-and-hardwood bush chairs, paddle fans and a hardwood desk, or soothe your muscles in a custom-made wooden hot tub on the outdoor deck.
- Hotel website: Four Seasons Golden Triangle
- Other accolades: Four Seasons Golden Triangle also features in my top 10 lists of the world’s most expensive hotels, the world’s most remote luxury hotels, and the best luxury hotels in Thailand.
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD spa credit).
- Review: read my review of Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle here.
Created by famous resort designer Bill Bensley, Shinta Mani Wild is a radical new ‘glamping’ concept in Cambodia, combining world class hospitality and conservation. The property is located in an unprotected wildlife corridor connecting the Bokor National Park with Kirirom National Park, and aims to protect this 350 hectares river valley from poaching, mining and logging. Fifteen custom designed tents are perched over swift moving waters and waterfalls, providing a view and experience unlike any other resort in Asia. Each tent is meticulously designed to invoke the feeling of what it would have been like to be on a luxury safari in the jungles of Cambodia with Jacky O.
- Hotel website: Shinta Mani Wild
- Review: read my review of Shinta Mani Wild here.
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Really great selection of camps. Shame you didn’t include some from Morocco, where you find some really cool glamping experiences in the desert luxury camping. My favorite is Desert Luxury Camp in the Royal camp. The tent was so huge, beautiful moroccan carpets everywhere and the bathroom better then in my home. Imagine jacuzzi with window overlooking the desert dunes. Experience not to be missed!!
Wow. Looks nice! You shold also check out this camp in Norway: https://grautaneset.no/
Wild Lotus in Antigua delivers a top of the line ocean front luxury glamping experience. Their beautiful exotic bell tents are located on a pristine secluded beach just a few short steps from the refreshing waters of the Caribbean ocean. Their highly polished support group pampers every guest with an abundance of delicious treats. They offer wellness and yoga programs to refresh and recharge your body and soul. Wild Lotus provides everything you need for an exhilarating getaway. All you really need is a bathing suit and a smile. You can find them here – https://www.wildlotusglamping.com/