We scoured the globe to find six luxe resorts that will delight (and inspire) you to keep booking trips that are off-the-beaten-path.
It’s easier to hop on a nonstop flight to your favorite location, but there’s something very exciting about amping up your vacation a notch and exploring places that aren’t as easy to access. To help you find just the right place, here are six luxurious tucked-away properties around the world that promise an experience you will never forget, inspiring introspection and fostering connections with nature that will create unforgettable memories.
Soak in a few Arabian nights
It’s dreamy just thinking about jetting to the palatial and secluded Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara. Your voyage to this far-flung retreat begins with a 90-minute drive from Abu Dhabi and a 12-km drive from the main gate to the resort. As you drive, you’ll be stunned by the sight of the undulating sand dunes of the Empty Quarter, the largest continuous sand desert in the world. There are so many things to do at this oasis in the sand (the resort’s name means ‘palace of the mirages’), but top on our list: a camelback ride through the desert, followed by a yoga class in the resort’s dedicated meditation and wellness center. Save time for a spa treatment (we love that the scrubs use sand from the desert) in one of the five rooms (each sports an endless desert view). And, if you feel like you’ve been transported to a desert-themed stage set, we can’t blame you—that’s what being there felt like to us.
To book a stay, visit anantara.com.
Book this bucket list adventure
There’s no quick or easy way to get to Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland, Canada—you’ll need to fly, drive, hop a 90-minute ferry and drive again—but we promise the lengthy trek will be worth it in every single way. Located on a scenic island, off an island, there are seven seasons in this part of the globe and each offers a slightly different experience at the 29-room Fogo Island Inn, known for its individually designed rooms, art spaces and fourth floor rooftop deck which houses the inn’s wood-fired saunas and two outdoor hot tubs. This forward-thinking hotel is a social enterprise that’s part of Shorefast, a Canadian charity, which means that all the operating surpluses from the hotel are reinvested into the community. And, to further this mission every guest is paired with a Community Host, a lifelong islander, who will gladly tell you all about this special place, one of Canada’s oldest European-settled communities.
To book a stay, visit fogoislandinn.ca.
Glamp for a few days by a creek
If you’ve ever fantasized about sleeping in a tipi next to a sparkling creek, then a few days at Bodhi Farms, a boutique eco-resort just south of Bozeman, Montana, should more than suffice. Named for the word “enlightenment,” this destination, with its nine glamping tipis, is all about environmental awareness (no plastic bags, straws or single-use plastics are allowed on property). While here, you can take a class on composting or how to grow and harvest the crops used in the resort’s farm-to-table restaurant everything on the menu is produced on this wild game farm or sourced locally) or take a day trip to Big Sky. Solo travelers or couples will love fly-fishing or swimming in the pond on-property and spa aficionados can relax in the wood-fired sauna or book a decadent massage in the spa tipi, located in a cottonwood grove along the banks of the creek, followed by a cold plunge in the creek.
To book a stay, visit bodhi-farms.com.
Experience ‘barefoot luxury’
If you’re eager to visit a tropical resort that isn’t teeming with tourists (yet), then Mandarin Oriental, Canouan, situated in Canouan, a three-square-mile island in St. Vincent & The Grenadines, is the perfect next tropical island for you to visit. You’ll hop a 25-minute flight from Barbados (or arrive by yacht) and arrive in this hidden piece of paradise, known as the “Turtle Island.” With 26 suites and 13 villas, the resort has a forever summer vibe, thanks to the fact that there’s no true hurricane season here, and you can float between five private beaches protected by the Caribbean’s largest natural coral reef, where the sun, sand and crystal-clear water creates an atmosphere of complete relaxation. Spa goers can book a treatment in a thatched suite poised right over the water (glass floors enable you to gaze at the sea during your massage) or opt, instead, for a treatment at one of the 10 charming hillside palapa-style suites accessible via a funicular up the hill (and then just past a winding walkway). Bliss!
To book a stay, visit mandarinoriental.com.
Visit a sustainably stunning getaway
Panama is a hot destination right now and Islas Secas, located in an archipelago 20 miles off the coast of this Central American country, is a treat for all your senses. To get here, you’ll hop on Islas Secas’ private plane, which flies you directly from Panama City to the property. Comprised of 14 volcanic islands, 13 of which remain untouched, this is a place of raw, natural beauty along Panama’s Pacific coast that won’t soon be forgotten. And, since the resort is surrounded by one of the greatest protected marine zones in the world, Islas Secas prioritizes sustainability and is entirely solar-powered, 100% of the food waste is composted and 100% of the wastewater is used for irrigation. With 750 species of fish, over 100 bird species, 128 species of plants, and endless opportunities for exploration, there are infinite ways to immerse yourself in nature. Plan to finish your day in the resort’s hummingbird garden or book a Sound Shower spa treatment in a room that opens to the outdoors. Either will revitalize and reinvigorate you for the remainder of your stay in this special place.
To book a stay, visit islassecas.com.
A safari-inspired stay
Steps from the awe-inspiring Looking Glass Arch in Moab, Utah, guests at Ulum Moab will thrill at the idea of being enveloped in 200 acres of stunning desert landscapes and 100-foot cliffs. To get here, you’ll fly into one of two regional airports before the hour-long drive to Moab, a town famed for its stunning red rocks. Once you arrive on property, you can’t help but breathe in the dazzling sage smells of the desert and feel the stillness of this breathtaking place. Prepare to be wowed by your suite tent that’s intentionally integrated into the natural landscape for maximum views (but everything about the space is luxe, from the plush linens to an ensuite bathroom with rain shower). You can spend your time here taking a yoga flow class on the yoga deck or hiking to Looking Glass Arch or the nearby Canyonlands National Park. No matter your plans—and it’s okay to do nothing but sit by one of the three hot and cool outdoor dipping plunge pools—you’ll want to end your day watching the glorious sunset, which takes center stage with a stunning glow lighting the endless horizon.
To book a stay, visit ulumresorts.com.