Awasi Patagonia
Torres del Paine, Chile
Located in a private reserve with impressive views of the Torres del Paine Mountain Range and Lake Sarmiento, Awasi Patagonia is comprised of 14 villas inspired by traditional Patagonian shelters and outposts. Each villa enjoys utmost privacy and front row views of the surrounding woodland, lake and mountains. Guests enjoy a bevy of outdoor exploration opportunities which connect them to Patagonia’s incredible landscape. The resort’s mission is to provide guests with a memorable travel experience and share the culture and nature of one of South America’s most attractive corners.
STAY… Each villa features a living room, wood burning stove and private hot tub. They were designed and positioned to highlight the superb views from every angle of the room.
EAT… The restaurant, led by Chef Matías Crosta, offers a daily menu using the finest local ingredients, adapted to guests’ requirements. Specialty servings include seafood and pasta dishes inspired by new flavors and seasonal provisions.
DO… From the moment you arrive, you will be allocated your own private excursion guide and 4WD vehicle, allowing you to explore the diverse and rugged region at your own pace. Guides are trained in archaeology, history, wildlife and first aid, so your excursions will culminate in the trip of a lifetime. Guests can also go on walks from their villas and enjoy various trails, spotting flora and fauna.
www.awasipatagonia.com; Hero photo: Awasi Patagonia.
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
British Columbia, Canada
Experience “luxury gone wild” at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, a Relais & Châteaux all-inclusive eco-safari resort destination located on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia in Canada. Accessible only by seaplane, helicopter or boat and situated in a UNESCO-designated protected Biosphere Reserve, the resort offers guests a truly remote, refined and remarkable wilderness retreat amidst one of the last remaining ancient temperate rainforests in the world. Fashioned after turn-of-the-century great camps, Clayoquot features 25 white canvas prospector-style tents, each richly appointed with luxurious comforts.
www.wildretreat.com; Photo: Clayoquot Wilderness Resort.
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
Grindavik, Iceland
Encompassing a subterranean spa, a geothermal lagoon, a restaurant that re-imagines Iceland’s culinary traditions, and a 62-suite hotel encircled by the Blue Lagoon’s mineral- rich waters, the Retreat is a place where guests can leave the world behind and enter a timeless realm of relaxation, rejuvenation, and exploration. Selected in 2012 as one of National Geographic’s 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a place where the interplay of architecture, design and geothermal seawater brings forth a world of unparalleled well-being.
The Blue Lagoon’s geothermal seawater – unlike any other water on the planet – is born in volcanic aquifers 2,000 meters within the earth where freshwater and ocean water converge in a tectonic realm of searing heat and immense pressure. It is endowed with powers all its own, derived from the mineral and organic properties of the volcanic earth. It cleanses, heals, rejuvenates, and undoes the effects of time — bringing radiance, in all its forms, to the mind and body.
www.bluelagoon.com; Photo: The Retreat Hotel at Blue Lagoon.
Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa
Cape Town, South Africa
A luxurious, 5-star safari lodge in the malaria-free, ‘Big 5’ Welgevonden Game Reserve in South Africa, the property features spectacular views and luxury accommodation, fine dining cuisine and passionate hospitality and service. Guests can expect varied terrain, breathtaking landscapes and a diverse natural habitat featuring the ‘Big 5’, including a large white rhino population.
STAY… Main Lodge facilities extend to heated swimming pools for year-round swimming, gym and infra-red sauna. The Mhondoro Villa has its own private gym and yoga room.
EAT… The Mhondoro Villa includes all meals, teas and coffees, soft drinks, local branded beers, hand-selected house wines and hand-selected house spirits.
DO… Guests can go on guided walking safaris with trained game rangers and view unique and endangered game in their natural habitat. Unique features at Mhondoro include a photographic game viewing hide at a waterhole, that is connected with the Main Lodge by a 65-meter long tunnel.
www.mhondoro.com; Photo: Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa.
Tintswalo at Boulders
Cape Town, South Africa
Located in Cape Town, Tintswalo at Boulders enjoys 180-degree ocean vistas, where guests can enjoy the uninterrupted views of the playful African penguins on the famed Boulders Beach below, a protected Penguin colony.
STAY… The private boutique Villa offers guests time to relax and enjoy the sunrise over the Indian Ocean. There are also nine luxury suites and one child suite on property.
EAT… Fuel your day in the interactive kitchen where dishes are created by the talented Villa Chef.
DO… Visit the penguins mere steps away or take a swim in the sea. Guests can venture on the world-famous Cape wine route or tour Robben Island. Shark cage diving is also available for the daring.
www.tintswalo.com; Photo: Tintswallo at Boulders.
COMO Uma Paro & COMO Uma Punakha PARO & PUNAKHA,
Kingdom of Bhutan
A unique experience in the all-Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, two properties – COMO Uma Paro and COMO Uma Punakha – combine to indoctrinate guests to the many facets of the enigmatic ‘Land of the Thunder Dragon’. COMO Uma Paro also provides intelligent access to some of the country’s main cultural highlights, including ‘Tiger’s Nest’ monastery, and activities such as the national sport of archery–all brought to life by COMO’s English- speaking local guides.
STAY… COMO Uma Paro offers nine exclusive private villas, 20 bedrooms and a COMO Shambhala Retreat. COMO Uma Punakha provides 10 rooms with commanding sweeping views of the valley and the Mo Chhu River snaking through the rice terraces and orchards below.
EAT… Bukhari Restaurant serves Western, Bhutanese and Indian dishes alongside wholesome COMO Shambhala Cuisine – healthful food rich in living enzymes, vitamins and minerals, and raw ingredients. The Uma Bar offers all-day dining and selection of fine wines, cocktails and healthy juices.
DO… Go on a multi-night Himalayan Discovery at the remote Bumdra Camp high in the mountains or embark on a 10-night trek. Guided day walks, mountain biking and white-water rafting are also available.
www.comohotels.com; Photo: COMO Hotels and Resorts.