As we head to Fall, we turn our attention to a captivating and ever-evolving trend: glamping. This is nothing like the camping experience you might remember from school days. Gone are the days of lumpy bunk beds and communal showers. Glamping is about getting close to Mother Nature in all her drama and beauty in some of the world’s most unique destinations that are of cultural or natural importance.
1. Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Resort – Dubai, UAE
Blending luxury with the breathtaking beauty of desert sand dunes, Al Maha’s Bedouin-style tents will have guests dreaming of tales of a thousand-and-one enchanting nights in the Arabian Desert. A 45-minute drive from Dubai International Airport, this Luxury Collection Resort and Spa features plush accommodations, including large king-sized beds and beautiful Arabian antiques and artifacts. Each tented suite comes with a private temperature-controlled swimming pool surrounded by a wooden deck. While here, indulge in local culture with horse rides, camel treks, or nature walks, join a desert safari, or practice archery and falconry. Field guides and a full-time team of researchers are on-hand to ensure authentic sustainability and wildlife protection as well as guest security and enjoyment. For those seeking less activity and more relaxation, a pampering spa awaits.
2. Shinta Mani Wild – Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Located in the heart of the Cambodian rainforest, Shinta Mani Wild provides a unique blend of luxury and conservation. Nestled along the river, this exclusive camp offers 15 opulent tents with vintage furnishings like steamer trunks, brass fittings, and leatherbound books, each featuring expansive decks suspended over rushing waters. With a unique arrival by zipline, guests here are immersed within the lush wilderness of rosewood, ironwood, and teak forest, with further adventures such as boat safaris, mountain biking, orchid-hunting, fly-fishing as well as supporting the camp’s commitment to wildlife preservation on anti-poaching patrols. Staying here brings to life a romanticized era that existed only in Hollywood dramatizations of 19th-century novels. Still, the fabled treasures that Shinta Mani Wild teases remain both valuable and well-preserved here.
3. Magic Camps Wahiba Sands – Al Hawiyah, Oman
Escape to the mesmerizing dunes of Oman’s desert of the Sharqiya Sands, where the 10 luxury Bedouin-style tents of Magic Camps seamlessly combine authenticity and comfort in an eco-conservative manner. Unwind in style gazing upon the undulating golden sands, and engage in thrilling desert activities like camel trekking, sandboarding, and stargazing sessions. Guests immersing themselves in the mystical beauty of the Omani desert can feel good about the experience, as the camps use minimal power, including solar energy and candles for light to minimize their impact on the surroundings. Campsites have exquisite and inviting interiors, including private bathrooms with showers. The spacious, luxury bedroom tents are decorated in local style with eco-friendly materials. During the day, the camp’s center, or Majlis, decorated with Berber rugs and hanging lanterns, is a friendly space to interact with fellow travelers or rest with the family. In the evening, the Majlis is transformed by candles and oil lamps to create the perfect Arabian Nights atmosphere.
4. Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle – Chiang Rai, Thailand
Away from the chaos of Bangkok, deep in the heart of the Thai jungle, the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle promises a unique and immersive glamping experience along the Mekong River on the border of Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. Settle into one of 15 luxurious air-conditioned tented accommodations, each with hardwood floors, hand-hammered copper bathtubs, and enhanced by traditional Thai décor. Sundecks feature an outdoor shower and plush lounging furniture to enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding nature. While on-site, the main draw has always been the interaction of the rehabilitated elephants and their mahouts, including jungle trekking. This retreat is all-inclusive for adults, including roundtrip airport transfers from Chiang Rai by private boat and minibars stocked with champagne, liquors, and snacks. Enjoy the open-air restaurant with authentic Thai cuisine, unwind with a soothing spa treatment amidst the lush wilderness of northern Thailand, or tour the Golden Triangle region, once famous for the opium trade.
5. Aman-i-Khas, Ranthambore – Rajasthan, India
In a destination famed for regal Indian splendor, Aman-i-Khas beckons discerning travelers to embrace the majesty of its wilderness setting. Set on 10 acres along the edge of pristine Ranthambore National Park, once a royal hunting ground, this lavish camp by Aman offers 10 luxurious air-conditioned Mughal-style tents with spacious living areas and outdoor showers. Embark on thrilling twice-daily safari adventures to spot elusive Bengal tigers and leopards, witness traditional Rajasthani performances, and partake in curated wellness experiences in the Ayurvedic spa. Open from October through May each year, the best season for wildlife spotting, this award-winning resort is perfect for a family holiday as well as honeymoons (for those celebrating the latter, Tent #1 is the furthest from the main resort action and the most private).
6. Longitude 131° – Yulara, Australia
Prepare to be mesmerized by the mystical beauty of Uluru (once known as Ayers Rock) at Longitude 131. Set in Australia’s iconic Red Centre, this exclusive camp features 15 lavish tents offering uninterrupted views of the world’s largest monolith in the heart of the rust-red desert landscape. All itineraries are personally crafted to include walking tours of Australia’s spiritual heartland, held sacred by the Indigenous Anangu people for 30,000 years.
Nearby is Kata Tjuta, a series of 36 domed boulders, which comprises another sacred site. The truly adventurous can opt for tours by helicopter, camel, motorcycle, or bike. Back at Longitude, savor gourmet contemporary cuisine inspired by indigenous flavors, take in a spa treatment, view the constellations with the on-staff astronomer, learn about the local Aboriginal culture, and witness the awe-inspiring sunrise and sunset over the rust-red desert landscape and the world’s largest monolith whose breathtaking colors change throughout the day.
7. Singita Sabora Tented Camp – Grumeti Reserve, Tanzania
Africa’s ultimate luxury safari, boasting exceptional game-viewing and farm-to-table food, Singita Sabora Tented Camp is set within 350,000 acres of protected wilderness in Tanzania’s western Serengeti, providing guests with a front-row seat to some of the most prized game viewing on the continent – including the Great Migration. There are just nine tents here, each identical and set low to the ground so they meld with the stunning landscape. Foregoing the traditional colonial safari vibe, the décor here is a mix of California cool and Scandinavian clean. The Singita brand is the sole steward of this vast reserve, and even with their four other lodges and camps, it’s pretty much assured that no other vehicles will intrude on your safari. The wildlife experience is second to none here, and although most guests come for the wildebeest and zebra migration, wildlife like cheetahs, leopards, lions, elephants, and giraffes make their homes on the savannah year-round. Guests at Sabora also have access to the amenities offered by Singita’s nearest sister camp, Sasakwa Lodge, which features a different view from a hilltop location as well an equestrian program offering a unique horseback safari experience.
8. Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge – Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Clayoquot Lodge is where the pristine rainforest meets the rhythmic current of river converging on the Pacific, paying tribute to the pioneering grit of prospector spirit and the enduring fortitude of westward pioneers. The 25 luxury canvas guest tents feature contemporary comforts, custom furnishings, and organic interaction with the surroundings, each opening right onto Clayoquot Sound or the dense rainforest. The retreat, which is only accessible by seaplane, boat, or helicopter, is tucked onto a site designated as a UNESCO-protected Biosphere Reserve, boasting a diverse range of ecosystems from temperate coastal rainforest and old-growth conifer forest to oceans and rocky coastal shores. The region’s wildlife features 300 animal species, including the American black bear, cougar, American mink, and grey wolf. Clayoquot Sound is home to grey whales, orcas, humpback whales, porpoises, and the California sea lion.
9. Camp Sarika by Amangiri – Canyon Point, UT, US
Nestled within the dramatic canyons of Southern Utah, Camp Sarika at Amangiri is a haven for nature lovers seeking seclusion and tranquility. Experience luxurious tented pavilions, each adorned with elegant furnishings, an outdoor terrace with a private plunge pool and fire pit, and a golf cart since the more populated resort portion of Amangiri is a 5-minute drive away. Guests at Camp Sarika will likely never see another soul from their pavilion’s private porch. Still, they can get as interactive as they wish since they can access Amangiri’s resort facilities, including its 25,000 ft² spa, restaurant, and pool. Stay in place to recharge, ask for a telescope to watch the stars at night, or explore the otherworldly landscape of the American Southwest and hike through majestic slot canyons, or view petroglyphs from 6,000 B.C. with a guide, or rejuvenate at the spa with treatments inspired by Native American traditions. Amangiri is also within driving/helicopter distance of 5 national parks as well as Lake Powell.
10. Echo Camp by White Desert – South Pole
Prepare for an extraordinary adventure in the most remote destination on our list. White Desert invites you to experience the untouched beauty of Antarctica in luxury. Stay in state-of-the-art sleeping pods, dine on gourmet cuisine, and embark on breathtaking expeditions to witness penguins, majestic icebergs, and surreal polar landscapes, all while enjoying the utmost comfort in the harshest environment on Earth. A unique and more intense alternative to typical expedition cruising, activities include ice wall climbing, skiing, glacial hikes and abseils, and fat biking across stark ice plains.
The adventure begins in Cape Town, South Africa, and the White Desert provides the entire experience, including the 5-hour flight to Wolf’s Fang Runway and an option of 2 camps (the space-age Echo Camp is pictured here) and length of stay options up to 8 nights. This is an ultimate bucket list journey, as only 500 intrepid individuals make it to the South Pole each year, and White Desert has been achieving this in a carbon-neutral fashion since 2007.
VIP Contact
Contact Jack Bloch of JB’s World Travel Consultants at jackb@jbsworld.com.
