When the boundaries of bricks and mortar are taken away and you fall asleep with just a layer of canvas between you and the star-filled skies, you experience a connection with your surroundings that is difficult to match. In tropical rainforests and wildlife-rich savannahs, the natural world feels so much closer when the sights and sounds of animals and birds become part of your natural rhythm, and your sunrises and sunsets are completely uninhibited. Whether you seek a romantic desert camp in the copper-red dunes of Jordan’s Wadi Rum or a toasty warm heated tipi looking out to Greenland’s icy fiords, we have hand-picked the very best luxury camps across the globe that offer an encounter with the natural world like no other.
JACK'S CAMP - BOTSWANA
Luxury safari camps do not get much more iconic than Jack’s Camp. This legendary camp on Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Salt Pans first began welcoming visitors in the 1960s, but has had many lavish refurbishments since its inception. Despite these renovations, the camp has always managed to retain its inimitable old-world glamour, brought to life with Rococo flourishes, an outré colour palette, and no end of modern comforts such as four-poster beds and private plunge pools in each tented suite. In the pristine wilderness surrounding the camp, endless adventures play out in the form of meerkat encounters, riding, and quad biking across the salt pans.
CAMP KIATTUA - GREENLAND
Experience a connection with nature like no other at Greenland’s pioneering luxury camp. A clutch of cosy tipis look out to the iceberg-strewn waters of the Nuuk fjord, and boast amenities such as memory foam mattresses and electric blankets on the beds. Outdoor adventures abound, from glacier kayaking, hand-line fishing, and a visit to an Inuit settlement, after which you can soak your limbs in the camp’s wood-fired hot tub. To contrast the fjords of Nuuk with whale watching and Arctic wildlife around Disko Bay, combine your stay at Camp Kiattua with a few days at Camp Saqqaq, Kiattua’s beautifully appointed sister camp.
SHINTA MANI WILD - CAMBODIA
An exciting arrival by zip line only hints at the delights that await at this luxurious forest camp. Shinta Mani Wild is the second Cambodian project by pioneering architect and designer Bill Bensley, who has swapped Siem Riep’s Royal District for the Cardamom rainforest for this exceptional jungle retreat. Here, 15 tented suites are scattered throughout the lush forest reserve, and boast irresistible roll-top baths on their private decks, soundtracked by the soothing cascade of the river or nearby waterfall. The camp surrounds are a haven for nature lovers, with orchid hikes, kayaking, and jungle expeditions by boat or mountain bike just some of the activities on offer.
LUXURY MOBILE CAMPS - USA
Whether it is the soaring red cliffs of Zion National Park or the breathtaking outlooks of the Grand Canyon, you do not have to share your unforgettable views or magical sunsets with any other visitors during a stay at one of our luxury mobile camps in the USA.These private camps offer inviting tents equipped with memory foam mattresses, and delicious meals prepared by a skilled chef. The experience also includes activities with expert guides, where you may find yourself hiking to secret viewpoints in the Grand Canyon or rafting down the Colorado River in Moab. Other memorable camp locations include Yosemite and Yellowstone.
DISCOVERY BEDU CAMP - JORDAN
In the endless red sands and rippling mountains of Wadi Rum, Discovery Bedu Camp is the place for a desert adventure like no other. Just six white canvas tents with hardwood floors and private bathrooms make up the camp, which offers sandboarding, camel rides, and dining with a Bedouin family by day, followed by nights under a tapestry of endless stars.
NAYARA TENTED CAMP - COSTA RICA
Whether or not the imposing cone of the Arenal Volcano is in sight, a stay at the Nayara Tented Camp ensures time in Costa Rica’s adventure capital is always well-spent. Set in an oasis of tropical forests and pools fed by thermal springs, the camp is a place to reconnect with nature from a base of sublime luxury. Encounter sloths in the sloth sanctuary, hike across old lava flows on the national park or zip line through the forest canopy, returning to your expansive tented suite to relax with a cacophony of bird song and admire the views from your thermal heated plunge pool.
&BEYOND PUNAKHA RIVER LODGE - BHUTAN
Imagine views of the Himalayas, forest trails echoing with birdsong, and the endless flow of the Mo Chhu river. This is the backdrop for Bhutan’s prime luxury camp, in fact more like a five-star hotel, but with canvas roofs adorning the inviting suites, designed to engender a deeper connection with nature. An authentic sense of place is achieved by traditional Bhutanese design methods and handwoven fabrics, while – in the exquisite bathrooms – a skylight positioned above the bath tub allows you to absorb the beauty of the night sky as you soak. The surrounding Punakha Valley is one of Bhutan’s most enticing regions to visit due to its temperate climate, and its wealth of activities which range from hiking and river rafting to visits to one of Bhutan’s most beautiful temples, Punakha Dzong.
SUJAN THE SERAI - INDIA
Desert luxury is perhaps not the first thing that springs to mind when considering a visit to Rajasthan in India, however this concept has been captured beautifully at SUJAN The Serai. The ‘Golden City’ of Jaisalmer can easily be explored as part of a day trip from the camp, but there is nothing like retreating to the serenity of the Thar Desert, enjoying healing massages in the spa, and dining under the stars while listening to the haunting melodies of Maganiyar troubadors.
SAL SALIS - AUSTRALIA
On Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef, nature takes centre stage. Between August and October, humpback whales breach astonishingly close to shore, while - between March and July – one of the marine world’s most profound natural encounters is possible, with opportunities to swim and dive alongside majestic whale sharks. A close connection with nature can still be maintained on dry land with a stay at Sal Salis, a barefoot luxury beach safari camp where kangaroos and emus are regular visitors, and gorge walks in search of rock wallabies are rounded off with fine Australian cuisine and wine.
SINGITA SABORA TENTED CAMP - TANZANIA
The timeless plains of the western Serengeti put on one of nature’s greatest shows from May to early July each year as the Great Wildebeest Migration thunders through. Even those not visiting at this time are guaranteed a feast of wildlife, with cheetahs, elephants, leopards, and lion just some of the creatures to be encountered. For pared back but utterly chic safari simplicity, Singita Sabora offers a modern take on Out of Africa style. Uninterrupted panoramas of the vast and exclusive Grumeti Game Reserve can be enjoyed from the camp’s nine graceful, tented suites, which offer four-poster beds, and freestanding bathtubs where you can observe the ever-changing light of the plains all around you.
