Far away from the bright lights and spaghetti junctions of
Los Angeles sits this retro-style roadside inn.
It’s a speck in California’s high desert, with horizons slashed by
red-hot mountains. You’re not completely divorced from civilisation
– there’s a restaurant and farmer’s market nearby – but you can be
out in untouched wilderness within minutes.

The “restful mind” philosophy – acting consciously, being
present and thinking about those around you – is the modus operandi
at this luxurious sanctuary in the mountains. You’ll have plenty of
time to explore this sweeping valley, but don’t expect to hop in a
car. Instead, you’ll be taken by foot to the sacred Tiger’s Nest
and Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Our parting words of wisdom? Breathable
hiking socks.

San José has its perks, but nothing beats cosseting yourself
among Costa Rica‘s exuberant jungle. At this lodge
high up in the Tenorio Volcano National Park, the emphasis is on
reconnecting with nature and taking things slow. Go horseback
riding, bird watching or explore the local surroundings on a
“sensorial pathway” through the hotel’s kaleidoscopic kitchen
garden, before settling in for a feast.

Cambodia has earned a reputation as a stop-off
on the traveller’s route through Southeast Asia, but youth hostels
don’t have a patch on this high-luxe haven which sits in a
350-hectare wildlife corridor. Shinta Mani Wild pours a portion of
its profits into local conservation projects and guests are invited
to help out with anti-poaching initiatives and rewilding captured
animals.

As you might have guessed from the name, this hotel on the east
coast of Barbados is all about giving back to nature. Once you’ve
checked in, there’s really no need to interact with the outside
world. Start your days with yoga on the deck, followed by hikes
into the forest or lazy chill sessions on the beach before settling
down with a smattering of foraged small plates eaten to a light
lullaby of live music each evening.

Picture the ultimate off-grid getaway and it might look
something like this: a tiny glass-cube cabin suspended among a
canopy of feathery pines. Perched in the verdant community of
Larue, just southeast of Dallas, this collection of Scandi-style
cabins is an Instagrammer’s paradise. Sick of Instagram? They’ll
lock away your phone for the duration of the stay if you so
wish.

This place’s tagline is “The New Old West,” and it has done well
to give cowboy culture a much-needed facelift. Everything is
lacquered in seriously moody shades of forest green and navy, a nod
to the magnificent national parks right on its doorstep. You have
Yellowstone and Grand Teton, which are both laced with hiking routes,
river rapids and calming pools made for wild swims. The hotel has a
prime spot in the buzzing town of Jackson, though you needn’t leave
the hotel; its restaurant alone makes the visit worthwhile.