Hidden among winding mountain streams and thick forests of pine
trees, Paro Lodge offers an elegant, secluded sanctuary in the
hills above Balakha village. At an elevation of 2,250m, rooms use
wood panelling and clay-coloured walls to reflect the hotel’s
rustic setting. Suites come with cosy armchairs, wood-fired stoves,
terrazzo bathtubs and window seats with views across to
snow-covered Jhomolhari mountain. Spend days wandering through the
village and exploring the remains of 17th-century Drukgyel Dzong
(built to control the trade and military route to Tibet) or arrange
a hike to Tiger’s Nest, a monastery and sacred site dating back to
the eighth century. Reward your efforts with a trip to the
two-storey spa or huddle up by the firepit on the terrace. If
you’re looking to extend your Bhutan trip, book into one of
Amankora’s other lodges, spread across five pristine valleys
throughout the kingdom.

Just outside the village of San Pedro de Atacama, Explora
Atacama is spread across 17 hectares of conservation land, 2,500m
above sea level. Designed to melt into the surrounding nature
reserve, the hotel is a perfect base for exploring the nearby
desert, sand dunes, salt pans and volcanoes of the Andes. Spend
days hiking, cycling or horseback riding before returning to the
hotel to choose between feasting on local cuisine at Explora
Restaurant or barbecued dishes at Quincho, the outdoor patio area.
Muscles aching from all that hiking? Guests have private access to
local hot springs, while the Turi Puri spa offers a sauna, steam
baths and essential-oil massages. Round off the evening with a
pisco sour from the Explorer’s Bar and stargazing from the resort’s
private observatory.

This other-worldly escape sits pretty amid the wind-carved
landscape of southern Utah. Set across 600 acres of the Colorado
Plateau, Amangiri is best accessed via internal flights to Page
Municipal Airport and a transfer by car through the
180-million-year-old desert. Built with sandstone and decorated
with earth tones, the sleek Amangiri slots in naturally to the
surrounding Navajo wilderness. Spend days exploring the shores of
Lake Powell, wandering along the banks of the bubbling Colorado
River or clambering up dramatic rock formations in the Grand Canyon
National Park before returning to take a dip in the hotel’s water
pavilion, where a swimming pool, watsu pool, plunge pool and sauna
rooms await your return.

Located in Indonesia’s Anambas archipelago off the western coast
of Borneo, this hard-to-reach hotel is reached by a flight to
Singapore’s Changi Airport followed by taking a ferry, sea plane
and car. An official marine conservation area, Bawah is surrounded
by coral reefs teeming with colourful fish as well as glistening
lagoons. Start your morning with pilates and yoga classes before
casting away on kayaks, paddleboards and boat trips to explore
nearby islands. Laze on any of the resort’s 13 beaches or explore
untouched hinterlands through long walking trails. Constructed from
sustainable bamboo and recycled material, Bawah Reserve has a
strong focus on sustainability which extends to the hotel’s
restaurants. Dine at Treetops (a restaurant set among the jungle
canopy, naturally) for a tasting menu that uses ingredients sourced
from local fishermen and the resort’s own vegetable and herb
gardens.

Climb aboard a train for a six-hour journey through scenic Sri
Lankan hills and towns before pulling up at the mountain village of
Ella, where a tuk tuk will transport you to Nine Skies. In the town
of Demodara, this hilltop resort’s secluded location is its most
alluring appeal. Rooms are decorated with a stripped-back
aesthetic, placing emphasis on views of the Hill Country’s rolling
valleys and tea plantations. With only five bedrooms, this place
guarantees a peaceful stay. Catch some rays by the refreshingly
cool infinity pool before dining at the al-fresco restaurant, where
Sri Lankan dishes such as hoppers, rice and curries are served.
Evenings are best spent huddled up with a book and a cup of tea in
a cosy corner of the hotel’s library.

On the fringes of Utah’s Zion National Park, this campsite
promises to overturn your memories of miserable family camping
holidays and wretched school trips. Dotted across the 196-acre
camp, each tent comes with a roaring wood-burning stove, wooden
flooring and hot showers – all solar-powered and sustainably built.
From here, hike through the rocky, red-hued desert, climb sandstone
cliffs and stumble upon hidden springs. Head back to the site for a
warming hot chocolate and settle in at Embers, the resort’s
restaurant, to eat grilled and barbecued meats and seasonal
vegetables underneath the flickering light of lanterns. Book into
the Stargazer Tent to fall into enveloping double beds and watch
out for shooting stars and constellations through the window above
your pillow.