Craving solitude with lashings of luxury? These spots deliver discretion – no crowds or fuss, just endless, sequestered days of peace, beauty and tranquillity.
Channel your inner privacy-seeking A-lister at these remote retreats, with Mother Nature as your main companion. Emphasising slow travel, guest activities at each hotel champion regional pursuits, traditions and culture. Shed stress like a caterpillar discarding its skin, and emerge butterfly-like and reborn in these serene, cinematic stays, which more than justify the journey.
Six Senses Zighy Bay
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Unless you're an Omani seafarer, you probably haven't heard of the Musandam Peninsula, one of Oman's last great wildernesses, with the unlikely nickname: the 'Norway of Arabia'. Cradled by the sea and mountains, the resort has put the peninsula on the map. It's a two-hour drive from Dubai International airport, but as you scale Mars-like mountain passes in a 4X4, time won't lag. Maximise the mile-long sandy beach, the freshwater swimming pool and the Gulf region's only 100-ft saltwater pool. Go diving in coral reefs or 'fly' from the mountain top, strapped to the hotel's resident pro-paraglider.
The Brando
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Discover 50 shades of blue at The Brando, a pristine sanctuary on Tetiaroa atoll, whose 12 motus (islets) are encircled by a dazzling coral reef. Gawp at the latter during the 20-minute flight from Faa'a International Airport. Luring Spanish explorers and Hollywood glitterati alike, Tetiaroa was snapped up by Marlon Brando in the '60s. Sensibly, Brando was protective of its natural beauty and rich culture, and this emphasis remains. Embark on nature walks and diving expeditions, sail or kayak across the reef, or learn traditional Polynesian crafts: basket weaving, Pareu (sarong) making, or strumming on the ukulele, pahu or tō'ere.
Hoshinoya Taketomi Island, Okinawa
Fancy bedding down on a remote coral island in Okinawa's Yaeyama archipelago, home to just three villages and 350 residents? Of course you do. Fly to Ishigaki Airport, then hop on a ferry to Taketomi Port and take a short transfer to the resort, which is a celebration of local Ryukyu heritage and its traditions. Featuring low stone fences and white coral-sand yards, villas respect the island's architectural vernacular. One-off activities include tours in a water buffalo carriage, sailing expeditions in a Sabani boat, or half-day canoe tours through the mangrove tunnels of neighbouring Iriomote Island.
Reschio Hotel, Perugia
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For more Italian wilderness than you can shake a (bread) stick at, plus a thousand-year-old castle to call your own, meet Reschio, perched between Tuscany and Umbria. This ancient estate sprawls across 3,500 acres, where seven restored farmhouses reveal flawless gardens, swimming pools and grounds. Equine thrills await at the magnificent stables, where purebred Spanish horses deliver masterclasses in dressage. The estate is owned and run by the Bolza family, and the source of the hotel's aristocratic bonhomie and style. Lean into la dolce vita: explore ancient forests and flower meadows on horseback, enjoy wild swimming in the lake, or join an Italian cookery class.
Ceylon Tea Trails, Hatton
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Fall under the quiet spell of Ceylon Tea Trails, whose five historic, tea-planter bungalows are enveloped in Sri Lanka's verdant, Unesco-listed Central Highlands. Perched more than 1,000 metres above sea level, the bungalows will bowl you over with their jaw-dropping beauty, from which you can drink in views of rolling hills and glossy tea bushes like a grounding Ceylon tea. In more active moods, tour tea factories, discover the 300km Pekoe Trail or combine tea, sea and safari thrills at Resplendent Ceylon's clutch of resorts.
São Lourenço do Barrocal, Alentejo
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This retreat is as bucolic as it gets, featuring a traditional farming village reimagined for modern guests. Cue ancient holm oaks, olive groves and vineyards, lovingly nurtured by the same family for 200 years. Life here is rooted in the seasons, with an activities programme to match: tour the estate on a Lusitano horse, discover regional birds, extract honey with the resident beekeeper, sip the estate's wine, glug its olive oil, take a nocturnal stroll with the in-house biologist, go stargazing and more.
Silky Oaks Lodge, Queensland
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(Image: Ash James)
Upgrade your current view to this one: the sparkling Mossman River and the Daintree National Park's Unesco-listed scenery. You'll find Silky Oaks Lodge in tropical North Queensland – a state not short on space. Pick from 40 treehouse suites, immersed in the frondy, green treetops and soundtracked by birds and other native wildlife. Explore the rainforest's 'natural supermarket' on tours led by First Nations Kuku Yalanji guides or soak away any residual aches and anxieties in the Healing Waters Spa, inspired by the calm flow of Mossman River. Bucket-list wonders abound, from Mossman Gorge to the Great Barrier Reef and Cape Tribulation.
Angama Mara, Masai Mara Game Reserve
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(Image: Teagan Cunniffe)
Perched above Kenya's epic Mara Triangle, on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, Angama Mara lives up to its name ('angama' means 'suspended from mid-air' in Swahili). Thanks to puffy clouds, majestic birds of prey and the sky-skimming buildings, you'll feel like you're floating between heaven and earth. Daily pursuits range from grounded to airborne, encompassing safari game drives, picnics, beading workshops with the Maasai or sunrise hot-air balloon rides.
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