The world’s greatest remote escapes
Who’s dreaming of getting far away from it all? Check out our roundup of some of the most luxurious remote escapes around the globe.
From the hidden Minaret Station in New Zealand which can only be accessed by helicopter to an epic trip through Mongolia with Wild Frontiers and a luxury spa stay in the Arctic Circle in Finland, secluded destinations don’t get more magical than these…
NEW ZEALAND
Minaret Station
Set within a remote glacial valley surrounded by towering peaks, guests can enjoy complete privacy and comfort surrounded by tasteful high country design. There are four chalets which all feature a hot tub and private deck where guests can relax and unwind as they look across the valley or beneath the starry night sky. Guests can eat in the Mountain Kitchen’s dining room, in the privacy of their own chalet or alfresco on the deck. Chefs use fresh local ingredients from their own 50,000-acre farms alongside an extensive range of fine New Zealand wines. Minaret offers an authentic experience including helicopter touring, hiking backcountry fly fishing, guided hunting, and heli-skiing.
Why is it remote? The only way to reach Minaret Station is by a short helicopter ride into the rugged Southern Alps, making it one of the most secluded and private luxury lodges in the world.
How: The King Chalet is available from NZ $2,950 for one night for two guests.
Annandale Farm, Christchurch
Nestled between the rolling hills of the Banks Peninsula and the sparkling water of the Pacific is the secluded Annandale Farm with four luxury villas. Boasting 4,000 acres of dramatic coastal pasture and stunning views, they pride themselves on their sustainable approach to farming and world-class accommodation with relaxed, Kiwi-style informality. Offering award-winning architecture, each villa is unique and private. From the romantic one-bedroom seascape property with a picturesque private bay and luxurious outdoor spa to the four-bedroom Scrubby Bay villas with views across a remote bay which can be enjoyed from the pool or deck with its open fire.
Why is it remote? All the properties are spread across the Banks Peninsula in isolated areas and offer complete privacy, a couple even have views across and access to their own private bays. Located off the tourist trail and in an area of outstanding beauty.
How: Annandale offers four-bedroom Scrubby Bay from NZ $4,690 per night which sleeps up to 14 guests.
FINLAND
Harriniva Hotel, Lapland
Harriniva Hotel is located on the shore of Europe’s longest free-flowing river in Muonio, Lapland. It is a family-owned business in the northwest of Lapland, next to the most beautiful and untouched wilderness of Pallas-Ylläs National Park. It offers a unique environment that allows guests to take part in unforgettable activities including, hiking with huskies, fishing and reindeer safaris. Muonio is known as the happiest town in the world, with the cleanest air in the world so it is well suited to anyone looking to connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors.
Why is it remote? Harriniva Hotel is positioned on the edge of Arctic Wilderness in Finnish Lapland, just outside of Pallas-Ylläs National Park and beside the longest free-flowing river in the Nordics.
How: Stay at Harriniva Hotel from 102€ per night for a single room including breakfast, tea/coffee, and hotel sauna.
IRELAND
Clare Island Lighthouse, County Mayo
Clare Island Lighthouse and its buildings have been restored and transformed into a luxury guesthouse, this makes the lighthouse the perfect place to relax and unwind. Discover the wealth of activity the island has to offer – walking, cycling, fishing, music, and crafts, to name just a few. Clare Island Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in Ireland that provides B&B accommodation and dinner. Share your island experiences during a communal meal served at a beautiful Georgian table in the atmospheric surroundings of the library.
Why is it remote? Guests need to get a 20 min ferry across to Clare Island from mainland County Mayo. The lighthouse offers a complimentary jeep or island taxi to the lighthouse.
How: Prices start from £214 per night and it operates a two-night minimum stay, two nights start from £428. Price includes collection upon arrival, breakfast and four-course evening meal with wine.
SRI LANKA
Ulagalla, Anuradhapura
Ulagalla is a boutique hotel surrounded by nature – once the ancestral estate of local Anuradhapura nobility, this 150-year-old grand Sri Lankan home has been renovated and transformed into 20 private raised Villas stretching across 58 acres of verdant land. Guests can enjoy the ambiance of ancient kingdoms or nature-based adventures whilst immersed in luxurious, ecologically-sustainable beauty. The lush environment, stunning landscaping, and exquisite attention to comfort makes for an unforgettable experience amidst a green oasis.
Why is it remote? The hotel is a totally secluded island sanctuary, nestled in a sprawling 58-acre lush green garden.
How: Rooms start from £358 ($481) per room per night including breakfast.
MALDIVES
Pullman Maldives, Maamutaa Resort
Pullman Maldives Maamutaa Resort has now opened its doors as the first Pullman property in the Maldives. This all-inclusive resort boasts 122 decadent villas, including two exclusive Aqua Villas featuring bedrooms submerged beneath the turquoise waters, for a truly memorable experience of the region’s marine life up-close. The Royal Suite is a resort within a resort and provides complete privacy and indulgence, including a high degree of personalised service. Featuring a range of over-water and beachside villas, Pullman Maldives Maamutaa is surrounded by lush vegetation, a natural lake and golden beaches, plus one of the region’s largest and deepest lagoons. With water temperatures slightly cooler than many other islands, the richness of the marine life and the colours of the coral are unparalleled. This is the only place where divers can spot up to 13 species of sharks in the water.
Why is it remote? An hour’s flight from the Maldives capital, Malé, and then a speedboat ride, this beautiful resort is totally secluded and lies at the heart of lush Maamutaa Island. Set amidst 18 hectares of lush tropical flora and fauna on the Gaafu Alifu Atoll and has its own private beach.
How: From £935 ($1,222) based on two people sharing. Rates include All Inclusive meal plan, inclusive 12% GST, 10% service charge and green tax, excluding transfers from airport to the resort.
KENYA
Lengishu House, Borana Conservancy
Lengishu is a new exclusive-use family home at the heart of the Borana Conservancy in Northern Kenya. The Conservancy is 26km North of the equator at an altitude of 2,000 metres on the foothills of Mount Kenya, spanning 30,000 acres of sustainable wildlife habitat. It is home to The Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and black and white rhino – and also a number of species unique to northern Kenya. Not only does Lengishu work for families and larger groups, it is also perfectly suited for a stay for two. It has six bedrooms within four cottages that are all separate from the main house. These charming cottages all provide secluded spots for those seeking some solace.
Why is it so remote? Nestled into either side of a ridge, Lengishu has been designed to blend seamlessly into its natural surroundings, taking care not to break the silhouette of this ridge and using local construction materials. Adding to this, it is one of only five lodges on the conservancy, therefore highly likely that game drives are totally private – not another jeep in sight.
How: Guests can stay at Lengishu from £6,500 per night, based on six people sharing. Conservation fees of £90 per adult and £45 per child per night apply. Children under 5 stay free of charge.
MONGOLIA
Wildlife Frontiers’ The Land of the Great Khan’ adventure
Wild Frontiers offers a 13-day epic trip across Mongolia. Guests will experience the incredible diversity of scenery in which this country abounds. Offering plenty of good walks and cultural interactions, this comprehensive tour offers a variety of experiences that is hard to beat.
Why is it so remote? A journey through the quintessential adventure destination, Mongolia. Travel with nomads though some of the most sparkly populated, and stunning landscapes on earth – with no wifi or people for hundreds of miles! From the flaming cliffs at Bayanzag and the towering sand dunes at Khongor Els guests will make for the remote western stretches of the Gobi before heading north, crossing mountain ranges and pine and lark forests, to finally reach the grasslands and wild horses for which the country is so rightly famed. This is an adventurous 4WD trip, with much of the journey being on dirt roads but it is also highly rewarding with spectacular scenery and memorable sights throughout.
How: Land only price from £2,585.
MOROCCO
La Sultana, Oualidia
La Sultana Oualidia is a beguiling Moorish fortress with 12 individually designed rooms and suites, each with its own private terrace and seawater Jacuzzi which overlooks a serene saltwater lagoon on the Atlantic coast in the fisherman’s village of Oualidia, a favourite beach destination amongst Morocco’s royal family (they go to surf) and elite crowd. While the outer shore of Oualidia is battered by the Atlantic’s thrilling waves, a beautiful long sea lagoon sheltered by a barrier of dunes is a beautiful, peaceful place protected for its ecological importance as a stopover for migratory birds including pink flamingos. Oualidia is also known as ‘the oyster capital of Morocco’. La Sultana Oualidia has a spa, restaurants featuring local seafood and a range of activities including surfing, bird watching safaris, horse riding, and Saturday souk visits.
Why is it remote? Roughly two hours south of Casablanca, on Morocco’s Atlantic coast lies the sleepy fisherman’s village of Oualidia, where La Sultana is situated.
How: Rates at La Sultana Oualidia start from £354 per night for a Panorama Room for two people.
SCOTLAND
Glenappp Castle Hotel
Glenapp Castle is a 17-bedroom Relais & Chateaux hotel tucked away on the breath-taking Ayrshire coast. Hidden at the end of a long windy road, the castle sits proudly in its landscape and comes complete with fairy-tale turrets and glowing sandstone crenellations. Guests find themselves getting lost within the castle’s 36-acre estate, or escaping to the majestic Scottish countryside for long romantic walks and beautiful views of Renowned Ailsa Craig and Northern Ireland. The castle’s regal suites, with four-poster beds and cosy fires, allow guests to unwind, whilst looking out onto the calming waters surrounding the Scottish Isles. The local Galloway Forest Park is one of the only four ‘Dark Skies Parks’ in Europe, where clean air and lack of light pollution highlight incredible night-time skies. With a local astronomer on hand to guide guests through the millions of constellations clearly visible from the hotel, residents can use the castle’s telescopes to immerse themselves in some spectacular stargazing.
Why is it remote? Hidden at the end of a long windy road, the castle sits in 36-acres.
How: Stay at Glenapp Castle starts from £255 per night (B&B) / Sea safari example package – a full-board basis for 4 nights, including 2 nights at Glenapp and 2 nights with the boat/Glenapp Camp. Price on request.