Glamping is all about camping in style. There’s all the comforts of a well-starred hotel, but with the classic essence of camping. If you want to get back to nature, without having to be reduced to a pile of bug bites in fear of the dread hole in the ground, glamping is one option we’ll happily take. Want to know the best places to kick your feet up? Look no further than our list of the Top 5 Places to go Glamping…
1. AUSTRALIA
KETCHUPS BANK – SCENIC RIM
Set on 100 acres of Australian bush with spectacular mountain views and just 90 minutes from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Ketchups Bank has become one of South-East Queensland’s premier destinations for luxury camping.
The eco tents here are really something special – complete with ensuite, quality linens, private deck and your very own campfire and barbeque – so guests really have everything on their doorstep for a unique camping experience.
You even get your own fluffy bathrobe to lounge around in … not your usual camping garb! Whip up a romantic meal in your self-contained kitchen and dine out under the stars and see what wildlife you can spot passing by your camp site.
You won’t even need to wash up after yourself – the camp staff will come and do that for you each day. This is glamping, after all!
2. EUROPE
WHITE POD – SWITZERLAND
Now this is the ultimate European alpine escape for nature lovers and adventure seekers! Designed to cater for only 30 guests at a time, White Pod is made up of 15 geodesic-dome pods, each anchored on wooden platforms in the charming village of Les Cerniers, in the Swiss Alps.
Each of the white pods blend seamlessly into the natural environment and are an insulated cocoon from the outside world, equipped with wood-burning stoves, organic luxury bedding and bathrooms, and a very chic and contemporary style.
Guests have access to a private ski run with lifts and seven kilometres of pistes plus activities ranging from cross-country skiing, dog-sledging, paragliding, snow shoeing and hiking, to simply melting away in the Finnish sauna or Japanese bath house.
The central chalet provides a cosy place to relax around the central fireplace, dine out and socialise – the evening drinks are a popular way to wind down after a day on the slopes.
3. AFRICA
GREYSTOKE MAHALE – TANZANIA
Imagine this: your wildly exotic, traditional hut, hidden away in a tiny sanctuary on the soft sand shores of a huge lake with crystal clear water, and surrounded by forested slopes that are home to the world’s largest known population of chimpanzees.
This is Greystoke Mahale… and it’s heaven on earth for any castaway! The six bandas are open fronted, with dressing rooms, adjoining bathrooms accessible via a short boardwalk with flush toilets and powerful showers, and upstairs chill-out decks.
The main attraction here is the primates – every day you can venture out into the forest with small managed groups to observe and commune with the chimps, silently watching them groom, wrestle and forage across the leafy floor. A truly incredible experience!
Couples will love:
Private barefoot dinners on the beach and sundowners on the water aboard the resort’s dhow; mingling with guests in the rustic thatched mess; or sashimi and drinks at the bar on the rocky headland, washed down with the most magical views of Lake Tanganyika.
4. INDIA
AMAN-I-KHAS – RANTHAMBHORE, RAJASTAN
Set against a dramatic backdrop with views of the Aravalli Hills, Aman-i-Khas is part of what was once the hunting grounds of the Maharajah of Jaipur, and is now the Ranthambhore National Park.
The tents are reminiscent of those of the splendid travelling Moghul camps of this richly elaborate period, each with a soaring six-metre canopy of canvas and with interior walls and ceilings draped in fine cotton. Inside, oversized daybeds, an opulent bedroom with kind size bed, and a bathing area, make this tent fit for an Indian maharani.
Couples will love:
Take a camel safari through the outskirts of the Park, or visit the old city within Ranthambhore Fort, where you can step back in time in the narrow main thoroughfare and wander among the food sellers, perfumeries, gold and silversmiths, carpenters and cobblers.
5. SOUTH-EAST ASIA
AMANWANA – INDONESIA
On the island of Moyo – a nature reserve east of Bali – lies the hidden gem called Amanwana, totally secluded with 20 luxury tents set in a stunning location overlooking the Flores Sea.There’s only one way in and out of the island, and that’s by sea plane, which lands in the cove right in front of the resort … it’s a little bit Fantasy Island, minus the sidekick Tattoo!
With solid foundations and canvas ceilings, king size beds, air conditioning and Indonesian decor, the tents are the epitome of exotic luxury and romance. Choose from the jungle tents for maximum privacy (and close proximity to the cheeky resident monkeys), or one of the ocean tents with easy access to the sun loungers and the coral reefs just offshore that offer ideal snorkelling and diving sites.
The resort also has an open-air dining pavilion and bar, and a jungle cove spa and music pavilion in the forest where guests can kick back on cushions and listen to music from an iPod station with some afternoon tea or sunset cocktails.
Couples will love:
The intimate ambience of a true island hideaway, where the jungle meets the sea. Plus you have the resort’s 32-metre coastal cruiser on hand to whisk you off for day trips to Rinca and Komodo islands.
Looking for a Romantic Glamping Experience Closer to Home? Check Out: 10 of the Best Glamping Spots in Australia for a Romantic Escape