Isalo Rock Lodge

Large glass-panels allow you to enjoy views of the Sandstone Mountains from virtually anywhere at Isalo. The truly elegant 100-seater dining room is no exception - overlook the escarpment while dining inside or alfresco on the extensive deck. The pool area with the poolside bar is a favorite hang-out of course, as is the modern lounge with several plush sofas arranged in intimate seating areas. The inside bar is especially swanky with its contemporary light fixtures and wood-slatted bar. Overall, the decor is minimalist and makes the most its surrounds.

You can't go wrong with a room here at this impeccably designed hotel - each one has an exquisite, unobstructed view. There are sixty rooms in total, with beds that can be configured in various arrangements, from twin singles to king-sized beds. Each room's lounge area is especially large, as is the bathroom with a deep marble bathtub. No mod-con is amiss here (air-conditioning, a mini bar, tea/coffee making facilities, a phone), and yet rooms strike just the right note of luxury with their clean, simple lines.

Head into the interior of Isalo National Park for a few hours or a half-day excursion with a local guide. You can undertake this journey on horseback (no experience necessary) or on your own steam. Stopping off for a dip in the several natural oases and waterfalls or laying out a picnic overlooking a sandstone massifs are practically obligatory. Amongst Isalo's hallmark wildlife are lemurs, Verraux's sifaka, chameleons and several species of tropical birds. Or, if you're keen to keep it mellow there's no shame in setting up camp for a few days, poolside. To learn more about Malagasy culture, history and local industry, visit a nearby gemstone mine, where you sapphires and other precious stones have been discovered.