Best Hotels & Lodges

Established by Moorish and Jewish communities in the 15th century, Chefchaouen is a once-sleepy town that has grown into the maze of blue streets and souks that it is today. Nestled into a fold in the foothills of the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen has all the allure of a Moroccan Medina - did someone say Berber textiles and spiced street food? Set above the cascading alleyways, Lina Ryad has fantastic views of the medina and its mountain backdrop, with pristine, stylish decors. Mint tea and home-baked biscuits are constantly on-hand, best enjoyed after a dip in the Grecian, indoor pool or on the rooftop terrace.

Located in Entebbe, directly on the shore of Lake Victoria, Protea Hotel lies just six kilometres from the airport, so it's the ideal place to start or end your visit to this lovely country. Once the scene of great drama, Entebbe is now a pretty and peaceful contrast to the surge and heave of humanity in the capital, Kampala. The tranquil atmosphere extends to the hotel, where the service is streamlined, the accommodation is modern and comfortable and the food is very good.

This eco-designed luxury lodge, one of the world's first, is centrally positioned in Phinda Private Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Each of &Beyond's lodges in Phinda have been positioned in a different type of location. Phinda Rock Lodge, for example, is built into a cliff; Vlei Lodge overlooks a wetland. At Phinda Forest Lodge, the setting is a tranquil sand forest. Raised off the ground, with wooden decks and huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the lodge offers incredible views of the torchwood trees and other delights hidden in this unique ecosystem. Expect enthusiastic guiding, lion, rhino, cheetah and excellent birding.

Towering imperiously over the rippling tea plantations of north-eastern Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is worthy of just about every superlative imaginable. The highest mountain in Africa, and the highest freestanding mountain in the world, it can actually be climbed without a great deal of technical know-how and is open to most people with a relative level of fitness. For the ultimate bucket list trip, scale the slopes of Kili before flying to the Serengeti or the beaches of Zanzibar for a dose of iconic Africa… and a very well-deserved reward!

The property boasts Italy's only private golf club, a renowned Brunello di Montalcino winery, gourmet dining, and a serene spa. Despite world-class amenities, the estate maintains an intimate atmosphere where guests can experience the timeless beauty of Val d'Orcia while enjoying exceptional privacy and personalized service.

Deep in the Kiso Valley, a centuries-old farmhouse perches on a hillside above rice paddies and thick forest, looking much as it has since samurai walked the trails below. This is Zenagi, Japan's first 'expedition hotel', and it operates on a beautiful, simple premise: one group at a time, with a private chef, butler and guide dedicated entirely to you. The restored kominka is filled with black lacquer floors, washi-paper walls and furniture carved by locals, turning the whole place into a living gallery of Kiso craftsmanship. By day, former Olympic athletes lead you through gorges, along ancient samurai trails and into forests that are otherwise off-limits. It's deeply personal, wildly adventurous and utterly unlike anything else in Japan.

Recently refurbished, Camp Okavango now offers some of the most beautiful and elegant accommodation available in this pristine region of the Delta. This part of the private Shindi concession has a wide range of habitats but is dominated by permanent channels and shallow floodplains, making activities primarily water-focused. There is no vehicle traffic to disturb the peace. This camp suits a traveller whose priority is relaxation and experiencing the stunning landscape surrounding this private, luxurious camp. It offers an altogether different experience of the wilderness, where seeing big game is not the sole focus.

On a grain of land off Thailand's coast, Pimalai combines the best of jungle escape and high-brow resort. Translating as, 'a little patch of heaven', Pimalai certainly lives up to its name. Drink in views of the shimmering Andaman Sea from a shaded lounger on the beach and listen for the calls of macaques in the garden, which happens to be 100 acres of cashew, palm and coconut trees. It's hard to beat cocktails at the Horizon pool, which, at 200 feet above sea-level, feels like it's floating on air. The island of Koh Lanta is is just perfect for adventures from the seat of a motorbike and the ocean never has to call twice.