Best Hotels & Lodges

Forget your typical heritage hotel – Dwarika's is what happens when someone becomes so obsessed with saving Kathmandu's disappearing architecture that they accidentally create one of the finest luxury retreats in Nepal. Started by one man (Dwarika Das Shrestha) rescuing centuries-old carved doors and windows from bulldozers in the 1950s, this extraordinary property has grown into a living showcase of Newari craftsmanship and it's now one of the world's largest private collections. Tucked away from Kathmandu's honking madness yet conveniently close to sacred sites and the airport, you'll find yourself having breakfast beneath 13th-century woodwork whilst planning your Himalayan adventures...

This mid-sized lodge has a safari character with a difference. Located in the central eastern parts of the Kruger National Park in the Singita Private Concession, it's set on a cliff face overlooking the N’wanetsi River. Enjoy spectacular views of the bush, extravagant luxury and a top-end wellness centre. Like its sister lodges, Singita Lebombo is known for its impressive guiding. Discover the secrets of the wild on foot or from a vehicle and get the chance to come face to face with the Big Five and so much more.

Step off one of Bologna's narrow medieval lanes, push open a discreet wooden door, and you'll find yourself standing beneath a soaring glass cupola. The palazzo of Hotel Corona D'oro has been woven into the city's fabric since the 13th century when it belonged to the noble Azzoguidi family, and has been welcoming guests since 1890. With only 40 rooms, flagstoned cloisters and a pretty, vaulted breakfast room it's a more intimate version of the city's grander options. The location is hard to fault too, with the Two Towers are literally round the corner and Piazza Maggiore five minutes on foot.

Okonjima Plains Camp was built on the site of the owner's original farmhouse. After a dramatic face lift the 'Barn' doors, the nickname for the main area of the camp, were officially opened. It offers comfortable and stylish accommodation for guests visiting the AfriCat Foundation project. With 30 rooms, it's a larger camp than we would usually recommend, but if you are interested in big cats and seeing how the world's most successful research and rehabilitation project works in practice, a 2 night stay here is a must.

Although just a 5 minute walk from the hustle and bustle of Chaweng Town, Sala Samui manages to provide a haven of calm, right on the water's edge. Sun-splashed, whitewashed and beautifully understated, the resort ticks many boxes for a seaside resort. Alongside the usual lineup of private pools and daybeds to lounge on, added luxe extras include toes-in-the-sand dining every evening if you so desire and movie nights on the starlit beach. Gorgeous views of the Gulf of Thailand complete the picture - and we haven't even told you about the Sala Spa with its solar-themed treatment rooms and world-renowned products. Bliss, indeed.

Steeped in history yet entirely modern, this light, bright and thoroughly beautiful hotel sits high in the Sri Lankan hills offering gorgeous views of Castlereagh Reservoir. With just five bedrooms, it's intimate and relaxing and the service is always second to none (especially when your dedicated butler makes an appearance...). Days are all about taking in the stylish luxury, wandering the beautiful gardens and cooling off in the crystal-clear infinity pool. It's the sort of spot we wish we could teleport you to, pronto.

The Jungle Villa Resort is surrounded by lush greenery and is located on the edge of the Rapti river, providing all residents’ splendid nature views and wildlife sighting from the property. At the northern edge of the Chitwan National Park, the resort provides comfortable amenities enriching your jungle experience. Blending into nature, the resort has wildlife views from the deck and rooms. You can capture a glimpse of herds of deer, the one-horned rhinos, the royal Bengal tiger, birds, and other amphibians and aquatic animals at sunrise or sunset by the Rapti river. The property is located half an hour away from the Bharatpur airport.

Three Tree Hill Lodge is set against the magnificent backdrop of the Drakensberg Mountains, and overlooks the secluded Mfazimnyama Valley of the Spioenkop Game Reserve. It is an owner-managed, eco-friendly, historic lodge offering spectacular scenery, locally grown farm-style country food and warm hospitality in a relaxed atmosphere. The lodge has 6 double/twin cottages along with 3 self contained cottages namely Kiplings Family, Churchills and Burchells which can accommodate different group sizes and offer different views of the reserve depending on where you stay. It is also the perfect base to explore the major Anglo-Boer War Battlefields in KwaZulu Natal, and the Northern Drakensberg Mountains, a world heritage site. History and wildlife enthusiasts will love this comfortable and welcoming lodge.

In Swahili Pole Pole means 'slowly, slowly' a very apt description for this picturesque quaint lodge built up on the hillside set amidst palm trees sloping down to a small sandy shore lined with mangroves. The lodge has a distinct unpretentious and laid back atmosphere that has garnered it a lot of accolades as one of the best luxury eco resorts in the world. Let your phone battery die and disconnect from the outside world. The service is discreet and thoughtful with heavily Italian-influenced cuisine with a Tanzanian flair. Relax with the tides—the perfect compliment to any bush safari.

Behind austere façades, this intimate hideaway reveals one of the city's most remarkable secrets - a 4,000-square-metre private garden that whispers tales dating back to 1305. The interiors strike an exquisite note with Zimbabwe granite, Vicenza stone, and refined oak, while design aficionados will appreciate the thoughtfully curated Antonio Citterio furnishings and jewel-inspired artwork adorning each space.

Kitich Camp is a truly remote and private location set in a pristine forest on the upper slopes of the Mathews Mountains (also known as the Lenkiyio Hills). The camp has guarded this vast natural forest for more than 40 years and was originally set up in the 1970s as a private hideaway for his friends by the celebrated hunter and conservationist Miles Burton. The forest covers some 900 square kilometres of Mathews Mountains' peaks, which soar so high above the lowlands that the BBC described the area as a “biological bonanza" on a "sky island".