Best Hotels & Lodges

Rancharia Charme Beach is in a great location, with one side facing the main street and the other overlooking Vilarejo beach. It sits by the river and offers beautiful views of the sea, letting guests enjoy nature fully. The pousada has a rustic brazilian style and is decorated with artwork from northeastern artists. It's a perfect place for hosting special events and celebrations, creating a memorable atmosphere for every guest.

Perched a thousand feet above Pokhara Valley, Tiger Mountain delivers views that make you temporarily forget your own name. Three 8,000-metre peaks – Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu – dominate the horizon, while the sacred Fishtail mountain peeks through the morning mist. This isn't your typical mountain lodge however, but a stone village dreamt up by Harvard architects and blessed by Sir Edmund himself back in '98. The staff, most who have been here since day one, know every butterfly by name (there are 275!) and can spot a Himalayan griffon before you've finished your cup of tea. It's the perfect spot for pre-trek acclimatisation or simply hiding away from the world with a good book and even better views.

Nepal's Pokhara Valley sits at the foot of the Annapurnas, cosseted by three of the world's tallest peaks and the unmistakable fishtail silhouette of Machapuchare. And it's in this magical spot that you'll find The Pavilions, two sister retreats called The Farm, a working organic smallholding dotted with private villas, and Lake View, a collection of glamping tents reached by paddle boat across Phewa Lake. But what sets The Pavilions apart isn't just the scenery or the farm-fresh food – it's the fact that the majority of profits fund local education and support vulnerable women and children. It's eco-credentials are genuinely impressive too, with solar power, biogas and triple-recycled rainwater running the show.

Hog Hollow Country Lodge and Villa is set on the edge of an indigenous forest, with breathtaking views of Natures Valley and the Tsitsikamma Mountains. It's also just 18 kilometres away from the coastal town of Plettenberg Bay, making it a perfect place to experience the best of both worlds. At the lodge, expect soft green lawns, flower-covered cottages, turquoise pools, wooded valleys and wonderful views. It's also an excellent destination for families with many activities available in the vicinity, as well as the amazing hiking trails and nature walks in Natures Valley.

A few metres from the shore of the Golfo Nuevo is the Rayentray Grand Hotel, where you can experience the comfort of the hotel's hospitality and the beauty of the Patagonian nature.

The hotel has 170 rooms with direct sea view and an excellent restaurant where you will be able to taste a variety of local and international cuisine.

Tuli Safari Lodge sits in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve, a region known as the "Land of Giants." Why? Large red rocky outcrops and enormous baobabs stud the landscape, and there's more elephants around than you can shake a stick at. The lodge itself is a smart, modern and sophisticated sanctuary amidst the wilderness and set in a shady forest on the banks of the legendary Limpopo River, with views over the valley beyond. As for the wildlife in the reserve, it's varied and abundant, thanks to the diversity of habitats, and you'll have the chance to spot everything from lion, leopard, wild dogs and cheetah to eland (Africa's largest antelope), zebra and prolific birdlife.

For an unforgettable night departing from Dar Ahlam, this nomadic refuge is the camp of your dreams. The rolling sand dunes stretch endlessly around Iriki, a former salt lake where a luxurious tented retreat has been set up.

Let yourself slip into a new rhythm during the tea ceremony, as the sun bathes the desert in warm orange hues, leading into an intimate dinner by the fire.

During the hottest months, the camp is moved to the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Perfect for enjoying cooler air and gazing at the celestial dance of the stars as night falls.

When Thailand's Dusit brand planted its flag in Nepal's capital in 2023, it brought something refreshingly different to Lazimpat's leafy streets. It's certainly not your typical Kathmandu crash pad and instead you've got an infinity pool gazing at Himalayan peaks (it's the highest in Nepal), rooftop shisha lounges pulsing with DJ sets, and Thai masseurs working their magic twelve floors above the city's bustle. The whole place feels uncluttered and calm – all clean lines and peaceful corners, and it's quickly become a clever choice for travellers who want their dal bhat served with a side of high-end sophistication.

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...

Your home away from home in Nepal comes in the guise of Nepali Ghar, a characterful boutique hotel. Tucked into bustling Thamel, it's blissfully quiet once you step inside and has become a beloved sanctuary for trekkers seeking comfort before and after Himalayan adventures. But what makes it truly special is the journey through Nepal's architectural history, the original building showcasing exquisite Newari woodwork, while the newer Seto Ghar wing occupies a restored 200-year-old neoclassical mansion that once housed Rana-era royalty. Throw in an exceptional team, free daily yoga and the Garden of Dreams just two minutes away, and you've got yourself a proper Kathmandu base.

Perched in the riverine firest overlooking the meandering Sweni River in the secluded eastern Kruger Park, Singita Sweni is the smaller, intimate version of adjacent big brother Singita Lebombo. The surroundings are lush, the wildlife viewing is really good (this is Big Five paradise and the nearby Lebombo Mountains are renowned for their prides of lion) and the lodge itself is a wonderfully luxurious retreat. Explore the wilderness and its animals, admire the rock formations, watch the river and the bountiful birdlife from your personal glass-boxed treehouse, and enjoy five-star cuisine. Singita Sweni is hard to beat.