Best Hotels & Lodges

Nestled in the heart of Takayama, a town rich in history and cultural heritage, the Honjin Hiranoya Kofukan Ryokan invites guests into an enchanting realm of Japanese hospitality. A stone's throw from the captivating old town and the Miyagawa Morning Market, the ryokan exudes a calming ambiance with its Zen gardens and the soft murmur of flowing water. This ethereal atmosphere is evident throughout, from the steaming onsen baths to the meticulously designed rooms. Given its idyllic location, guests can easily navigate the winding streets of Takayama and explore the sake breweries, artisan shops, and historic buildings.

Not all safari camps are of the canvas and game driving variety and Sasaab is definitely one of them. Well, there’s a little bit of canvas around and you can certainly game drive in the striking wild lands of the Samburu and Buffalo Springs reserves, but that’s just the beginning; there’s also camel rides, spa treatments, fly camping and walking safaris at this elegant Moroccan-inspired retreat. As the only tourist initiative in the area, ties with the local Samburu are strong and $50 from each stay is donated to the 600 families in the Westgate Community Conservancy. Beautifully designed, ethical and eco-friendly… could this be the perfect safari camp?

Step into rustic bliss at this peaceful resort, leaving worries firmly at the door. Once a gallery itself, art is everywhere including the over-sized stone birds who seem to drink from the indigo pool. Rest is a priority in this leafy corner of Hue, and the Vedanā Spa keeps the herbal tea flowing and the body scrubs in full force. A scenic shuttle into town opens up a world of history to discover - after all, this is the spiritual heart of Vietnam. Drift off to sleep each evening after reading the handwritten story left on your pillow.

On the eastern side of Lake Windermere, up the winding Crook Road and past the broody, rolling fells, you'll find the Gilpin Hotel & Lake House. The Cunliffe family have spent six generations turning this Lakeland bolthole into one of England's most coveted retreats and there are actually two abodes set a mile apart: the 21-acre Gilpin Hotel, with its Michelin-starred restaurant, pan-Asian Spice and a meadow of llamas and micro pigs, and the six-bedroom Lake House, hidden in 100 private acres on the bank of Knipe Tarn. Both run on the same motto, "love and laughter," and both deliver it with aplomb (with plenty of G&Ts to go around).

The only Relais & Chateaux hotel in Puno, Titilaka is a boutique hotel of dreams. A re-modelled getaway lodge, it's totally off the beaten path on its own private peninsula, surrounded by nothing but ethereal Titicaca lake views. Here, your only companions are infinite skies, snowcapped mountains and the shimmering waters of the pristine lake and in the hotel, an indulgent experience awaits. Enjoy world-class facilities, exquisite food and a range of enlightening activities, designed to offer a taste of the lake dwellers’ traditions and way of life. A magnificent feast for the senses in every way.

Mustang was closed to outsiders for centuries, and even now, reaching its wind-sculpted valleys feels like arriving somewhere the modern world has forgotten all about. Seated just above the frontier town of Jomsom, between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, Shinta Mani Mustang is the first proper luxury lodge in this corner of Nepal – and it was well worth the wait. Designer Bill Bensley has worked his magic on the hillside stone building, filling it with upcycled antiques, yak fur stools and tiger-motif rugs that somehow feel completely at home, even at 2,800 metres high in the sky. Stay more than five nights and it's all included: guided excursions, wellness treatments with an 11th-generation Tibetan medicine doctor, themed dinners and drinks – your Adventure Butler will take care of the lot!

Leadwood Lodge sits in the fork of the Sand and Mabrak Rivers, in the exclusive Sabi Sand Game Reserve, famous for outstanding game viewing (particularly leopards!). Just four private suites make this lodge an excellent choice for a secluded safari, and perfect for small groups of up to eight guests travelling together. The suites are well placed along the granite-strewn river banks for complete privacy. Classy design incorporates smooth stone interiors, chunky wooden décor, classic thatch and wide expanses of glass to blend and flow with the natural surroundings. Expect the best hospitality and plenty of decadent touches all round.

This intimate, stone and cement lodge is located in the Nyerere National Park ('The Selous') of Southern Tanzania. Set on the banks of the Rufiji River amongst the trees, behold breathtaking views across the water and wildlife in abundance. The outstanding service, luxury lodging and enthusiasm of guiding make for a complete experience. Your days are spent exploring the surrounding wilderness home to an impressive array of animals by driven, walking or boating safari.

Lake Como's villas have always attracted the sort of people who make for interesting company, and this 18th-century Moltrasio beauty is no exception. Count Lucini-Passalacqua built the place, composer Vincenzo Bellini wrote two operas between its walls, and Napoleon and Churchill have both popped by. Today, the De Santis family have poured three years of love (and a lot of antique-market hauls) into transforming it into a 24-room hotel that somehow still feels like a private home. Seven acres of terraced gardens cascade to the shoreline, Murano chandeliers drip from the frescoed ceilings and the whole thing is gloriously, unapologetically over the top. It was winner of the World's Best Hotel in 2023, no less.