ISOLATED HOTELS THAT YOU WILL LOVE

When you think you have gone too far and missed your junction and should probably turn back – keep going. For at the end of a very long road that leads out into the Liwa Desert you’ll find Qasr Al Sarab, a true desert oasis. If you’re feeling active you can enjoy mountain bike rides, camel rides and dune treks, and if you just want to relax you can book a session in the spa or enjoy a cocktail on your terrace as Arabian oryx drink at the watering hole. If you need a further example of how remote this hotel is – they even managed to film Star Wars movie here without anyone knowing.

This is one place where you don’t have to worry about bumping into your neighbours. The Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp in Namibia. Found among the dunes of northern Damaraland, this camp is designed for those who are looking for some alone time. Your only neighbours will be some desert-dwelling elephants and the blip on the horizon – well, that will be a sky filled with stars.

You wouldn’t think that the Mongolian Steppes would be a place where you can get fluffy towels, but if you travel to the Three Camel Lodge, not only can you relax in a luxury ger with an ensuite, but unobstructed views of the Gobi desert. Spend the day, hiking and biking and the night stargazing through your ger’s skylight.

If you want to leave the hustle and bustle of Sydney behind, take a quick flight across the Tasman Sea to Lord Howe Island. This treasure island of rugged volcanic peaks, blue lagoons and encircled by rich coral reefs has to be seen to be believed. Leave your luggage at Capella Lodge, then go snorkelling or scuba diving on the jewel-coloured reef or climb up to Malabar Hill to get panoramic views of the island.

This hilltop hideaway in Grand Teton National Park is worth the journey all year round. In the spring you can spy bears, elk and moose coming out of hibernation, in the summer you can join Amangani’s in-house naturalists for a tour of nearby Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks and in the winter months you can take to the slopes at the world famous ski resort that is Jackson Hole.