Amazing hotels... you may not have heard of

Lucy Pierce | August 6, 2018

Kishkinda Camp, India

In exceptional locations across India, The Ultimate Travelling Camp specialise in elegant and intimate safari camps. Open between 1 October and 15 April annually, the Kishkinda Camp is on the outskirts of the ruined city of Hampi. Once the capital of Hindu rulers for over 200 years, the ruins of the Unesco world heritage site are adorned with sculptures.

Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi

The safari-themed camp is designed to evoke memories of the grand days of travelling, replete with leather trunks, four-poster beds and comfortable armchairs. Along with a butler service, meals are prepared with locally grown food by award-winning chefs.

Kishkinda Camp

Shinta Mani Wild, Cambodia

Shinta Mani Wild is the creation of hotel designer Bill Bensley in south-east Asia’s greatest wilderness. Discovering an unprotected wildlife corridor, Bensley is working to protect it from poaching, mining and logging. The hotel is also setting up a community outreach programme to provide employment and education to local inhabitants.

Shinta Mani Wild exterior

The custom-designed tents are perched over swift-moving waters, providing a spectacular view and an unrivalled experience. Guests can explore the waterways of south-east Asia's last wild estuarine ecosystem aboard Shinta Mani's expedition boats or accompany rangers and researchers as they check camera traps and study the wild forests and their inhabitants.

Shinta Mani Wild bedroom

Shipwreck Lodge, Namibia

This 10-room lodge has been designed to resemble one of the shipwrecks that the coastline is famous for. The interiors are stylish and comfortable, offering views over the wind-swept dunes and the Atlantic.

Shipwreck Lodge

Wildlife drives are offered daily to try and spot the elusive desert dwelling elephant and the only viable lion populations in Namibia outside the Etosha National Park. From here, you can visit the Suiderkus and Karimona shipwrecks nearby, the Mowe Bay seal colony and the Hoanib river delta. Then, climb the dunes and have sundowners watching the fiery African sunset.

Mowe Bay seal colony

Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman

The Alila Jabal Akhdar is an oasis hidden away in the Al Hajar mountain range, a popular destination during the summer months to escape the heat of Muscat. Overlooking Oman’s ‘Grand Canyon’, the luxurious suites and villas have spectacular views over the rugged landscape of the ‘Green Mountain’.

Alila Jabal Akhdar balcony view

Interiors are stylishly decorated with Omani-inspired furnishings and the restaurant serves international cuisine with Middle Eastern influences. With clear skies, stargazing is popular here. The hotel offers telescope tours with an astral guide who can teach you about the constellations.

The Green Mountain, Alila Jabal Akhdar

Awasi Patagonia, Chile

Awasi Patagonia is a luxurious lodge set on a private reserve where pumas, guanacos and rheas roam. Working with researchers to understand the behaviour of the puma population, the Awasi Puma Foundation aims to protect these endangered big cats in and around the Torres del Paine National Park.

Awasi Patagonia

The lodges are reminiscent of old Patagonian dwellings and were built to blend into the rugged landscape. In your private villa, you can relax in front of the fireplace or in the hot tub taking in your wild surroundings. The restaurant serves local cuisine using fresh ingredients from the kitchen garden.

Hot tub with a view, Awasi Patagonia

Cox & Kings' travel experts can organise a tailor-made holiday to any of these locations to suit your preferences. Please either call one of our specialist travel consultants or complete our tailor-made request form and one of our experts will get back to you to help you plan an itinerary.

• Tags: Adventure, Africa, Art & Architecture, Chile, India, Landscape, Latin America, Middle East & North Africa, Wildlife, Worldwide

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