More than a decade ago, it was easy to arrive at a new destination with a guidebook in hand and little expectation of what awaited you. Thanks to the Internet and social media, today’s travelers can scroll through thousands of photos to see every angle of their next destination before they get off the plane. For all the benefits of this aspect, it can also have drawbacks. Aside from the crowds at sites from Angkor Wat to the Trevi Fountain, and the initial style vacation photos that fill hundreds of smaller LCD screens, having seen hundreds of photos can keep you from visiting a new attraction. .
Healing? Head out into the wilderness and see some of nature’s most dramatic landscapes. Whether that means paddling in the flooded Amazon, sloths hovering overhead or gliding over the snow-capped peaks of New Zealand’s South Island, some places have to be seen to be believed.
While camping under the stars in the middle of the desert may appeal to some intrepid travelers, there’s good news for others: you don’t have to give up material pleasures to get up close and personal with nature. Around the world, some of the most breathtaking landscapes are also home to destination resorts – and if there’s anything better than watching the Northern Lights twinkle in the sky, it’s doing it in an indoor spa tub.
White Desert — White Desert Camp, Antarctica
More than a century ago, British explorer Robert Falcon Scott led a team across Antarctica in an attempt to be the first to reach the South Pole. The operation was intense, involving dog teams and ponies, initially for transport and later for meat. It took the team more than two months to reach their destination. By then, the competing Norwegian side had arrived, claiming glory. But the worst was yet to come: In the end, dangerous conditions and hunger killed the explorers before they could return to base.
Fortunately for today’s prospective Antarctic explorers, reaching the South Pole has become easier and staying there more luxurious. White Desert offers four- and eight-day trips from Cape Town. Activities depend on the length of the trip, but can include trips through ice tunnels, visits to emperor penguins, and even flights to the Geographic South Pole. Guests stay in dome-shaped heated “pods” with simple but chic decor, including beds, desks and half baths, and find everything they need in separate showers, dining rooms and lounges. While the trip of the century may require less perseverance, the government will still be better off funding the expedition: be prepared to pay $32,000 per person for a four-day trip, and $84,000 for eight days.
andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge — Namib Desert, Namibia
Within Namibia’s largest protected area, the Namib-Noklovut National Park, Sossusli is a striking desert landscape where towering red-burning sand dunes give way to a white clay floor.
Harsh desert conditions do not equate to inhospitable accommodations. With activities such as dining on the dunes and hot air balloon rides, Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge offers visitors a luxurious stay with easy access to the environment that first drew them there. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, with desert views on the horizon, and the lodge has an on-site astronomer who can teach guests what they see overhead.
Arctic TreeHouse Hotel — Rovaniemi, Finland
Finland’s Lapland region offers another enchanting experience. Located on the Arctic Circle, Arctic Treehouse Hotel offers travelers the perfect setting with stylish suites tucked away in the forest.
While Finland has a plethora of activities and attractions for visitors, one of the most compelling reasons to visit is the spectacular Northern Lights. Beams of red and green light shimmer across the sky in this dazzling natural light show. There’s no guarantee that the Northern Lights will be seen, but guests staying at the Arctic Treehouse Hotel can get a head start: the glass-front cabins mean guests can sleep in beds or private saunas and stay comfortable while waiting for the display. For the best chance of catching the Aurora Borealis, do so between September and March. The lights can usually be seen every other cloudless night, so grab a glass of wine and curl up by the window on a clear, starry night.
Oasis at Death Valley — Death Valley, California
Four and a half hours northeast of Los Angeles and two and a half hours northwest of Las Vegas, the oasis of Death Valley rises from the middle of the desert, the hills giving way to palm trees and bright lights. This oasis is no mirage. Since 1927, the Death Valley Inn has been hosting guests in the largest national park in the lower 48 states. But this is no 1900s hotel. Following a major renovation last year, guests can expect interior updates as well as cabanas by the gardens and a lodge by the pool.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the surrounding landscape. Death Valley has a diverse landscape, from mountains to wildflowers to salt flats, and the Oasis is nestled in the middle of it all. Because the park is so large, it’s important to plan ahead to visit as much as possible. If the name doesn’t hint enough, be warned: Death Valley gets so hot in the summer that the mercury rises above 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade.
