Multiple Regions Beaches, Countryside, Safari, Sport & Adventure, Sustainable Tourism
Where in the World: Extraordinary destinations that inspire wonder
Where in the World | Unique Luxury Destinations
From hidden hotels to natural wonders, our Where in the World series reveals some of the planet’s most surprising luxury destinations – places that intrigue at first glance and stay with you long after
From remote islands and desert lodges to rainbow-hued mountains and futuristic hideaways, these destinations share a sense of surprise and wonder. Each Where in the World spotlight reveals a place not immediately recognisable – settings that combine design, culture and nature in striking ways. Together, they form an evolving atlas of extraordinary escapes.
Kisawa Sanctuary, Benguerra Island, Mozambique
Kisawa Sanctuary, a conservation-focused island resort on Mozambique’s Benguerra Island, blends coastal forest with 300 hectares of beachfront in the Bazaruto Archipelago. It is the first hospitality project by Swiss entrepreneur, creative director, and philanthropist Nina Flohr of NJF Designs.
Its 22 bungalows across 12 residences were consciously constructed to leave a light footprint. Local Mozambican heritage is celebrated through artisan techniques such as weaving, thatching and carpentry. Carved chairs and tables were made from jambir and sambiri woods by local craftspeople; while artworks were sourced across Africa, including clay water pots from Nigeria, and chairs hand-carved in Tanzania. Guests can support marine research and conservation by volunteering at Kisawa’s sister property, Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies, Africa’s first permanent ocean observatory.
Habitas AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Habitas AlUla, set dramatically within an ancient oasis in Saudi Arabia’s Ashar Valley, sits among desert canyons and sandstone cliffs in the UNESCO-rich AlUla region. The property, by sustainable, experience-led hospitality group Habitas, was the brand’s first ‘home’ in the Middle East, opening in November 2021.
The 96 guest rooms are divided into three tiers: premium Celestial Villas, Alcove Villas and Canyon Villas. Common areas include an outdoor yoga deck, wellness and fitness centres, onsite restaurant Tama (meaning ‘here’ in Aramaic), and the swimming pool. All spaces are constructed from ethically sourced organic materials, with a minimally invasive build designed to blend seamlessly into its natural surroundings. While staying here, guests can immerse themselves in arts and culture walks, canyon trekking, yoga, meditation and breathwork. Cultural experts host open discussion lectures relating to local initiatives and history; and lead guided walks through the remains of the ancient city where the Nabateans once lived. Rates at Habitas AlUla start from US$600 (about AU$891) per night.
Okahirongo Elephant Lodge, Kaokoland, Namibia
Okahirongo Elephant Lodge, a luxury safari escape in Namibia’s Kaokoland desert, rises above the Hoarusib Riverbed as an oasis of comfort and culture. Recently refurbished by Sanctuary Retreats, the lodge offers seven suites and a two-bedroom villa, each with a private terrace and a covered day bed, overlooking the desert, plus a bathroom with both indoor and open-air showers.
The dramatic design of the dome structures is an ode to the signature homes of the Himba, the indigenous people of Northern Namibia. While staying here, guests can venture into the desert during scenic drives with local guides to encounter desert-adapted elephants, giraffes, antelope and springbok. Follow the deep path carved by the river through the mountains, which has created spectacular cliffs and an impressive natural phenomenon known as the ‘Clay Castles’. Meet, and spend time with, local Himba tribespeople and, at twilight, relax with sundowners on the dunes, a dip in the infinity-edge pool, dine at the lodge’s open-air restaurant or gather around an open fire beneath the traditional boma. The lodge is reached via a 2.5-hour flight from Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, or a 12-hour road transfer. Rates start from AU$1,995 per person, twin share for a 3-night stay.
Catalina Island, California, USA
Catalina Island, just 35 kilometres off the Southern California coast, offers Mediterranean-like beauty, with its cascade of hillside houses and glistening waters. It boasts a holiday trifecta of delicious seclusion, beauty and charm, and yet the chances of bumping into another Australian, let alone a non-American, are slim to none. Over 80 per cent of the island’s visitors are sun-bronzed Californians, with only 1.5 per cent hailing from overseas, making it one of the Pacific’s best kept secrets.
The island has a fascinating history (it was purchased and developed by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. in 1919, and was once the home of Marilyn Monroe), and strolling around its main town, Avalon – with its yacht-dotted harbour, narrow streets and lolly-coloured waterfront shops and restaurants – is an absolute delight. Don’t miss that circular Art Deco wonder, Catalina Island Casino, which is full of surprises – starting with the fact that it’s not a gambling house at all.
Pamukkale, Denizli Province, Turkey
Pamukkale, known as ‘cotton castle’, is a surreal landscape of white travertine terraces cascading down a hillside in southwestern Turkey’s Denizli Province. Seemingly from another world, the naturally formed, striking staircase of calcium deposits stretches to 2,700 metres long and 600 metres wide and contains mineral-rich thermal waters.
Beyond its ethereal beauty and healing hot springs, Pamukkale boasts UNESCO World Heritage Site status, and is celebrated for its historical significance. It is located a stone’s throw from the city of Hierapolis, an ancient Roman spa city founded around 190 BC and known for its temples and ruins, which include a well-preserved theatre and a necropolis with sarcophagi that extends for two kilometres.
One&Only Mandarina, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
One&Only Mandarina, set where Mexico’s Sierra Madre Occidental mountains meet the Pacific Ocean, is arguably the country’s hottest new postcode. Some say it’s North America’s – in the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels awards in 2023, it snatched the top spot on the continent, and eighth place globally.
It’s not hard to see why. A stay here is like paying homage to Mother Nature, your backdrop a dreamy union of soaring mountain peaks, sandy shores, rolling green flatlands and that lush tropical rainforest. The architect-designed villas and treehouses are barefoot luxe at its finest, which means you can check in to drop-dead-gorgeous spaces (each with a private plunge pool) and sleep soundly knowing the team has worked hard to preserve the area’s rich biodiversity and Indigenous heritage – many rock carvings by the local Cora and Huichol cultures are present across the property. We wouldn’t blame you for spending days hopping between garden-to-plate restaurants, bars offering mezcal tastings and indulgent spa treatments. But if you do manage to tear yourself away, snorkelling, whale-watching and beach horse riding await.
Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain), Cusco, Peru
Vinicunca, or Rainbow Mountain, near Cusco in Peru’s Andes, is a geological wonder striped in seven vivid colours at 5,036 metres above sea level. The colourful stripes are made up of more than 14 different minerals, and they were only revealed in 2013 when ice-melt over the mountain revealed them in all their rainbow glory. Fun fact: Without the snow interacting with the minerals, the striations would never have formed. Despite the fact that this glorious sight does tell a rather sobering story about climate change, it’s still a geological wonder to behold – all red clays, calcium carbonate-rich sediments, ferromagnesian compounds, and other combinations of elements that interweave to paint an unimaginable colour palette.
DistrictHive Podtel, Sierra Nevada, Spain
DistrictHive Podtel is an off-grid, carbon-neutral and 100 per cent sustainable tiny home in Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Dramatic setting aside, it is entirely AI powered, which means that a nifty app controls everything from lighting and temperature to concierge services and energy management. But we suggest that you switch off when you arrive and make the most of the photo-frame outdoor shower – there’s no one else around for miles, after all – along with the infinity anti-gravity pool and stargazing hammocks. DistrictHive is known for choosing remote and ravishing locations for its eco-exciting pods, from the Azores to Iceland, Mauritius to Rwanda. But start here – the Sierras are sensational. Plus, the Sierra Nevada mountains are also home to the 13th century architectural masterpiece, Alhambra – that lavishly sprawling hilltop fortress uniting Moorish royal palaces with Nasrid reflecting pools, fountains and Generalife gardens.
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