Newest Trend in Travel: Luxury Tented Resorts

Tina Meyer — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 19:02:00 -0400

The “less-is-more” sophistication of luxury “tented” resorts operated in Africa and Asia emerged as the newest travel trend in 2006. These camps offer guests a unique experience in that they retain a true sense of place and culture, rather than being a transplant of the American resort model to an exotic locale. The resorts listed here – with the exception of the Four Seasons – are located in close proximity to national parks and wildlife reserves, and they emphasize ecological harmony and sustainability in their design, operation, and choice of activities. Maybe a visit to one of them should be on your globetrotting list.

Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle

On a tributary of the Mekong River, located where the countries of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos border in the so-called “Golden Triangle”, the Four Seasons chain has built a camp in which just fifteen “tree houses” serve as the only accommodations. Each house is an open, tented structure suspended by steel frames in a suitable tree. No room service is offered but the restaurant serves local organic foods, and one can relax around a pool or in the open-air spa. Part of the experience is the interaction with elephants rescued from the now banned logging trade. Guests are welcome to ride, feed, and bathe them, and share their sentiments with those left at home by logging on to the resort’s WiFi service.
www.fourseasons.com/goldentriangle

Vanyavilas

Vanyavilas is situated on the edge of Ranthambhore National Park in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The park is one of the world's most important tiger reserves and the resort offers 4-wheel drive tours for guests to encounter these majestic animals in their natural habitat. Accommodations consist of twenty-five spacious tents, and an outdoor restaurant serves Indian and European cuisine. The property also includes a pool, a spa, and a fitness tent.
www.oberoihotels.com

Aman-i-Khas

Also located alongside the Ranthambhore reserve is the Aman-i-Khas compound where upscale Aman Resorts offers ten chic tents designed in the minimalist “Mughal” tradition. Additional tent structures house a restaurant serving Indian and Western meals, as well as a library and a spa. Camel safaris are organized on request.
www.amanresorts.com

Marataba

The Marataba camp is found three hours north of Johannesburg at South Africa’s expansive Marakele National Park. There's a main lodge built of glass and stone in addition to twelve sleek tents decorated with contemporary furniture and African artifacts. Guests can choose between spending time at the 40-foot pool or joining one of the daily organized walks and drives into the park for game viewing. Afterwards, dinner is served in the glass-walled restaurant and on its romantic terrace.
www.hunterhotels.com

Onguma Tented Camp

Onguma is made up of just seven white canvas suites with rustic-chic interiors and private patios which overlook an active watering hole attracting the area’s abundant wildlife. The camp borders onto the Etosha National Park in northern Namibia.
www.ongumanamibia.com

Cottars 1920’s Camp

Set in Kenya’s famous Masai Mara Park, Cottars has been offering game drives, hikes, fishing, and visits to a nearby Masai village since 1919. The compound includes eight tents furnished with antique campaign chests, desks, and poster beds, and a candle-lit dining tent for glamorous dinners after the day’s activities.
www.cottars.com

Gastronomad: Newest Trend in Travel: Luxury Tented Resorts

Newest Trend in Travel: Luxury Tented Resorts