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Top 5 wilderness and splendid isolation holidays

It’s not that you’re not sociable, you just want to get away from it all. Us too. For those off-the-grid moments that we all crave, here’s our pick of the five best remote places for when silence is golden. Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, British Colombia, Canada An intimate retreat in the picture-postcard backwaters of Clayoquot Sound in British Columbia, Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is a wildlife lover’s haven and the place to spot black bears, wolves, cougars, grey whales, orcas and bald eagles, with excellent viewings until the end of September. If its beautiful cluster of tents wasn’t remote enough, the new addition will literally take your breath away. Set at 1,400m above sea level, Cloud Camp is a mountaintop sanctuary only accessible by the resort’s onsite helicopter. For one night only you’ll be whisked up into the clouds, where you can hike around your own private lake, dine under the stars with a five-course meal created by your very own chef and then nod off under canvas in a luxury tent that makes traditional camping look like a modern form of torture. Pure bliss. Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, British Colombia, Canada Eolo, Argentina Eolo is the closest accommodation to the Perito Moreno Glacier, and it’s hard to conceive a more remote lodge that’s perfectly blended with its harsh surroundings. Nestled in the wind-battered La Anita valley, if you can, imagine a classic sheep farm with added glamour: corrugated zinc walls, gable roofs and a rustic feel that is enhanced by homely interiors that include antique furniture and a leather and cord mix of upholstery that feels – weirdly – a lot like home. You could be forgiven for coming to Eolo just to stare at the views – and many guests do – but it would be a shame not to take advantage of the activities on offer, such as glacier hikes, mountain biking, horse riding, bird watching, or swimming in the deliciously ambient indoor pool. Eolo, Argentina Minaret Station Alpine Lodge, New Zealand Don’t worry – you’ve not woken up in Lord of the Rings. Forget everything you know about tents or camping, because this isn’t like anything you’ve seen before. From your arrival – by helicopter, of course – to the location – at 7,000ft in the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps – nothing about Minaret Station says ‘soggy canvas’. Cavernous safari tents are draped with wall-to-wall sheepskin carpets and possum throws snuggle invitingly into enormous beds. There are full en suite facilities with underfloor heating and – the Holy Grail – hot showers that seemingly never run out of water. Naturally, they are powered by the waterfall above the lodge. When you’ve finished coming to terms with your location, get stuck in to an alpine picnic, try deer stalking or even heli mountain biking. Minaret Station Alpine Lodge, New Zealand Ultima Thule Lodge, Alaska Consider somewhere quite far away, and we’ll bet Alaska is a popular choice. Ultima Thule Lodge is, by definition, quite far away. From anywhere. It’s a hundred miles from the nearest road, basking in a virgin wilderness of blanketing pines, snow-capped mountains and a riot of colourful flowers. Set in the remote Wrangell-St.Elias National Preserve – the largest protected wilderness on Earth – the lodge is the perfect place from which to explore the many glaciers, mountains and rivers that make up the preserve. There are endless activities on offer, including skiing, fishing, rafting, wildlife watching, glacier trekking and hiking. And after? Bedding down in your own traditional cabin, with beautiful views of the Chitina River. Ultima Thule Lodge, Alaska The Brando, Tahiti The Brando offers pure escapism at its finest. This eco-friendly retreat is one of 12 idyllic islands located some 30 miles from Tahiti and, as the name suggests, it was an exclusive sanctuary for Hollywood icon Marlon Brando. Although sustainable, this off-grid paradise is less hippy and definitely more chic, offering Polynesian inspired cuisine influenced by Michelin starred chef Guy Martin and 35 impressive villas each with their own private pool and lagoon views. Walk, swim, kayak or paddleboard between islands or spend time with the on-site research teams learning about the wildlife and ecosystem of this unique place. Paradise found. The Brando, Tahiti Claire Powell is Digital Marketing Manager at Abercrombie & Kent. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

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2 Comments

  1. Gotta think about that Minaret Station Alpine Lodge Claire! I am writing these words from Timaru, way down the coast on the South Island of New Zealand, right now. Seems like a perfect match. We saw the Southern Alps a few days back during a trip to Lake Tekapo. What a beautiful, magical and wonderful region. Pretty as can be. Thanks for sharing :)

    Ryan

    1. I was thinking the same thing! I was in New Zealand for 10 days last year and I was lucky enough to visit both islands. And while driving down to Taupo from Auckland — and then driving to Wellington from Taupo — I kept thinking about how open and isolated the entire country felt. It really is a perfect place for an “isolation holiday”, that’s for certain.

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