ORGANIC STYLE
Camping’s upgrade to glamping has resulted in outstanding examples such as Awasi Atacama’s chic cabanas in Chile’s otherwise inhospitable Atacama Desert, as well as Under Canvas, which operates a network of safari-inspired tents in unspoilt locations around the US.
Even in Japan, travellers are looking further afield from the popular cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. Julia Maeda, co-founder of Okuni, an agency that arranges bespoke luxury tours, says that many international clients are interested in combining culture, architecture and nature. “They are not just looking for luxury in out-of-the-way locations. There is a strong interest in being immersed in nature and local culture in a thoughtful and meaningful way,” she says.
Places that have caught her eye include Japanese Shugendo Buddhist monk and businessman Tetsuji Matsubayashi’s Sasayuri-ann traditional farmhouses, which are surrounded by rice paddies in the serene mountain town of Fukano, Nara Prefecture. Silent seclusion is complemented
by panoramic views and opportunities for seated and walking meditation in the pine-forested mountains. “The stress of busy modern life makes getting away to spend quiet, mindful time in a natural setting more important than ever,” Matsubayashi says.
Platinum certification, an industry symbol for sustainability achievement. It sets a high benchmark with its luxurious rammedearth huts with outdoor showers and treetop villas as well as open-air Jacuzzis, built along the ridge of a mountain using innovative techniques to minimise disturbances to the forest. A three-hour drive from Shanghai, the striking mountains of Moganshan have quickly become a popular retreat for hiking, horseback riding and mountain-riding trails.
“Ten years ago, when we opened
Naked Stables, the Chinese living in the
city had no idea what it is like to be in nature, but they learned quickly. Today, we see the public wanting to explore and experience all kinds of outdoor activities, both locally and internationally,” says Naked Retreats co-founder and architect Delphine Yip-horsfield.
Pioneering boutique hospitality brand Singita has also been doing its part by transforming the luxury safari experience with a seductive combination of serious conservation and great design. Set within 72 hectares, its latest opening, Singita Kwitonda Lodge in northwestern Rwanda, incorporates the natural elements of Volcanoes National Park, home to 320 endangered mountain
“Experiencing the great outdoors without roughing it is a huge draw, and as travellers become more eco-conscious, it’ll only become more popular”
gorillas, and provides a nexus for learning and support. The lodge features indoor and outdoor fireplaces and heated plunge pools, while large windows allow guests to revel in sweeping views. “The real attraction is the authentic wilderness experience,” says Singita founder and executive chairman Luke Bailes.
At the Wild Coast Tented Lodge in
Sri Lanka, there’s plenty to keep guests occupied, with a spa, open-air restaurant, infinity pool and game drives. It's located in the wildlife-rich Yala National Park, which is renowned for its leopard population. The camp’s designers, Nomadic Resorts, were so inspired by these elusive creatures that each cluster of tents forms the shape of a leopard’s paw. The unusual, dome-like tents are made from French canvas; inside they feature teak f loors, leather furnishings and a striking freestanding copper bathtub.
Even when you simply can’t go far from home, there are still ways to escape. Forward-thinking developers are starting to create inventive cocoons that elicit a sense of freedom in the heart of the city. Retail giant Amazon leads the pack with The Spheres, a set of three gigantic intersecting spherical glass domes filled with cloud-forest gardens at its headquarters in downtown Seattle. Their geometric pattern is derived from a shape found in nature, and they contain more than 40,000 plants from all over the world. Amazon employees can host meetings in the treehouse, and the visitor centre is open to the public. It won’t be long before this inspired idea can be replicated in your urban abode, but for now the choice is yours on where to get your much-needed natural immersion.