Luxury Tour Operator and all-round travel experts, Exsus, know everything there is to know about luxury and exclusive hotels all across the world, but going beyond this, we spoke to them in regards to some of the truly amazing and original places to stay on your travels too.
From grown-up tree houses to satisfy your inner child to floating underwater rooms, Exsus’s expertise knows no limitations.
So for an unforgettable trip look no further…
Watching the Northern Lights at the ION Hotel, Iceland
Seeing the Northern Lights is a bucket list special and the distinctive ION hotel stands starkly in the midst of a volcanic landscape shaped by glaciers and dotted with geysers.A stay at the hotel, itself a space-age contrast to the prehistoric landscape around it, is the best way to experience Iceland’s ‘land of fire and ice’. There’s the starkly beautiful landscape to explore, glaciers to scale, volcanoes to hike up and even tectonic plates to dive between, and during winter the hotel is ideally placed to watch displays of the Northern Lights overhead.
Waking up on a boat with The Strand, Myanmar
River cruises have never been given the media attention they really deserve and the stylish Strand is ready to change this. Enjoy drifting along Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River between Mandalay and Bagan and become captivated by this otherworldly experience. Glide smoothly past ancient temples and riverside villages, while you relax by the pool, watch the scenery pass by, cocktail in hand, and sleep in elegant, spacious cabins. Beyond the river, exciting excursions await: from leisurely walks and horse riding to visits to ancient pagodas and palaces.
Waking up in the wilderness in Hapuku Tree Suites, New Zealand
Childhood fantasies can come true with a stay in a grown-up tree house. At Hapuku, close to Kaikoura on the Pacific Ocean coast, guests can sleep in a romantic wood-clad house nestled in a canopy of manuka trees, 10 metres above the ground, and wake up to panoramic views over the treetops to rolling hills, snow-capped mountains and the sea. Beyond scenic treks, this stretch of coast is ideal for whale-watching, swimming with dolphins and surfing. What’s not to love!
Skylodge Adventure Suites, Peru
The Skylodge Adventure Suites in Peru’s Sacred Valley, close to Cusco, are truly unique and not for the faint hearted. Getting to and from them is part of the adventure, as guests must clamber up a cliff face to reach their bed for the night, before zip-lining back down the following morning. Anyone curious about staying here needs a head for heights – these clear glass pods are suspended 1,000 feet above the valley floor, guaranteeing spectacular views, opportunities to spot condors and some serious night-time stargazing.
Sleeping with the fishes at the Manta Resort Pemba, Tanzania
For blissful seclusion, the idyllic Manta Resort on the private island of Pemba in Zanzibar is just the ticket. Pemba is one of the world’s top dive spots with a colourful, rich undersea world, and the best place to watch it from is the incredible Underwater Room. This is a three-storey suite that floats 250m offshore beside a coral reef; the submerged master bedroom has matchless views of the exotic marine life. Above, the top deck is where to luxuriate in the sun, watch the sunset and do some night-time stargazing.
360° Views at Pelican Point, Namibia
Getting away from it all is the idea at this converted lighthouse in Swakopmund, standing on a remote peninsula accessible only by 4WD. Surrounded by the ocean and Namib Desert, Pelicon Point boasts panoramic views from private terraces – the desert sunrises and sunsets are incredible here. From picnicking on the jetty to indulging in a three-course dinner at the scenic restaurant, this historic hotel combines luxury with wildlife watching, like spotting seals on the beach and flamingos on Walvis Bay.
An alternative caravan with Vintage Airstreams, Bolivia
Exploring the surreal lunar landscapes of Bolivia’s Uyuni salt flats in a vintage airstream is an experience like no other and quite possibly our favourite thing ever. Visitors travel into the heart of the desert, passing salt mounds and colourful lakes where flamingos flock, before spending the night in a unique camper van, full of contemporary comforts and stylish touches. The day is rounded off with an evening meal prepared by a chef, while witnessing stunning sunsets, drinking in the otherworldly surroundings and bathing beneath some simply stunning starscapes.
The Insider UAE 