23 of the world's best luxury holiday destinations
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Best for a mix of tradition and modernityThere are plenty of luxurious moments in store in Japan. Soak in a exclusive mountain-top onsen, take a guided tour of the sacred temples in Kyoto, or experience a private tea ceremony in Nara. For something a little wilder, escape to the pristine beaches of Okinawa, or head north for wildlife watching and hiking on the little-visited island of Hokkaido. Or splash the cash in style in Tokyo's Michelin-starred sushi restaurants, designer boutiques and lavishly luxurious hotels. The world's original bullet train, the Shinkansen, makes it absurdly easy to get around — and there are few classier ways to travel.
• Best tours of Japan• Best places to visit in Japan• Best things to do in Japan
Few of us will manage to get to go to the North Pole, but you can get pretty darn close by visiting the remote, icy Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, which is way up in the Arctic Circle, at 74° to 81° north latitude, and snow-covered for much of the year. A range of adventurous trips to the islands are available, mostly using the island's main town of Longyearbyen as a base of operations: there are some surprisingly swish hotels here, including Basecamp Hotel and Funken Lodge. You'll be spending your time snowmobiling, snowshoeing, kayaking icy inlets and, of course, looking out for wildlife, including polar bears — hopefully at a reassuringly remote distance. With luck, the northern lights will also put in an appearance.Best for modern glamourIt's impossible to talk about luxury holidays without mentioning Dubai. The crown jewel of the United Arab Emirates is dripping in riches. Much of the city was built in the last 50 years, so everything has that shiny and new feel. The hotels are second to none, with lavish suites, award-winning spas and fine dining restaurants a plenty. Dubai's gravity-defying skyscrapers need to be seen to believed. Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, is spectacular.
• Best hotels in Dubai• Best things to do in DubaiBest for laid-back sun-seekingThe sun-soaked Caribbean has long been the go to place for lavish holidays. With so many amazing islands to choose from, deciding where to base yourself can be agonising. Will it be the mountainous St Lucia, where you'll encounter some of the most dramatic scenery in the Caribbean? Or does star-studded Barbados get your vote? Its historic sites, golden beaches and luxury hotels are definitely hard to top. How about Jamaica, the home of reggae, and the island where Ian Fleming wrote the original Bond novels? Or perhaps you'd go for the uber-exclusive islands of St Barts and Turks and Caicos — the celebs' choice. Maybe you don't have to choose at all: a Caribbean cruise enables you to explore several islands, including lesser-known ones like Curaçao, Guadeloupe and St Maarten.
• Best Caribbean cruises• Best budget Caribbean cruises
Best for tropical luxuryBali's laid-back vibe, pristine beaches and mystical temples have made it synonymous with luxury escapes. Whether you're bedding down in a luxury retreat, a beachfront resort, or a self-contained villa, you'll find a slice of heaven. Mountain town Ubud is a great place to soak in traditional Balinese culture while marvelling at lush forests, rice paddies and conservation centres like the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, home to more than 1,200 monkeys. Seminyak is where you'll find some of the most sublime beaches on the Indonesian island, along with trendy beach spas and exclusive fashion boutiques. For maximum luxury, head to Jimbaran Bay, often referred to as 'the Beverly Hills of Bali' for the many high-end hotels located nearby.
• Most captivating hotels in Indonesia
Best for miles and miles of coastlineIt's not hard to see why this Indian Ocean archipelago is a favourite with the rich and famous. Consisting of around 115 islands, only a handful of which are inhabited, the Seychelles is all about sparkling white beaches and seas so blue they look like they've been Photoshopped. Spend your days snorkelling, eating seafood, cycling around local markets or just basking in the equatorial sunshine. The main island of Mahé is the most populous, and has its fair share of hotels and resorts, but for spoils you'll want one of the smaller islands — like La Digue, celebrated for its beaches, including photogenic Anse Source d'Argent (as featured in the Oliver Reed movie Castaway), or Bird Island, a super-swish island resort only accessible by private plane.
• Best Indian Ocean holidays to book now• Best time to visit the Seychelles: when to go and what to do
Best for beautiful, diverse landscapesIt's not hard to work out why Thailand is known as the 'Land of Smiles'. This enchanting country, as friendly as it is beautiful, would surely put a huge grin on the face of any holidaymaker. While bustling Bangkok is definitely worth a visit, it's the islands that most luxury travellers come for. Koh Samui, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe and the Similan Islands are among the most famous for good reason. Stretch out on sun-bleached sands and take in the rich and diverse natural landscape. Go shopping at floating markets, explore remote jungles, dive among whale sharks and manta rays, and visit elaborate temples. The possibilities are endless.
• Best Thai islands to visit• Best hotels in Thailand
Best for lagoon-side lazingWhat could be more glitzy than a sun-soaked getaway to Mauritius? Everything about this volcanic island, located in the southern Indian ocean, exudes glamour — from the coral-fringed coastline to the crystalline waters and turquoise lagoons. Did we mention luxurious resorts with everything from infinity pools to golf courses? Forgive us. Mauritius also happens to be circled by about 205 miles of pristine white beaches along its coastline, so you're never too far from a beautiful stretch of sand. The island has a fascinating creole culture too, testament to the hotchpotch of nationalities who have washed up here over the centuries.
• Best hotels in Mauritius• Best time to visit Mauritius: when to go and what to do• Best things to do in Mauritius
Best for exploring the oceanThe Maldives and luxury go hand in hand. This is a country made up almost entirely of privately owned islands, many of which have been turned into indulgent resorts: palm-thatched overwater villas, seafood feasts o the beach, day-tripping to deserted islands for snorkelling and secluded sunbathing. All-inclusive holidays are very popular on the islands thanks to its remoteness. You can just kick back, relax and enjoy the wonderful scenery around you. The Maldives is also great for diving — its waters are filled with whale sharks, manta rays, turtles and coral reefs.
• Best overwater villas in the Maldives• Best hotels in the Indian Ocean• Best affordable hotels in the Maldives
Best for volcanic sceneryHonolulu is big, brash, busy and, more importantly, easy to skip as there are direct flights from US west coast cities to other Hawaiian islands. So head straight for the 'Big Island' with its extraordinary volcanoes and beaches that are generally best on the west coast. The big prize is Makalawena beach, where postcard-ready white coves lie at the end of an unpaved road and a 30-minute walk across lava flows. Alternatively, venture up into the island's volcanic centre and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, where you can go stargazing at Mauna Kea, home to the island's observatories, or hike Kilauea. And if you're here between December and April, you can spot breaching humpbacks on a whale watching tour.
• Best national parks in the US• Best hotels in Hawaii
Best for castaway fantasiesFiji is a fine place for some Polynesian pampering. You won't want to linger too long on the main island of Viti Levu: the more remote archipelagos, such as the Mamanuca Islands and Yasawa Islands, are where the paradise action is at. Some are accessible by ferry, while others can only be reached by sea-plane — a thrilling ride over coral reefs and blue lagoons that's worth the fare on its own. Go for a floating villa at Likuliku Lagoon Resort, or get your own private atoll somewhere like Royal Davui Island Resort or Tadrai Island Resort.
• Best hotels in Fiji• Best beach resorts in the world
Best for world-class beachesIf it's epic beaches you're after, nowhere outdoes Oz. The most famous are concentrated in the southeast and east, with Queensland's Gold Coast perhaps the most famous of all. The cool, forest-backed coastal towns of Byron Bay and Noosa both have impressive main beaches, plus a series of dainty coves and near-deserted golden arcs accessed via nature trails teeming with wildlife. For quieter, emptier sands, South and Western Australia are the better picks: you could literally drive for months here and still be finding new beaches every day.
• Best time to visit Australia: when to go and what to do• Best train journeys in Australia• Best things to do in Australia
Best for an up-and-coming luxury sceneTypically Cambodia's been known for its backpacker digs, not its luxury scene — but new resorts are changing that. Try Six Senses Krabey Island, with herby Cambodian cuisine and a riverside spa, or Zannier Hotels Phum Baitang, a lodge complex near the celebrated temples of Angkor Wat. Don't get stuck at the tourist hotspots — there are scores of temples to visit where most visitors never venture, not to mention many beaches and islands that are exploration-worthy.
• Best trips of a lifetime• Best things to do in Cambodia and Vietnam
Best for wildlife watching The Costa Rican rainforest is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, and if you want to spot wildlife, it's a paradise. The country has some fabulous rainforest lodges where you can wake up and watch howler monkeys, toucans, macaws and hummingbirds from the comfort of your balcony. Try Casa Corcovado for jungle atmosphere, Origins Lodge for all-round luxury and Pacuare Lodge for the most dramatic method of arrival — you paddle yourself in aboard a white-water raft.
• Best things to do in Costa Rica• Best things to do in Central America
Best for a South Seas fantasyNowhere is more suited for indulging your inner Robinson Crusoe than Tahiti — or more specifically, Bora Bora, where you'll find some of the fanciest resorts anywhere in the South Pacific. Thatched bungalows, private yachts, beachside banquets, Instagrammable overwater bungalows — you'll find them all here, and more, as long as you're happy to pay through the nose for the privilege. For a more local vibe, and a better insight into Tahitian culture, head for the nearby islands of Moorea or Rangiroa.Best for an icy adventureForget seven-star hotels: a cruise to the bottom of the earth is as exclusive as it gets. For a start, it takes ages to get there (count on a round trip of three to four weeks by sea), and it's eye-wateringly expensive (packages from around £10k, ranging up to £50k-plus). Most cruise ships depart from Ushuaia, and sail across the infamous Drake's Passage before exploring the northern edge of the continent. Zodiac boats sail to remote coves where you can watch the wildlife and even step out onto the Antarctic ice. Walking in the footsteps of Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton: if you can afford it, this is the definition of a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
• Best luxury cruises to Antarctica• Best time to visit Antarctica: when to go and what to do
Best for Riviera styleThe French Riviera has long been synonymous with the high life, and while it might no longer boast the Jazz Age pizazz of F Scott Fitzgerald et al, it's still a chic spot. St Tropez is the classic choice, once a simple fishing town now a seaside enclave for the super-rich, with luxury hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants. Yachties plump for Antibes, high-rollers make a beeline for Monaco, film-lovers go to Cannes and pretty much everyone else heads to Nice to sunbathe along the Promenade des Anglais. To escape the summer crush, take a boat trip out to one of the offshore islands, such as Îles de Lérins or Île de Porquerolles.
• Best villas in the south of France• Best things to do in Nice
Best for a luxury safariKenya is home to some of Africa's most incredible safari lodges: places such as Angama Mara on the edge of the Rift Valley overlooking the Maasai Mara National Reserve, and the vintage-style camp of Cottar's Safaris. Go on a private jeep safari with local guides to spot lions, leopards, rhinos and elephants; have a picnic out in the bush; head back to camp for some spa pampering and a slap-up supper cooked up by your own personal chef; then go back out at dusk for yet more animal encounters. You'll need deep pockets, but there's no experience on earth like it.
• Best safaris in Kenya• Best time to visit Kenya: when to go and what to do
Best for cruisingGalapagos is an archipelago where Mother Nature let loose all her wackiest ideas: swimming iguanas, giant tortoises, rainbow-coloured crabs, giant manta rays and blue-footed boobies, to name a few. Access to the national park is carefully controlled, so the best way to visit is aboard an organised cruise — and there are some beauties to choose from. Expeditions onshore are led by licensed naturalists, and there's a wealth of adventures — from trekking over lava flows to tracking giant tortoises through the undergrowth.
• Best Galapagos tours• Best Galapagos cruises
Best for old school glamourSince Roman times, this Italian mountain lake has been the go-to place for aristocrats, nobles and the European elite when they're looking for a summer holiday home — and things haven't changed all that much (some of the world's richest people own houses here, and it's one of George Clooney's favourite holiday spots). Palatial mansions and villas line the lakeshore, many of which have been turned into seriously chic hotels, including Grand Hotel Tremezzo. Che bella.
• Lake Como v Lake Garda: which one should you visit?• Best tours of Italy
Best for mountainsThe tiny mountain kingdom of Bhutan has remained wary of embracing mass tourism: visitor numbers are limited, and a government fee covers accommodation, activities and guides, meaning there are few backpackers wandering about, in stark contrast to nearby Nepal. It's a fascinating country, with a rich, complex culture, majestic mountain views and some of the most spectacularly sited temples on earth. Perhaps surprisingly, it also has a few upmarket hotels — the epitome of which is Amankora, a luxury lodge not far from the city of Paro.Best for wild naturePatagonia is nature in the raw: arid pampas, glittering glaciers, snowy peaks and pumas. It's hard to get to and there are few hotels — but if you're prepared to spend, you'll find luxury galore at all-inclusive lodges such as Tierra Patagonia. It provides a pamper-factor quite out of keeping with the wild landscape: gourmet meals, a spa, heated pools and in-house guides to take you on a hiking adventure or find the best spot to watch the sunset over the Torres del Paine.
• Best things to do on your Patagonia trip
Best for next-level glampingThe Serengeti is legendary among safari aficionados — all of the Big Five can be seen here, along with a rich menagerie of other African wildlife. There are numerous high-end safari lodges to choose from; more fun are the luxury bush stays such as Cherero Camp, which offers solar-powered, safari-style canvas tents on hardwood platforms, minimising their environmental footprint and offering a more immersive — and authentic — safari experience. Indulge in a morning yoga session, hop in a jeep for your first private game drive of the day, then head back for G&Ts as the sun sinks over the savannah: it's a spoil from start to finish. The camp's remote location makes it an ideal place to view the mass annual movement of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles across the Serengeti plains.
Additional reporting by Imogen Lepere
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