Latest news with #luxurycamping
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Travel + Leisure
7 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
These Are the Best Glamping Spots in the U.S. for 2025—From Hobbit Houses to Forest Domes
Glamping has reshaped how travelers experience the outdoors, offering overnights in nature with luxuries like real beds and electricity. As the trend has gained traction, property owners and campground hosts have grown more inventive: think minimalist A-frames tucked among the trees or geodesic domes with ceiling windows made for stargazing. Each year, Hipcamp, a platform for booking outdoor stays, releases its roundup of standout glamping properties, culled from reviews, ratings, and booking data across its network of more than 500,000 sites. The focus isn't just on stylish accommodations in striking settings—it's also on hosts who deliver thoughtful, memorable experiences. This year's unranked list spans the country, from canvas yurts on a working farm in East Oʻahu to a hobbit-style hideaway in the rolling hills of Iowa, where goats, llamas, and peacocks roam. The No. 1 spot went to Cedar Bloom in Cave Junction, Oregon. Cedar Bloom Farm blends communal open camping with dreamy glamping in tiny A‑frames, vintage trailers, and domes—including a tiny, two-person 'Forest Gnome Dome.' Guests gather at the shared main house with a kitchen, shower house, and sauna. In second place is Heartwood Mendocino in Mendocino, California. Just minutes from Mendocino's shoreline is Heartwood Mendocino, a glamping property with canvas-walled cabins that have heated mattresses and luxe linens. Don't miss the legendary redwood-tree shower or the outdoor kitchen with giant redwood slab tables. No. 3 is an East coast gem: The Falls at Sewanee Creek in Tracy City, Tennessee. The Falls at Sewanee Creek invites guests to unwind beside Miller's Falls, a stunning 50‑foot cascade that's a short walk from the property's creative lodging—including a treehouse, a 'treetent,' and a cabin built from shipping containers. In addition to nearby waterfalls, there's a nearby cave and a fairy village tucked into the trees. The top 10 includes sites in Minnesota, Iowa, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania. The full list in order: Cedar Bloom in Cave Junction, Oregon Heartwood Mendocino in Mendocino, California The Falls at Sewanee Creek in Tracy City, Tennessee Enney's Ranch in San Miguel, California Camp Nauvoo in Placerville, California Balsam Ridge Retreat in Duluth, Minnesota Windy Goat Acres in Chelsea, Iowa Sun Farm Hawaii @ Koko Head in Honolulu, Hawaii Action Sports Roamer Sites in Sandy, Oregon The River's Edge in Pocono Woodland Lakes, Pennsylvania Howler Bike Park Stays in Taney, Missouri Schellraiser in McGill, Nevada Waimanalo Farmstay in Kailua, Hawaii Living Circle Farms Hawaii in Waialua, Hawaii Camp Dietrich on Bear Creek in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
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Travel + Leisure
09-08-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Private Luxury Camps Are Officially in a 'Golden Age of Glamping,' According to This Outdoor Travel Advisor
We're in a golden era of luxury camping: five-star accommodations in unique locations have become the expectation, rather than the exception. Today's travelers desire trips that blend comfort, privacy, and authentic connection. And whether you're in an iconic national park or an exclusive private nature reserve, glamping is a great way to fully immerse yourself in awe-inspiring environments while ensuring that you remain comfortable. Here's how this burgeoning industry is changing the game for adventure travelers. Luxury campsite at Monument Valley, Arizona. National parks are sacred spaces for adventure and discovery, but in the past they've lacked the high-end accommodations that luxury travelers expect. Now, though, glamping experiences in famous locations like Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park are bridging this gap. Expansive private properties like Ted Turner Reserves and Wagonhound Ranch are also great options. These sites provide much more than your run-of-the-mill tent and sleeping pad; they're luxuriously curated to each traveler's needs and desires. Whether you're having a candlelit dinner with a Navajo code talker, waking up to the sunrise in Grand Canyon National Park, or calling for wolves alongside the very expert who reintroduced them to Yellowstone in the 1990s, every detail provides maximum comfort with enough freedom for an authentic, personal experience. A campsite on the shore of the Colorado River. When planning your trip, consider a glamping company with a commitment to supporting conservation. Our camps at EXP Journeys, for example, operate under Leave No Trace principles—meaning we're committed to leaving the environment exactly as we found it. We also utilize solar energy, biodegradable products, and other sustainable practices. While the place you stay is wonderful, it's really the access these camps provide that make glamping stand out. Your camping guide plays a fundamental role in facilitating your connection to the land—and making sure your needs are met. The right trip leader—equal parts knowledgeable, fun, and safety-focused—is an essential and esteemed part of the luxury adventure. These experts bring depth, color, and meaning to every journey. In this new age of luxury camping, travelers can discover the untamed wilderness in the most elegant ways possible. Whether you're looking for a family retreat, a romantic escape, or a transformative solo journey, consider glamping for an unforgettable experience grounded in authenticity and sustainability. Kevin Jackson is a member of Travel + Leisure's A-List and specializes in trips to U.S. national parks. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Jackson at [email protected] .
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
My luxury camping holiday in the Hollywood of Africa – where Game Of Thrones, Bond and Gladiator were all filmed
I STEP out of my tent, surrounded by golden sand dunes. A campfire gently flickers while camels sleep in the distance and the Milky Way shines down on me from a sky so clear you can see every star. 6 6 6 I'm spending the night at operator Xaluca's Auberge Bivouac La Belle Etoile, at the Western edge of the Sahara desert in Morocco. The camping site sits in the shadows of the stunning Erg Chebbi, a rolling wave of huge sand mountains stretching as far as the eye can see. Looking out across the golden and barren landscapes, it feels like I've been transported to a different world. Everything looks Photoshopped. But it is real. And it's just a three-hour flight from the UK. For me, the word camping evokes memories of flooded tents, soggy sleeping bags and wellies stuck in the mud. But this is a far cry from the horrors of Glastonbury Festival in 2016. It's more of a luxury boutique hotel than a campsite, with clean en-suite bathrooms, a kitchen whipping up Moroccan-themed feasts and freshly brewed tea served from ornate pots. My tent is bigger than my flat (and more comfortable than it, too) with a king-size bed, crisp linen sheets and soft pillows. There's all the mod-cons too, including a plug socket to charge your phone, plus a comfortable sofa with a view over the radiant dunes and handwoven Moroccan carpets decorating the floor. Behind some curtains, my en-suite bathroom features a waterfall shower, a flushing toilet and fluffy towels. There's even air conditioning — the ultimate luxury in the desert. And if we weren't blown away by the decor, then we sure would be by dinner. A banquet of tagine bubbling with beef and spices, and a pile of melt-in-the-mouth couscous with chicken is served — all while live music was played on traditional Amazigh drums and hand cymbals. The party carries on around the fire — after all, we needed to keep ourselves busy and awake until midnight for a stroll into the dunes for some stargazing. With zero light pollution, the stars blaze in the ink-black sky. I'm no astronomer, but with a little guidance I could pick out Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and the reddish hue of Mars. It was a magical experience. During the day, these dunes look a little different — and the best way to explore them is by camel. I hold on for dear life as mine rises on to his front legs, then all fours. It feels higher than it looks. Once I've got to grips with my new ride, we sway gently into the desert. Passing serenely through the silent dunes, the sun starts to peer over the distant Atlas mountains and the view of orange-tinged sands is awe-inspiring. Unlike bustling Marrakech, this corner of Morocco is a haven of tranquillity. With nothing between you and the horizon, stresses of home melt away and the everyday life feels a distant memory. 6 6 6 The nomadic Berber people have lived here for hundreds of years and are so welcoming to visitors wanting a small taste of their culture. And that's exactly what I was here to do. The Xaluca resort offers special tour packages that can be tailored to your interests, with local experiences, 4x4 tours and more all included in the price. Survival in nature Leaving camp, I head into the wilderness by 4x4 with wonderful local guide Brahim. We weave our way along the sand until the small specks in the distance grow larger, and soon we're approaching a couple of makeshift tents and huts, the home of one local family. They welcome us in like old friends — with a delicious glass of hot mint tea, sweetened with copious amounts of sugar, as well as some cakes baked on a tiny clay oven. Families like this are scattered across the vast landscape, where wild goats and camels can often be found, constantly on the move in search of water. The families live the same lives as their ancestors — no electricity, no phones or social media. Just trying to survive in nature. It's a very humbling experience. As we continue into the wild, Brahim whips out his phone and proudly shows us a selfie he took with his last passenger, John Cena. The WWE superstar-turned-movie-actor had been here the previous week, filming upcoming action blockbuster, Matchbox. We carry on west towards dusty desert city Ouarzazate. If you watch a movie set in Ancient Rome or Egypt, chances are it was made here. At the city's impressive Atlas studio you can explore elaborate sets used for both Gladiator movies, The Mummy, Indiana Jones and even a Bond film. Look up into the skies to admire one of the many locations where Daenerys Targaryen's dragons breathed fire in Game of Thrones. You can even stand in the same spot where Russell Crowe screamed 'Are you not entertained?' in the jaw-dropping ancient village of Ait Ben-Haddou. To answer Russell's question: Yes, I am. And I have Morocco's deserts to thank.
Times
13-05-2025
- Times
Seven of the best UK glampsites for under £200 a night
When the term glamping first appeared in the early 2000s, it basically meant sleeping in a pre-pitched bell tent with a comfy mattress and duvet. But people got carried away, as they do, and now top-tier glampsites are more like boutique alfresco hotels, featuring everything from fully stocked mini-bars to rolltop bathtubs, with sky-high prices to reflect the luxe-factor. Yet, even if you can afford to spend a small fortune, too many extravagances can spoil the point of an outdoor adventure. We've found those that will save you cash while still being stylish and cosy, with options starting from £90 a night. Pitched on an acre of tree-lined fields, this charming spot has maintained the unpretentious feel of a proper campsite while providing plenty of
