In the worlds of literature and cinema, the desert often represents a sort of netherworld; a transitionary no-man’s land where characters must overcome the odds in order to survive. A test of fortitude and faith, where only those who adapt and transform will find redemption. In the surrealist paintings of Salvador Dali, the desert provides the backdrop for his dream-like abstract images of melting clocks and long-legged animals which explore the realm of the human subconscious. It is perhaps these hallucinatory and transformative qualities that lures so many dreamers into the desert, and so many well-heeled travellers to seek stillness, silence and solitude among the dunes.
These remote desert hideaways are situated in some of the most formidable deserts in the world, from the shifting sands of the Empty Quarter in the Arabian Peninsula to the surreal landscapes of the Atacama Desert in Chile and the great Red Centre of Australia. Thoughtful architectural and design details created in harmony with the landscape nevertheless play second fiddle to the main draw card: the opportunity to venture into the desert on expert-led tours, soul-searching wanders and energetic exploration. Surrounded by sublime views, desert wildlife and the relics of ancient civilisations, they will appeal to anyone with an appetite for adventure who's ready to succumb to the call of the wild.
OUR HABITAS ALULA
AlUla, Saudi Arabia
The rust-red desertscape of AlUla has been a crossroads of humanity since time immemorial. From pre-historic rock artists and the tomb-builders of ancient Nabataea to Incense Route traders and Ottoman railway builders, the ochre cliffs and UNESCO-listed ruins bear the lasting imprint of man. Our Habitas AlUla symbolises the next chapter in the AlUla legacy, providing a base for modern-day nomads to explore the riches of the region and forge connections with the land and its people. The 96 villas afford different perspectives on the desert with scenic terraces and spectacular views. Thuraya Wellness guides guests into deeper wellbeing indoors and out, with a panoramic gym and yoga studio, guided meditation and sound baths in an open-air agora and treatments available in scenic spots around the resort. Complimentary daily activities include expert-led tours of the rock-hewn tombs at UNESCO-listed Hegra, AlUla Old Town and the open-air library of Jabal Ikmah, while more adventurous experiences including hiking, ziplining and via ferrata. The region is a blank canvas for photographers and when the sun goes down, the night sky reveals a blanket of stars.
Ourhabitas.com
LONGITUDE 131°
Uluru, Australia
Deep in Australia’s Red Centre, surrounded by hundreds of kilometres of parched desert crowned by the magnificent geological spectacles of Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), Longitude 131° is one of the most remote wilderness lodges in the world. An homage to indigenous arts and crafts and the pioneering Western explorers who first traversed Australia’s epic interior, 16 luxury tents each boast privileged views of the sublime rock formations. Beyond the soul-stirring views, the resort’s experience programme plunges travellers into the heart of the natural landscape and indigenous culture. Signature experiences include sunset drinks at a pop-up desert bar as the rust-red face of Uluru fades to black, guided sunrise hikes around the 16 peaks of Kata Tjuta and Walpa Gorge, and the chance to learn about the culture and history of the Aboriginal people at Uluru Cultural Centre. Bespoke private touring and extras such as scenic flights, bush medicine spa experiences and multi-night Walkabouts including dining among the dunes at Table 131° are all designed around delving into the heart of this timeless cultural landscape.
Longitude131.com.au
QASR AL SARAB DESERT RESORT
BY ANANTARA
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Rising like a mirage from the rolling dunes of the Empty Quarter, Qasr al Sarab is a tranquil oasis on the edge of the largest sand desert in the world. The palatial resort is a celebration of traditional Arabian design and desert culture. Hand-woven rugs and beautifully carved screens adorn the 53 spectacular pool villas, while outdoor terraces and plunge pools afford front-row seats for tangerine sunsets over the golden dunes or al fresco dining under a sea of stars. Bulit around a working falaj irrigation system, Ezba is the resort’s cultural farmhouse and education centre dedicated to Bedouin culture and Emirati heritage, where visitors learn how falcons and saluki hunting dogs helped Bedouin survive in the desert, and local residents from the nearby Liwa Oasis demonstrate traditional crafts like weaving and embroidery. Lazy afternoons can be spent at Anantara Spa, where wellness journeys and signature spa treatments plunge weary travellers into a world of wellbeing. But the greatest draw here is the desert itself, which can be explored sedately on foot, horse or camel-back, or with a high-speed 4x4 dune bashing safari or a spin in a Polaris dune buggy.
Anantara.com
DESERT ROCK RESORT
The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
An architectural marvel hewn into the sandstone cliffs on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, Desert Rock is a hotel like no other. Here, overlooking some of the most spectacular terrain on the planet, 54 villas and 10 suites blend in seamlessly with the desert, etched into caves and crevices, suspended from rocky outcrops high up the mountain, or nestled against otherworldly rock formations in the valley below, each with a private plunge pool, desert-inspired interiors and dedicated villa host. Adventurists can hike, scramble and climb over mountain peaks and sand-sculpted rocks, tackle cross-wadi zip-lines and via ferrata, or explore the desert terrain on e-powered quad bikes. For a slower-paced experience, guests can try archery, tap into local culture at palm-weaving and Saudi coffee workshops, or unlock the secrets of the stars during a guided night hike. Wellness is equally out of this world, with meteorite-extract massages and gold-plated hot stone therapies at The Spa, as well as private meditation and moonlight yoga sessions.
Desertrock.sa
SOSSUSVLEI PRIVATE DESERT LODGE
Namib Desert, Namibia
The Namib Desert is the oldest in the world, a parched landscape of monstrous sand dunes and scrub-crusted desert where silence and solitude reign supreme. Set in the heart of this sublime sandscape is &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, a modernist marvel of steel, glass and stone overlooking the Martian terrain. Expert-led excursions into &Beyond Sossuvlei Desert Reserve introduce visitors to the mysteries and marvels of the land, from the ancient rock art of the indigenous San people to the geological forces that cleft the continent of Gondwana in two during the creation of this unearthly landscape. Early morning and late afternoon drives explore desert habitats and the wildlife that has adapted to survive in them, while journeys into Namib Naukluft National Park and its UNESCO-listed Namib Sand Sea reveal some of the largest dunes in the world. Back at the lodge, interactive dining means guests can shape their own menus and help out in the kitchen, while wellness offerings by Healing Earth tap into Africa’s ancient healing traditions. When the sun goes down, Sossusvlei skies transform into a tapestry of stars, visible through the skylights in each of the 12 Suites, or at the lodge’s observatory alongside its resident astronomer.
Andbeyond.com
TIERRA ATACAMA
Atacama Desert, Chile
Pinned between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, the Atacama Desert is an alien landscape of conical volcanoes, kaleidoscopic lagoons and otherworldly deserts punctuated by seething geysers and bubbling mud pits. You can explore it all from Tierra Atacama, a boutique desert hideaway on the edge of San Pedro de Atacama that reopens this month following a year-long US $12 million make-over. Built in 2008 by architects Rodrigo Searle and Matías González around a centuries-old cattle coral, the intimate lodge has four new suites and two villas with terraces and plunge pools; all with surreal views of mighty Licancabur Volcano and interiors decorated with local artifacts, stone carvings, maps and handwoven blankets from the village. Daytrips into the abstract landscape reveal flamingo-flecked salt-flats, pre-Colombian petroglyphs and colour-shifting rock formations, while hiking, biking and horse-riding trips afford the chance to spot the elusive wildlife like vicunas, vizcachas and desert foxes. After rejuvenation in Uma Spa, evenings bring fireside chats with crisp Chilean whites and journeys into the world of Chilean cuisine; a culinary canon as evocative as the Atacama itself.
Tierraatacama.com
AMANGIRI
Canyon Point, Utah, USA
Etched into the landscape of central Utah like a modernist desert fantasy, Amangiri has been a playground for well-heeled adventurers since it opened in 2009. Like the pale monochrome of the Colorado Plateau upon which it sits, Amangiri is a blank canvas for deep-pocketed adventurers, with an architectural aesthetic that juxtaposes clean lines with the natural contours of the landscape. Days here are spent exploring the desert on guided horseback rides or hiking the region’s slot canyons in the company of a Navajo guide. Helicopter flights over the Grand Canyon and mountaintop yoga give a different perspective on the land, while cultural activities offer insights into Utah’s indigenous groups with workshops on flute-making, rug-weaving and Navajo storytelling. Family-friendly activities include boat trips and kayaking on Lake Powell or morning wanderings among the mysterious hoodoos, the rocky fingers that waggle up from the desert. When days turn to night, stories and sundowners are shared around firepits at scenic lookouts or the 10 luxurious tents at Camp Sarika, Amangiri’s stylish sister. Travellers looking to tap into the spiritual side of the desert will find it at Amangiri Spa, where mindful retreats and guided meditation frame soul-searching personal journeys into this ethereal landscape.
Aman.com
