Top 10 luxury camping trips

By Editorial Staff

updated 3:44 p.m. ET June 24, 2008

Most of us really enjoy the concept of camping — sleeping under the stars, becoming one with nature, toasting marshmallows over the campfire — but it’s the reality of the situation that keeps the masses from pitching their tents (think showerless days with dirty feet, slurping down lukewarm beverages, and having to answer nature’s call, well, in nature). But what if there was a way to redefine roughing it — to head out into the wild in style?

Fortunately now there is, thanks to a new batch of luxury camping (or, “glamping” — glamorous camping) outfits that have recently emerged at amazing outdoor locations around the globe.

Serving to fine-tune a blend of convenience, comfort, and pampering in the great outdoors, rustic luxury is no longer an oxymoron. So go ahead and trade in those tin-can baked beans for chef-prepared filet mignon and musty sleeping bags for luxurious tent accommodations (mattress and fine linens included) — now if only the camp butler could do something about those pesky mosquitoes (who sadly do not discern between luxury and regular ole campsites), we'd all be happy campers.

1. Abercrombie & Kent, Jordan
Jordan, home to the biblical realms of Gilead, Moab, and Edom, not to mention the ancient red-stone city of Petra (believed to have been inhabited as long ago as 1200 B.C.), is one of the most historically fascinating countries in the world. One of the best ways to explore these legendary lands is to set out directly into the Wadi Rum desert, following in the footsteps of military strategist, writer, and hero to the masses, T.E. Lawrence — aka “Lawrence of Arabia.” Abercrombie & Kent makes the journey as comfortable as it is enlightening – sticking to certain Jordanian traditions like traveling in camel caravans and bedding down in resilient, hand-made Bedouin tents, while making sure that guests are taken care of with prepared meals, private toilets, and an inviting atmosphere of Arabian rugs, pillows, and candles. Along the way, you'll explore historic fortresses and monasteries, hike Bagher Mountain (Lawrence's desert lookout), admire Petra's pink architecture, swim in the Dead Sea, and enjoy homemade meals in a local village.

2. Banyan Tree Maldives Madivaru, The Maldives
Marking a departure from the sleek over-water bungalows that typify most Maldivian resorts, the new Banyan Tree resort brings the tented camp experience to the Indian Ocean. Located on the edge of the North Ari Atoll and accessible only by seaplane, Madivaru comprises six unique villas, each a cluster of three specialized tents (devoted to living, sleeping, and bathing areas) and a private pool. Set against an emerald jungle skirting a translucent blue lagoon, the clean-white-canvas tents are equipped with teak desks, timber flooring, and leather folding chairs. The sense of seclusion doesn’t end when you leave the compound — a maximum of 18 guests are permitted on the tiny coral island at one time. Get even further away from civilization with oceanic outings like dolphin-watching cruises, night-fishing excursions, catamaran trips, and snorkeling safaris. As you dine under a star-filled sky on your own private sandbank, you’ll never think of “camping” the same way again.

3. Clayoquot Wilderness Resorts & Spa, Canada

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This luxurious outpost in the remote wilderness of British Columbia, a 60-minute floatplane ride from Vancouver, offers a flawless mix of sumptuous safari style and soft adventure. Located in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere on the banks of the Bedwell River, the eco-resort comprises 20 canvas-tented rooms and suites with touches like wooden floors, Adirondack-style beds, remote-controlled propane wood stoves, and even heirloom china. An adjacent private cedar bathhouse comes with a shower, sink, and toilet, with off-site generators providing hot water and electricity. The entire complex — tents, lounge, and spa — is connected by cedar boardwalks set beneath the forested canopy. Even cooler than the primo tents are the range of rough country pursuits, from bear- and whale-watching to fishing and horseback riding. After a day in the wild, guests return to the opulent enclave for a four-course gourmet meal by acclaimed Chef Timothy May, and for relaxation at the riverfront spa compound’s wood-fired cedar hot tubs and seawater baths.

4. Eco Camp, Chile
Chilean Patagonia is synonymous with wilderness adventure — hard to reach and largely untouched, it's a dream destination for lovers of virgin jungle, granite Andean peaks, blue glaciers, and rushing rivers. As Eco Camp shows, however, communing with nature doesn't have to mean roughing it.

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The campsite's igloo-shaped tents at the base of the Andes in Torres del Paine National Park were inspired by the indigenous Kawésqar nomads, who once lived in similar dome-like shelters in the region. Constructed to withstand the sometimes-extreme Chilean weather, the tents provide a safe, yet eco-friendly, retreat after a day spent trekking, kayaking, horseback riding, or wildlife-spotting. Best of all, you get to bypass the traditional rigors of camping (leave the tent-pitching manual, the water-purifier, and sleeping bag at home) — here, you can gear up for your next adventure with real beds, excellent food, and spacious digs that you can stand up in.

5. El Capitan Canyon, California
Situated just 20 miles north of Santa Barbara, this premier luxury camping resort unfolds on some 300 acres of pristine Pacific coast-fronted landscapes. Whether you hear the call of the wild on the beach or in the forest, both are easy to answer from El Capital Canyon, with plentiful activities on hand from kayaking to hiking, and mountain biking to horseback riding. The 26 cream-colored canvas tents here stand on wooden platforms and feature fine touches like hand-woven willow beds, bedside lanterns, and individual outdoor fire pits (for which you can purchase ready-made barbecue kits — complete with s’mores — right through the resort); guests also have the option to bunk down in one of 108 cedar cabins. Summer concerts, massage treatments, and yoga classes demonstrate more of a reason to stick around, but should you wish to venture outside of this natural paradise, wine tasting trips to Santa Barbara are just outside your grassy doorstep.

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