Top 10 luxury camping trips

6. Global Expeditions, Arizona
Run by a husband-and-wife team for two decades, this well-reputed organization (with ties to Abercrombie & Kent) specializes in custom-tailored luxury camping excursions throughout the American West. Providing guests with their “own personal dream of adventure and solitude,” trips are catered to the whims of a well-to-do clientele who can afford the price tag of rugged refinement (from $2,500–$4,500 per person for a basic three-night trip). Bunk down in white canvas tents replete with knotted-pine furnishings (including a queen bed) and carpeted floors, and leave the tin pots behind — your own personal chef will serve up tableside multi-course meals (think entrees like Pacific black cod in pineapple-tamari sauce) — on fine china, of course! Extras like guided outdoor activities or live musical entertainment by your campfire are yours on command. While campsite possibilities are numerous, we’re keen on their 20,000-acre Arizona ranch near the Grand Canyon, set under the snow-capped mountains of the San Francisco Peaks and home to a herd of wild elk.

7. Greystoke Mahale, Tanzania
Located on the jungle-clad shores of Lake Tanganyika, where Henry Morton Stanley uttered the infamous words “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” and where Jane Goodall conducted her groundbreaking primate studies, Greystoke Mahale literally erases the boundary between untamed nature and civilized luxury — its six thatched bandas (huts), set on the forest line overlooking the lake, are missing a fourth wall. So instead of traffic (there are no roads within 62 miles of camp and access is by plane) you’ll hear the morning wake-up call of chimpanzees. Following breakfast, head out with trackers into the tropical forest that covers the slopes of the mountains, home to no fewer than nine primate species, including the chimp. In the afternoon, go fishing or kayaking on the lake (full of tropical fish, it’s the second deepest in the world) and enjoy a sundowner on the resort’s dhow before retreating to the upstairs “chill-out deck” in your bandas. Relaxed, we presume?

8. The Resort at Paws Up, Montana
Experience the same legendary wilderness of Montana — lush greenery, rolling hills, and teeming rivers — that once awed Lewis and Clark. Situated along the Blackfoot River, guests at The Resort at Paws Up are free to indulge in all of the outdoor adventure that this pristine landscape has to offer, while not skimping on world-class accommodations and amenities. After a full day of horseback riding or fly fishing, unwind in a hot tub, sign up for a spa treatment, and then snuggle between 300-count linen sheets. While there are a number of lodging options to choose from — secluded Big Timber Homes, the historic Farmhouse, and Tent City — we prefer the latter, which exemplifies the authenticity of camping in the great outdoors without need to sacrifice any of the luxury that defines the resort. Expect tent-side butler service and chef-tailored dining experiences where local and regional ingredients are combined to create mouthwatering combinations (think Rocky Mountain trout sautéed with fresh herbs).

9. Voyages Longitude 131, Australia

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In Australia’s remote desert outback, one of the world’s most renowned luxury camps sits on the sand dunes bordering Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. After a brushfire completely burned down the place in 2003, the rebuilt camp now offers 15 elevated tents with white dome roofs, private decks, and unrivaled views of Uluru, aka Ayers Rock, the world’s largest geological monolith. The complex can only accommodate 30 guests at a time, deeming the experience intimate and the service excellent. All units are outfitted with air-conditioning, CD players, and mini-bars (as well as a new emergency sprinkler system). Raise the electric blinds to reveal the morning sunrise over Uluru — from the comfort of your bed! While tours of the surrounding area can easily be arranged, the best views of the oft changing gray-to-red hues of Uluru are best seen from your own tent. All meals, drinks, tours, and return airport transfers are included in resort rates.

10. Whitepod, Switzerland
When planning a camping trip, snow isn't usually part of the equation. However, when tents are replaced by dome-shaped pods, and fishing by snowshoeing and dog sledding, the idea of cold-weather camping becomes quite intriguing. Nestled nearly 6,000 feet high in the Swiss Alps, Whitepod offers breathtaking views and a unique experience for skiers, snowboarders, and nature enthusiasts alike.

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Skiers and boarders can spend the day carving out Whitepod's private ski slopes, and relax afterwards with a massage at the luxurious spa pod, or with a fireside meal in the main lodge. If all this pod talk sounds a bit futuristic, it's because the resort prides itself on using the latest technology to help safeguard the environment. The result is that each pod is individually heated by wood-burning stoves, can withstand winds up to 130 mph, and can be taken down at any time, without leaving a trace. Now that's covering your tracks.

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