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Putting the glam in camping

By Julia Dimon

The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Mont.  A luxury ranch located a half-hour northeast of Missoula, the Resort at Paws Up offers accommodations and outdoor activities across some 37,000 acres of Montana wilderness. In June, this working cattle ranch reveals its newest luxury camp called Cliffside Camp. Located on the banks of the Blackfoot River, this camp has romantic one- and two-bedroom tent suites that come with ensuite bathroom, air conditioning and personal camping butler to get the ol’ bonfire blazing.

Free Spirit Spheres, Vancouver Island, B.C.

Set among the pristine rain forest of Vancouver Island, Free Spirit Spheres offers one-of-a-kind accommodations in free-hanging spherical rooms. Suspended with rope some 15 feet above the forest floor, these handcrafted wooden orbs made of yellow cedar and Sitka spruce come fully equipped with plush beds, hot showers and saunas. As the wind blows, the pendant-like pods gently sway in the breeze, making guests feel as if they’re one with the forest.

Dunton Hot Springs Resort, Dolores, Colo.

Dunton Hot Springs Resort is a ghost town turned high-end hideaway just an hour’s drive outside of Telluride, Colo. With fancy amenities, decadent dining, private massage services, original LaChapelle art and natural hot springs, this exclusive resort of just 12 restored cabins serves up the luxury ranch experience with a twist of authentic Americana and rich Wild West history.

Yellowstone Under Canvas, West Yellowstone, Mont.

Experience the iconic Yellowstone National Park from the modern comfort of a luxury camp. Yellowstone Under Canvas, just a few minutes from the park entrance, offers canvas Tipi tents and large cabin-style safari tents complete with king-size beds, wood burning stove, patio and private ensuite bathroom. By day, explore the geothermal features of the country’s first national park before comfortably communing with nature under the stars.

Sequoia High Sierra Camp, Giant Sequoia National Monument, Calif.

After a day of hiking California’s Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, outdoor enthusiasts can find comfort at Sequoia High Sierra Camp, a wilderness lodge that offers 32 deluxe canvas-tented cabins. At 8,500 feet, this hike-in camp promises plush-top beds, premium linens, artisan furniture and sweeping mountain views.

TreeHouse Point, Issaquah, Wash.

Embrace your inner 9-year-old and reconnect with nature from the cozy comfort of a specially designed tree house. Located some 20 miles from Seattle in Issaquah, TreeHouse Point offers several playful accommodations in the magical setting of the Snoqualmie Valley.  Meander along fern-lined trails, through soaring moss-covered trees to your romantic cedar crash pad — a traditional treehouse complete with handmade beds and vintage furnishings.

Sinya on Lone Man Creek, Wimberley Texas

Sleep amid the treetops in a secluded safari tent overlooking Texas Hill Country. Sinya on Lone Man Creek, a romantic eco-friendly cabin for two, is located in Central Texas, just a few miles northeast of the charming town of Wimberley. This rustic hideaway offers a king-size bed, feather-cushioned sofa, century-old claw-foot bathtub, Turkish cotton towels, comfy spa bathrobes, Wi-Fi and wine tasting tours nearby.

The Martyn House, Ellijay, Georgia

The Martyn House, a unique B&B in the north Georgia mountains, offers beautifully decorated and environmentally friendly “Gypsy Faire Sleeping Tents.” With private baths and a covered veranda overlooking the Chattahoochee Forest, these luxurious tents set a whimsical tone. When not relaxing in their open-air gypsy-style tents, guests may enjoy the many outdoor activities offered in the region, from kayaking, to fly-fishing, hiking and biking.

Fireside Resort, Jackson Hole, Wyo.

Located near Grand Teton National Park in the heart of Jackson Hole, Fireside Resort offers upscale rustic ski cabins and glamping tents all year round. Centrally located for all your outdoor adventure needs, Fireside Resort provides luxury linens, rain showers, heated floors and, most importantly, an on-call “glamping butler” if you need more s’mores supplies.

Kokopelli’s Cave, Farmington, N.M.

Cavemen were the ultimate outdoorsmen…the original hardcore campers. Channel your inner Neanderthal and live like our ancestors at Kokopelli’s Cave, a fancy cliffside home carved from 65-million-year-old sandstone. Located in Farmington, N.M., near the Mesa Verde National Park, Kokopelli’s Cave is a 1,650 square foot, one-bedroom paleo-pad with a hot tub, waterfall style shower, washer/dryer and Southwestern style luxury décor.

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Glamping in South America at Patagonia Camp

Patagonia Camp is situated just outside of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, which encompasses a vast array of lakes, rivers, glaciers and mountains.   Patagonia Camp’s philosophy is to protect the beautiful environment of this national park, and to minimally impact the varied and beautiful eco-systems present here.  Each structure that makes up Patagonia Camp, including the luxurious yurts, communal area, and walkways are built up on stilts to avoid damaging the plant life that has grown below for hundreds of years.   The camp also features a low-emission electric generator and a sophisticated waste water treatment system that returns water to the crystalline rivers and lakes completely pure.

Patagonia Camp has another philosophy – to provide their guests with total immersion in nature without foregoing luxury and comfort.  This philosophy is exemplified in each of the eighteen yurts, which have their own private bathrooms and luxuriously-appointed beds.  The yurts are decorated with woven fabrics and locally-handcrafted furniture.  Each yurt also boasts a private terrace, which is perfect for lounging and enjoying one of Patagonia Camp’s famed pisco sours after a day of hiking and sight-seeing.  (Pisco is a type of grape brandy typically produced in the winemaking regions of Peru and Chile.)

 

Patagonia Camp is ideally situated to provide their guests with easy access to one of nature’s most beautiful playgrounds, Torres del Paine National Park.  The design of Patagonia Camp pays special attention to this fact, making sure to display its greatest asset at every opportunity.  Guests can enjoy lying back in their plush beds to a breathtaking view of the sparkling waters of Lake Toro and the impressive peaks of the Paine Massif.  In the dining room, the tables are situated right next to the large picture windows so that guests can gaze out at the magnificent landscape.

 

Guests of Patagonia Camp can experience guided group treks to explore the breathtaking national park.  Guests can also fish in the nearby streams in hopes of catching one of the native salmon or trout, or to explore the local trails on mountain bikes.  Kayaks and canoes are available as well for paddling on Lake Toro.

Meals at Patagonia camp reflect the traditional cuisine of Chile.  The dishes are often imaginative and feature fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, thoughtfully prepared to be delicious and healthful.  A different dinner menu is available nightly, and often features slow-roasted lamb, or southern hake.   Hearty box lunches are provided so that guests can be enjoy them while out on excursions.

 

Patagonia Camp is located at what many call “the end of the world,” referring to Patagonia’s geographical location at the southern tip of South America.  Guests should be prepared for an excursion of a lifetime.  They’ll experience the best that glamping has to offer – an immersive experience in an amazing, natural environment complete with a warm shower and a comfortable bed to retire to at the end of the day.

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Glamping in Australia at Longitude 131

Longitude 131 is truly an oasis in the middle of the red desert of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.  The fifteen luxury, glamping accommodations lie at the gateway to this national park.  Located just a short distance away from the famed Uluru (Ayer’s Rock), Longitude 131 is named for the exact location on which this beautiful rock formation sits.  Guests to Longitude 131 may come to view the natural beauty of Uluru, but stay for the immaculate, luxury accommodations and impeccable service provided by this Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Award winning luxury resort.

From the moment guests arrive at the airport, the pampering begins with a Longitude 131 employee there to whisk you away to your destination.  You are then driven straight to the resort where you will be greeted with a glass of chilled champagne and canapés and shown to your tent. Each tent is named for a different prominent figure in early Australia’s history and decorated in a modern, chic style with historical relics from each explorers’ excursions.

 

The extravagant accommodations of each tent are plush and inviting and include a sumptuous, king size bed, an en suite bathroom,  iPad, Bose sound system, and Wi-Fi.  There are no televisions in the tents however, as all of the entertainment you need is right outside of your floor to ceiling windows.  Each tent is a stone’s throw away from Uluru, and provides amazing uninterrupted views of this naturally-made wonder.  For guests that prefer to enjoy the beautiful colors of a desert sunrise from the comfort of their bed, simply flip the bedside switch to raise the blinds.

Each day, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy, which center around exploring and learning about the natural landscape and aboriginal people to this land.  Expert local guides are prepared to escort guests through the surrounding desert landscape to Uluru for a morning excursion around the base of this enormous monolith, which like an iceberg, has most of its mass underground. Guests will also get an opportunity to view the sun setting over this majestic sandstone structure, whose reddish hue is derived from the rusting of the naturally-occurring iron contained within.  Or enjoy Table 131, where guests are greeted by the sound of a didgeridoo and entertained by indigenous performers displaying one of their own cultural dances, all while feasting on a decadent three-course meal under the unspoiled, twinkling night sky that only a remote desert location could showcase in such splendor.  For an opportunity to unwind, visit the Red Ochre Spa where guests can let their tensions melt away.  Try the Red Ochre Spa Signature Treatment for the ultimate in relaxation.  For a unique view of this natural wonder, guests can treat themselves to a helicopter tour over the national park or a Harley ride on a late model Heritage Softail.   Camel rides are another great way to explore the amazing views, complete with a trained guide to point out the wildlife and plant life

Perhaps the biggest compliment that any resort could ever expect to receive is rave reviews about their staff.  One point that seemingly all guests can agree upon about Longitude 131 is the level of attention to detail by their expertly-trained staff.  Many guests tout that “no” is a word that must not be in the vocabulary at Longitude 131.  The staff at this top-of-the-line resort brings the level of luxury to a point that is unparalleled by most other resorts. One point is certain – guests should come to this diamond in the rough prepared to be spoiled.