Glamping is seeing rapid and exciting expansion as an industry. The method of vacationing might not be new to places like Africa and Australia, but this travel phenomena is becoming more and more popular. Now Asia is taking part as well.
In Africa the luxury tent has been around ever since travelers have taken to hunting exotic game. For decades lavish canvas tents catered to wealthy Europeans and Americans on Safari. Prize catches were taxidermied and hung on posts or made into fur rugs. The wealthy traveler relaxed with a glass of the finest imported whiskey while being served the best of local cuisine. In Australia, an outback Safari-like mode travel gained popularity. Now the United States has their own version of rugged western camps fine-tuned to please the pickiest traveler.
In Asia it’s a thrill to see the trend catching on. Asia is a serene region that emphasizes a reliance on peace and nature. While yoga might be part of every luxury outdoor resort, few places suit the practice as well as the countries of it’s origins. Imagine glamping in Thailand, Indonesia, India and Myanmar!
In Thailand, Four Seasons has brought glamping to two locations. Along with the expected canvas accommodations and top-notch spa packages, their glamping offers elephant trekking and other excursions. The iconic elephant makes Thailand truly unique. In the morning an elephant excursion takes visitors atop Camp Peak as the sun rises over the Laos Mountains to fill the Burmese Plains. After a leisurely coffee you can splash around with the gentle giants.
India is rich with glamping opportunities. If you choose to stay in Jaisalmer, especially near the Sam Sand Dunes, you’ll be greeted by a landscape that can’t be beat. Riding a camel into the sunset on the sand dunes will make you feel like you’ve been transported to those old arabian nights. Accommodations are very much modern and comfortable. If budget allows, try visiting India’s first five-star jungle camp. Oberoi Vanyavilas. You’ll find it in Rajasthan along with plenty of local tigers, deer, birds, crocs, bears and leopards. There is no roughing it here. Everything is exquisite.
For those seeking a ‘one with nature’ experience, try Tiger Tops in Nepal. Their sustainable jungle tours get as close to nature as safety permits. The entire camp runs mainly on solar power and every effort is made to make it’s carbon footprint as light as possible. Plus, within the Chitwan and Bardia national parks the touring methods have the taste of authenticity. Boat tours are done in hand crafted vessels that silently carry through Nepal’s impressive wilderness. Elephant tours are also an option. Sightings of tigers, rhinos, elephants, crocodiles, leopards and deer (oh my!) are common. This is a bird watchers heaven with all sorts of undisturbed feathery species.
Wherever you choose to spend your glamping hiatus, trying the local cuisine is a must! Approach everything with an open mind – the crazier the better. When the atmosphere, immersion of sounds, sights and tastes combine together it’s sure to create an unforgettable experience.
