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March 16, 2014March 14, 2014

Glamping Ahoy! – UK Shipbuilders Bring Glamping Pods Ashore

Landlubbers need not fear the tumultuous seas to enjoy a night aboard a ship now that English boat builder John Knight has employed his craftsmen to build glamping pods. A recent downturn in traditional boatbuilding got Knight, who directs a campground Waveney River Centre near Lowestoft, United Kingdom, thinking of a new way to use his boatbuilding skills.

Great care is taken in the crafting of his cabins, using authentic boatbuilding materials like sustainable larch and pine right down to the wool insulation, which ensures a warm and pleasant slumber. The boat shaped cabins are so popular that Knight plans to add more of these ship-shape pods to create a cluster at the River Centre.

He notes that unlike other pods that don’t take advantage of a boat’s true design, his glamping pods make “the most of the available space, raising the level of the double bed and creating storage space.” The 14ft x 10ft pods are furnished with a full size double bed above two single beds (4″ mattresses linens not included), FreeView TV, LED lights, a double socket and loads of storage space, certainly providing a level of comfort that Ernest Shackleton would approve of.

As well as marketing the pods to other resorts, he believes the public at large will be interested in buying the “boat houses” for other purposes such as garden studios, unique sheds or guest accommodation, and so is offering them for sale online at myescapepod.co.uk for £11,500 including VAT (value added tax). It’s believed that should the demand for traditional boatbuilding continue to wane, crafting these glamping pods will help preserve the art.

Tourists can find these pods at Waveney River Center at Burgh St Peter, near Beccles, just over 100 miles northeast of London, near the city of Lowestoft on the North Sea, which is the most easterly point in the United Kingdom.

If the glamping pods are booked, guests can choose to stay in one of their luxury lodges. The marina has a fleet of boats from which to choose to rent, and the Knights are expanding their on-site pub and adding a new menu with locally-sourced food.

March 12, 2014March 11, 2014

Taming the Wilds of Patagonia

The most extreme and breathtaking landscapes don’t always come right out and present themselves–you have to track them down (often with a little help from the experts). For our trip to Torres del Paine, Chile’s most remote and alluring national park, EcoCamp Patagonia was our outfitter of choice. Their professional guides and luxurious accommodations turned what seemed like a wild abyss, into an inviting, indulgent, and invigorating oasis.

The five-star treatment started with a hotel pick-up all the way in El Calafate, Argentina and being shepherded across the Chilean border to Puerto Natales. There we were greeted with another chauffeur who dropped us off at the cutest gourmet cafe to regain our strength and get a taste of the incredible Chilean wines and meals to come.

Our drive to EcoCamp kept our jaws agape for the entire ride. The massive mountain peaks, glacial lakes, and soaring condors had us pulling over for photo stops every couple miles. Thank goodness for a patient driver!

EcoCamp is made of geodesic dome structures, inspired by the sturdy, agile, and natural homes of a 15^th-century nomadic Patagonian tribes. Leaving as little footprint as possible, all amenities are powered by solar and hydro energy and the camp’s sophisticated compost system combats nearly all waste.

As fate would have it, EcoCamp officially refers to their style of lodging as “Glamping” and in the most luxurious sense of the word. Our honeymoon-worthy Suite Dome had a massive canopy bed with the coziest bedding, a fireplace, and chic lighting to set the mood.

Then for the ultimate feature…an unobstructed view to the majestic Torres. The three jagged peaks are the “towers” that give the park its name and much of its allure.

There are infinite adventures to be had in Torres del Paine and your fun, friendly and knowledgeable guides can help make any of them possible—from the iconic “W” trek around the Torres to Patagonia Puma tracking. To get our bearings we started with the scenic drive through Torres del Paine National Park and a sunset sail to Glacier Grey. Our guides gave us a great overview of the park pointing out the various peaks, available hikes, lakes and the llama’s adorable cousin, the Guancos.

We arrived to the harbor and felt that between the floating icebergs and the stunning Almirante Nieto peaks, we could have gone home happy…but the gorgeous Glacier Grey was waiting for us in the distance.

As we sailed closer to Grey and as its electric blue crevasses came into focus, we began to grasp the magnitude of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field: the second largest contiguous extrapolar ice field left in existence. To top off the day, the crew served everyone a round of whiskey on the rocks (aka mini glacial icebergs).

Unlike most hotels, EcoCamp makes camaraderie amongst fellow glampers a top priority. Every night a cocktail hour is held in the Core Dome where everyone gathers for Pisco Sours, a bounty of appetizers (scallops, cheese, olives, meats, the works!), and to recount stories from their day exploring the park. Dinner follows, serving delights like quinoa gnocci and grilled lamb paired with Chilean wine (all included in the price of your stay).

As much as we would have loved to stay a week to trek “The W,” we got a taste with a fabulous day hike to the base of the Torres. Ascending the gorgeous and windswept moraine (Patagonia vocab word meaning a U-shaped valley shaped by a glacier), we arrived to the namesake towers. The vista literally took our breath away as we stared at the raw cliff face, teal lakes, and snow-capped peaks.

Patagonia is one of the most gorgeous places on the planet, with Torres del Paine its crown jewel…but it’s the accommodations, cuisine, service and expert guiding of EcoCamp that truly made this place shine.

March 9, 2014March 11, 2014

Glamping Gone Overland

The word “safari” conjures images of adventurous sun-drenched days on the African savanna followed by warm evenings spent telling tall tales over fine food and wine by torchlight. It’s the original glamping, and a safari at its imagined best is an expedition that advances to a new location each evening, making the journey and destination one. Today the discerning glamper can take advantage of this style of travel in Africa and beyond, all part of a growing trend commonly referred to as overlanding.

One company that offers the overlanding travel experience is No Limit Expeditions. Operated by James and Angela Brown of Colorado (now based in Guatemala), No Limit offers several exotic glamping expeditions that employ the classic safari vehicle, the Land Rover Defender, taking glampers to far flung destinations otherwise unreachable, and spare no effort in providing all the trappings of glamorous camping.

Expeditions typically begin in a luxury lodge (such as one of Coppola’s fine Central American resorts like La Lancha, Blancaneaux, or Turtle Inn), then take clients deep into the jungle on trips such as “Rainforests & Ruins,” where No Limit sets the scene at a gloriously secluded Maya ruin, where travelers imbibe on exquisite wines and dine on gourmet victuals. James is both a trained chef and sommelier, and after clients enjoy their feast amid the ruins, they may play the role of raconteur while enjoying a hand rolled cigar (personally blended by James himself). “It’s fantastic to sit in the jungle drinking this really nice aged rum while smoking a premium hand rolled cigar,” Angela relates. When slumber calls, travelers retire to a South African safari tent replete with the comforts afforded a British nobleman gone far afield.

The Browns have seen their business expand with the outfitting of additional Land Rovers, and the addition of Lesotho-native Graham Jackson as a guide. They’ve branched out to include new destinations (Baja California and Expedition Africa), and a new excursion to stretch the imagination of the glamper- an amazing island-hopping sailing voyage, “Rainforest and Reef,” blending land and sea exploration. “Glamping goes with our travel philosophy,” says Angela. “We like to go to these far, out of the way places, but we want to be able to do it in a nice style. Not roughing it- we want to bring the finer aspects with us along the journey.”

Its expedition companies like this that get you to places that you could otherwise not reach, and treat you like royalty when you get there. Having an amazing Maya ruin or Caribbean island all to yourself? Now that’s adventure and luxury. Now that’s glamping.

PHOTO CREDITS: All photos courtesy of Ben Edmonson except “Deck @ La Lancha” photo, courtesy Kerry Devine.

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