Four Destinations Perfect For A Unique Luxury Getaway

It’s finally summer in the city and luxury travel is heating up!

The usual suspects in travel have been done to death, so it’s time to switch it up. These four destinations are exciting, full of adventure, culture and most importantly, home to some of the hottest luxury destinations on the planet.  In short, they got next!

Laos

Everybody heads to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam when they head out on a SEAsia adventure, but Laos is here to claim its spot on the roster.  Covered in shades of green that cover everything from its thick jungles, glowing rice fields and tea leaf covered mountains, Laos retains a timeless South East Asian vibe that gives visitors a glimpse into a life commercialism has overcrowded in its more popular neighbors.

The capital of Vientiane still boasts rural life, where stilt houses and paddy fields are common, and traditional Luang Prabang is home to the sight of hundreds of saffron-robed monks gliding through the streets. But don’t get it twisted, Laos has more than rice and temples. Travelers can explore underground river caves, soar through the trees via jungle ziplines or take a walk on the wild side and spot exotic animals such as gibbons or elephants. Foodies can indulge in Laos’ spicy culinary scene with a cooking class.

Looking for luxury?

The highly anticipated resort Rosewood Luang Prabang is scheduled to open later this year and will boast 22 spacious accommodations including eight deluxe villas, three garden villas, six private pool villas and five luxury tents.

Going to Laos before the Rosewood opening? Head to Amantaka for a tranquil and spiritual wellness retreat.

Madagascar

Africa is so much more than South Africa, and Madagascar is definitely a destination to add to your African travel list.  An island off the coast of Africa, Madagascar is an adventure lover’s dream.  Its incredible and diverse landscape make it perfect for ATV riding, trekking, diving, mountain biking, kitesurfing, rock-climbing and more.

With 5% of all known animal and plant species found here, and there alone, animal lovers can will find delight in spotting lemurs, chameleons, oddly shaped insects, colorful frogs, stingrays and turtles, several species of sharks and even humpback whales.

For the luxe lovers, Miavana, situated on Nosy Anko, an island dubbed the Maldives of Africa, is set to be the most luxurious and eco-friendly resort on the Continent with panoramic ocean views and stunning aquamarine bays.

Nicaragua

While everyone is clamoring to go to Colombia, Nicaragua is slowly planning a travel sneak attack. This Latin nation is definitely slept on, but those that know, know Nicaragua is a destination on the rise. The elegant and colorful streets of Granada, the country’s best-preserved colonial town, are mesmerizing with architecture, lush courtyards and stately mansions perfect for taking IG worthy pics.

León offers a different experience with a vibrant city that, while proud of its heritage, is too busy to feel like a museum. But walking the streets isn’t the only way to experience the wonders of Nicaragua. Hike or sandboard cloud covered volcanoes, dive underwater caves or canoe alligator infested waters.

Explore the history of the country through cooking classes with locals or visit remote indigenous communities more than happy to share tales of their culture. Head to Costa Esmerelda to relax on Nicaragua’s pearlescent beaches at Meson Nadi, its newest boutique luxury resort.

Borneo

This is another destination with a little something for everyone. Part Indonesia and part Malaysia, Borneo is a breathtaking mix of virgin rainforest, untouched beaches and mountain ranges, and shockingly remains an off-the-beaten-path adventure.

Home to some of the world’s most species-rich equatorial rainforests, it’s not out of the ordinary to catch a glimpse of a wild orangutan swinging through the jungle, an Irrawaddy dolphin in the waters of the South China Sea, or hear the call of a gibbon.

Because Borneo is a hodgepodge of cultures, its cuisine is as amazing as its landscape. Delicious seafood from the South China Sea, smoky chicken satay at Malay night markets, yummy cooking from the Kelabit people – including Bario rice and pineapple curry – and Dayak dishes such as bamboo chicken and midin jungle fern, are sure to tantalize your palette.

Idyllic, palm-fringed islands, such as Gaya Island, allow you to explore underwater life such as sea turtles and whale sharks, all from the comfort of the pristine Gayana Marine Resort.