National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World

By Becky Pemberton From Mail on Line UK
From an Alaskan fjord log cabin to a private Caribbean eco-island: National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World adds 14 new retreats to its list (and these pictures show why they qualify)
The National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World launched in January 2015 with 24 charter properties
It has now increased by 14, with each incredible lodge focused on a commitment to excellence and sustainability
Properties include Cuixmala, set within a 25,000-acre biosphere in Costalegre, Mexico
Located in some of the most spectacular places around the globe, there are a number of rare retreats which push the hotel experience way beyond travellers’ expectations.
The National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World seeks out accommodation that breaks the mould of hotel stays and has just added 14 new paradise lodges to its impressive portfolio.
From a historic hacienda in Mexico to beautiful log cabins at the mouth of an Alaskan fjord to a stunning safari camp in Botswana’s Okavango Delta region, the new additions it’s hoped, in the words of National Geographic, will help people discover how ‘staying can be truly extraordinary’.

Launched in January 2015, the initial collection of 24 properties on six continents sought to build upon the National Geographic travel portfolio, which includes Six months after the launch, 14 more have been added to the collection – selected based upon the uniqueness of the property, guest experiences, quality of service and the standard of cuisine.
What is also vital for the collection is that the hotels not only defy the imagination in their design and detail, but that they also demonstrate that they are founded on a deep desire to protect the cultures and precious ecosystems that surround them.
An onsite inspection is undertaken by an expert to assess hotel operations, to meet staff and to evaluate the lodge’s sustainable tourism practices.
‘Our growing collection of Unique Lodges of the World offers a wide range of meaningful travel experiences to all kinds of explorers,’ said Lynn Cutter, National Geographic’s executive vice president for Travel and Licensing.
‘We are thrilled to bring on these extraordinary new members, as they embody the values National Geographic and our travellers hold close.’
THE 14 NEW NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S UNIQUE LODGES OF THE WORLD
• Cuixmala, Costalegre, Mexico
• Siwash Lake Ranch, British Columbia, Canada
• Hacienda de San Antonio, Colima, Mexico
• Petit St. Vincent, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Caribbean
• Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island, Australia
• The Bushcamp Company, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
• Mara Plains Camp, Olare Motorogi Conservancy, Kenya
• ol Donyo Lodge, Chyulu Hills, Kenya
• Tutka Bay Lodge, Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, United States
• Winterlake Lodge, South-Central Alaskan Wilderness, United States
• Zarafa Camp, Selinda Reserve, Botswana
• Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción, Amazon Rain Forest, Peru
• Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, Sacred Valley of the Inca, Peru
• Inkaterra La Casona, Cusco, Peru
Ol Donyo Lodge is situated at foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro
LODGE CRITERIA
The Property — The design and character are unique and authentic, and the property provides guests with a true sense of place by celebrating the surrounding landscape and cultural heritage.
Guest Experience and Quality of Service — Guests are offered top-quality service and exceptional and inspiring experiences — from activities that enable them to engage with local people to wildlife encounters with seasoned naturalists.
Sustainable Tourism Best Practices — The property demonstrates a commitment to conservation and green operations; it actively supports the protection of cultural heritage; and it provides tangible benefits to local communities.
Included in the new additions is Cuixmala, set within a 25,000-acre biosphere in Costalegre, Mexico.
Nestled in the jungle surroundings, the grand villas and cosy casitas overlook the remote beach in the eco-sanctuary.
Contrasting with this is are the thatched bungalows of ol Donyo Lodge, Chyulu Hills, in Kenya.
The stunning wildlife retreat offers unbeatable views of the sloping plains below and Mount Kilimanjaro looming on the horizon.
Each lodge in the collection has the option of a special ‘National Geographic Exclusive’ experience for guests who book their stay through National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World.
This complimentary experience provides the opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in the local culture and environment.
These range from cooking classes in the Australian Outback, to a behind-the-scenes architectural tour in Newfoundland to meeting marine scientists in Tahiti.
Travellers can browse the incredible properties on the Unique Lodges website, which offers a full-service experience from booking to checkout.
There is also the opportunity to join a National Geographic Expedition, that features a Unique Lodge, or book one of National Geographic’s new private expeditions.
THE ORIGINAL 24 PROPERTIES FEATURED IN THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S UNIQUE LODGES OF THE WORLD
Fogo Island Inn, Canada
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, South Africa
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Peru
Kapari Natural Resort, Greece
Kasbah du Toubkal, Morocco
Lapa Rios Eco Lodge, Costa Rica
Lizard Island, Australia
Longitude 131°, Australia
Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador
Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort, Canada
Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica
Rosalie Bay Lodge, Dominica
Rubondo Island Camp, Tanzania
Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, South Africa
Sayari Camp, Tanzania
Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia
Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Malaysian Borneo
The Brando, French Polynesia
The Ranch at Rock Creek, United States
Three Camel Lodge, Mongolia
Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa, Chile
Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa, Chile
Tswalu Kalahari, South Africa
Zhiwa Ling Hotel, Bhutan
IMAGES:
A private island in the Windward Islands, Petit St. Vincent is an elegant, secluded Caribbean paradise for those who love sailing, snorkeling, kayaking, or just reading on an empty beach
At the stunning ol Donyo Lodge, on the slopes of the Chyulu Hills, wildlife teems on the slopes below and Mount Kilimanjaro towers on the horizon
Enjoy a peaceful afternoon overlooking Africa’s wildlife landscapes – or why not order dinner to accompany the view
Sparkling fountains and beautiful gardens fill the courtyards of Hacienda de San Antonio, an elegant 19th-century home with a working ranch and coffee plantation set dramatically among volcanic peaks in the Mexican highlands
Enjoy a sunset from the relaxing well-maintained gardens surrounding the Hacienda de San Antonio resort
Sheltered by an intricate forest canopy, the screened-in cabanas of Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción reveal the sights, sounds and scents of the Amazon Rain Forest
Inkaterra La Casona in Cusco, Peru, is an intimate hotel set within an exquisite 16th-century manor house, and one of Cusco’s most storied dwellings
An inconspicuous door in the heart of Cusco’s old town opens into a world of Spanish-colonial splendor at Inkaterra La Casona
Enjoy a unique sunset meal and bottle of wine overlooking the plains at Zarafa Camp in the Selinda Reserve in Botswana
With a stunning main lodge as its base and six intimate camps secluded in the surrounding wilderness, the Bushcamp Company invites guests to experience one of Africa’s lesser-known wildlife preserves from different angles
With jaw-dropping views of the ocean, the lagoon, and the two massive peaks, this contemporary beach house is a stunning base to explore the little-known gem of Lord Howe Island
Overlook an incredible beach sunset at the Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island in Australia
Poised along a jungle-clad ridge overlooking remote beaches on Mexico’s Pacific coast, the grand villas and cozy casitas of Cuixmala are a secluded eco sanctuary set within a 25,000-acre biosphere reserve
Enjoy a clean, minimalistic environment at the hotel, which overlooks the sparkling turquoise waters visible from the rooms
A secluded cove at the tip of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula harbors Tutka Bay Lodge, an intimate family-owned wilderness lodge with a culinary twist
At the edge of a lake along the historic Iditarod Trail, the hand-built wood cabins of Winterlake offer a beautiful base for your adventures -fishing, hiking, or dogsledding in Alaska’s backcountry
Edging the shores of a wildlife-rich lagoon in the Okavango Delta and surrounded by more than 320,000 acres of private, protected land, Zarafa’s spacious tents offer an intimate experience with one of Africa’s great wildernesses
From their perch on an emerald Andean slope, the colonial-style estate and casitas of Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba allow guests to soak up the spirit of the Sacred Valley, a region still shrouded in the mysteries of the Inca
A collection of cozy cabins and canvas tents hidden deep in the heart of British Columbia’s cowboy country, Siwash Lake Ranch offers a premier horseback riding experience as well as fly-fishing, kayaking, and miles of trails
Just north of Kenya’s famous Masai Mara National Reserve, Mara Plains Camp recalls the elegant safari tents of centuries past, set on a private conservancy where the wildlife is plenty and the crowds are nowhere to be found
Just north of Kenya’s famous Masai Mara National Reserve, Mara Plains Camp recalls the elegant safari tents of centuries past, set on a private conservancy where the wildlife is plenty and the crowds are nowhere to be found
For more on this story and video go to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3145686/National-Geographic-s-Unique-Lodges-World-adds-14-new-members-incredible-list.html#ixzz3ewPRf285