The Mayans were notoriously clever. The splendid ruins of their advanced civilization lie all around the luxury Tulum resort of Azulik, taking visitors back to the time when humans and their surroundings were in much closer harmony. Azulik’s greatest asset is precisely this way of blending ancient feelings and wonders with a contemporary outlook. One of the major draws is the Maya Spa, which provides a large list of treatments that range from familiar Western techniques to ancient healing skills and relaxation treatments, including traditional Mayan massages. Photo by: ninahale

The ocean-side resort is also well known for its fifteen wooden villas, each with its own thatched roof and authentic decoration. Located on a cliff top, the villas offer outstanding sea views, especially Numbers 1 and 12 – both perfect for incurable romantics and honeymooners. Strolling along the white-sand beach, clad in as much or as little as you wish, is as a memorable experience as kayak trips around the coral reefs or hiking through tropical forest. Photo by: holly.worton

You can also just relax in your villa, enjoy sea breeze on your own patio, or take a dip in your hand-carved bathtub. There is no electricity at Azulik; come evening candlelight provides an enchanting ambiance as the Mexican nights descend. It is unique feeling to close one’s eyes, listen to the nocturnal soundtrack of the jungle, and reflect that the Mayan spirit that left such a mementos cultural imprint. Photo by: holly.worton

Location: Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Photo by: holly.worton

Canada‘s Great Bear Rainforest sweeps along British Columbia’s Inside Passage and is more than twice the size of Yellowstone National Park. In the middle of this broken wilderness, more than 150 miles (240 km) from the nearest paved road, is the King Pacific Lodge, a floating fishing lodge based on the serene waters of Princess Royal Island’s Barnard Harbor, home to black wolves, grizzlies, black bears, and a maximum of thirty pampered guests. Photo by: andrew mcgarry

The flights there takes you over nothing but trees, lakes, and rivers, the lodge’s isolation is genuine enough to lure A-listers such as Kevin Costner, who is longtime devotee. Every spring the unique lodge, moved from its winter home in the coastal town of Prince Rupert to its summer surrounds on Princess Royal Island, where the lodge’s seventeen rooms offer either wilderness or ocean views and access to everything that true wilderness is meant to be. Photo by: SevillaSD

Guests can kayak to uninhabited islands or take guided hikes to as-yet-unnamed peaks. If you’re lucky, you may be even fortune enough to see the rare Kermode ‘’spirit bear” – a black bear with a recessive gene that gives it a white coat. King Pacific Lodge sits on an old navy barge and was designed by a team of marine architects. A Toronto-based firm was responsible for the hotel’s interior, which features furniture made from driftwood. Its hull contains freezers and coolers to store meat and fish, and vegetables are flown in weekly with the hotel’s guests. Photo by: andrew mcgarry

Photo by: andrew mcgarry

You know you have come to the right place when the hotel manager offers a complimentary head and neck massage as soon as you have checked in. Overlooking the glimmering Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean in a breathtakingly natural setting, the Esperanza resort has fifty casitas (small villas) and six luxury suites spread across 17acres (7 ha) of land. Photo by: che_hyder

From the outside, the resort resembles a Mexican village, with casitas connected to the resort’s facilities via traditional stone footpaths. The interiors are decidedly elegant, decorated with original Mexican artworks, handcrafted furnishing, and fine Italian linens. Many have large outdoor terraces with views of the ocean, and in-room amenities include fully stocked minibars and entertainment centers, plus roomy bathrooms with gorgeous complimentary products. The six luxury villas some of which  are situated on a secluded beach, boast larger dimensions as well as private pools and butler service. Photo by: thejackal053

You can dine alfresco at the Mediterranean-inspired restaurant at Esperanza, which is carved into the bluffs overlooking the Sea of Cortez and offers 180-degree views of each table. The bar serves appetizers and snacks together with an extensive tequila and cigar menu. With more one of one hundreds different kind of tequila to choose from, a visit to the bar can be a little dangerous, although the abundance of activities on offer will soon cure any morning-after fatigue. Photo by: bingo8

You can go whale watching and take a sea trip on a glass-bottom boat as well as fish, surf, dive, and windsurf. Not a water fan? Take a guided tour through the desert and along empty beaches, have a game of tennis, play golf, or ride a horse. Or there are always more of those luxurious massages available in wonderful all-natural spa. Photo by: thejackal053

Modern-day fairy tales do not come much better than this. Cuixmala is a hot resort where luxurious villas are tucked away in a vast 25,000-acre (10,117-ha) ecological reserve fringed by golden beaches. This is a private sanctuary in more ways than one. Come there to rest your head, laze on deserted beaches, and get close nature. Then discover the birds and animals that have made their home in this eco-reserve – from jaguars and sea turtles to exotic zebras and antelopes. Photo by: flickrimagesearch

The top house is Casa La Loma with its distinctive blue and yellow striped dome. It looks like a castle and has a view out across the empty beach of Costa Alegre to the rolling Pacific surf. There are four other villas, fully staffed and decorated in sumptuous Mexican and European designs, as well as nine comfortable casitas (small villas) with a shared pool, clubhouse, and restaurant. Make yourself at home, then explore the organic farm on horseback, past mango and papaya trees, citrus orchards, and all those beaches. Photo by: Max Stuedlein

Some are perfect for kayaking and snorkeling; other have hammocks strung between coconut palms to escape the sun. Enjoy a picnic on a stretch of unspoiled beach, followed by a boat trip across the lagoon where you can watch the sunset as well as spot dolphins and whales. Finish a day with a cold margarita. Photo by: Maddog 2007

Celebrities adore this superb eco retreat. Food served in the gourmet dining room has been grown originally at the ranch of highland farm, and the two-tiered seating in the screening room has Indian pillow-topped settees the size of double beds. Location: Jalisco, Mexico. Photo by: Maddog 2007

A regular on ”world’s best hotel” lists, Robert Redford’s rustic Sundance resort is unique. It sits in 6,000 acres (2,425 ha) of wilderness on the slopes of the 12,000 foot (3,660-m) Mount Timpanogos. Rivers burble and birds sing in summer, in winter, mugs of hot chocolate steam beside a crackling fire waiting for skiers to return. The cozy rooms feature American quilts and Native American will hangings, and the food is superb, whether in The Foundry, praised by Zagat’s for its luxury brunch, or the five-star restaurant. Photo by: Mike In Park City

Winter sports remain the key draw in this area. January might find yourself sharing the slopes with luminaries of independent cinema, many of whom stay there during the annual Sundance Film Festival. Out of season, the lush pastures are great for hiking, mountain biking, and riding. A luxury spa draws on the Sioux idea of Hocoka, a sacred place in which body and spirit can be revived. Photo by: Mike In Park City

Long before eco was chic, Sundance was making a stand. And a passion for the environments is carried through from the Aveda products in the bathroom to the hybrid cars and regeneration projects the resort carries out on the surrounding hillsides. Location: Near Provo, Utah, USA. Photo by: jensong00

It is not only tourists who rave about Restaurant Nepenthe and its superlative views. Locals will tell you that on no account should you miss this spot, credited with some of the best panoramas in Big Sur, perhaps on the whole west coast of America. Take in the breathtaking sea and mountain vistas form window seats and wide outside terraces adorned with bright Moroccan-style cushions. Photo by: Lone Cypress

Yet Nepenthe is no grand operation. The upstairs restaurant, downstairs Cafe Kevah, and enticing gift shop, Phoenix, all have a relaxed atmosphere, and are owned and run by the children and grandchildren of the original founders, Lolly and Bill Fassett. Photo by: Bridgeport Mike

Inside, the restaurant boasts panoramic vistas and comfy, cushioned seats; outside, on the roomy, stepped terrace, the views are just as spectacular. The extensive wine list embraces some of California’s most distinguished vintners, lovingly made with Gary Pisoni’s Noir grapes. Just below the restaurant, Cafe Kevah (open from March to the first week in January, weather permitting) boasts yet more terrace vistas. The menu homes in on fresh ingredients and gourmet coffees. Photo by: californiabirdy

Photo by: Bill in DC

Tucked away in the San Juan Mountains, this romantic old mining town turned resort offers a refreshingly new tourist experience. Although the town where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are rumored to have hidden after robbing a bank in Telluride in 1889 may appear sleepy, nothing could be further from the truth. There is abundance of activities to satisfy even the most hyper vacationer.

Take a horse into the terrain to discover thunderous waterfalls and silent lakes, go desert hiking, heli-skiing, or snowmobiling in virgin powder, get your adrenaline pumping with river rafting, or enjoy a gentle afternoon’s fly fishing on the Wet Dolores. 

Stay in finely furnished hand-hewn log cabins, dine on delicious local organic cuisine in an old saloon, enjoy reviving holistic Elemis treatments in a tepee. Plus of course you can soak in the town’s natural, therapeutic hot springs, as the Ute Indians did thousands of years ago. 

An array of fascinating sites lies just a short distance away, including haunting Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly in the Navajo Reservation, and the town’s own vineyard in McElmo Canyon. And how about having the whole town to yourself? Dunton Hot Springs can be reserved exclusively for private use for up to forty-two people, making it ideal for weddings and family celebrations. 

Location: Colorado, USA. Photos by: JARED VINCENT

The ritual of bathing has never been more sublime that at the new, stylish Hoshinoya resort. This is no traditional hot spring. Hoshinoya sits firmly in twenty-first century. Green geothermal energy supplies the underfloor heating, and the surroundings ate seriously contemporary. Dark wood and stone floors replace the familiar tatami mats. Photo by: terururu

As well as open-air baths, a maze of low-ceilinged indoor baths leads to meditation bath lit by underwater spotlight. Soothing music works well with the heat and sulfurous vapors to give a memorable bathing experience. Photo by: Caspar B.

Outside lush terraces and waterfalls are a feast for the senses, surrounded by Karuizawa’s thick forest of Japanese maple, which turns glorious shades of gold and crimson in the autumn. Near Nagano, in central Honshu, the resort’s cottages are arranged around a small river. No two rooms are the same, although each one has a private bathtub that looks out over the river and luxuriously fills with onsen water at the touch of a button. Photo by: terururu

Away from the onsen, there are guided eco-tours of the forest and stargazing evenings. Curl up in the library with a good book or join other guests for gentle morning stretching exercises. Hoshinoya is hot spring heaven. Location: Japan. Photo by: terururu

Photo by: momo_raki

Should you be given the distributing news that you are officially dead, do not panic. You have probably just tied your yukata (house robe) right over left – kimono speak for ”deceased”- and need to retie it. More than 300 years old, Hiiragiya Ryokan is a historic inn that is widely regarded as the pinnacle of style and traditional hospitality. Look closely and you will see the wooden hitching posts, used by traveling feudal lords who arrived on horseback, on the long clay walls. Such grand arrivals might e a thing of the past, but theater comes with the territory, and thanks to the six generations of the same family, service is as sharp as samurai sword. Photo by: Rob Gruhl

After a flurry of bowing on arrival, a personal maid leads guests to their rooms. These are measured in units of tatami mats; the largest sleeps seven. Some come with a delightful cedar tub, which keeps water hot for hours. Rooms are simple, but attention to detail is faultless, and to maintain an air of authenticity some do not have televisions. Photo by: risotto al caviale

Bedfellows spend far too much time bathing and eating to miss that, though. The traditional kaiseki meal is the highlight of the stay there and demands both an empty stomach and a sense of adventure. Ryokans are fertile ground for cultural faux pas, but once you have entered into the spirit and begin to relax, it can be great fun to don the geta (wooden clogs) and flip-flop around wearing the yukata to the communal bath and to dinner. Photo by: bestbeon

The maid will fill your tub, roll out your tatami, and should you need it – assist with tying that robe. Location: Kyoto, Japan. Photo by: RicciHull

Photo by: melissamatlins

On the northern border of Thailand, a resort unlike any other has successfully merged luxury and adventure in place of legends. After a long flight and much driving along the picturesque rice paddies, Anantara feels like forever away. Luckily the reward is soon evident: beautiful exotic gardens and views stretching across the mighty Mekong River to three different countries. Photo by: Michelle 217

Most of all, though, the resort is famous for its mahout (elephant trainer) camp, where guests are taught the art of ”ele-driving”. The daylong crash course to become a mahout is an incomparable experience, and real privilege. Before you know it, you will be riding elephants bareback and giving your impressive mount Thai commands to follow, then sliding off down its trunk like an old pro. Photo by: gsummerville7

The entire resort pays homage to elephants: Even the towels in the designer bedrooms are cleverly folded origami style into elephants shapes. After a hard day’s ele-driving, reward yourself with a dip in the infinity pool or a visit to the spa to be massaged in style cocooned in an atmosphere of dark woods, orchids, and silk. Excursions to what was once Burma and Laos are also part of the attraction. Once a mysterious no-man’s land, the Golden Triangle is now a place to go for something utterly different. Photo by: Robert Stokes

Photo by: Kevin Day

The Old Leura Dairy is a mixture of beautifully-restored buildings that has been located into one of Australia’s most eclectic retreats. The structures were once a working dairy farm, however today have the scent of new lease of life. What was once a modest 1920s weatherboard building is now the Workers Cottage, a three-bedroom home with peculiar Australian styles, such as walls made from fence palings and furniture fashioned from old lining boards. A recent addition is the eco-friendly, solar-powered Straw Bale House, with its thick walls packed with straw to provide insulation throughout winter months. Photo by: antomic

Paddock grass has been transformed into an extensive native green, and drought-resistant shrubs have been planted throughout to stabilize the soil and attract native birds. The houses are perfect for short vacations. The surrounding nature offers a wide range of activities such as walks, picnics, and biking. Location: Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. Photo by: jessmcpeake

For owners Irena and Jeremy Hutchings, the vision to bring sustainable safari-style camping to Australia started in Africa. On their return, they happened upon pristine Jervis Bay and set up camp in a protected bush wetland. The rest, as they say, is history.

With twelve tents floating on timber platforms underneath a canopy of spotted gums and peeling paperbark trees, Paperbark Camp is the perfect foil for those who like roughing it, without actually roughing it. Wafts of eucalyptus and pine tickle your senses at every turn, and eco-tourism is taken very seriously.

Paperbark is near one of the world’s best beaches (Hyams), and you can rent a canoe for paddling along Currambene Creek, or a bicycle for forays into the eucalyptus forest, woodland, or nearby town of Jervis Bay. Locals come from miles around for gourmet treetop dining at the Gunyah Restaurant. Aboriginal for ”meeting place”, the Gunyah doubles as the camp’s nerve center – a place to chill with a book by day and chat by the fire at night.

The eclectic menu might include kangaroo kebabs with lemon and myrtle yogurt, salmon baked in paperbark, and kaffir lime and ginger sorbet with lychees and rum. Pesky possums have been known to poke their noses into unzipped tents and, come morning, you will wale to a dawn chorus that is second to none. Location: Jervis Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Photos by: great outdoors direct

Cradle Mountain Lodge offers an alpine spa retreat with luxurious green life. It is certainly no effort to be on the Australian island state of Tasmania, circled by misty, mirror lakes and craggy peaks. Some of the cozy cabins have a hot tub out on the deck and wood-burning fire in the lounge to keep evening mountain chills at bay. If you can to pull yourself away from the views, there is even more scenery on offer from the Waldheim spa. Treatments room have floor-to-ceiling windows to let the outside in, and an open hot-tube area with panoramic views of the forest. Photo by: jeaneeem

The gourmet menu features best green credentials of local produce, and helpful staff offer their help. A delight for food and wine lovers is the annual three-day gourmet which is a showcase for boutique winemakers, growers and handmade cheese makers. The site also attracts hikers. Take a picnic and follow self-guided walking trails to find a peaceful spot to enjoy the solitude of Cradle Mountain and Dove Lake. Go canoeing on the lake or rent mountain bikes to get off the beaten track. Local guides offer tours to get a closer look at native animals such as wallabies, possums, and may be even a Tasmanian Devil. Or look out over the forest to spot them while enjoying a relaxing massage in the spa. Photo by: gga

Photo by: ChrisOos

The Beau Rivage Resort is on the east coast of Mauritius and it is a wonderful retreat with twelve-brand new thatched villas. They are decorated with Chinese porcelain and Indian artworks that reflect the peculiar Mauritius mix of cultures that represent the quest for perfection and pure indulgence that is an ongoing challenge at the Beau Rivage resort.

Overlooking an offshore coral lagoon and the powdery-white sands of Belle Mare beach, Beau Rivage is one of the leading resorts in a country that prides itself on having some of the finest tropical hideaways anywhere. Rooms have plush interiors and plantations shutters on the windows: butler service and swimming pool. For diving enthusiasts, nine dive sites up to 11 feet (34 m) in depth are just a ten-minute boat ride away. Near all water sports are complimentary, and there is dedicated children’s pool.

The east coast of Mauritius is the least development region in the country. It offers guaranteed evening breezes through warm Maurutuan summers, and can still give you deserted island atmosphere that is becoming increasingly hard to find elsewhere.

The supreme comfort of the bedfellows is of paramount importance there. The treatments tents at the resort spa are as exotic and exclusive in feel as the Beau Rivage itself.

Abu Camp is luxurious remote place offering three-night stays and elephant-back safaris. Guests arrive and depart together to appreciate, at the same peace, the diversity of flora and fauna found there in the open savannas. Bedfellows stay in custom-made tents set on raised decks adjacent to their own private, natural lagoon. All tents in the camp are equipped with four-poster beds and come complete with full baths and private bathrooms.

Each tent has own private deck, and separate outdoor layered teak deck and viewing platform built around matured sycamore and ebony trees that can double as a dinning area, with fine wine and gourmet cuisine prepared by Abu Camp’s experienced safari chef. A newly built villa across the lagoon sleeps up to four people and comes with its own chef, butler and private pool.

Abu Camp is named after former resident celebrity elephant Abu. The camp’s elephants grant unprecedented and unfettered access to resident herd of zebra, antelope, giraffe, and buffalo. Sunrise and sunsets rides are offered daily, as well as extended daylong safaris that transplant you into the midst of the wildlife.

Location: Okavango Delta, Botswana. Photos by: Drive South Africa