Namib Desert

There are remote hideaways, and then there is the Sonop lodge. Located in the Namib Desert, which is thought to be the world’s oldest desert, simply traveling to the camp is a worthwhile challenge. (Ask Google Maps for a route to the lodge and even it will not produce one.)

But the hours of driving on dirt and gravel roads is well worth the effort. The luxury camp of 10 tents is built on a hill of giant boulders, offering guests a unique stay and vantage points that deliver breathtaking views of the open desert landscape and the wildlife that inhabits it. Sonop features a number of activities to keep guests busy, even boasting a swimming pool that might have one thinking whether they are really inside some sort of virtual reality simulation.

At night, with nothing but miles and miles of unstretched desert landscape enveloping the camp, the stars come alive. The night skies in the Namib Desert are considered to be among the darkest in the world, providing some of the best views of the Milky Way galaxy on planet Earth (you can actually see the gasses with the naked eye). To top it all off, the staff working at the lodge treats guests to a superb level of service and the kitchen produces astounding multi-course meals — despite the ultra-remote location of the lodge.