Glamping in Europe’s top 10 luxury campsites

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From Polynesian-style daybeds in super-luxe yurts to a therapeutic escape in a tipi, here are Europe’s best ‘glamping‘ experiences

1 Eco Retreats, Powys

Eco Retreats, Wales

Located on a 1,300-acre organic farm in the Dyfi Forest, at the end of a four-mile track, this venture aims to help campers “reconnect with the rhythms of the environment”. Accommodation is made up of five tipis (each sleeping up to five) and one yurt (sleeping up to six), set among meadows and mature oak woods. All are furnished with sheepskin rugs, double beds, wood-burning stove or chiminea, and have their own outside toilet and spring-water shower. Guests are offered a complimentary healing session, evening meditation session and tickets for the nearby Centre for Alternative Technology.

Book it Two nights in a tipi start from £305/£315 for the yurt, including organic welcome hamper (01654 781 375; ecoretreats.co.uk).

2 Eco Luxury Yurt Suite, Lanzarote

Eco Luxury Yurt, Lanzarote

This yurt is part of a collection of nine eco properties located on the family-run Finca de Arrieta estate, 30km from the capital, Arrecife. It sleeps up to five and is beautifully decorated with rich fabrics, wood flooring and antique Mongolian hardwood furniture, such as the super king-size bed. It also has its own marble-floor bathroom, outdoor kitchen and garden with a Polynesian-style daybed – perfect for a sundowner. Soak up some rays on the small sandy beach just 200m away, walk to the nearby fishing village of Arrieta, then head back to the finca for a dip in the communal solar-heated swimming and plunge pools.

Book it From €840 per week (00 34 928 826 720; lanzaroteretreats.com).

Get there Easyjet (easyjet.com) flies from London Gatwick and Liverpool to Arrecife from £39 return.

3 Canna Camping Holidays, Inner Hebrides

Canna Camping, Scotland

Campers looking for the ultimate away-from-it-all retreat can bed down in a bell tent on the Isle of Canna, the furthest of the Small Isles from the Scottish mainland, which has just 19 inhabitants. The tent comes with a wood-burning stove and solar lighting, and sleeps up to four in one double and two single futons (an extra mattress can be provided). There’s a toilet and shower a short walk away (take 50p coins). The island is renowned for its bird life, including sea eagles and puffins, and you can also expect to see dolphins, basking sharks, minke whales, and occasionally orcas.

Book it Three nights from £90 per tent (01687 460 166; cannafolk.co.uk).

Get there Caledonian MacBrayne operates ferries from Mallaig to Canna; for timetables and fares visit calmac.co.uk.

4 Mongolian Yurts, Vaud, Switzerland

Mongolian yurts, Vaud, Switzerland

These seven yurts bag the title for the best location – 2,045m-high, among edelweiss-filled meadows on the summit of the Rochers-de-Naye. Reachable via a scenic cog railway from Montreux, which takes less than an hour, the fully insulated yurts (complete with electric heating for those snowy winter nights) are open year round and decked out in authentic furnishings with beds sleeping up to eight. Watch the sun set over Lake Geneva, then warm your cockles with a Mongolian fondue in the cliff-face restaurant Plein Roc.

Book it Yurts cost CHF270 (£166) per night. The return train trip, fondue and breakfast costs an additional CHF70 (£43) per adult, CHF60 (£37) per child (00 41 840 245 245; goldenpass.ch).

Get there British Airways (ba.com) flies from London Heathrow and Gatwick to Geneva from £97.

5 Eco-Lodge Brejeira, Algarve, Portugal

Eco-Lodge Brejeira, Algarve, Portugal

Situated in the heart of the Algarve, near the town of Silves, this retreat is as unique as it is eco-friendly. Choose between a beautifully furnished Mongolian yurt, which has a raised veranda to watch the sunset, an old-fashioned Dutch gypsy caravan, or a converted German fire truck. Each sleeps two and has its own shower and compost toilet (to help feed the vegetable garden); the latter two also have kitchen areas. Or head to the communal straw-bale building, where breakfast and a three-course dinner are served on request. Spend your days exploring the nearby beaches, or set off on the new Via Algarviana hiking and mountain biking track, which passes right under Brejeira.

Book it Yurt from €30 per night/caravan from €35 (available from 1 September); fire truck from €15 (00 35 191 937 6502; eco-lodgebrejeira.com).

Get there Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from 10 UK airports to Faro from £50 return.

6 Teapot Lane Luxury Camp, County Leitrim, Ireland

Teapot Lane Luxury Camp, Ireland

One of Ireland’s first luxury yurt camps has just opened its doors in an unspoilt corner of northwest Ireland. Located in five acres of woodland, the three handcrafted yurts – sleeping between two and five – feature king-size beds, rugs and pot-bellied stoves. Two restored country cottages provide self-catering and bathroom facilities, and there are also compost toilets, campfire and BBQ areas, plus hammocks and swings in the woodlands. The camp also offers holistic aromatherapy, massage and reflexology treatments. This is a prime spot for surfers – Bundoran is a short drive away.

Book it Three nights from €180, including organic vegetable basket; treatments start from €40 (00 35 387 934 0341; teapotlaneluxurycamp.com).

7 Casas Karen, Los Caños de Meca, Cadiz, Spain

Casa Karen, Cadiz, Spain

This is not so much a campsite as a complete tiny rustic village tucked away in a garden of umbrella pines and sand dunes and all just a few minutes’ walk from the nearest beach. It’s made up of 11 cottages and chozas – which are traditional thatched Spanish beach huts made of straw and bamboo. Our favourite is Choza Grande, which sleeps two and has a kitchen, lounge and dining area downstairs with sofas and rugs, and a bed on a raised wooden platform. Waste is composted and water is drawn from the campsite’s own well. Massage, yoga and meditation can be arranged, and there is everything from canoeing to dolphin watching nearby.
Book it From €75 per night/€405 per week (0034 956 437 067; casaskaren.com).

Get there Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from London Stansted to Jerez from £50.

8 Écovallée Yurt Camping, Dordogne, France

Ecovallee yurt camping, Dordogne, France

Opening this weekend, this family-run camp is set in 12 acres of land just 300m from the bastide town of Lalinde. It’s perfect for families, with a handcrafted chestnut and canvas yurt sleeping four and a 12ft “play yurt” filled with toys and games. Outside you’ll find a canvas-covered kitchen/dining area, a compost toilet and woodland play area as well as foraging pigs, free-range chickens (wake up to fresh eggs every morning) and Pepito, the owners’ horse. Stock up on provisions at the weekly market at Beaumont; visit the Château des Milandes; or sign up for one of the on-site activities – there’s therapeutic massage and reiki for the parents, and bread-making and face-painting for the kids.

Book it From €350 per week (00 33 553 57 94 41; ecovallee.com).

Get there Flybe (flybe.com) flies from six UK airports to Bergerac from £112.

9 Jolly Days, Yorkshire

Jolly Days campsite, Yorkshire

How do you fancy swapping your airbed for a four-poster? Jolly Days, which opened last summer, is the latest UK venture to jump on the glamping bandwagon. It’s made up of seven bell tents and seven tented lodges, set in 200 acres of private woodland on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds. While the tented lodges, each sleeping up to six, boast four-poster beds, chandeliers, sofas around a woodburner and toilets, the bell tents are more basic, with coir matting and futon sofabeds, each sleeping four. There are communal showers, as well as a communal fire pit, cooking hut and clay oven. Hire bikes to explore the trails in nearby Dalby Forest or head to York, just over 10 miles away.

Book it Four nights in a bell tent from £235/£350 for a lodge (01759 371 776; jollydaysluxurycamping.co.uk).

10 Camping Les Moulins, Noirmoutier Island, France

Camping Les Moulins, Vendée, France

France has its fair share of campsites, but none has quite the same ooh-la-la factor as this one, located off the Vendée coast. Following a revamp last year, it features a range of canvas lodges (sleeping two to eight) and tipis (sleeping four) – think proper beds, kitchens, dining areas, even en suite bathrooms in some – set among five hectares of pine trees and dunes along a beach. Don your walking shoes to explore nearby villages, hop on the Noirmoutier petit train (it stops directly outside the campsite) to the centre of town or just kick back in the heated indoor or outdoor pool, sauna, Jacuzzi and spa.

Book it Lodges and tipis from €95 per night/€230 per week (00 33 251 3951 38; camping-les-moulins.com).

Get there Noirmoutier island is accessible from the mainland by a bridge from Fromentine or at low tide by a causeway. Easyjet (easyjet.com) flies from London Gatwick to Nantes from £45 return. Or take the ferry from Weymouth or Poole to St Malo from £250 return for a car and two adults (condorferries.co.uk).

The glamorous outdoors: the 5 most luxurious glamping destinations

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Leave your tents and sleeping bags at home: there’s a new type of camping that promises adventure and fun but without all the dirt and grime. “Glamping,” short for “glamorous camping,” is the fast growing trend that allows you to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors while residing inside a luxurious accommodation. Whether it’s a family vacation or a romantic get-away for two, glamping is the best way to relax and have fun in some of the most beautiful locations around the world.

Here are a few places where you can enjoy the great outdoors in true luxury.

The Ranch at Rock Creek: Philipsburg, Mont

Nestled in the mountains of Montana, the Ranch at Rock Creek resides on a 10 mile expanse of wide open countryside, including four miles of flowing river running alongside Rock Creek. Relax amid the natural beauty of living on a Western-style ranch, all while enjoying the top tier of luxury.

Immerse yourself in nature by staying in the rustic Canvas Cabin tents, complete with glamorous amenities such as a gas fireplace, a screened-in porch, a private bathroom, and a luxurious bed. In total there are eight cabins, four ideal for couples and four for families.

Cabins designed for couples include the Rainbow and Apache cabins, which consist of a king bed and a queen pull-out, as well as a comfortable sitting area that is perfect for relaxation with a loved one. The Gila and Bulls cabins feature two queen beds complete with a romantic love seat.

The four Family Canvas Cabins include two rooms divided by a curtain, in addition to cute and comfy reading nooks. The Grayling & Lake family cabins offer a king bed in one room and two twin beds in another room. The Brook & Cut-Bow cabin, which houses a king bed in one room and two twin beds and a trundle in another, is perfect for families of up to five.

Carol Ann Kelley-Elwell, director of marketing and media relations, says one of the best qualities of the ranch is the guests. “There’s a cross-section of people. We have couples, families, and people who come for girls’ weekend and bachelor parties.”

The couples’ cabins cost $950 a night per person and the family cabins cost $1,200 a night per person. While a little on the pricey side, these rates include all meals in addition to one morning and one afternoon activity for each guest. The activities are innumerable and change depending on season but include fun options like paintball, archery, hiking, and mountain biking.

“What sets our glamping site apart is its setting,” Kelley-Elwell says. Where else can you enjoy listening to the gentle murmur of a running river right outside your door? In addition, there’s a top notch staff and notably luxurious amenities.

“The quality of the goods is the best. We spare no expense. It’s like staying at a 5-star hotel.”

Canonici di San Marco: Mirano, Italy

The perfect combination of culture and nature come together at Canonici di San Marco, located in Mirano, Italy, only eight miles from Venice. Relax in the beautiful countryside and enjoy the luxury of the campsite, as well as explore the cultural experiences available in Venice.

Emanuela Padoan, one of the owners, says this is what makes Canonici de San Marco a unique glamping experience. “Guests can visit Venice in the evening and return afterwards to the glamping site to enjoy the peace of the countryside.”

While Canonici di San Marc isn’t exactly like popping a tent, the property is surrounded by nature.  It currently offers two lodges, with prices differentiating slightly depending on the season. The price ranges from 120-140 euros (about $145-$170) daily with each extra bed at an additional cost of 20-30 euros (about $25 -$35). These lodges, which can house 2 to 6 people, offer a spacious bedroom, a relaxing lounge area, and a big bathroom overlooking wheat fields.

The gorgeous rooms consist of four-poster beds, colonial-style fans, antique sofas and armchairs, and antique wooden wardrobes. Large French doors open out onto a wide terrace perfect for sunbathing during the day or watching the sunset in the evening. The room also welcomes you with scented soap necklaces, romantic candelabras and candles, crystal champagne flutes, and DOC Prosecco wine to complete the feeling of ultimate luxury. Even with the grandeur and old-world feel, the lodges come with heat, air-conditioning, and even Wi-If.

Padoan says this glamping site is perfect for travelers who can appreciate the rich Venetian culture. “Our guests are young and old couples, people who love nature and culture. It’s anyone who enjoys travelling and good Italian food.”

An added bonus to this destination is the personal attention you receive from the owners. Due to the small number of guests permitted at a time, guests have a truly personal experience. The owners’ hospitality makes time spent here memorable for all guests. The balance between peaceful relaxation and the vibrant cultural atmosphere of Venice makes Canonici di San Marco a vacation too perfect to miss.

Sinya on Lone Man Creek, Tex.

If you and your significant other are looking for the ultimate romantic getaway, this super exclusive spot is perfect for you. How many guests can say they’ve enjoyed a safari-style retreat made for two overlooking Lone Man Creek in Texas?

That’s right. The entire campsite consists of one tent for two people on five acres, and the entire staff consists of one person: the owner, Lynn Gallimore.

Sinya devotes itself to giving its guests the ultimate luxury, but at the same time maintains eco-friendly practices, or as Gallimore puts it, “camping with a conscious.” She says she is devoted to making her guests happy.

“Everything you could imagine needing is there for you.” Gallimore becomes your go-to- girl, cooking all the meals, as well as being your personal concierge.  This one-woman show doesn’t disappoint.

Guests stay inside of a canvas tent, complete with high-end furniture, a king-sized bed with goose-down linens, air conditioning and heating, kitchenette, and a century-old bathtub to relax and bathe in with scented milk. Staying at Sinya costs $245 per night from Sunday through Thursday and $275 per night for Friday and Saturday, with a two night minimum and three night minimum on holidays.

Gallimore says this style of glamping is for those “like-minded, who want something different, something secluded and private without being in the middle of nowhere, who want to celebrate a honeymoon or an anniversary or  just want a romantic getaway.”

On-site activities are more low-key, like swimming and fishing in the creek, going in the hot tub, lying down on a hammock on the veranda watching wildlife, and walking on the walking trails. But the town of Wimberley, only five and a half miles from the campsite, has a lot of adventurous activities to offer, such as hiking, biking, tennis, zip-lining, and wine touring.

And after a day full of outdoor activity, Wimberley has some delicious eats to offer. The restaurants are unique and lively, playing on the vibe of the Texas area. So get ready to be swept away by the romantic privacy and natural beauty of this site. Talk about love at first sight.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort: Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada

Located near Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada on 500 acres and set back onto 1 million acres of state park, the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort will take you far from your hectic, big city life and take you worry-free into their beautiful and remote safari-like environment.

The ultra-luxurious eco-resort is reminiscent of late 19th century Great Safari Camps, and offers, among other things, a cookhouse, two dining tents, three spa tents, work out facilities and a complimentary Internet cafe.

What’s great about this glamping hotspot is that it’s all-inclusive, so you can enjoy all the wonderful amenities the resort has to offer without worrying about the cost.  Included in your glamping package is your deluxe tent, all of your meals, massage treatments, adventure-filled activities with guides and instruction and even the 50-minute sea-plane flight from Vancouver to the resort.

The resort boasts, because of its proximity to the ocean, that it has “both the best land and sea activities,” such as black bear watching, horseback riding, deep-sea fishing and river rafting. Even better, at night, an activity director will plan the next day with you individually, depending on your experience level, as well as expected weather and tides, which allows the resort to meet the desires of any guest.

Sue Bosdet, director of marketing and sales at Clayoquot, says “the resort attracts corporate America and their families. Big city corporate CEO’s from New York and Los Angeles come with their families to get away from the city and experience something new.”

The resort offers its guests the option of staying three, four, or seven nights from the end of May to the end of September. Three nights in the deluxe outpost tents cost $4,750 CAD per person (about $4,700). Children are at a discounted price, $1,500 per child for three nights. The camp offers eight deluxe outpost tents as well as twelve luxury en suite tents, at a higher price.

As you walk into your tent, you will see a welcome basket, earthenware cooler and spring water, luxury skin/body care products and other complimentary goodies. The resort offers an “Elders Package,” that lets up to two people, 55 and older, stay for free when travelling with families of six or more.

The resort is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, meaning the resort is eco-conscious, which promises a pristine landscape and a vibrant wildlife for you to enjoy.

Whitepod: Les Cerniers, Switzerland

This truly unique and high-design glamping destination offers an alternative way to explore the scenic Swiss Alps in style. Located at the base of the Dents-du-Midi mountain range in the village of Les Cerniers, Whitepod uses Switzerland’s natural snow-capped beauty and the adrenaline-pumping adventure of the mountains to create a resort luxurious enough to be crowned glamping royalty.

Valerie Bonvin, the media director for Whitepod, says Whitepod is an experience like no other. “Our concept is unique because of our combination of luxury and nature, which creates a unique way to travel.”

The Whitepod camp consists of 15 geodesic-dome pods that surround a central chalet and spa. The Chalet Les Cerniers is the main reception of the resort and also houses the restaurant where guests go to enjoy a complementary buffet breakfast or evening drinks around the fireplace. Each gorgeous pod has a wood-burning stove to keep the pod warm, organic luxury bedding for ultimate comfort, and full-service bathrooms.  In addition, the pod’s large bay windows and private deck provide a breathtaking view of the Alps and Lake Geneva — a panoramic view so good you’ll have to see it to believe it.

The pods can hold two people, and five of the pods come with mezzanines that can hold two extra beds for children. Depending on the season and the day of the week, the pods can be anywhere from $370-$600 per pod per night. The extra beds for children over the age of 12 are about $70 per night during the week and about $100 per night during the weekend.

 

Bonvin says the camp attracts a lot of couples, but people also come with their families or groups come for seminars. If you want to get the most at of your experience, she says the best time to come is between January and March.

And what we really love about this glamping spot is the private ski estate. The Whitepod resort has its own ski slope that extends over four miles of powdery snow and is perfect for beginner and intermediate level skiers. Even better, the cost of skiing is included in the rate you paid for the pod. Also included are the relaxation area services, such as a sauna and a Japanese bath. Less than 30 minutes away, fun activities such as paragliding and thermal baths are available.

Simply put, Whitepod has perfected the winter glamping get-away.

Luxury Camping: 5 Places to Go ‘Glamping’ in the U.S.

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If you’ve never heard of it before, “glamping” is exactly what it sounds like: traditional camping with a little glam. As a woman who was once the girl who requested a “clean stick” on which to roast her marshmallow during a family camping adventure, I understand the appeal of glamping.

I love the outdoors, but I don’t necessarily love all the creatures that freely roam about. And while I can rough it, I don’t feel that camping needs to be gritty. After all, not everyone enjoys hunting for a “bathroom” at 3 a.m. Justin Bieber doesn’t. He’s a wannabe glamper.

I haven’t actually been glamping, but I intend to change that (although I’d want to skip some of the amenities like TVs, computers, etc.). After a few hours of online research, I found five luxury camping spots in the U.S. that I’d most like to visit.

Most spots include family-friendly amenities, and a few would be perfect for a romantic retreat. Here’s a look at five places to go glamping in the U.S.

The Lodges at Eagles Nest

This beautiful luxury camp resort is located in Banner Elk, N.C., in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Its long list of amenities include an art studio, the quaint Tee Pee Village and Spa, and equestrian center, a library, an archery range, a community garden and more. Younger glampers are sure to love the enormous toy barn filled with games and sporting equipment. Some guests love the community so much, they never leave.

Sequoia High Sierra Camp

The Sequoia High Sierra Camp just opened last month in California’s Giant Sequoia National Monument. The camp appears to be the perfect combination of rustic charm and modern comfort. The tranquil accommodations include plush beds, premium linens, toiletries and daily maid service. Family-friendly activities like horseback riding, fly-fishing and evening campfire social hours are just a few things glampers can do for fun.

Camp Orenda

You can find Camp Orenda in New York state snuggled between the Hudson River and the Adirondack Mountains. Orenda is a family-owned property that offers guests custom-made canvas tent cabins. Activities include horseback riding, rafting, rock climbing, spelunking, myriad activities for kids and more. The campground also has its own restaurant and a not-so-rustic outdoor shower.

Sinya on Lone Man Creek

This elegant safari-style retreat is located on a high ridge overlooking Lone Man Creek in the Texas Hill Country, a few miles from Wimberley, Texas. The resort was designed to balance comfort and luxury with an eco-friendly lifestyle. No need to bring your own toiletries to the Sinya — they provide all their guests with specially selected milk bath, shampoo, conditioner, etc. The retreat also is equipped with a state-of-the-art, energy-efficient air conditioning and heating system. The amenities and private location would be perfect for a romantic getaway.

The Resort at Paws Up

Paws Up is the Ritz-Carlton of glamping. It’s located along Montana’s Blackfoot River, and like Sinya, it’s a safari-style resort. It features private tents with heated floors, luxurious bathrooms, and butler and laundry service. The resort’s extensive offering of activities is a wonder of its own. Glampers can enjoy hot-air balloon rides, rappelling, archery, shooting, horseback riding, fly-fishing, geocaching, guided tours, equestrian lessons, wilderness workshops, the zorb ball, river adventures and more.

You can find many other places to go glamping in the U.S. and abroad. Have you ever glamped? If so, tell us your favorite glamping location.