Stays That Are The Destination: 5 Properties Worth Planning Your Entire Trip Around

Some hotels are so closely tied to their surroundings that the stay becomes a reason to travel. The setting, architecture and experiences shape the trip just as much as the destination itself, whether that means waking up to the ocean, disappearing into a rainforest or sharing a meal with wildlife. At these properties, what happens within the grounds can be just as memorable as anything outside them.

From a private residence in the Maldives to a rainforest lodge in Ecuador and a desert retreat in Dubai, these five properties offer something beyond an impressive room or a beautiful setting. Each has a distinctive experience at its heart, making the hotel itself a reason to plan the journey.

The Muraka, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives

There are plenty of beautiful overwater villas in the Maldives, but The Muraka takes things a little further. This private residence at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is spread across two levels, with one part above the Indian Ocean and another about 16 feet below the surface. The residence has three bedrooms, living and dining spaces, a private bar, outdoor decks and an infinity pool facing the water.

There is also a 24-hour private butler, while meals can be arranged with a private chef. Then there is the underwater bedroom. Surrounded by a curved acrylic dome, the room has a 180-degree view of the ocean, so marine life can quite literally become part of your morning view. It is hard to imagine a more unusual way to wake up in the Maldives.

The Experiences

A lot of the experiences at The Muraka revolve around the water. Guests can arrange private yacht trips, snorkelling, diving and other marine excursions, depending on the season and weather. There are also spa treatments, watersports and private dining options. You can spend the morning out on the water and return to your villa for lunch by the pool.

Or you can simply stay in, order a meal, swim and watch the ocean change through the day. The underwater bedroom is clearly the highlight, but the privacy is what makes the whole stay work. At The Muraka, you don't really need to leave the property to have a full Maldives holiday.

The Information

Address: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Alif Dhaal Atoll, Republic of Maldives

Tariff: Starting from USD 12,000–15,000 per night

Contact: +960 668 0629; +960 799 4840 (WhatsApp); TheMuraka@conradhotels.com

Website: conradmaldives.com

Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador

Mashpi Lodge is in Ecuador's Chocó cloud forest, inside a private reserve surrounded by rainforest. From the moment you arrive, the forest is hard to ignore. Large windows bring it into the rooms and common areas, and you are constantly reminded that you are staying in the middle of a living ecosystem. The lodge has a contemporary glass-and-steel design, but it doesn't compete with the landscape.

Instead, the forest remains the main attraction. The stay is built around guided experiences, with naturalist guides accompanying guests into the reserve and helping them understand the wildlife, plants and landscape around them. Meals and activities are also part of the all-inclusive stay, making it easy to spend most of your time exploring rather than figuring out what to do next.

The Experiences

One of the most unusual ways to see the forest is on the Sky Bike. Two people pedal a bicycle suspended above the rainforest, moving between stations high over the trees. You get a very different view of the landscape from up there, with the forest stretching out below. The Dragonfly is another way to see Mashpi. This open-air aerial gondola moves above the canopy, offering views of the rainforest from above.

There is plenty to do at ground level too. Guests can go on forest walks, look for birds, visit waterfalls and take night walks to spot creatures that only appear after dark. The reserve also has a butterfly farm and wildlife facilities. Mashpi is best suited to travellers who want to spend their days doing things rather than simply sitting by a pool. You can explore the forest all day and still come back to the lodge with more to discover the next morning.

The Information

Address: Reserva Privada Mashpi, Pacto, Distrito Metropolitano de Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador

Tariff: From around USD 1,300 per night, all-inclusive

Contact: +593 2 400 4100; info@mashpilodge.com

Website: mashpilodge.com

Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya

Giraffe Manor is one of those hotels where the setting is almost as memorable as the rooms. The property is housed in a 1930s manor on a leafy estate outside Nairobi, surrounded by indigenous forest. The interiors have the feel of an old country house, with individually designed rooms and suites. Guests also have access to The Retreat, which has a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, hot tub, gym and spa facilities.

But most people don't come to Giraffe Manor just for the manor itself. The giraffes are a big part of the experience. The property is home to a herd of Rothschild's giraffes, and their presence changes the rhythm of a stay here. A breakfast can quickly turn into a wildlife encounter, while an afternoon spent at the property can feel very different from a usual hotel experience.

The Experiences

Breakfast is the big one. Giraffes often wander up to the dining room and poke their heads through the windows while guests are eating. They can also appear during afternoon tea, which makes an otherwise ordinary meal feel slightly surreal. It is the kind of experience that needs very little planning. You simply sit down and wait to see who turns up.

The experience is not just about getting that photograph, either. Guests can learn more about the Rothschild's giraffe and visit the nearby Giraffe Centre, which is involved in conservation and education. The property can also arrange wildlife and cultural experiences around Nairobi, so it works well as part of a longer Kenya itinerary.

The Information

Address: Gogo Falls Road, Langata, Nairobi, Kenya

Tariff: Starting from USD 1,400 per adult, per night (All-inclusive)

Contact: +254 111 033 900; stay@thesafaricollection.com

Website: thesafaricollection.com

Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman

Six Senses Zighy Bay sits between the Hajar Mountains and the Arabian Sea on Oman's Musandam Peninsula. It feels far removed from the busier parts of the country, with a long beach on one side and rugged mountains on the other. The resort's villas are designed to resemble a traditional Omani village, with stone and timber details, private pools and outdoor spaces.

Larger villas have multiple bedrooms and generous living areas, while the resort also has a spa, restaurants and plenty of activities. But the first thing that sets Zighy Bay apart is how you can arrive. Rather than simply driving into the property, guests have the option of approaching it from above, with the mountains providing an unexpected introduction to the resort.

The Experiences

Guests can arrive by tandem paraglider, beginning from a launch point high in the mountains, around 960 feet above sea level. With an experienced pilot, you glide over the rugged landscape before landing near the resort's beach. It is weather-dependent, but when conditions are right, it is a fairly spectacular way to check in.

Once you are on the ground, there is plenty to keep you busy. The resort offers snorkelling, diving, kayaking, mountain excursions and sunset cruises. Guests can also explore local Omani culture through experiences around the peninsula. Or you can do very little. Spend the afternoon in your private pool, head to the spa or sit on the beach. You can start the day flying down a mountain and end it doing absolutely nothing.

The Information

Address: P.O. Box 212, Dibba-Musandam, PC 800, Musandam Peninsula, Oman

Tariff: From around USD 1,150 per night

Contact: +968 2673 5555; reservations-zighy@sixsenses.com

Website: sixsenses.com

Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai

Dubai has no shortage of luxury hotels, but Al Maha offers something very different from the city's usual skyline and rooftop pools. The resort is inside the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, where private Bedouin-inspired suites are spread across the dunes. Each suite has its own temperature-controlled infinity pool overlooking the desert.

The interiors combine Arabian-inspired details with modern comforts, while private terraces give you a place to sit outside and simply watch the landscape. Here, the desert is not just something you visit for an afternoon. It is outside your door, and much of the stay is designed around exploring it.

The Experiences

The activities at Al Maha are built around the conservation reserve. Guests can head out on wildlife drives to look for Arabian oryx and gazelles, go camel riding through the dunes or try falconry. There are also desert drives and other nature experiences, depending on the season and conditions.

After spending a few hours outside, you can return to your suite, cool off in the private pool and have dinner while watching the desert change colour. What makes the stay different from a typical desert camp is the amount of space around you. There are no city buildings in sight and very little noise. For a few days, the dunes are your view, your backdrop and, in a way, your entire itinerary.

The Information

Address: Dubai-Al Ain Road, Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Tariff: From USD 1,200 per night (Includes meals and desert activities)

Contact: +971 4 832 9900; reservation.almaha@luxurycollection.com

Website: marriott.com

FAQs