Boats, Cable Cars, And Mine Shafts: 5 Hotels Where Arrival Is An Adventure

The journey to the hotel is rarely one of the most interesting parts of a trip, and these hotels make a compelling case for those rare instances. The expedition might begin with a catamaran cutting across an Alpine lake, continue aboard a century-old mountain tram or end with a descent through the damp, dimly lit passages of a disused slate mine. Elsewhere, a boat carries guests away from the mainland towards an island fringed by the Indian Ocean. These are places where the usual choreography of check-in gives way to something more elemental: climbing, crossing, descending, and watching the landscape change before you have even unpacked.

Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa, Switzerland

Perched around 500 metres above Lake Lucerne, Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa makes the journey to the resort an experience in itself. Guests can take a catamaran from Lucerne to Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock, then board the historic Bürgenstock Funicular, which climbs the mountainside to the resort.

The 25-minute boat crossing offers views of the lake and its Alpine surroundings, while the funicular completes the ascent to the elevated retreat. The transition from water to mountain gives the arrival a sense of occasion that a conventional road transfer cannot replicate. Once there, guests can explore the resort's contemporary architecture, enjoy its Alpine Spa overlooking the lake or discover nearby walking trails. The Hammetschwand Lift, an open-air lift rising dramatically along the rocky mountainside, offers another way to experience the landscape.

Tenir Eco Hotel, Kazakhstan

At Tenir Eco Hotel, the final approach involves leaving the road behind and travelling upwards by cable car. Located at an altitude of 3,200 metres at Shymbulak Mountain Resort, near Almaty, the property is the highest-altitude in Kazakhstan and is accessible exclusively by the resort's cable-car system. The journey begins at Medeu, with successive gondola and cable-car sections carrying guests higher into the mountains. The final ascent brings them to a remote setting near glaciers, where the landscape feels far removed from the city below.

At this elevation, the ride is more than a scenic transfer. It gradually introduces travellers to the scale and stillness of the high mountains, with rocky slopes and expansive views replacing the urban landscape. The hotel's compact accommodation and emphasis on simplicity complement its remote setting. The practical details matter here: cable-car schedules determine arrival and departure, and weekend queues can extend the journey. Guests should also prepare for colder temperatures at altitude and check operating hours before travelling.

Deep Sleep, Wales

At Deep Sleep, reaching the bed means venturing beneath a mountain. Operated by Go Below Underground Adventures in Snowdonia, Wales, this unusual overnight experience takes place inside an abandoned Victorian slate mine, approximately 1,375 vertical feet underground. The journey begins with a walk into the mountains before guests gear up with helmets, headlamps, and other equipment for a guided expedition through the mine. The route involves steep passages, old miners' stairways, and challenging sections before reaching the underground camp.

At the bottom, four private twin-bed cabins, and a grotto room with a double bed provide accommodation in a setting unlike a conventional hotel. The overnight experience includes an expedition-style evening meal and breakfast snacks, while guides remain on hand throughout the stay. The mine's industrial past is central to the experience. Once associated with Wales's slate-mining heritage, its underground passages now offer adventurous travellers a different way to spend a night beneath the landscape. This is not a conventional hotel stay, and the physically demanding route requires preparation, but the journey itself is the defining attraction.

Riffelalp Resort 2222m, Switzerland

At Riffelalp Resort 2222m, reaching the hotel involves a train journey followed by a ride on Europe's highest tramway. From the car-free village of Zermatt, guests take the Gornergrat Railway to Riffelalp station, where a battery-powered tram carries them through an Alpine forest to the resort. First introduced in 1899, the original tramway established a connection between the railway station and the mountain retreat. A modern version entered service in 2001, preserving the tradition while offering views of the surrounding mountains, including the Matterhorn.

The final leg varies by season. In summer, the tram makes the short journey to the resort; in winter, guests walk through the snow-covered forest while their luggage is transported separately by electric vehicle. At 2,222 metres above sea level, the resort places guests amid the Swiss Alps, with mountain scenery setting the tone for the stay. Here, the arrival is as much about slowing down as reaching the destination.

Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort, Mozambique

At Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort, arriving at the hotel involves a road transfer followed by a boat ride across the Indian Ocean. After landing at Vilankulo Airport, guests travel by vehicle to the boat departure point before crossing to Bazaruto Island, with the journey taking approximately 60–70 minutes by boat. The crossing introduces travellers to the Bazaruto Archipelago, a protected marine landscape known for its clear waters, coral reefs, and shifting dunes.

Depending on the conditions, the approach offers views of the island's coastline before the resort comes into sight. Once ashore, the resort combines beachfront villas with experiences centred on the surrounding environment, from snorkelling and diving to exploring the archipelago's marine life. The boat transfer is more than a logistical necessity: it marks the transition from mainland Mozambique to an island setting shaped by the ocean.

At these hotels, the route to bed might involve a funicular rattling up a mountainside, a boat cutting through island waters or a headlamp illuminating the remnants of a mining past. Each journey leaves its own imprint on the stay, whether it is the sudden appearance of the Matterhorn through the trees or the strange quiet of sleeping deep beneath a Welsh mountain. The room is just a destination on paper; the way to get there is what makes it unforgettable.

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