Finding little-known gems is what we do best, and we make no exceptions when it comes to winter-sun getaways. You might have already thought of some of these destinations, but you’ll see them from a new perspective if you get off the beaten path and stay somewhere completely unique this winter.
Namibia: Zannier Sonop
Our directors described Zannier Sonop as “like nowhere else on earth” – and they’ve seen their fair share of unique hotels around the world. Set far, far away among the lunar-like landscape of the Namib Desert, this luxurious glampsite is artfully constructed atop an outcrop of giant boulders. From this perch, the views are astounding, the expanse of rocky desert mesmerising in its emptiness and stillness.
You sleep in safari tents, but basic tents these are not, each with four-poster beds, clawfoot bathtubs and plush 1920s styling. The reserve has 5,600 hectares to explore and lots of ways to lap it up – perhaps via electric mountain bike, horseback, safari jeep (spot oryx, hyena, jackals and occasionally leopards) or hot air balloon. At night, the stars are out of this world, and you’ll feel like you are too.
India: Cabo Serai
Hidden in the jungle canopy above an all-but-private beach, Cabo Serai perches like a bird as it surveys the rugged scene below. Here in South Goa, you won’t find any crowds, nor civilasation for that matter. The only way to reach the resort is via electric golf cart, which cuts a path through virgin rainforest as it climbs 100m above sea level.
A conscious effort has been made to conserve the surrounding vegetation at Cabo Serai, with camouflaged cottages made from coconut wood, and as little as possible moved during the construction process. Days are spent lazing on – or gazing over – fabulous Cabo de Rama beach, sometimes home to Indian humpback dolphins. Go forest bathing (free for i-escape guests); join nature walks through the jungle; have a private yoga class or Ayurvedic massage, and feel totally revived from the mid-winter slump.
Egypt: Nour el Nil
What better way to see Egypt’s Nile in all its majestic glory than to float down it, unhurried, on a chandelier-strewn sailing boat that glides to the river’s quietest reaches? Nour el Nil offers intimate, six-day cruises from Luxor to Aswan, on which you’ll travel aboard traditional dahabiya boats, each with just a handful of cabins (8-12). Due to their small size, these boats can moor in places that large cruise ships can’t.
You might step off each day to explore magnificently preserved temples, ride donkeys in the desert, have tea with local farmers, or swim in the sacred river, then return to the poop deck for sundowners and three-course dinners served by an exceptional crew.
Tenerife: Ecohotel El Agua
We once thought of Tenerife as a busy, built-up holiday destination, but along came Ecohotel El Agua to prove us wrong. Located on a 200-year-old farm on the island’s east coast, this chic retreat, with its focus on wellness, offers complete serenity.
Accommodation comes in the form of two villas styled with earthy colour palettes and stone-inspired interiors that match the dusty desert landscape. Both the vegan restaurant and the spa are set within the cool confines of cave walls, with tailored wellbeing offerings like yoga, meditation and anti-stress massages on offer to make you feel good. If new year, new you is on the agenda for 2026, this is where to go for a cleanse in the sunshine.
Lanzarote: Finca de Arrieta
This cluster of Mongolian yurts and volcanic-stone cottages isn’t a sight you’d expect to find among Lanzarote’s golden bays and sugar-cube villages. Located on a self-sufficient patch of land, 300m from a sandy beach on the island’s northeast coast, Finca de Arrieta does glamping with a difference.
The colourful eco yurts have proper beds, Balinese furniture, hot showers and fully equipped kitchens, but if you don’t fancy sleeping beneath canvas, there are stone cabins, lodges and a farmhouse, too. Wind turbines and solar panels provide power and heat the pool, you can help yourself to eggs from the resident hens, and an honesty shop provides essentials. A fab winter-sun choice for families.
Morocco: Paradis Plage
There aren’t many hotels that appeal to such a wide-ranging audience as Paradis Plage, a laidback, all-suite beach retreat set on wide golden sands 30 minutes north of Agadir in Morocco. Here, families, couples, friends, surfers, yogis, and beach bums are catered to simultaneously. And it’s all executed with ease and style.
You can step straight onto the beach here, and what a beach it is! Known among surfers around the world, this stretch of Atlantic coastline enjoys long, rolling waves and wide, golden sand that stretches to the horizon. Ride camels and horses along the shore, hit the waves, do yoga at sunrise, play beach volleyball, then choose between one of four restaurants at the hotel to refuel. Days might end with stargazing around the fire pit or watching films on a big outdoor screen. Magical.
South Africa: Thonga Beach Lodge
South Africa is well-known for its safari and beach opportunities, but few people venture up to the far-flung northeastern corner of KwaZulu-Natal. And this means that nature here is gloriously untouched. In the iSimangaliso Nature & Wetland Park, coastal forests teem with birds and butterflies; freshwater lakes are bathing spots for hippos and crocs; turtles nest on deserted sands; and out to sea, pristine reefs house over 1,000 species.
Among all this, hidden from view in the treetops, lies Thonga Beach Lodge, where 12 circular thatched suites come with canopied kingsize beds and private balconies for taking in the view of deserted Mabibi Beach. Getting here is not for the faint-hearted (a 4- to 5-hour drive from Durban, then a 1-hour jeep transfer along sandy tracks), but it’s all part of the adventure, and that’s what getting off the beaten path is all about.
Mexico: Desierto Azul
If Mexico’s sunshine is calling you this winter, we suggest flying beyond the country’s famous Caribbean Coast to the wilder, Pacific shores of Baja California. Here in this cacti-strewn landscape, desert mountains give way to rolling ocean waves, and civilisation consists of small, artistic communities.
Eco-retreat Desierto Azul perfectly captures the area’s boho charm. Its four units are made from poured concrete and are decorated with muted desert shades and raffia lamps. The entire property is powered by solar energy, including the heated saltwater infinity pool, and the onsite restaurant and cookery school is dedicated to plant-based cuisine. Surfing, whale watching and birdwatching are popular pastimes, and taking part in one of the hotel’s on-site cookery classes is a must if you’re into healthy eating – one for the New Year diet!
Date published: 06 Nov 2025
Last updated: 05 Feb 2026