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FRENCH POLYNESIA Motu Tetraire, TahitiMotu Teta With cell phones and social networking taking over the world, it can feel as if life is in your face 24-hours a day. But it's still possible to escape. Simply fly to Tahiti and make your way to the Rangiroa Atoll, where your own private nine-acre island awaits. Powder white sand and clear blue waters surround a main villa and guest residence, crafted in classic Tahitian style. A dedicated chef is on hand to create dishes using local seafood and French techniques. This makes it easy to never leave your secluded stretch of beach. That said, there is plenty to do both on the island and a short boat ride away: lobster fishing, outrigger canoeing, snorkeling, ocean reef exploring and shark watching, to name just a few of the activities included in your stay. You can even visit a unique South Pacific vineyard in the middle of a coconut plantation.![remote_hotel_artic]()
GREENLAND IlulissatHotel Arctic The name says it all. It's cold up here. And remote. After a five-hour flight from the United States to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland and then another hour-long flight, you've made it. And this hotel makes it a worthwhile trek. Especially if you're a fjord fan, as the hotel sits on the edge of majestic UNESCO-designated Ilulissat ice fjord. Rooms have flat-screen TVs and some have DVD players. Ask for a room with an iceberg view -- something you can't get at just any hotel. In-house restaurant Ulo serves up modern interpretations of Greenlandic cuisine.![remote_hotel_longitude131]()
AUSTRALIA YularaLongitude 131° Located in the heart of Australia's Northern Territory, Longitude 131° is a luxurious eco-sensitive resort...and the perfect spot to watch the sunrise over Uluru (Ayers Rock), the country's celebrated, 600-million-year-old, red sandstone mountain. While here you'll stay in one of fifteen elevated tent-like structures, each with a specific theme paying tribute to early Australian pioneers. Guests can hang out with fellow explorers at the Dune House, a central meeting place where they can dine or visit the library with its array of maps and historical books. There are also numerous activities and outback excursions to choose from, including aboriginal dot painting lessons, a Kata Tjuta and Walpa Gorge walking tour and explorations via camel, Harley or helicopter.![explorachileposada]()
CHILE Easter IslandPosada de Mike Rapu In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Easter Island is considered to be the remotest inhabited island on the planet. But that hasn't stopped intrepid tourists from turning up to view the haunting monolithic stone figures (moai) whose mysterious origins have made this out-of-the-way place famous. To reach Posada de Mike Rapu, you'll have to take an uninterrupted five-hour flight over the Pacific — the journey is well worth it. This eco-friendly luxury resort offers 30 rooms, pristine sea views, a bar, pool, massage salon and open-air Jacuzzis. The hotel also features fifteen custom-crafted excursions, the top choice being the moairoute, which passes toppled moai and the quarry from which the stone was extracted to craft the ancient moai sculptures.![poolatsunsetistock]()
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KYRGYZSTANSong-Kul Yurts If you've ever wanted to stray thoroughly off the trodden path, here's your chance. In Central Asia's Kyrgyzstan, you can trek through the region of high mountain glaciers, alpine pastures, semi-deserts and river valleys that wild mountain goats and snow leopards call home. And since you've come all this way, make sure to visit Song-Kul Lake. Located at 9,895 feet above sea level, the lake is regarded as one of the country's jewels. Trips can be arranged through Dragoman Adventure Tours, and if you arrive in the summer, which we recommend, you'll have the opportunity to stay with local families in traditional nomadic yurts — lightweight, portable shelters designed to withstand the high winds and inclement weather that are all part of the adventure of visiting this unexplored corner of the planet.![BT_Ringha_Hero]()
CHINA Shangri-LaBanyan Tree Ringha True, this destination isn't James Hilton's legendary Shangri-La from his novel "Lost Horizon." It was in fact given the designation by the Chinese government. But that doesn't detract from its utopian atmosphere. Cloud-covered mountain peaks, deep canyons, raging rivers and clear lakes embrace the Tibetan valley setting of Banyan Tree Ringha. The hotel's architecture and décor take their cues from Tibetan culture, so much so that one of the lodges is an authentic Tibetan farmhouse reassembled on the property and given a glamorous facelift. Along with hot tea in the Jakhang lounge and steamboats at Chang Sa restaurant, dining experiences include dinner on the Tibetan Plateau, reached by horseback. You can also take excursions to see rare black-neck cranes in the upper Yangtze Gorge, the stunning White Water Terraces at Haba Snow Mountain and the holy Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage site of Dechen.![Wolwedans]()
NAMIBIA NamibRand Nature ReserveWolwedans Private Camp Situated in a quiet valley and surrounded by striking red sand dunes and mountain ranges, the Wolwedans Private Camp is a satisfying payoff for making the long trip to Namibia. Up to four guests (and only four) stay in the wood-framed accommodation, crafted so that canvas flaps open on three sides to create a charming, airy atmosphere. The structure has just two spacious en-suite bedrooms, decks and a central lounge, which includes a study, living room, dining area and fully equipped kitchen. If you tire of simply taking in the breathtaking landscapes or immense solitude, you can sign up for guided activities including hot air ballooning, nature walks or scenic drives. This is a perfect honeymoon getaway or a relaxing vacation retreat for close friends looking for peace and quiet.![remote_hotel]()
BOLIVIA PotosiPalacio de Sal We hope you like your hotels salty. If so, you're in for a real thirst-inducing treat at this remote property. Located in Southwest Bolivia at the majestic Uyuni salt flats (the world's largest) the sixteen-room Palacio de Sal is almost entirely made up of salt. That's right, the chairs, tables, beds, sculptures. Let's just say that if your dinner in the in-house restaurant needs a little salt, you won't have to go far to get it. But licking the walls? That's strictly prohibited.![casaandina]()
PERU Isla SuasiAndean Cottage, Suasi Island Hotel The pinnacle-of-privacy Andean Cottage is part of the solar-powered Suasi Island Hotel. Situated 12,500 feet above sea level and surrounded by the waters of Lake Titicaca, the property is accessible by a four-hour speedboat trip across the lake. The two-bedroom cottage is built entirely out of traditional materials including stone, wood and totora reed, and it includes a bathroom, living room and kitchenette. Furthering the indulgence level are private butler service and a pier for soaking in the lake views. For exploring, there are plenty of trails in the area, and excursions include visiting Andean farming plots and canoeing around the island.![amanresorts]()
UTAH, USA Canyon PointAmangiri Located in southern Utah, in the ancestral home of native Navajo and Hopi tribes, Amangiri is tucked into a protected valley with views that span all the way to Escalante National Monument. In this secluded setting, guests can escape in style. Views of dramatic rock formations are featured from nearly every corner of the property, from the glass-walled Living Room to the dining room to the pool. The 34 suites were designed to blend in with the landscape, while the open-air desert lounge embraces its surroundings, offering a memorable spot for sipping drinks under the starry sky. While exploring, keep an eye out for endangered California Condor, fossils and dinosaur footprints. And when you return, take advantage of the spa's outdoor terrace and treatments that incorporate Navajo healing traditions.The world's top 10 remote hotels
There are times we want to be right in the action, but other times we want to get away. For your next vacation, why not stay in a yurt or hotel made of salt, or spend Easter on Easter Island? If you want to head off the beaten path, then check out Gayot's selection of the world's top 10 remote hotels.
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- The world's top 10 remote hotels
