THE JOURNAL
One bedroom residence on the cove side of Kisawa, Mozambique. Photograph by Ms Elsa Young, courtesy of Kisawa
Does the thought of frittering away yet another holiday season (and your hard-won annual leave) in the same old way fills you with a creeping sense of dread? Fret not – there’s still time to do something about it. From unsung stretches of river-cut wilderness to paradisiacal islands sure to have you in raptures, these far-flung (and outrageously enticing) destinations will convince you that sometimes escaping is the bravest choice.
01. Grand Cayman, the Cayman Islands
Coconut Club Lounge at Palm Heights, Grand Cayman. Photograph courtesy of Palm Heights
Grand Cayman may not immediately to spring to mind when it comes to away-from-it-all jaunts. However, the recent arrival of Palm Heights marks a real sea change, imbuing the silk-sanded Caribbean island with a fresh new energy. Located square in the middle of Seven Mile Beach, this ahead-of-the-curve tropical stay with a punchy, nostalgia-tinged aesthetic and a cheery mood is sure to buoy even the most downcast sunseeker. When you’re not larking about in the waves or mainlining margaritas under one of the yolk-yellow parasols, there’s a trove of first editions to thumb through in the library. And those who’d regard a morning beach run to be little more than a warmup can sweat their way through a pulse-quickening workout at Palm Heights Athletics, where top-of-their-game trainers await. Even if the idea is to kick back, there’s no shortage of distractions to be found, and we’d say the merch collabs alone (think caps, shirts and terrycloth beach jackets from the likes of TEKLA and BODE) are reason enough to jump on the next flight out.
What to pack
02. Punakha, Bhutan
View of Punakha River Lodge and the Mo Chu river, Bhutan. Photograph courtesy of &BEYOND
Wedged between forested peaks and acid-green rice paddies, the newly opened &Beyond Punakha River Lodge lends a welcome sense of context to the hazy sub-tropical lowlands of the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Timber-clad and timeless in feel, it’s a ravishing spot to return to after getting better acquainted with the lush and wildly spiritual expanses. Most surreal is the hilly ramble to the storied Chimi Lhakhang, along which you’ll happen across rammed-earth farmhouses festooned with, er, huge technicolour phalluses. Back at base, gulp down a mug of butter tea and doze off to the babble of the Mo Chu river below.
What to pack
03. South Luangwa, Zambia
Luxury Safari Tent at Chinzombo, South Luangwa, Zambia. Photograph courtesy of Time + Tide
In South Luangwa, a stirring region in eastern Zambia, December brings with it lengthy downpours that replenish the region’s namesake river, coaxing the grasslands out of their dry-season slumber. You’ll struggle to find a more aptly placed base for viewing the wildlife of this raw and untouched stretch of Africa than Chinzombo. But a mere jumping off point this is not. Sun-dappled paths snake through the grassy landscape, connecting vast tented suites of timber and smooth canvas. Verandas are tricked out with plunge pools to counter the oppressive afternoon heat, and inside, earthy texture abounds. Crack-of-dawn drives in the South Luangwa National Park reveal leopards, lions and clans of skulking hyenas, and you’re likely to spot brawny Nile crocodiles lining the river’s mud-caked banks. Come nighttime, guests assemble around the sunken firepit, with the moon high above and the bellows of nearby hippos echoing in the inky blackness.
What to pack
04. Talamanca Mountains, Costa Rica
Restaurant Grano at Hacienda AltaGracia, Costa Rica. Photograph courtesy of Auberge Resorts Collection
In the Talamanca Mountains, crystalline waterfalls plunge down over mossy boulders, canopies are abuzz with hummingbirds and the raspy sounds of tree frogs fill the air. The stuff of tropical fantasies, then. Positioned high above the cloud line, Hacienda AltaGracia is the most remarkable lodge from which to take it all in, with jaw-slackening views across the emerald-green San Isidro valley. High-energy types can scale lofty Cerro Chirripó or grab mountain bikes to hurtle along the trails that wind their way through the untamed rainforest. Meanwhile, those with more leisurely intentions can lose themselves in East-meets-West healing practices at THE WELL. Either way, the have-it-all casitas, with their canopied beds and vast stone-paved sun decks, are no hardship to retire to.
What to pack
05. Kangaroo Island, Australia
The Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island. Photograph courtesy of Baillie Lodges
With virtually nothing between Kangaroo Island and Antarctica, this wave-pummelled chunk of rock, just off the coast of South Australia, is every bit as elemental as you’d expect. All towering granite cliffs, blue swells and pristine bush melting into sugary swathes of beach. Of all the places to settle in at, Southern Ocean Lodge – with seductive curves and soaring glass walls that allow the island’s astonishing beauty to take centre stage – has to be the most enticing. Having been obliterated by raging bushfires back in 2020, it’s just emerged from a no-expense-spared rebuild, and the results are impressive. If it’s sea spray and endless sunshine you’re craving, you could certainly do worse than to squander the festive period here.
What to pack
06. Sumba, Indonesia
Rice terraces on Sumba Island. Photograph courtesy of Cap Karoso
An hour’s flight east of Bali, you’ll find Sumba, an under-the-radar isle of pure wilderness and deep-rooted tradition. Sizeable half-obscured megalithic tombs rise out of the jungle and you can expect to witness herds of wild horses patrolling the powdery shores. French adventurers Ms Evguenia and Mr Fabrice Ivara found themselves here on a whim six years ago and immediately began conjuring plans for what is now Cap Karoso, a glorious expression of earth- and community-conscious design on the island’s western edge. Objets from a roll call of talented Indonesian makers sit against a clean-lined backdrop of raw concrete, the ocean-gazing pool makes for a terrific spot to sink a pandan-infused martini, and you are mere moments by car from some of the most legendary surf breaks the world over. Granted, the journey to reach Sumba is a bit tedious, but for those with sights set on an unforgettable close-to-the-elements escape, the pay-off is enormous.
What to pack
07. Benguerra Island, Mozambique
Kisawa Residence at Kisawa, Mozambique. Photograph by Ms Elsa Young, courtesy of Kisawa
With its shape-shifting sand, chameleonic waters and epic sunsets, Benguerra Island – one of six palm-flecked dots that make up Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago – is trippy in the best possible way. Your senses are turned up to full volume. Dawn ambles along the forest-fringed shores and, as local fishermen head out in their wooden dhows, they are soundtracked by birdsong, while hulking great dugongs can be glimpsed just off the coast, and the breeze carries the scent of heat-baked scrub. Given the richness of Benguerra’s natural splendours, when it comes to laying your head, the obvious choice is somewhere that allows for near-total immersion. Strung between the trees and the milky-white dunes on the isle’s southern tip, luxury resort Kisawa Sanctuary does exactly that.