Places I Unique Hotels around the world

Let us start by telling you… These are not mere hotels; they are portals to the extraordinary. Each pick curates an atmosphere where anticipation begins the moment you book.

Not always a private island, but far more elusive. These are sanctuaries even the most seasoned travellers whisper about: rare, thrilling, and profoundly private. Our Founder would say, these are the kind of places where you reconnect with nature and perhaps even with yourself.

Whether it’s a romantic honeymoon getaway, a solo retreat steeped in silence, or a family sojourn packed with activities like nowhere else, there’s only one shared desire: To remain blissfully unfound. These are the stays that deliver.

True experiences, now unveiled exclusively for our PureLuxe globetrotters.

1. Buahan: A Banyan Tree Escape

Hidden peacefully in the lush greens of the Balinese jungle, surrounded by birdsong serenading the dawn and fireflies flickering like whispers at dusk, lies Buahan — a retreat unlike any other. Intentionally designed to blend into its natural surroundings, this sanctuary invites you to immerse in the rhythms of the wild without ever compromising on comfort.  This sanctuary is fondly known in inner circles as “the hotel with no doors or windows.”

From the moment you arrive, a sense of rejuvenation begins. Guests are drawn into nature like never before, with the resort’s private Tjampuhan Waterfall on the Ayung River, accessible only to those staying here. Each of the 16 bales (open-sided villas) dissolves the line between indoors and out, opening to panoramic jungle views that give new meaning to the phrase “a breath of fresh air.”  Awaken with the glistening sun, enjoy a private dip in your plunge pool, and sip on something fresh from their farm-to-table kitchen while gazing out across the verdant “hutan”. Buahan’s approach to wellness and healing highlights unique yoga sessions under moonlight,  sound healing with singing bowls, and a healing ceremony, “Soul freedom Journey” at the Waterfall,a ritual that doesn’t just sound grounding, but feels profoundly awakening.

Some PureLuxe Culinary Recommendations:
Try the coconutty moringa soup, and the smoky banana-leaf wraps filled with jungle vegetables and mushrooms, grilled over charcoal — a soulful take on tradition.

Take ‘food for the soul’ to the next level with your family. Experience cooking here with classes that teach you heirloom cooking techniques led by local jungle villagers. And when you do step out, do it in style with a countryside tour in a vintage car.

In other words, Buahan offers whispers of tradition, intention, and nourishment. A retreat built on the desire to be close to nature and a heartfelt return to simplicity, presence, and self.

Take a step closer to your unique stay here.

2. Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve

Amidst the rolling savannahs and vast desert dunes of the southern Kalahari, Tswalu Kalahari rises quietly as South Africa’s largest private reserve - a place where conservation and luxury live side by side. Your safari begins the moment you arrive, perhaps with the sight of a rare antelope rustling through camp or a flurry of wings by the waterhole that faces the guest area.

The journey into the wilderness opens up from here to spot majestic black-maned lions, elegant cheetahs, elusive aardvarks, and over 80 species of mammals and 260+ birds that await. If you’re lucky, the most playful welcome might just come from a colony of playfully curious meerkats popping up right before your eyes. The horseback riding scenes from your dreams come alive here, across unending landscapes that take the safari experience up a notch.

Tswalu creates variety in how you choose to experience its untouched landscapes with three distinct accommodation styles:

• Motse Lodge has thatched Lagea (home), perfect for families, welcoming children of all ages.

• Tarkuni, the homestead tucked in a secluded valley below the Korannaberg mountains, is a haven of quiet luxury. Complete with a shaded veranda, plunge pool, sundowner fire pit, boma, and a gazebo for massages or lazy afternoon naps.

• Loapi offers  ‘the space below the clouds’, with ultra-private tented homes in the Bruwer Valley, each with its own house manager (homathi) and private chef for those seeking space and solitude.

The best part? Every stay includes a private safari vehicle, a dedicated guide, and a tracker, making it an ideal experience for multi-generational get-togethers and celebrations. 

But the Tswalu experience goes beyond the expected. Sleep under a sky ablaze with stars at The Malori, their open-air sleepout deck. For delicious dining, step into Klein JAN, where heritage dishes are reimagined with an innovative twist. It's the culinary soul of the Kalahari served on a plate. That's Africa reimaged, click here to enquire.

3. Minaret Station Alpine Lodge

Tucked within a glacial valley high in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, Minaret Station Lodge is one of the most secluded and exclusive stays in the world, but accessible only by helicopter. Family-owned and breathtaking, this is New Zealand’s first and only luxury alpine lodge of its kind. Hidden in plain sight yet miles from the ordinary, it’s the kind of place that feels entirely for your eyes only, with vast mountain ranges enveloping you from all four directions.

Getting here is half the magic, as you soar over snow-capped peaks to reach a place where time slows and the natural world takes over. Set at an elevation of 3,000 ft, just four cosily nooked alpine chalets await, each offering serenity and finely tuned comfort. Whether it’s scenic hikes or alpine biking trails, every detail is built for reconnection to land and to self.

And for the adventurers: your days begin with a gourmet breakfast and lift off into untamed terrain. Helicopter over the spectacular Fiordland, Aoraki Mount Cook, or the Southern Alps themselves. Tracing the curves of waterfalls, touch down by wild rivers, or enjoy a backcountry fishing followed by a gourmet lunch next to the river. Thrill finds you here in the remotest corners of the wilderness. Try your hand at heli-fishing or, when snow blankets the mountains, opt for world-class heliskiing.

Meals are an event of their own at the Mountain Kitchen, where refined comfort dining is paired with award-winning New Zealand wines and ingredients sourced fresh from the region. Sunsets here are cinematic, the kind you’ll want to slow down for.

Protected by the custodians of this land who aim to conserve New Zealand’s most diverse alpine ecosystems, Minaret Station is more than a getaway; it’s a thrilling reset. An untamed memory in the making, and a place we recommend experiencing before the world discovers it.

You don’t just arrive on untouched land here. You disappear into it. Feel a voice of travel calling out for you? Reach out to us here.

4. Octola

Nestled within the powdery white landscapes of Finnish Lapland, Octola is a private wilderness retreat. A 300-hectare estate in the Arctic Circle, cloaked in lush pine forests and snow-covered peaks in winter, it’s accurately secluded yet deeply personal in experience. It transforms into a picturesque stage for nature’s most spellbinding wonders of the Northern Lights.

You don't just drive into a forest here; you reside in an exclusive glass igloo, surrounded by unfiltered views of a starry night as you drift off. A moment so rare in its purity, it’s unlikely to be replicated. Wake to the gentle dawn glistening across snow-laden trees, followed by a reindeer safari that carries you straight into a true winter wonderland.

The moment, the magic, the chill, you’ll feel it all. Back at the retreat, wellness is intuitively curated as you slip into a warm jacuzzi after skiing pristine snowfields. Watch the night sky unfold, inches away, while sipping wine handpicked by Finland’s most celebrated sommeliers.

Whether you visit in winter, celebrating Christmas near Santa’s homeland with cross-country skiing or dogsledding, or in spring for snowmobile safaris, ice fishing, and cold plunges, or in summer to witness the midnight sun and go horseback riding through the forests, or in autumn for wild-foraged barbeque grills and lakeside kayaking; Octola redefines what it means to reconnect with nature.

Stay in their intentionally structured and designed traditional Lappish architecture, with thoughtful nods to Sami culture woven throughout. Witness Lapland in its most pristine form, wrapped in the comfort and convenience of a private butler and chef. The rest? We curate, and you experience, starting right here.

5. Explora Travesia

A rare invitation into nature’s most dramatic landscapes where you exist where few do, and silence is at its most profound.

Journey across one of Earth’s most spectacular and surreal landscapes, the Bolivian Altiplano. Explora Travesía offers a rare, slow-travel experience across borders, curated for just two guests at a time. Over their customised 7 or 10 day itineraries, you’ll traverse the ever-changing terrain from the Chilean Atacama Desert to Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni. All guided by a private driver, a dedicated local expert, and nature itself.

Your path moves through four scenically located Explora lodges, each built to honour its surroundings with minimalist design and understated luxury.

Start: Explora Atacama, Chile
Begin at the Atacama Desert, an oasis in San Pedro. Set amid red rock canyons and salt-crusted valleys, the lodge serves as a luxurious base for sunrise hikes across Valle de la Luna, stargazing sessions under the clearest skies, and horseback rides through age-old terrain.

Next: Ramaditas Lodge, Bolivia
As you ascend into Bolivia, arrive at Ramaditas, perched in a wind-sculpted, mineral-rich landscape. Think silent valleys, flamingo-dotted lagoons, and cinematic 4x4 journeys. The lodge’s understated design blends seamlessly with the land, remote, intimate, and elemental.

Then: Chituca Lodge
Tucked near ancient Andean villages, Chituca is your cultural immersion stop. Trek along old Incan routes, visit quinoa farms, and witness mountain life up close. Afternoons here are for soft hikes, local cooking rituals, and sipping tea at archaeological lookouts.

Finale: Uyuni Lodge, Bolivia
The journey culminates at Uyuni Lodge, perched at the foot of the majestic Tunupa Volcano on the northern edge of the Salar de Uyuni. Here, the surreal expanse of the world’s largest salt flat stretches endlessly beneath a sapphire sky, reflecting your every step like a dream doubled.

This last chapter is where silence becomes immersive. Venture into local villages frozen in time, ascend the vibrant slopes of Tunupa for sweeping panoramic views, or visit the ethereal salt flat islands rising like mirages from the white abyss. Wetlands teeming with flamingos, archaeological relics scattered in the desert, every day feels like a discovery few have earned.

Whether you begin in the otherworldly Atacama or end there, every stop is designed to mirror the journey’s gradual unfolding. You’re not just passing through the regions, you’re living their stories. Each moment is personal, unhurried, and unrepeatable.

No distractions, just awe and altitude. This is not simply a lodge, nor a holiday. It is a recalibration. An awakening to an edge-of-the-earth escape that stands in all its glory, here.

6. Sheldon Chalet

Perched atop the highest mountain in North America, 6,000 feet high in Denali National Park, sits a family-owned chalet so blissfully hidden from the world, you’ll find yourself asking: How does this even exist? Sheldon Chalet wraps itself around the peak of a snow-capped Alaskan summit, accessible only by helicopter. A journey as awe-inspiring as the destination itself.

Your arrival isn’t anything short of a cinematic entrance, as you’re welcomed into one of just five luxurious bedrooms with large windows of the endless yet enchanting snow-capped peaks as your view. It’s an intimate beginning to a series of thrilling adventures.

Don't mistake it for just a luxury chalet; Here, heli-skiing is the norm, glacier hiking is a part of your daily calorie-burning activities. The exploration ranges from the high-octane, like backcountry or heavy skiing, to the serene, like spelunking through glacial ice caves. Even your walk back to the chalet may involve snowshoeing, ensuring the adrenaline seeker in you is never left wanting.

Evenings unwind not by resting, but by indulgence and awe. Relish curated Alaskan cuisine, thoughtfully personalised by your private chef, using fresh produce and sustainably sourced seafood flown in just for you. Now that’s a dining experience that redefines luxury in the wild.

Watch the Northern Lights and meteorological wonders unfold before your eyes, gather around a warming bonfire on the helipad as you take in the picturesque sight. It will keep you wondering, has anyone done it like this before…

In the heart of untamed nature, surrounded in luxury, this is how nights here truly come alive.

Sheldon Chalet is one such place on our list that's taken high altitudes and snowy terrains and turned them into something worth visiting, set in the middle of nowhere. Offering immersion into untouched, ever-changing landscapes. Whether as a once-in-a-lifetime journey or a sanctuary for the adventurous. Come along, into their rarefied world here.

7. Guntû

When you think of visiting Japan, seasoned travellers will often recommend staying at a traditional ryokan. But this experience takes it up a notch; Floating, in fact, right in the heart of the Seto Inland Sea. Guntû is the only existing Japanese-inspired luxury ryokan ship. Its name, derived from the indigenous blue crabs beloved in the Setouchi region to represent how much the locals enjoyed these sea creatures.

This ryokan ship houses just 17 wood-panelled suites, each with expansive windows and its balconies that bring the sea’s quiet beauty indoors and retain the essence of a Japanese home on board. To incorporate the ryokan experience at sea, Guntû offers communal hinoki cypress baths and saunas, and its bespoke Japanese-style “Nentai” massage is designed to release tension, ease fatigue, and unblock body energy.

Japanese food holds a special place in the culinary industry, and it comes to life on the sea as dining takes centre stage here. Rooted in the Japanese philosophy of “as much as you want, when you want.”At the intimate six-seat sushi bar overlooking the sunset, savour delicate creations by a former Nobu chef, crafted from the freshest local ingredients to make every bite feel like “food for the soul.”

Offering thoughtful 3- to 4-day voyages, Guntû offers a luxurious pause to your land explorations. It’s particularly spellbinding during sakura season, when the coastline blushes with cherry blossoms, or in autumn, as golden foliage frames your journey.

And when you’re thinking of adding something truly unique to your Japan itinerary, here’s where you can take the first step.

Each one of these remarkable stays transcends the idea of a hotel. Destinations unto themselves, nestled in landscapes so remote and spellbinding, they feel almost mythical. These aren’t places for the casual tourist, but for the traveller who seeks the extraordinary, the soulful, the kind of experience that lingers long after you've returned home, all mindfully portioned for a bespoke experience.

We hope this list grows not rapidly, but purposefully. One exceptional stay at a time. Each addition will remain grounded in principles that matter: environmental sensitivity, cultural authenticity, and a true immersion into place. Because luxury, for us, is no longer about extravagance—it’s about meaning, memory, and connection.

These aren’t properties you stumble into. They’re the kind of places you earn your way to—by boat, by helicopter, by long, winding journeys through wild terrain. They awaken the spirit, challenge the rhythm of modern life, and reframe the way we think about hospitality. And that’s exactly why they belong on our list of the world’s most singular and meaningful hotels.

Want to feel what we felt? Watch the reels lined above, where our founder walks you through each destination, one breathtaking frame at a time.