4 rustic retreats to put on your travel bucket list in 2024

A new year, a new travel list. Given how hectic our daily lives can be, there remains the undeniable allure of a quiet holiday far from civilisation, a WiFi signal, and especially fussy toddlers. Here’s our pick of some hidden, far-flung gems that’ll give you an excuse to say: “Sorry, I’ll be uncontactable,” and almost mean it. We highlight some of our favourite far-flung spots for a relaxing getaway.

1. Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus

Tucked away amid the peaks of the Dolomites in South Tyrol, Italy, is Hotel Hubertus, a family-owned luxury property with 64 rooms. There is plenty of good hiking in the surrounding mountains and even better views, but a highlight is certainly the architectural wonder that is the Heaven & Hell wellness spa. Suspended 15m above an alpine void, it features gable-roofed huts on both the top and bottom of a platform, such that several huts appear upside-down. The facility can accommodate 27 guests at once, with two whirlpools and panoramic showers on the upper floor, alongside saunas, a cold-mist shower and another outdoor pool on the lower portion.

Find out more: Hotel Hubertus

2. Songtsam Lodge Namcha Barwa

Hospitality brand Songtsam has established a niche for itself with more than a dozen luxury boutique hotels in remote locations scattered across Yunnan and Tibet. One of their newer properties is Songtsam Lodge Namcha Barwa, a 33-suite resort hidden away in the shadow of the famed Namcha Barwa mountain, towering above it at an impressive 7,782m above sea level. A stay here is a retreat meant for self-reflection, with scenic vistas available at every suite by way of floor-to-ceiling windows and a magnificent two-storey reading room. But if that isn’t your cup of tea, bespoke tours in the region to soak up some culture — or venture somewhere even more remote — are available too.

Find out more: Songtsam

3. Banyan Tree AlUla

Luxury tent villas and spacious glamping experiences abound at hotel group Banyan Tree’s new 47-tent desert resort, located in the historic city of AlUla in Saudi Arabia. Think of it as a recreation of the nomadic lifestyle led by the ancient Nabataeans who plied the land for thousands of years, except ultra-comfy with modern niceties like terra-cotta walls, handcrafted Arabian-inspired antiques and private pools. Experiences include mini-desert camps, wellness packages and aerial adventures a la hot air balloon, helicopter and vintage plane. 

Find out more: Banyan Tree

4. Kolarbyn Eco-lodge

Our most rugged option on the list is Kolarbyn Eco-lodge, also referred to as Sweden’s most primitive hotel. This isn’t hyperbole: your stay will be in one of 12 wooden cabins given a living coat of sod and mud. Kind of like the Hobbits of Middle-Earth, but less cosy and far more rustic. Don’t expect electricity, showers or even second breakfast — your only entertainment comes in the form of rugged outdoor activities like hiking, wilderness riding or a bushcraft and survival course. All perfectly good fun if you’re willing to leave your laptop and fuzzy slippers back in Singapore.

Find out more: Kolarbyn Eco-lodge