Published 20th Feb. 2025
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There’s something special about spending the night under canvas. Evoking the simple pleasures of childhood camping trips, but with the grown-up indulgences thrown in (en suite bathrooms, lantern-lit paths, private plunge pools...), these tents put the ‘amp’ in glamping. And with just a thin fabric separating you from the world beyond, you’ll feel far more connected with the wilderness and wildlife outside.
Experience the Sahara in style at this desert sister-stay of Dar Ahlam, a luxurious 19th-century kasbah in Ouarzazate. You can expect similar levels of comfort but under canvas: tents with king-sized beds draped in luxurious linens, sundowners served with views across sunburnt sand dunes and, at night, glowing lanterns leading the way to a crackling campfire before a candlelit dinner.
Channelling pre-war big game hunters and Hemingway, Jack’s is a charming time capsule of a camp in the rugged Kalahari, complete with paraffin lamps, campaign furniture and even a vintage pool table. Designed as an homage to the owner’s father, the camp abounds with personal touches, from family photographs to curio cabinets. By day, embark on game drives and bush walks to spot brown hyenas and Kalahari lions. By night, curl up with a cocktail and watch the sun set over salt pans.
Located deep within Albania’s Kurvelesh highlands, a region of craggy peaks, plunging canyons and traditional mountain villages, this remote hideaway is a hiker’s haven. Stay in a spacious Meru tent inspired by African safari camps and styled with the same rustic elegance. The property’s chief calling card, however, is the view: a breathtaking and unbroken sweep of mountains and canyons as far as the eye can see.
This safari-style camp, set deep within the Colca Valley, is the first of its kind in Peru. Cocooned in a quieter part of the valley, with only alpacas and Andean hummingbirds for neighbours, it’s the perfect place to slow down and reconnect with nature’s rhythms. Accommodation is rustic yet eminently comfortable, and the nourishing farm-to-fork fare offers a flavourful tribute to Andean heritage.
Rustling dune grasses and lapping waves are the soundtrack to this beachside bush camp in Western Australia’s Cape Range National Park. With the ocean a few steps away, stays here are centred around the wonders of the underwater world. Ningaloo Reef, the world’s largest fringing coral reef, is just 100 yards offshore and home to 500 species of fish and 300 types of coral.
Wellness is woven into every aspect of this camp in Bhutan’s fertile Punakha valley. The tented rooms – set among pine and jacaranda trees – are havens of tranquillity, each with a private butler to attend to your every need. A visit to the nearby Punakha Dzong (Bhutan’s second-oldest fortress) is a must, and on your return, there are extensive grounds to explore and a traditional hot stone bath, where you can soak your aches away.
Practical advice and inspiration for your next trip
When it comes to your holiday, a little planning goes a long way. Recently, we’ve noticed a pattern of both last-minute and long-term bookings, which we’ve named the Concertina Effect. But why are people booking so far in advance? Our co-founder, Tom Barber, thinks ‘anticication’ has something to do with it: ‘in uncertain times, planning something joyful far ahead becomes an act of hope’. Whether admiring cherry blossoms in Japan, celebrating the Holi festival in India, cruising down the Nile on the Steam Ship Sudan, or spotting gorillas in Uganda, some holidays require extra attention.
6th October 2025 - Travel Inspiration
Every year, the same story plays out: employees in the UK let holiday days go to waste. One recent survey found that 65% of UK workers don’t use up their allowance – and a whopping 17% leave five or more days unclaimed. Another source concurs: in 2023, 61% of workers reported not using all of their annual leave. This is all especially galling when you compare us to our European neighbours. Across the EU, the average entitlement (including public holidays) is about 34 days per year, whereas in the UK, many of us are left with just 28 days.
29th September 2025 - Travel Inspiration
Wedding anniversaries are all about celebrating love, and here at Original Travel, we believe the best way to do that is on holiday. We understand that every couple is different, so whether you two are after bucket-list adventures in Norway or total relaxation in South Africa, we’ve got you covered. Ready to mark the occasion? Read on for our comprehensive list of the best anniversary holidays… First Anniversary:
23rd September 2025 - Travel Inspiration
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