Celebrate NYE at one of these under-the-radar retreats
As the global travel market continues to expand, remoteness is the new signifier of luxury. Many seasoned travellers would argue that if a destination is reachable via a non-stop flight from a major gateway, it’s not worth stopping there.
With New Year’s Eve fast-approaching, party-goers are now frantically planning an action-packed evening to celebrate the year just gone.
If you’d prefer to fly under the radar this New Year, what better way to reflect on the highs and lows of 2019 than tucked away in the privacy and serenity of your very own luxury lodge.
Whether it be in the desert, the jungle, the snow, the mountains, or by the beach, we’ve got you covered for a remarkable New Year’s Eve you’ll actually remember the next day.
The desert
Amangiri, Utah
Surrounded by thousands of square kilometres of untouched scenery, Amangiri neighbours the largest Native American reservation in the US. A rectangular pavilion of polished concrete with razor-sharp edges, the white stone floors and natural timbers of this minimalistic resort stands out in contrast to the surrounding rocky outcrop.
Experience the sweeping Utah desert landscape on a horseback trail and start New Year’s Day with a breathtaking dawn hot air balloon flight over Lake Powell, Navajo Mountain, the Vermillion Cliffs and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
The snow
Fogo Island Inn, Canada
The slogan speaks for itself: far away from far away. Located off the north coast of Newfoundland, this remote fishing village is accessible only by helicopter or ferry from Farewell Harbor.
Fogo Island Inn intuitively blends contemporary architecture and bespoke furnishings while upholding the island’s long-standing culture of fishermen, boat builders and local artists. Winter brings a slower pace of life in Fogo Island’s coastal communities, with the days spent snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and sledding, and the nights spent cozied up by a wood-burning fireplace.
The beach
Aganoa Lodge, Samoa
Located on a five-acre oceanfront parcel bordering the Tafua Rainforest Preserve, Aganoa Lodge Samoa is the ideal island destination to destress and hit reset. A haven for surfers and non-surfers, couples and families alike, it boasts eight open-air falés (traditional Samoan bungalows) nestled along the white sand shoreline.
Here, the hardest decision you’re faced with is whether to swim before or after breakfast, and whether you’d like to have an afternoon nap or an afternoon surf on the outgoing tide. Book in a massage, head out on the fishing boat, or make use of the stand-up paddle boards, kayaks and snorkelling gear to explore the nearby lagoon and surrounding barrier reef.
The mountains
Six Senses, Bhutan
A landlocked Himalayan Kingdom, Bhutan is rich in culture, tradition and spirituality that have been carefully guarded and preserved. Comprised of five individual satellite resorts in Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang and Paro, Six Senses Bhutan offers a total of 82 luxuriously appointed suites and villas, spa and wellness facilities, and organically sourced gastronomy.
Six Senses Bhutan will move you to pause and think about the year that's passed and the year to come. One visit to this magical destination and you’ll understand why it’s known as the Happiest Place on Earth.
The jungle
Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador
High in the Andean cloud forest, Mashpi Lodge lies at the centre of a 3,000-acre protected rainforest reserve, home to more than 500 species of birds, trees and frogs found nowhere else in the world.
The 24-room glass and steel lodge was designed to be a "cocoon that would be completely protected but in close visual contact with nature, without any aesthetic competition". Spend the New Year trekking through hidden forest paths and across rivers, taking a dip in the nearby waterfalls, or flying high above the trees on the Dragonfly canopy gondola.
To truly get away from it all, why not escape to one of the most exclusive islands in the world you can rent all to yourself.