“Travelling makes one modest. One sees better the tiny place one occupies in the world,” wrote Flaubert. Some unusual activities, proposed by luxury hotels, prove him right. Between the wonder of wide-open spaces and the scent of adventure, the promise of a supreme escape.
In Rwanda, meet the primates
Reaching the mischievous monkeys and the impressive gorillas of the “land of a thousand hills” is worth it! You have to get up early and walk for hours with rangers in Nyungwe National Park, the largest mountain forest on the African continent. But the efforts are rewarded with one-on-one meetings with the primates: rare and precious moments of emotion.
Where to stay? At One&Only Nyungwe House, a luxury resort that respects local traditions and know-how.
In Morocco, watch under the stars in the desert
The magic of the Sahara takes on its full meaning in the middle of the dunes of the Erg Chegaga, in southern Morocco. There, far from everything, we settle down to see the sun decline on the sandy meanders and then, at nightfall, admire the celestial vault and live a waking dream by candlelight.
Where to sleep? At Umnya Desert Camp, in a comfortable canvas lodge.
In Thailand, travel through the jungle in sidecars
Rented by the hour, the sidecar of the legendary Indian brand Royal Enfield allows you to explore the Golden Triangle, between Thailand, Laos and Burma, with an exhilarating feeling of total freedom. It weaves its way along the roads, past sacred temples and rice fields as far as the eye can see, through lush forests and typical villages.
Where to sleep? At the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, in a transparent “jungle bubble lodge” to observe the elephants without disturbing them.
In Namibia, go horseback riding in the dunes
The NambiRand nature reserve stretches endlessly, between arid lands, reddish dunes and green oases: scenery that becomes even more grandiose and bewitching when you ride a horse in the late afternoon until the magnetic sunset.
Where to sleep? In the Kwessi Dunes lodge and its rooms, whose transparent ceiling allows incredible observation of the starry sky.
Céline Baussay