Nicole Trilivas
This article was updated on August 4, 2025.

The rewards at these ultra-luxe retreats are well worth the journey.

This story is part of our Trips of a Lifetime collection in honor of 25 years of Virtuoso, The Magazine.  

In an always-on world, going off-grid – even just for a while – holds perennial appeal. These remote hotels, lodges, and camps are located in some of the world’s most out-of-the-way locales – and with a limited number of rooms at each, guests have a prime opportunity to reset and reconnect without having to worry too much about overcrowding. If you’re ready to wander, these retreats are waiting.

For the Andean Trailblazer: Explora Valle Sagrado

Embraced on all sides by green Andean foothills and fields of purple quinoa and corn, the all-inclusive Explora Valle Sagrado is one of the most rural haciendas in Peru’s Sacred Valley, the hub of the mighty Inca Empire. (It took Explora nine years to build this 50-room lodge, because Inca ruins kept turning up during the excavation and construction process.) While the hustle of modern life feels worlds away here, ancient civilization is well within reach: Guests can set off on more than 20 hiking and biking expeditions through the Sacred Valley, including visits to the salt pans of Salineras de Maras, Moray’s pre-Colombian agricultural terraces, and even Machu Picchu – if they can bear some crowds for a few hours. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 hotel credit.

A secluded Xigera tree house.

For the Wild Design Devotee: Xigera Safari Lodge

Xigera Safari Lodge may be one of the most talked-about stays in the Okavango Delta, but the only noise travelers will have to worry about at this camp is from the wilderness. Xigera calls itself a “living gallery,” and its 12 suites are dressed impeccably and eclectically by 76 African artists and designers. (Look for the boma firepit sculpture by Conrad Hicks, busts of the “big five” by Otto du Plessis, and Porky Hefer’s funky-functional furniture.) For even more solitude, guests can spend a night in the Baobab Treehouse, a 33-foot-tall steel structure inspired by a famous painting by South African landscape artist Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 lodge credit.

Low-profile Amangiri.

For the Desert Dreamer: Amangiri

For fresh air, wide-open spaces, and mind-emptying views, look no further than Amangiri in Canyon Point, Utah, just north of the Arizona border. The super-modern and minimalist 45-room desert oasis all but completely blends in with its 600 surrounding protected acres of canyons and mesas. Additionally, Camp Sarika, a ten-tented pavilion outpost just five minutes away from the main property, offers a more secluded, immersive experience with direct access to Utah’s raw desert landscapes. Each spacious one- or two-bedroom canvas tent has its own private firepit and plunge pool, and guests have access to the camp’s own pool and restaurant, plus all the perks of the main resort. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 resort credit.

A bungalow awaits.

For the Not-So-Quiet Luxury Seeker: Velaa Private Island 

We know there’s no shortage of beautiful, bar-raising resorts in the Maldives, but Velaa Private Island takes the exclusivity up a notch. Velaa’s 47 villas are some of the islands’ largest, and a typical day for guests includes caviar facials and James Bond-style submarine excursions. Our favorites: the 14,000-square-foot Nika Residence, featuring interiors by Patricia Urquiola, and the one-bedroom Romantic Residence, which is so isolated, it’s only accessible by boat. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $150 dining credit.

Hunker down, fortress-style.

For the Seaside Lingerer: Mamula Island by Banyan Tree

At the entrance to Montenegro’s UNESCO-listed Bay of Kotor, Mamula Island by Banyan Tree occupies a nineteenth-century fortress with 32 stone-walled rooms overlooking the water. The quiet, isolated hotel is a 35-minute helicopter ride or a nearly two-hour drive and boat ride from Dubrovnik, but on-site spots such as Pinea, a speakeasy that mixes up locally-inspired cocktails, keep things lively. Guests can spend days exploring the island’s historic architecture or opt for curated experiences, such as opera performances at the fort’s atrium, olive oil- and winetastings at the island’s olive mill, or a massage at the spa, which will debut a refreshed treatment menu for the 2026 summer season. Virtuoso travelers receive one 50-minute massage for two, use of water- or e-bikes or one excursion to Blue Cave, and a $100 dining credit.  – Amanda Rosenberg