We journey from the French Riviera to a village retreat in China’s alpine highlands and to an eco-luxe hideaway in Iceland’s volcanic south, and beyond!
ION Adventure, Iceland
Springing from a site where “fire meets ice”, Ion Adventure Hotel blends eco-conscious luxury with easy access to Iceland’s wild beauty. Craggy rockland, glacial lakes, and Unesco-listed Thingvellir National Park invite both solitude and adventure, while nearby Selfoss offers cafes, a geothermal pool, and the Listasafn Árnesinga art gallery. Just 40 minutes from Reykjavík, the Minarc-designed, 45 rooms mix concrete and earthy textures with locally salvaged driftwood and lava, in a nod to the volcanic landscape around Mount Hengill.
Amangiri, USA
Four hours from Las Vegas, in the ochre Four Corners region where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet, Amangiri feels akin to a mirage. The minimalist retreat is carved into 600 acres of sculpted sandstone near the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, combining a jaw-dropping setting with slick service, world-class cuisine, and an immersive desert experience.
Raffles Doha, Qatar
Housed in one arm of Doha’s striking Katara Towers, Raffles Doha brings Qatar’s first all-suite hotel to the waterfront Lusail district. Expect sea or city views, a Legendary Butler service, and a lobby crowned by a shifting sky-mural ceiling. Dining spans Enrico Crippa’s Northern Italian fare at Alba to the piano-accompanied Malaki Lounge, while an eight-room spa provides quiet respite.
Hôtel Les Roches, France
Overlooking Aiguebelle Bay in Le Lavandou, Hôtel Les Roches is a refurbished Riviera icon, its 40 rooms and suites, styled like ship cabins with wood panelling and terrazzo offering uninterrupted Mediterranean views. Architect Jean-Baptiste Pietri’s restoration honours the century-old building’s history while introducing a spa, contemporary art, and refined modern materials. At rooftop restaurant L’Oursin, chef Antoine Gras champions local ingredients beneath murals by Japanese artist, Maki Ohkojima.
The Arcadia Place, China
For centuries, the Hengduan Mountains of southwestern China have sheltered the Mosuo people along the shores of its luminous Lugu Lake. Now, there’s a whole new hospitality concept to the alpine area, with hotelier Luke Pan’s Arcadia Place recognised by Prix Versailles as one of “The World’s Most Beautiful Hotels 2026”. The lakeside lodging reworks three abandoned structures using rammed earth, clay brick, and local building techniques, linked by covered walkways and log-slatted viewing platforms that also incorporates a spa, restaurant, and rooftop pool.
