TRADITIONAL ‘RORBU’ ACCOMMODATION, NORWAY

200km north of the Arctic Circle, the Lofoten Islands rise like a barricade out of the vast Norwegian Sea. Rorbu are the most traditional type of accommodation in the Lofoten Islands. Usually red in colour and planted on stilts in the sea, they once served as a shelter for fishermen. They are now comfortably furnished with a shared kitchen and rooms meaning they're a perfect, reasonably priced place to stay in the Lofoten Islands.

How to get there: Fjords and Fjells of the Lofoten lslands

 

YURT CAMP, KYRGYZSTAN

Close to Son Kul Lake, Kyrgyz people still live in traditional yurts. Yurts are made up of a wooden frame and several felt layers, making them ideal for quickly dismantling and transporting as their nomadic inhabitants migrate from summer to winter pastures with their horses and other livestock. During our adventure in Kyrgyzstan, you'll spend two nights with the local families and explore this community. As well as learning about the nomadic lifestyle you'll have the opportunity to taste the local produce such as Airan (a yoghurt popular across Central Asia) and Kymys (a fermented national drink from horse milk).

How to get there: Mountains and Lakes of Kyrgyzstan

 

KATUN VRANJAK, SERBIA

Situated in the Biogradska Gora National Park at 1750m is a collection of shepherd huts surrounded by rolling pastures and clear mountain air. Traditionally used by local shepherds throughout the summer months, here travellers can enjoy a peaceful, very comfortable night in simple wooden cabins dotted on a hillside where herds of goats and cows wander freely.

How to get there: Through the Heart of the Balkans

 

TAMBOPAXI LODGE, ECUADOR

This South American gem was inspired by Switzerland's high mountain shelters and created to give walkers a unique and unforgettable immersive experience of the Cotopaxi National Park. The lodge offers guests outstanding views of the perfect pyramid volcano Cotopaxi; there are wood-burning stoves in every bedroom, lounge area and there’s even a fantastic restaurant on site. From inside, expect to watch wild horses roaming and hummingbirds drinking and at night, the most amazing starry skies which you feel you're very slightly closer to as you’re near the equator.

How to get there: Walking the Volcanoes of Ecuador

 

FIND TRANQUILLITY AT THE LLUC MONASTERY, MALLORCA

Located in the heart of the Serra de Tramuntana, the Lluc Monastery originally dates back to the 13th century. Now it is both working monastery and a beautiful place to stay with simple rooms, gardens, a reading room, restaurant and pool. It's reached by a winding road with spectacular scenery and panoramic views.

How to get there: Self-Guided Walking on Mallorca

 

INDIAN HOUSEBOAT, KERALA

Down in India’s tropical south, you’ll find there are almost 2000 kilometres (1250 miles) of 'backwaters', interconnected lakes, lagoons and canals, which are mostly just inland of the Kerala coast. It’s a unique and fascinating water world, enclosed by palm trees, and the best way to see it is on a houseboat, or 'kettuvallam'. The boats we use have fully furnished twin-bedded rooms, as well as a balcony, sundeck and toilet and shower facilities. You’ll cruise for a few hours, and then find a quiet spot to anchor up for the night and enjoy some flavourful Keralan cuisine.

How to get there: Kerala and the Cardamom Hills and Southern Spice - Family holiday in Kerala

 

THE MARGHERITA HUT, ITALY

The highest refuge in the Alps, no one forgets a night spent in the Margherita Hut. Perched at 4559m on the summit of Punta Gnifetti, it’s also the highest building in all of Europe. From the balcony, you can stare down one of the biggest faces found in the Alps - 2500m of space below you. To the south stretches the huge plain of the River Po of northern Italy, as for the rest, it is all mountains as far as you can see. Fun fact: as of 2017, it’s possible to get married at the Margherita Hut...

How to get there: Italian Summit Climber

 

SEVERIN SAFARI CAMP

You will love the sundowners watching the African Plains and wildlife at the fantastic Saverin Safari Camp in Kenya's Tsavo West National Park. Enjoy two nighs here on our Family Kenya Safari Adventure and from the pool watch out for elephant, wild dog, giraffe, rhino, hippo, lions, cheetah, leopard, buffalo.

How to get there: Family Kenya Safari Adventure

 

HOMESTAYS IN VIETNAM

Rural North Vietnam is blessed with two things: beautiful, lush scenery, and some of the friendliest people you’ll encounter on your travels, which makes this the perfect place to stop off in homestays between days of walking. Nights can be spent as the guests of different hill tribe villages, learning all about each tribe’s unique customs and culture, sleeping in traditional houses and eating delicious home-cooked food. One of the most fascinating aspects is the mix of old and new and seeing how modern communities keep precious traditions alive.

How to get there: Secret Trails of the Tribal Heartland

 

CABANA OMU, ROMANIA

The refuge is built on the mountain Omu which means ‘The Man’. On the way to the hut you’ll hike past the Heroes Cross, which was built in memory of railway heroes who lost their lives during World War I, is a towering 36m high, and features in the Guinness Book of World Records as the highest summit cross in the world.

How to get there: Trekking The Transylvanian Alps

 

THE REX SIMPSON HUT, NEW ZEALAND

Overlooking beautiful Lake Tekapo, the Rex Simpson hut is stunningly situated. By day, you’ll see expansive views across the huge interior plateau, with the peaks of the Southern Alps beyond – it’s a great place to chill out and enjoy the sense of being utterly in the wilds. By night, the stars become a spectacle to watch. In 2012, Lake Tekapo and the Mackenzie Basin were declared an International Dark Sky Reserve on account of the virtually light-pollution-free skies and the high number of clear nights throughout the year. The Magellanic Clouds - satellite galaxies to the Milky Way - that are only visible in the southern hemisphere can be seen from here year-round.

How to get there: Walking New Zealand - North to South Island