I love nothing more than spending all day outdoors while on vacation, but when the sun goes down, I want to kick off my boots and relax in a luxury hotel room, not cook dinner over a camp stove. Give me a comfortable bed and a fantastic meal so I can be rested and ready for tomorrow’s expeditions.
If you’re like me, welcome to the world of soft adventure travel. Luxury resorts across the world are catering to travelers who want big thrills without sacrificing all those things that make a vacation feel like a vacation. These are the best adventure-focused luxury resorts with full comfort features.
Soneva Fushi, Maldives
Kunfunadhoo Island, Maldives
While a Maldives vacation is often presented as lazily lounging in an overwater bungalow, Soneva Fushi aims to get you out into the nation’s beautiful waters. Set within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this resort is one of the best places in the Maldives for marine adventures. Guided snorkeling safaris, manta ray excursions, and coral restoration programs let you engage with the ecosystem below, rather than just admire it from your room.
Your villa is intentionally low-tech, with a “no news, no shoes” policy, but comfort isn’t compromised—you’ll enjoy retractable roofs for stargazing and private outdoor showers. For a fun touch, book one of the villas that have a water slide attached, taking you straight from your villa to a private pool or lagoon below.
Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island
Desroches Island, Seychelles
Located on a remote coral island 155 miles southwest of Mahé, the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island is accessible only via a 35-minute private flight. The island features nine miles of white sand beaches and a dedicated Marine Conservation Society center that manages a giant tortoise sanctuary. A variety of activities are on offer to keep you busy on this private island, including yoga on the island’s airport runway, snorkeling, fly fishing, scuba diving, and jet ski surfing.
The 71 villas and residences are designed to bring the outdoors in, with private pools, shaded terraces, outdoor rain showers, and direct access to the beach. When you arrive, you’ll receive a bicycle you can use to tool around the island.
Tierra Atacama
Atacama, Chile
In the Atacama Desert, Tierra Atacama balances high-altitude adventure with plenty of amenities for relaxation and acclimatization. This all-inclusive resort makes it so that everything is taken care of during your stay, including all meals, an open bar, and your choice of two half-day excursions or one full-day excursion each day.
There are excursions to suit every adventure level, from a summit trek of 18,700 ft. Cerro Toco to a trip to bathe in the Puritama Thermal Pools, a unique oasis in the middle of the Atacama Desert. Tierra’s 28 rooms all feature floor-to-ceiling windows, private terraces, and outdoor showers, from which you can admire the stunning desert setting.
The Lodge at Blue Sky
Wanship, Utah
The 4,000-acre private ranch The Lodge at Blue Sky sits just outside of Park City. Its high-adventure program utilizes a private helicopter fleet for heli-skiing and heli-snowshoeing in winter, or helicopter tours to Moab for mountaineering, hiking, and biking in the summer.
The resort keeps things intimate with just 46 suites and private houses. The Edge Spa is a must-visit, not just for the relaxing treatments, but for its dramatic location on a precipice overlooking Alexander Creek.
InterContinental Hayman Island Resort
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
InterContinental Hayman Island is an exclusive resort offering direct access to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. You’re encouraged to get out in the surrounding waters by jet ski, kayak, or pedalboard. The resort also operates a fleet of custom-built dive boats for PADI-certified excursions to the outer reef.
Every day at 10:30 am, the resort offers a fish feeding experience, where you can feed giant trevally and grouper as they jump out of the water. There are plenty of on-land activities as well, including nocturnal tours to spot wallabies, owls, and more.
Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
Sacred Valley, Peru
Set at over 10,000 feet above sea level, Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba might just be the highest luxury resort you’ve ever stayed at. Located in Peru’s Sacred Valley, Inkaterra offers high-altitude guided treks, including routes along the Inca Trail. For something a little less taxing, try the Chicha de Jora excursion, where you’ll harvest, grind, and watch the fermentation of the local drink.
For an extra special experience, book the Owners’ Quarters, a duplex suite with a cozy fireplace and panoramic views of the green mountains.
Explora Patagonia Torres del Paine
Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
There are only around half a dozen hotels within Torres del Paine National Park, and Explora is by far the most luxurious. Set on the shores of Lake Pehoé, the views here are unforgettable. Explora is an all-inclusive resort, and as part of the package, you can choose from over 40 included guided explorations, with group sizes limited to eight guests. (Private explorations are available for an additional cost.)
Choose from guided hikes, including one to the iconic Base Torres, glacier boat trips, or horseback rides. Back at the lodge, unwind with a relaxing massage in the spa or a dip in a heated jacuzzi.
Lapa Rios Lodge
Punto Jimenez, Costa Rica
Located within a 1,000-acre private nature reserve on the tip of the Osa Peninsula, Lapa Rios is the best place to stay near Corcovado National Park. The resort sits 350 feet above sea level, providing direct access to the nearby rainforest and the Pacific coastline. Local naturalist guides will take you on excursions including birdwatching for over 300 documented species, medicinal plant walks, and nocturnal rainforest treks.
The lodge consists of 17 standalone bungalows constructed from local materials. Each unit is built on stilts to minimize soil impact, and features screened-in walls for natural cross-ventilation, eliminating the need for air conditioning. And many villas offer private plunge pools and private outdoor rainfall showers.
Alyeska Resort
Girdwood, Alaska
Just 40 miles south of Anchorage, Alyeska serves as a year-round hub for the Chugach Mountain Range. In winter, it provides access to 1,610 skiable acres and over 669 inches of annual snowfall, right outside the door. In the summer, the same terrain turns into an epic hiking and mountain biking playground.
The sprawling chateau-style resort has 299 guestrooms spread over eight floors. For post-adventure recovery, take a dip in Alyeska’s saltwater pool or treat yourself to some time in the Nordic spa (Alaska’s newest). The spa offers a hydrotherapy circuit, so you can move between outdoor hot and cold pools overlooking the forest before relaxing in the spa’s saunas and steam rooms.
Six Senses Zighy Bay
Musandam Peninsula, Oman
Located on the northern Musandam Peninsula, Six Senses Zighy Bay is accessible from Dubai via a two-hour 4×4 drive through the Hajar Mountains. Or, arrive in style (James Bond style, that is) at the resort via a paragliding experience. You’ll leap from a 960-foot mountain cliff with a professional pilot and then sail over the Gulf of Oman and around the Al Hajar Mountains before safely landing on the soft sands below. The thrills continue with mountain biking, rock climbing, and guided treks on offer.
The resort is designed to resemble a traditional Omani village, featuring stone villas with private infinity pools and cob-walled outdoor showers. The Six Senses Spa includes two hammams, heated marble relaxation beds, and an ice bucket shower for post-adventure recovery.
