The Coolest Places You Can Stay in Around the World

The Galápagos Islands are the only place in the world where you can sleep in a luxury tented camp in the middle of a nature reserve that’s home to free-roaming giant tortoises. These magnificent creatures are one of many species endemic to the archipelago – and at Galápagos Magic Camp, in the grassy highlands of Santa Cruz, they’ll be your neighbours. Watch the sunset from the meadow terrace while sipping a cocktail, dine in a candlelit lava cave and embrace the unspoilt nature of this tropical wildlife oasis.

Thailand’s Khao Sok National Park is like something out of a fantasy movie. Think towering limestone formations, an emerald green lake and swathes of ancient rainforest – home to wild elephants, sun bears, leopards and tigers. Staying overnight in a floating raft house is the best way to get some shut-eye here – and you can do exactly that on this 10-day adventure with Culture Trip. Swim and kayak directly from your bungalow, or simply soak up the sun with an ice-cold beer in hand and embrace the unspoiled nature on your doorstep.

James Bond fan? You’ll already be familiar with the limestone cave dwellings built into the hillside of Matera in Italy’s Basilicata region. Whether you’re a 007 aficionado or not, it’s impossible not to be swept up in the beauty of this atmospheric stone city. On Culture Trip’s exclusive southern Italy adventure, you’ll spend a night in a gorgeous guest house in the historic, Unesco-listed Sassi area. Each room is set within a restored cave and furnished with hand-carved local wood and stone, lending a touch of modern elegance to the building’s ancient heritage.

Fancy going to sleep at night with a view of a volcano? Chilcabamba Lodge in Ecuador, 3,480m (11,417ft) above sea level, boasts breathtaking views of Cotapaxi volcano – settle in around the fire pit and stargaze when darkness falls. Cosy and unpretentious rooms were built with local materials, and the property has a strong focus on sustainability. Culture Trip’s eight-day adventure to Ecuador continues after visiting Cotapaxi National Park – go white-water rafting down the Jatunyacu River in the Amazon rainforest and hike the Natural Oils Trail before returning to Quito.