Embrace the Slow Life

The super-luxury and soul-soothing silence at Amangiri at Canyon Point, Utah is something special. People who know about the 900 acres of vastness go there to be – and to feel – remote, and with the eerie beauty of the Utah/Arizona terrain for miles and miles all around, this wilderness feels nothing short of humbling. Its crisp edges of polished rock are redolent of Native American architecture. The fantastic centrepiece pool curves around a rock formation, and the Aman Spa has all you need to empty your mind – the same for being able to view the desert from most beds or baths. The modernist suites offer an inspiring welcome to this most dramatically secluded setting.

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Richard Branson’s latest dreamscape, Son Bunyola, is worth the splurge. Three spacious, traditional Balearic villas (one has five bedrooms, the others four) lie sprawled across 680 acres on Mallorca’s northwest coast. Each has its own heated pool, sleek kitchen, and courtyard with dining area, although Son Balagueret – housing a bedroom in the original 13th-century turret – has its own magic. The lush estate includes vineyards, olive groves, and citrus orchards; you can walk to the beach, hike and bike on miles of mountain trails, or play some of the island’s almost two dozen golf courses.

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There are fewer than 30 uniquely designed villas here but every single one has a captivating Indian Ocean view, and this beautiful place is further lit up by the smiling welcome you’ll receive from the Sumbanese people who look after it on behalf of the owners. Something you can do here that takes you right away from everyday stresses and strains is swimming with Sumba’s horses, and after that exhilaration then it’s time to explore the Nihioka, a truly blissful spa. We can also recommend stand-up paddling through slow-moving local rivers as they wind past sultry Sumba villages and hidden local waterfalls. It’s as surreally relaxing as it sounds. Indeed, the resident team can devise an itinerary for you with all sorts of serene experiences, from bird-watching to immersion in the ancient heritage of the Marapu people along what was once a remote and secret beach.

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On Banks Peninsula, clinging to the edge of New Zealand’s South Island, are the four distinctive villas created by the Annandale farm; it almost defines getting away from it all. Despite the stunning coastline and breathtaking views of the glittering Pacific Ocean, you’re on a working 4000-acre farm where the large grazing herds of Angus cattle and Romney sheep dot the landscape of rocky outcrops and wind-blown tussock grass. We absolutely love the old fashioned veranda of the restored 19th century Homestead, which can sleep up to 12, and has its own heated pool and even a private tennis court. There’s also masses to enjoy outside, including mountain-biking, kayaking, hiking, cooking classes and nature cruises.

This is the only private reserve in the Sossusvlei area featuring the dunes of Namibia on the world’s oldest living desert, so when you’re in the lodge you’re at the centre of 31,000 acres of pristine nothingness. The utter tranquility and extraordinary quality of light makes this area magical by day while at night the sky is so clear – it’s near an internationally recognised Dark Sky Reserve – that the stargazing through a powerful Celestron telescope in the Observatory will keep you up til dawn. The accommodation is all about sustainable luxury: 10 beautifully appointed stone-and-glass suites offer shaded verandas, private plunge pools, and large retractable skylights above the beds. Other signature features include a sunrise-view gym and sunset-facing wellness centre.

At an altitude of 3800 metres above sea level, the air on the shores of Lake Titicaca where Titilaka Lodge is tucked away is crisp and wholesome. It will leave you thoroughly refreshed while exploring this dramatic and enormous stretch of water. There’s island-hopping on the lake itself, excursions from the boathouse on the peninsula, unforgettable birdwatching, and Sillustani – the large and important pre-Hispanic funeral ground and archaeological complex where Peru and Bolivia come together in the Andes. The rooms, each with a splendid lake view, are contemporary and sumptuous. Almost all the lovely staff are locals, and the fare is delicious, seasonal and satisfying. You’ll have amazing days and sleep like a log…

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