Escaping the city used to involve camping in soggy fields,bathing in freezing rivers, and tripping over cattle on midnight trips to the outdoor loo. Thankfully, Mother Nature and modernity have become better acquainted in recent years, so while autumn is still in the air, why not exchange suburbia for one of Asia and Away s six top rustic retreats.
COMMUNE BY THE GREAT WALL, CHINA
Among the many benefits that this stunning resort 40 kilometres from Beijing bestows on guests is a textbook lesson in irony. Turn up expecting to have to muck in by bleaching the urinals and you ll be pleasantly surprised the commune side of things applies mainly to your personal butler and his 150 colleagues. By contrast, you ll be living in perfect privacy in one of 11 stylish-and totally unique-villas. Sharing not one morsel of your haute cuisine with the neighbours, the only work you ll endure will be a hike up to the Great wall, part of which lies within the estate s three square miles of grounds.
BALI GITA VILLA, INDONESIA
Located to the north of the sleepy Balinese town of Ubub, this huge 1,300 square metre private villa offers all the benefits of country living while retaining the full perks of urban progress. Imagine reawakening dulled senses by taking a wander around the tropical gardens: shuffling along sandstone paths, under thatched gates and past farmhouse ruins, listening to birdsong and flowing water from the Ayung River which winds through a spectacular gorge down below. Inside the bales, meanwhile, you ll find a private cinema, a billiards room and cliff-top spa.A flexible pricing policy means that, given a bit of luck and lucre, a couple can have the place to themselves.
LISU LODGE, THAILAND
Just because you re heading to the hills, you don t necessarily have to become a recluse. Visitors to the bamboo-woven lisu lodge are encouraged to gather in a family area for food and entertainment during the evenings. This eco-lodge reminds guests of the primal pleasures of regular exercise (mountain hiking, rafting),healthy eating(rice, vegetables and chillies ) and sharing stories and songs over a campfire. There are no TVs, no KFCs and certainly no VIPs-just the magic and tranquility of the Thai mountains. Located an hour s drive north of Chiang Mai, the lisu lodge is staffed and managed by members of a local lisu tribe, and has been showing the way for sustainable tourism for more than 12 years.
BLANKET BAY, NEW ZEALAND
In rural New Zealand, it s difficult to find a hotel that isn t a bona fide rustic retreat. Picking the best is tough, so why not let the stars decide. Movie stars, that is. Nestled on the shores of lake Wakatipu, Blanket Bay has been frequented by the cast members of lord of the Rings (Sir lan Mckellen reckons it s the best in the world ), Robin Williams, and honeymooners Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. There s a romantic log fire on the terrace, an intimate wine cellar and, just to prevent things getting too soppy, deer antler chandeliers. With a 26,000 hectare estate at your disposal, it s an equally fine place to get in touch with yourself.
TIGER TOPS JUNGLE LODGE, NEPAL
Most visitors to Nepal s Chitwan National Park are more lord Greystoke than Taizan, taking day-trips to sample the popular elephant safari before retreating to the shores of the Narayani River for overnight accommodation outside the park. For those who want to linger a while, Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge offers the chance to spend a night in the trees, allowing more time to observe birds, rhino, deer, crocodiles and, if you are lucky, tigers. Staffed by experienced naturalists, this surprisingly comfortable jungle hotel offers customized wildlife watching programmes. As you ll be in company, probably best to swap the leopard skin briefs for khakis and a pith helmet. And bring a good pair of binoculars.
BAIKAL TEREMA HOTEL, RUSSIA
Russians reckon lake Baikal has both spiritual and medicinal qualities. If you survive a quick dip in her icy waters, it does wonders for your longevity, apparently. Baikal Terema, a complex of pine chalets, offers visitors to this haunting locale a range of slightly less life-affirming activities. Trekking, boating, horse riding, dog sledding, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing are all available, with the added comfort that when you come in form the cold, there are soft interiors and top-notch cuisine to keep you toasty. And, after a long day in the great Siberian outdoors, why not relax in the traditional Russian banya (bathhouse). A life-enhancing, though not life-prolonging, experience especially if enjoyed with a shot of ice-cold vodka.
