Botswana is high on our list for safari destinations given its abundance of wildlife, its varied environments; think wetlands, forested islands and dry savannah as well as a variety of safari options both on land as well as on the water.

We think Belmond have really cracked it with a portfolio of three unique safari LODGES, each with their own personality and character, dotted through the Okavango Delta, the Moremi Wildlife Reserve and the Chobe National Park.

Getting to any of the lodges is a breeze, connecting to Maun through Johannesburg, the lodges each have their own private airstrip. All three have a huge variety of activities on offer that enhance and go beyond the standard safari experience. From helicopter, horseback and canoe safaris to safaris by moonlight or on foot. Within the lodges you can look forward to incredible meals and beverages with coffee and a light breakfast before heading out on morning game drives followed by full breakfast and al fresco lunch overlooking the bush. Dinner is an epicurean affair with wonderful local and international fare paired with delicious South African wines.

As you’d expect the levels of service are exceptional across the lodges with guides always on hand to identify game passing the lodge. Let’s take a look at each of them.

Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge – As the name suggests, elephants abound around the lodge that features just 12 bedrooms raised up on wooden platforms, all with expansive decks. Rooms feature four poster beds, easy chairs, dressing rooms and a full bathroom. Be sure to enjoy a private boma (BBQ) and a dip in the pool overlooking the bush.

Belmond Eagle Island lodge – Having undergone a full refurbishment in 2016, the LODGE has reopened with spectacular luxury tented rooms complemented with private plunge pools and outdoor showers. The lodge is set on a private island amongst the ever-changing channels, tributaries and lagoons of the Okavango Delta. It’s an ideal base for water based activities as well as helicopter safaris to give an eagle eye view of the wetland landscape and its inhabitants

Belmond Khwai River Lodge – in the heart of the Moremi Reserve, the lodge’s decor harks back to the golden days of safari, with thatched rooms, claw footed copper framed baths  and private wooden decks overlooking the reserve. There’s a wonderful swimming pool and for those in need of a little TLC it’s even possible to have a spa treatment on your deck

Nestled in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside Belmond Le Manoir as it is often known, is a bastion of culinary excellence boasting not only a two Michelin star restaurant by the eponymous Raymond Blanc but also a culinary school and expansive organic gardens.

Opened in 1984, the hotel is quintessentially British and is set in stunning landscaped gardens with a wonderful croquet lawn. The 32 rooms and suites are individually designed and are all inspired by Raymond Blanc’s travels and include, amongst our favourites Le Chinoiserie, a deluxe abode that has recently been totally transformed into an Oriental boudoir. Featuring hand painted silk wall paper and even its own private garden terrace it’s a true juxtaposition to Le Manoir’s inherent Britishness. Equally impressive is L’Orangerie, a beautiful one bedroom suite reminiscent of a French Chateau with a heated stone floor and its own private entrance perfect for a romantic getaway.

The hotel’s famous restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner and offers a plethora of dining experiences with tasting menus and wine pairings changing regularly depending on seasonality.

Belmond Le Manoir has also curated a luxury events calendar with happenings throughout the year ranging from lunch with Raymond Blanc to music festivals, wine tastings and carol services at Christmas time.

The hotel is just 30 minutes from Heathrow and 40 minutes from London’s Marylebone station so ideal for a weekend break or for a first stop on a UK itinerary.

The island of Bali is no doubt a popular Indonesian hot spot however few hotels integrate local culture with refined luxury as well as Belmond Jimbaran Puri. Located on the crescent of Jimbaran Bay, the hotel is ideally placed for exploring southern Bali with temples and markets all within easy reach as well as the bustling restaurants and bars of Seminyak and Legian.

Set amongst palm groves and mature gardens, the hotel gives way effortlessly to the beach with a huge swimming pool and beachfront restaurant just steps from the soft sand.  Of course for those interested in surfing or learning to surf there are fantastic opportunities right in front of the hotel or just a short drive away at the famed Uluwatu.

The exclusive pool villas scattered amongst the gardens are split across two buildings with a private pool and indoor and outdoor bathroom and are the ideal spot for honeymooners or families who crave privacy. Be sure not to miss afternoon tea in your villa!

Whilst we would thoroughly recommend the Nelayan restaurant with their fine dining take on Indonesian favourites, a quick stroll along the beach brings you to rows of local eateries brimming with fresh seafood. Settle back with the sand between your toes, lobster and prawn platter on the table and watch the world go slowly by.

One of the favourite moments from our stay was arriving back at the hotel after dinner and relaxing on loungers on the beach, cocktail in hand surrounded by fire lanterns illuminating the gentle waves.

The French waterways in summertime are quite simply stunning. Meandering through sleepy medieval villages and flowering fields aboard your private luxury barge is one of life’s great experiences. Spend a week or more slowly making your way through the Languedoc, enjoying private wine tastings, exploring local markets or just relaxing beside your onboard swimming pool whilst a private chef and crew look after your every request. For the more active we’ll even set you up with bikes to explore the tow paths and villages dotted along the canals.

A converted 16^th Century monastery, the Belmond Monasterio is located in the very center of Cuzco, the heart of the ancient Incan Empire. The hotel is set around a peaceful courtyard laden with wild flowers and a 300 year old cedar tree. Few experiences are more special than having breakfast in its shade before a day exploring the city.

With rooms ranging from superior rooms to one bedroom suites, space and comfort are of particular emphasis at the Belmond Monasterio. All rooms are unique and individually designed combining luxury with antique artwork and dark wooden furniture. To ensure ultimate comfort for all clients, there is even the option to have supplementary oxygen piped into the room to combat any possible effects of the moderate altitude of Cusco and guarantee a brilliant nights sleep.

With two restaurants on site and a host of Peruvian eateries in close proximity, enjoy Andean cuisine at its finest either al fresco or in the fine dining Illary.

Step outside the hotels impressive front doors and you will find yourself just a few yards from Cuzco’s ancient Cathedral and ancient square. It truly is the ideal base (and bubble of luxury) from which to step out and learn about Incan life in the Andes.

And for those heading to Machu Picchu the train Belmond Hiram Bingham train will whisk you up the Sacred Valley, whilst you sip champagne and enjoy your brunch, to the foot of the ancient ruins.

Just a 50 minute flight from Bali, the island of Sumba is a totally untouched oasis of pristine forests, deserted sandy beaches and crystal clear tropical waters. Nihi Sumba, winner of the ‘World’s best hotel’ 2017, boasts a selection of individually designed villas, each different in their layouts and location yet all exuding understated luxury. They seamlessly combine indoor and outdoor living and all offer your own swimming pool.

A stay at Nihi Sumba really is an experience in itself. There’s a huge selection of activities to suit all ages and interests

Perhaps Nihi Sumba’s most unique attribute is it’s access to a totally private surf break. This perfect wave can only be surfed by guests of the hotel and what’s more they will only allow 10 surfers per day to take on the fantastic break.

Another of our favourite experiences has to be the Spa safari where the day begins with a 90 minute walk through Sumba’s countryside passing through untouched local villages and verdant paddy fields. Arriving at the hotel’s spa outstation you are treated to beachfront breakfast followed by a full day of unlimited spa treatments, broken solely by refreshing dips in the sea.

Perhaps one of the most well-known hotels in Europe, Belmond Hotel Cipriani is adjacent to St Mark’s Square yet a world away from the crowds, situated on the private island of Guidecca just across the Grand Canal. A true oasis of tranquility the hotel provides understated sophistication with more than a touch of La Dolce Vita.

Rooms and suites are spacious, bedecked in Italian marbles and sumptuous fabrics. Most have either a terrace, balcony or private terrace overlooking the hotel’s manicured grounds, its mini-vineyard or the canals.

The stunning outdoor heated swimming pool is the centrepiece of the hotel, an ideal place to cool off during the hot summer months so be sure to schedule in some time to relax whilst in Venice. The hotel also hosts a plethora of activities including, amongst our favourites, exploring the canals by kayak or custom-made water-bikes. For the historians, here at Lux, we can organise privately guided tours of the city perhaps with a stop off along the way at the little visited island of Burano. And at the end of a long day exploring Venice, the hotel’s bar, make the best Vespa Martini and Bellinis around.

Of course it comes as no surprise that the restaurants and bars at Belmond Hotel Cipriani are of exceptional quality. It’s a special experience to enjoy your breakfast al fresco overlooking one of the world’s most famous waterways. Enjoy dinner at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant Oro, one of the finest restaurants in all of Venice and deservedly awarded a Michelin Star or perhaps if you fancy more casual fare, the over water Cip’s Club is relaxed yet elegant and the ideal spot for a long supper on a summer’s evening.

There are regular shuttles over to St Marks from the hotel’s private dock so you are never far away from the historic Palazzos, the canal side restaurants or a glass of Prosecco.

On the unspoilt north coast of the Thai island of Koh Samui, Belmond Napasai is a beachfront oasis set amongst 17 acres of pristine gardens and palm groves. The hotel is a sanctuary with a stunning infinity pool built into the hillside, just a few steps from the private beach and crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

With 45 standalone villas (all with private balconies and sea views) dotted across the gentle hillside and 14 one to four bedroom oceanfront residences, Belmond Napasai offers space and privacy in abundance. We simply adore the residences with their stunning infinity pools lapping the ocean’s edge, perfect for a private dinner or family get together.

There’s a multitude of activities for all ages; from cooking classes to the spa famed for its traditional Thai massages. For the more active, the beach is the starting point for a range of unique experiences including private boat excursions to the surrounding islands and coastline or snorkelling and scuba diving in the aqua marine waters. And for a true Thai experience we’d thoroughly recommend an elephant safari.

Belmond Napasai also has a host of dining options at the fine dining Lai Thai and the toes-in-the-sand casual beach restaurant so no matter your mood you’ll always be able to enjoy the finest Thai fare.

Easily accessible, Belmond Napasai is a mere 25 minutes drive from Koh Samui airport and there’s plenty of opportunities to get out and explore all parts of the island including its pristine interior covered with jungle and rainforest that’s bursting with life.

The unique Minaret Station is a spectacular luxury lodge set in the Southern Alps of New Zealand’s South Island accessible only by helicopter. We’ve gotten to know a couple of the resident guides so whether you’d prefer heli-skiing, fishing, jet boating or flying to a remote mountain top for a private gourmet lunch, we’ll ensure that every experience is tailored specifically to you. Of course we will leave you plenty of time to relax around the wonderful lodge and your private cabin (complete with its own hot tub of course) before enjoying a delicious dinner using only the best local produce.

Twenty minutes from the main island of Tahiti, the Brando is one of the most secluded yet luxurious hotels on earth. A perfect idyll made up of 12 deserted atolls, the Brando provides a sanctuary for a host of wildlife from hatching turtles to rays, coconut crabs and sea birds. With just 35 magnificent beach front villas each with their own infinity pool you are ensured total privacy. What’s more the food is of the highest caliber – Guy Martin, the two Michelin starred chef from Paris has his very own outpost on the island with a menu mirroring his flagship restaurant in Paris. By day kayak between the islands and explore the deserted atoll making sure to take a swim in the picture postcard ‘billionaires swimming pool’. It certainly doesn’t get much better than this.

Just an hour outside Marrakesh in the tranquil foothills of the Atlas, Kasbah Tamadot feels more like a private home than a hotel. It’s the ideal place to gather the whole family or a group of friends to spend time together. Explore local Berber villages, ride camels along dried up river beds or simply relax by the stunning infinity pool. By night the roof Depending on the time of year we can also arrange a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the majestic peaks of the high Atlas.

A jewel in the Seychelles crown, North is as close to perfection as you are likely to get. With just 11 presidential villas scattered along a picture-perfect beach and an island teeming with giant tortoise, a visit to North is a must. Although you may never want to leave your expansive villa, explore the island with you own off road golf buggy, stop off at honeymoon beach – a private enclave that is reserved exclusively for one couple or family at a time. The culinary offering is out of this world with breakfast cooked freshly for you in your villa and a dining concept of eat anywhere, anytime and anything meaning that you will never be bound by a menu or time of day. Scuba diving is amongst the best in the word and the staff  the friendliest and most hospitable that we have experienced anywhere.

Exploring the remote lower reaches of the Mekong Delta offers an incredible insight into Cambodian and Vietnamese rural life that few outsiders have been privileged to experience. We have teamed up with Aqua Mekong, a luxurious cruiser with just 20 cabins to take you from Tonle Sap in southern Cambodia towards the bustling metropolis of Saigon in Vietnam all the while enjoying the finest Indochinese cuisine and privately curated shore excursions. Look forward to meeting teenage monks as they begin their journeys towards enlightenment, cycling along the shores of the gently meandering river and gaining a true insight into the culture of this remote part of South East Asia.