The use of the term glamping has been expanded in recent years to encompass a dizzying array of locations, environments, and experiences. Whereas the first glamping experiences were mostly billed as humble opportunities to camp out in style, modern-day glampers now find themselves enjoying world-class luxuries and wildly unique accommodations in all corners of the world. From cozy mountaintop pods and immaculate jungle escapes to futuristic offerings on a wind-swept, extraterrestrial landscape, these are the most notable and eye-popping glamping experiences around.
NORTH AMERICA
Around a two-hour drive from Anchorage, Alpenglow Luxury Camping offers an idyllic locale for city dwellers looking to disconnect by escaping into Alaskan nature. While Alpenglow’s canvas tents don’t feature electricity—there’s a charging station at base camp—each one offers gorgeous views of Alaska’s Matanuska Glacier. Open from late May to early September, the property is run completely on solar power, with furniture and buildings made in-house using local materials.
For an intimate audience with the natural world, it’s hard to beat Big Sky Country, aka Montana, where The Resort at Paws Up offers one of America’s most luxe glamping options. From mid-May through mid-October, a mix of couples, groups, and families, not to mention corporate titans and Hollywood celebs, descend on the six luxury tented camps, one of which features North America’s only three-bedroom/two-bathroom tents. All tents include rustic chic decor, en-suite bathrooms with heated slate floors, and camping butlers. The resort, which is open year-round, offers top-notch activities, most notably world-class fly-fishing.
In a remote patch of Southwest Colorado, Dunton Destinations offers various glamping options in the shadows of the San Juan Mountains, the most opulent of which is Christy’s Tent at Dunton Hot Springs. The all-season, canvas tent was built with reclaimed materials that date back to the 1830s, and contains a gas stove and spacious bathroom with views. Four miles away, the luxe Dunton River Camp (open May to October) is set on a 500-acre cattle ranch from the late 1800s. The original farmhouse sits in its original location near the Dolores River; nearby, guests relax in glammed-out tents, each sitting on a wooden platform anchored to the bedrock.