Remote landscapes provide stunning backdrops and design inspiration for these boutique getaways, writes Kerry Walker

Ytri, on the north Norwegian island of Husøy, makes the most of its elemental setting. Photo: Einar Aslaksen, courtesy of Banyan Group

As the world takes a deep breath after the buzz of Northern Hemisphere summer, it’s all too easy to heed the immediate call of work. But arguably now is the season to turn away from routine and slip back into nature instead, at one of a raft of newly opened boutique retreats.

From a luxury eco-lodge in the Tanzanian savannah to an intrepid getaway in the glacier-frosted peaks of Patagonia and a remote Arctic refuge in northern Norway, each of these architecturally striking escapes immerses you in the wild, taking its design cues from the great outdoors.

Explora El Calafate, Patagonia

Explora El Calafate nestles in the rugged Patagonian steppe. Photo: Courtesy of Banyan Group

Opening in December 2026, Explora El Calafate promises to drop you deep into the remote wilderness of Patagonia, with a dash of modern-day gaucho style. This is a place to absorb the silence of the steppe, the views of the Pampas plains, the towering Andes and the distant gleam of Perito Moreno glacier.

The quietly luxurious 20-room lodge—bearing the hallmark of Chilean architect José Cruz Ovalle—melts into the epic surrounds of a 173,000-acre estancia (estate). The design is light and airy, with skylit rooms and suites fitted out in pale lenga wood from nearby forests, all with views of piercing blue skies, sunsets and starry nights.

The retreat has an intrepid touch, with pros on hand to help you tailor cross-border adventures into this starkly beautiful region of ice, rock and wind—be it crossing the turquoise Lago Argentino, trotting off on horseback into mountains where condors soar or trekking into petrified forests.

After a day braving the elements, warm up in the panoramic sauna and hot tubs or book a massage with warm river stones and local botanicals such as eucalyptus, lavender and chamomile. The peak-facing dining room nods to the Argentine asado tradition, where fish, meats and vegetables are expertly grilled over an open fire.

Ytri, Norway

Natural materials elevate the tranquility of Ytri’s light-filled rooms. Photo: Einar Aslaksen

Like a stepping stone to a wilder world, the Norwegian island of Husøy is elemental. Surrounded by ragged peaks that punch above the booming ocean, waves bash rocky shores and white-tailed eagles wheel in expansive skies. The light, too, is entrancing, with summer’s midnight sun giving way to the hypnotic Northern Lights.

Slotting neatly into the picture is Ytri, a Relais & Châteaux retreat that opened in April 2026. Arriving here is like rewinding to a slower, pre-digital age—one in tune with nature’s rhythms, tides and the stories of an island where folk have fished in icy waters for 9,000 years.

Oslo-based architects Vardehaugen took inspiration from traditional fishing houses to create this 38-room sanctuary. Interiors by design studio Bonaparte capture the soul of the island with ash wood, Norwegian wool, linen and terrazzo adding depth and warmth. It’s a comforting design that nods to the need for hygge in an extreme climate.

Hike to hidden coves, kayak between islands or glide across ink-blue waters by stand-up paddleboard. After a day on or by the water, return to the crackle of a wood-fired sauna and dinner at Alma restaurant, where menus sing of the seasons. Whatever has been fished, foraged or picked that day lands on a very elegant plate.

Ubuyu, Tanzania

Handcrafted villas at Ubuyu take their circular form from traditional Maasai huts. Photo: Courtesy of Banyan Group

An elephant silhouetted among the baobab trees in a rose-gold sunset. Floating above the savannah in a hot-air balloon at daybreak. Watching a pride of lions in breathless wonder. All snapshots from a stay at Ubuyu, an exclusive eco retreat that opened in May 2026 in the heart of the vast Ruaha National Park in southern Tanzania.

Luxury at this off-grid lodge looks to the wild—and there is plenty of that. Italian architects Fabric have grounded their vision in the local: six villas handcrafted from natural materials reflect both the curves of the Great Ruaha River and the low-impact design of Maasai bomas (traditional huts). Flattering lantern light, plunge pools and decking frame cinematic views of the wildlife and glittering night skies.

An “escape host” is on hand to arrange private safaris, balloon flights or wild dining. Return to base for a pamper at the Maji spa, an open-air pavilion perched above the river, or botanical-infused cocktails at the Mganga (Swahili for “medicine man”) bar, either a fitting prelude for Ubuyu’s zero-waste, plant-forward cooking.

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