The Oberoi's bush outpost lies just outside Ranthambhore National Park, where tigers sunbathe on old Raj ruins beneath a towering 1,000-year-old fort. Although the bedrooms are made from canvas, this is no jungle camp. Rather, it’s the grandest spot in India from which to watch wildlife while being looked after by some of the country’s most gracious hoteliers. Staff, in jewel-coloured kurtas, is on-hand to serve Indian feasts in candlelit courtyards, offer orange-flower-scented face-towels after a safari or serve rosewater iced tea by the fringed, colonial-style pool umbrellas. Naturalists offer lectures and take private safaris through the park’s loveliest areas to see spotted chital deer, rich birdlife and – with luck – tigers. And the rooms are so sumptuous that it’s criminal not to take time to recline on the carved four-posters, soak amid rose-petals in lion-claw baths or take tea on a silver tray while watching kingfishers diving into waterlily-strewn ponds. For foodies, there’s pretty much everything on offer, from Norwegian smoked salmon at breakfast and fresh penne with herbed feta at lunch, to sensational Indian cuisine: Meen Molli, dumplings in fenugreek, Rajasthani bread and mixed thalis, delivered on hand-painted crockery, with live Rajasthani musicians to add to the local flavour.

Kamalaya Spa, Koh Samui, Thailand

Integrating holistic medicine and complementary therapies from Eastern and Western traditions, Kamalaya takes a balanced approach to optimal physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. For centuries, Buddhist monks have revered Koh Samui as a sanctuary for spiritual retreat. They say that the island has a special energy that enriches and enlightens their spiritual path and helps them connect more profoundly with the universal energies. Located on the tropical island of Koh Samui overlooking the pristine coastline and outlying islands, Kamalaya aims to offer you the experience to honour the sacredness of solitude, discover yourself and share the joy of community. Best for emotional balance, their wellness programs include solutions for detox, stress and burnout, optimal fitness, healthy lifestyle, weight control, sleep enhancement, emotional balance and yoga. For a more personalised wellness experience, the resort’s team of international naturopaths can work with you to create your own health program from the extensive range of holistic medicine, spa and healing therapies.