Great Spots for Glamping

Combine sleeping under the stars with the perks of a swanky hotel. Glamping -- that’s glamorous camping -- lets you savor the great outdoors without leaving behind the comforts of home.

Sure, you’re trading in 4 walls for sturdy canvas. But no shortage of comfort awaits your visit, with electricity, real beds (no air mattresses here) and even bathrooms in spacious tents. No need to lug your camping gear or struggle with tent assembly, either; that’s all taken care of at these glamping accommodations around the world.


Banyan Tree Madivaru  
Common campgrounds rarely make you think “glamour.” Not this one. With the Maldives as its backdrop, this sprawling campsite -- it’s called a villa -- comes with sturdy timber floors and elegant teak furniture. Tents in each of the resort’s 6 villas feature king-sized beds, billowing white curtains and a bathroom with a private outdoor shower (a pair of spa beds is included for a facial or massage.) Each villa also has a private pool and deck area. Playing the role of camp counselor, an island host leads visitors on snorkeling trips to Madivaru Island’s lagoons and reefs, plus dolphin and manta safaris in the Indian Ocean.


El Capitan Canyon
This coastal resort oozes Southern California cool. Get cozy and search the night skies for the Big Dipper from the comfort of a bed in an adventure yurt; it includes a canvas roof with a domed skylight in the canvas roof. Embrace the camping community spirit through yoga, docent-led hikes along the Bill Wallace trail or family-friendly summer concerts of jazz, funk and surf music. During the summer, a professional storyteller spins tales of the sprawling night sky’s constellations and the Chumash Native Americans who once called this land home.


Longitude 131°
This eco-friendly campsite in Australia’s Outback doesn’t skimp on comfort. Each of the campsite’s 15 airy tents includes king-sized beds surrounded by a wall of blinds. With a flip of a switch, check out Technicolor sunrise over Ayers Rock, or Uluru, the large sandstone rock formation that makes this area famous. Take your pick from activities such as a sunrise stroll through the desert for the sights and sounds of Uluru at dawn as the birds greet the new day. You can also customize a private tour with a luxury 4-wheel drive, helicopter, Harley or even camelback journey. Return to camp for a 3-course meal at Table 131°, a restaurant in the desert where the chef uses native Bush ingredients both common (macadamia nuts) and unique to western palettes (fruits such as pepperberry and quandong) to create local specialties such as Wagyu beef, kangaroo, NT Barramundi and Tasmanian salmon.


Teapot Lane  
Enjoy the secluded Irish countryside at this campground in County Leitrim, Ireland. Set up camp in any of the 2 cabins or 3 dome-shaped yurts with king-sized beds and wood-burning stoves. Down the road, a local organic farm sells veggies to prepare a stir fry in the campground’s communal kitchen. The nearby town of Bundoran has a reputation as a surfing spot; it’s even played host to European surfing championships. If you’re hoping to catch some Zs instead of waves, indulge in a reflexology massage or kick back by the campground’s fire pit for an evening of craic (that’s Irish for fun) with a few pints and traditional Celtic tunes.


The Resort at Paws Up
Montana
Relish the Big Sky Country while sleeping in a tent with multiple rooms, bathrooms with showers, and beds with comfy linens. The fanciest tent, Tango Point, includes a jetted tub and dining room. Forget anything at home or just looking for more ways to relax? Your personal camp butler will bring you an extra pillow, help get the campfire started (and supply the s’mores) or suggest nearby resort activities such horseback riding, yoga and fishing. The camp chef prepares rustic family-style meals in the dining pavilion, such as ribs smothered in chipotle barbecue sauce, bison steak and smoked trout cakes. So, leave the camp stove and water purifier at home – that air mattress, too! You’ll find the posh comforts of home at these sites, with the great outdoors just beyond your posh glamp door.