Today's luxury is space, silence and tranquility. Lost islands or isolated lodges in the middle of nowhere, many seek out these ultimate havens for Robinsons in search of calculated solitude. Here are 7 places where you can get away from it all.
An untrammelled island off Madagascar - Tsarabanjina
Where? A tiny island off the coast of a large island. We're in the Mitsio archipelago, a few dozen kilometers from Nosy Bé, facing the northwest coast of Madagascar.
Current situationLocated at the very tip of the island-continent that is Madagascar, the Tsarabanjina lodge has to be earned. The place is as intimate as you could wish, and blends seamlessly into its surroundings. The thatch and rosewood of the huts leave no doubt: Robinson would have loved it here. Twenty-five villas, a bar-restaurant, a library and... that's it. No television and, if you switch off your cell phone, nothing to pollute your desire for peace and quiet. An Eden for those who crave absolute peace. With plenty of time to go fishing for dinner. The dress code is the same: light clothing and bare feet to enjoy the fine sand.
A little extra adventureYou can make a living from your own fishing or go scuba diving.
Constance Tsarabanjina, www.constancehotels.com/en/hotels-resorts/tsarabanjina.
Pirate hideout on the slopes of a Greek volcano - Perivolas Hideaway
Where?: We are on Thirassia, a volcanic island that makes facing majestic Santorini. From here, the view is breathtaking over the crater covered with white villages like so many caps of eternal snow.
Current situationThe house stands at water's edge, made of ashes and crumbs of lava torn from the volcano that lies dormant beneath it. A native of the archipelago, Costis Psychas already owned one of Oia's oldest hotels. The restoration of this former boathouse, which he conceived in its entirety, required a great deal of self-sacrifice in this isolated and difficult environment. Today, the house climbs a little further up the slope, where the former inhabitants' vegetable garden once grew. In this desert setting, beneath a cliff pierced by pumice stone quarries, it seemed appropriate to opt for the simplicity of traditional decoration: immaculate walls, curved lines, whitewashed niches and benches. A haven of tranquility in the heart of the magical Greek Cyclades.
A little extra adventure From the comfort of your room, jump straight into the inky waters of Santorini Bay, or take a donkey ride to the village of Manolas for a cultural plunge into the Cyclades of yesteryear.
Perivolas Hideaway, www.perivolashideaway.com.
Photo Enrique Menossi
In the middle of the world's largest swamp - Araras Ecolodge
Where?: West of Brazil, the Pantanal, It is the world's largest biosphere reserve and the world's largest marshland, at least during the four months of flooding of the Paraguay River and its tributaries.
Current situation Somewhere in the middle of nowhere, this lodge sits almost like an intruder among the incredibly rich flora and fauna that abounds here. Then there's the capivara (Indian for "lord of the herbs"). Not shy at all, the size of a small calf, it grazes at the bedroom door. The jacarés, the local caiman, thrives in the ponds just a few meters from the lodge, and everywhere there are birds of every size and color. The owner, a flamboyant Hungarian count who speaks impeccable French, is a pioneer of Brazilian ecotourism. An ardent protector of the local fauna, he offers a host of nature activities: piranha fishing, rodeo, canoeing down the river, watching the blue macaws he has reintroduced to his property... And he's never the last to turn up the heat in the evening by the fire.
A little extra adventure Climb the observation tower to spy on howler monkeys, or take a horseback ride through the marshes with the vaqueiros.
Araras Ecolodge, www.araraslodge.com.br.
A refuge in the jungle - Rayavadee
Where?Krabi: With its limestone cliffs, peaks, caves and rainforest, Krabi is one of the wildest regions in the world. southern Thailand. Want to play the Robinson de luxe? Go to the Rayavadee.
Current situation There are no roads leading to it! This little corner of paradise can only be reached by sea. As soon as you arrive, you'll be impressed by the limestone cliffs that encircle the resort. Gradually, you discover elegant pavilions hidden in the tropical garden and coconut grove. The atmosphere is that of a southern Thai village. After crossing this spit of land, you come to one of the country's most beautiful beaches, Phranang: white sand, turquoise sea and limestone peaks in the sea. The pavilions are two-storey, with the living room and bedroom on the ground floor and the bathroom upstairs. Some are equipped with a Jacuzzi or private pool. There are also four villas with the same charm, all with private pools! Another must: the spa and treatments directly inspired by ancient Thai traditional remedies, treating body and mind. The surrounding nature is luxuriant, and it's not uncommon to come across the small monkeys or large lizards that populate the forest.
A little extra adventure The world-famous climbing spots in the vicinity.
Infos : www.rayavadee.com.
A camp in Patagonia - Patagonia Camp
Where?A place of absolute fulfillment, right in the heart of the Chilean Patagonia.
Current situation Patagonia Camp: 18 tents on the edge of a lake, facing the mythical Torres del Paine mountain. The round shape of these tents is reminiscent of Mongolian yurts. At the top, a porthole for stargazing. Yurts perhaps, but not without maximum comfort, with king-size beds, private bathroom and terrace. To avoid any impact on the vegetation, the camp is built on stilts and wooden platforms, and wastewater is purified at 100%. The camp's central location means you can discover the beauty of the national park at your own pace.
A little extra adventure Explore the raw, tangled nature of Chile's far south on foot or by kayak, conquer one of the surrounding peaks or simply listen to the wind, birdsong or lapping water.
Patagonia Camp, www.patagoniacamp.com.
Between sea and Corsican scrub - Domaine de Murtoli
Where?: Just a stone's throw from Bonifacio nestles one of Corsica's last true paradises. The only way to reach it is by 4×4, crossing the tracks of a two-thousand-hectare estate of scrubland running into the Mediterranean Sea.
Current situation Fourteen shepherd's huts hidden away in the wilderness. Some have no telephone access, so you can live in the serenity of the place and be alone in the world. Pheasants and wild boar frolic along the roads, which can also be explored on horseback, as the estate has its own ranch. A vegetable garden and two restaurants, one with its feet in the sand, the other in a cave, are available for guests to discover the flavors of the Isle of Beauty. There's no bling here, just communion with nature.
A little extra adventure Fishing: various types of hunting are organized from autumn onwards, and it's also possible to go coarse fishing from a boat or traditional pointu fishing.
Domaine de Murtoli, www.murtoli.com.
Photo Camille Moirenc
Robinson of the South Seas - Lizard Island
Where?on a string of coral reefs on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, This 1,000-hectare Eden is 270 kilometers from Cairns, in northeast Queensland. The only way to reach it is by spectacular flight over the world's most beautiful coral reefs.
Current situation Discovered by the legendary Captain Cook, who named it Lizard Island after the large reptiles that inhabit it, this island has all the makings of a paradise retreat. 24 beaches of floury white sand, some of the most renowned diving sites on the planet and a fantastic calendar of animal and plant species to observe all year round. Whales, dolphins, marlins, manta rays, lizards, flowering or fruiting trees, coral reproduction that colors the sea orange - not a week goes by without a new natural event to discover! There's no rush on Lizard Island: forty suites all over the island and nothing more. And no cell phone network!
A little extra adventure With the Great Barrier Reef and its wonders as a playground, it's a diving paradise.
LizardIsland, www.lizardisland.com.au.
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