Favourite Places

We all have our special places to stay - whether it is somewhere where we have been made exceptionally welcome, somewhere with great facilities or somewhere with amazing views. Here are a few of your favourites...

Sonora Resort, British Columbia, Canada

The approach by boat was spectacular and we were thrilled to see Orca Whales on the way. Sonora is an amazing place and we were made to feel so welcome by the friendly staff. The food must be some of the best I have ever eaten anywhere in the world. The day we went out in a Zodiac boat with Sid at the wheel, dodging the whirlpools created by the receding tide, and seeing a Grizzly with two cubs at the water's edge was so special. And the day we went sea kayaking with only the seals for company...

Andrew and Pam R.

Berber Camp, Morocco

Our trip to Morocco was a wonderful experience. One particularly memorable part was our overnight stay in the Sahara Desert - it was vast and beautiful with much redder sand than I'd imagined. We rode on camels led by Hassan wearing a long robe and walking barefoot in front of us. He moved with the dignity and grace of a dancer. I watched the wind blow all traces of his footsteps away. The sun was setting as we reached the Berber Camp.

A small cat walked out from among the tents and sat on the slope of the dunes waiting for us to arrive.

It felt like home.

Cathy, Alan, Freyja and Rowan H.

Breakfast on the Inca Trail, Peru

After a 12 hour day of almost constant uphill walking, we pitched camp at Llulluchapampa around 3,600 metres above sea level. Well, when I say we pitched camp what I mean is that the camp had already been set up earlier by our porters. These were the same porters who we had left Huayllabamba at lunch time and had left 2 hours after us. They seemed to get immense pleasure from saying "Hola!" each time they jogged past us carrying the heavy tents, stove, water and food etc. on their backs whilst we struggled and crept slowly upwards on the Inca Trail carrying little more than a day pack containing water, sun cream, sunglasses and a hat.

I remember little about the end of the first day other than lying down and feeling knackered…

In the morning I was awoken by the cook's assistant who called through the tent canvass that tea had been left outside. Keeping inside the sleeping bag to stay warm I flipped over, caterpillar-like, so that my head was now where my toes had been a few moments earlier. I unzipped the door of the small two man tent and took in the view: At 3,600 metres the air is thin and you can look down upon clouds and other peaks. It was a beautifully clear day and you could see for ever. It was quiet, peaceful and quite breathtaking.

Our campsite also seemed to be the home to a number of Llamas who were taking their breakfast around the tents. On the ground just outside the tent the porter had left some fresh tea to drink and a small bowl of hot water with soap and towel to freshen up. Lying down with my head just poking out of the tent, I drank my tea slowly to ensure that I enjoyed this wonderful moment amongst the Llamas and mountains to its fullest.

Trevor L.

Pafuri Camp, South Africa

Pafuri Camp, situated between the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers in the north of the Kruger National Park in South Africa, is the most wonderful safari experience. It is in the wildest and most remote part of the Kruger and offers great wildlife viewing, varied vegetation, fantastic bird watching and the most friendly and welcoming hosts I have ever come across.

Just make sure you get escorted to your bedroom, don't leave it under cover of darkness and earmark the location of the air horn for emergencies!

Jennie C.

Sher Bagh, India

We have travelled a lot and have experienced many different levels of accommodation. Mention 'tents' and we think back to our youth so were rather hesitant when we were recommended to stay in tents in India. India is however a land full of contradictions with the unexpected around every corner; so it was with Sher Bagh. We had driven off the main road along a dirt track for a few hundred yards and finally turned into the gateway of Sher Bagh. Tents we had been expecting but the degree of luxury we had not. They were sited in a semi-circle facing the outside dining area (campfire) but shaded by a number of trees. Iron bedsteads, iron and wicker furniture, raffia carpets and an en suite tent with a flush loo, stone shower and hot running water.

We ate under the stars that night, surrounded by lanterns, to the music of local musicians. The hotel bar, in its entirety, including three staff, moved outside and we can recommend the cold white wine. The food was excellent, the surroundings and service outstanding - including a pot of fresh tea at the crack of dawn before setting out on our tiger search, and fresh water and towels in the breakfast tent when we returned. We can recommend this venue as a unique experience and one which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Margaret and Alan M.

Tsarabanjina, Madagascar

Imagine a place where, arriving by boat and paddling ashore over white sand in crystal clear water, you are already being unobtrusively assessed for the size of flippers which will shortly be slipped into your room to facilitate your snorkelling.

Imagine a room which is a small thatched cottage, with an unimpeded view of a palm fringed, azure bay - a room in which the final touch is to make welcoming patterns of colourful local seashells on the bedside tables. That is Tsarabanjina...

Chris and Viv L.

Your Favourite Place ?

We'd love to hear about a favourite place that you have travelled to with us. Simply send us an email with some text and a photo.