26 Room + Wild Hotels to Visit in 2026
2026 is the Year of the Horse, a symbol of movement, momentum, and bold action. It is a year that asks for forward motion rather than hesitation, for curiosity over comfort. A year for saying yes to the journeys long imagined, the places bookmarked and forgotten, the experiences quietly waiting for their moment. The Horse carries the energy of change, inviting adventure, spontaneity, and the courage to begin.
This editorial is an invitation to travel with intention through destination hotels that do more than showcase where they are. These are places that propose a different way of living, shaped by geography, culture, and deep respect for land. Remote, expressive, and often transformative, each hotel becomes a threshold. Not just a place to stay, but a way to step into new rhythms, new values, and new perspectives. They are built to slow you down, open your senses, and gently shift how you see the world.
Here, we introduce 26 Room + Wild hotels for 2026, each opening a door to distinct landscapes, cultures, and philosophies of life. From extremes of climate to quiet pockets of human tradition, these destinations remind us that travel is a portal into other worlds, and through them, a chance to return changed, carrying new ways of seeing, living, and being.
Photo by Babylonstoren
Photo by Babylonstoren
Photo by Babylonstoren
Babylonstoren, South Africa
Nestled at the foot of the Simonsberg mountains in South Africa’s Cape Winelands, Babylonstoren unfolds across fertile valleys, vineyards, and meticulously cultivated gardens. Founded by Karen Roos, the estate is a living, breathing landscape where every corner from orchards to olive groves guides the daily rhythm. Guests wander vegetable tunnels, harvest fresh produce for meals, or soak in garden tubs as the sun slides behind the mountains. Here, the architecture frames nature rather than competes with it, and time slows to the pulse of the land, fostering connection to growth, craft, and seasonal cycles.
These images belong to Explora
Explora El Chaltén, Argentina
Explora El Chaltén unfolds within Argentina’s Los Huemules Conservation Reserve, a protected stretch of Patagonian wilderness framed by lenga forests, glacial rivers, and the serrated skyline of the Fitz Roy massif. This is walking country, where trails begin at the door and the weather writes its own script each day. Winds move quickly through the valley, light shifts by the minute, and silence arrives in wide, generous intervals. The lodge sits deep within this geography, encouraging slow immersion in one of Patagonia’s most dramatic and least domesticated landscapes.
Photos by Sanbona Game Reserve
Photos by Sanbona Game Reserve
Photos by Sanbona Game Reserve
Sanbona Game Reserve, South Africa
Sanbona Game Reserve stretches across the dramatic Little Karoo, a terrain of rocky outcrops, open plains, and ancient valleys. The lodge, low-slung and unobtrusive, allows the landscape and its wildlife to take precedence. Guests track elephants, rhinos, and lions across sun-drenched savanna or pause to marvel at San rock art carved millennia ago. The combination of wilderness and carefully curated safari experiences cultivates awe, patience, and a sense of how fragile ecosystems survive in balance with human presence.
Photo Boys Play Nice
Achioté Project, Costa Rica
Perched on a jungle-clad hill above Playa Hermosa near Uvita on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Achioté is a pair of boutique villas where bold rammed-earth architecture meets lush tropical nature. Designed by internationally acclaimed studio Formafatal, the two minimalist villas — Jaspis and Nefrit — feature private plunge infinity pools, open-air living, fully equipped kitchens, and expansive terraces that frame ocean views and verdant canopy. Life here is rooted in the rhythm of jungle and sea, inviting guests to unwind in a serene, sensorial setting, explore nearby surf spots and waterfalls, or simply linger in solitude with the sounds of the forest and Pacific rolling below.
Photo by UXUA
Photo by UXUA
Photo by UXUA
UXUA, Brazil
In Trancoso, Bahia, UXUA inhabits a historic village where colonial streets meet the Atlantic. Founded by Wilbert Das, the property restores fishermen’s homes into a network of intimate lodgings, blending Afro-Brazilian craft with minimalist design. Mornings are shaped by walks to the beach, afternoons by village exploration, and evenings by lingering over long meals. UXUA bridges local culture and global curiosity, offering a layered experience where place, history, and human stories converge into daily life, making the village and its landscapes feel intimately yours.
These images belong to Explora
Explora Torres Del Paine Conservation Reserve, Chile
Explora Torres del Paine Conservation Reserve sits deep within Chilean Patagonia, where granite towers rise from glacial lakes and the wind moves freely across open pampas. This is one of the most remote and dramatic landscapes in South America, a place defined by scale, weather, and constant motion. The lodge is designed as a protective refuge, offering warmth and calm against the intensity outside, while framing uninterrupted views of the Paine Massif. To visit is to step into a landscape that feels vast and untamed, where distances are long, skies are immense, and nature sets the pace for everything.
Photo by A Sociedade Rural
Photo by A Sociedade Rural
A Sociedade Rural, Portugal
Set in the rolling Alentejo countryside, A Sociedade Rural resides amid cork forests, olive groves, and open plains. The architecture uses timber, stone, and minimal interventions, allowing the land to dictate experience. Days flow with slow walks through fields, quiet meals under expansive skies, and immersive moments of observing seasonal farming rituals. The estate offers a restorative escape into simplicity and groundedness, revealing Portugal’s quiet rural beauty and deep connection between people and landscape.
Photo by Ocama
Ocama Boutique Hotel, Dominican Republic
Set above Rincón Bay on the Dominican Republic’s wild northeast coast, Ocama Boutique Hotel is a secluded villa retreat woven into tropical forest and sea. Spread across lush acreage near Las Galeras, the property is made up of a small collection of private one- to three-bedroom villas, each designed with open living spaces, natural materials, full kitchens, and terraces or plunge pools that blur indoors and out. Life here follows the rhythm of breeze and tide, with days shaped by swims in hidden beaches, jungle walks, whale watching, yoga, or simply lingering in a hammock with the Caribbean stretching below. Ocama invites a slower pace and a deeper connection to landscape, light, and Dominican coastal life.
Photo by George Apostolidis
Southern Ocean Lodge, Australia
Perched on the remote cliffs of Kangaroo Island, Southern Ocean Lodge looks out over an endless Southern Ocean where wind, waves, and wildlife dominate the horizon. Rebuilt after bushfires, the lodge celebrates resilience through design that withstands extreme weather while blending with natural textures—stone, timber, and glass. Days are structured around coastal walks, wildlife encounters, and quiet reflection, with architecture framing rather than competing with the dramatic seascape. Guests leave with a profound awareness of nature’s scale, fragility, and force.
Photo by Kisawa
Photo by Kisawa
Kisawa, Mozambique
Kisawa sits on Mozambique’s Benguerra Island, where coral reefs meet forest and dunes. Founded by Nina Flohr, the property harmonizes luxury with environmental stewardship, integrating local craft and regenerative practices. Guests explore the island by kayak, snorkel along vibrant reefs, or walk through untouched dunes. Every detail responds to the island’s climate, light, and ecology, creating a place where sustainability and sensory immersion coexist seamlessly.
Photo by Mattia Aquila
Le Dune Piscinas, Italy
On Sardinia’s southwestern Costa Verde, Le Dune Piscinas rests among Europe’s highest sand dunes, where the desert meets the Mediterranean Sea. Winds sculpt the dunes daily, and the rhythm of tides and sun guides life at the property. Architecture is understated, framing horizon, dune, and sea rather than competing with them. Guests move slowly—walking the dunes, swimming in the Mediterranean, or simply listening to the wind—immersed in a raw, elemental landscape that feels timeless and untouched.
Photo by Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa
Photo by Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa
Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa, Italy
On Ischia’s volcanic island, Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa integrates thermal springs, Mediterranean flora, and ocean views. The hotel combines local architecture with contemporary interventions, placing guests within a sensory dialogue between land, sea, and sky. Days unfold through exploration of hidden coves, thermal baths, and olive groves, while evenings focus on slow, seasonal meals. The property highlights how geology, climate, and local tradition can shape a profoundly restorative stay.
Photo by Sea Sea
Photo by Sea Sea
Photo by Sea Sea
Sea Sea, Australia
Along the Great Ocean Road, Sea Sea rises from rugged cliffs and hidden coves. Designed by Gorrow Studio, its raw materials and openness echo 1970s surf culture. The Southern Ocean dictates life here, from tides and swell to light shifts across sandstone and timber interiors. Guests surf, walk coastal trails, or sit quietly absorbing the wind and horizon. Each day is guided by rhythm rather than schedule, cultivating a deep connection to sea, coast, and sky.
Photo by VIPP
Photo by VIPP
Vipp Cold Hawaii, Denmark
On Denmark’s remote northwest coast, Vipp Cold Hawaii faces the North Sea’s raw energy. Minimalist architecture provides shelter while maintaining uninterrupted views of dunes, surf, and horizon. Guests follow the pull of tides and wind, engaging in surfing, long walks, and quiet reflection. Isolation heightens awareness of natural cycles, and the property’s understated design amplifies the coastal landscape’s raw, elemental character.
Photo by Estancia Santa Cruz
Estancia Santa Cruz, Uruguay
Situated in Uruguay’s open pampas, Estancia Santa Cruz unfolds across rolling grasslands, native forests, and endless skies. Daily life mirrors the land’s rhythm, with horseback rides, tending cattle, and traditional asados. Architecture blends subtly into the landscape, framing sunsets, horizon, and wildlife without interruption. Guests are invited to experience space, silence, and rural tradition, creating a grounding and quietly transformative encounter with land and culture.
Photo by Ava Blu
Photo by Ava Blu
Playa Viva, Mexico
Along Mexico’s Pacific coast, Playa Viva sits between tropical jungle and pristine turtle beaches. Founded by David Leventhal, the property combines regenerative design with ocean immersion. Days are spent walking forest paths, snorkeling reefs, participating in conservation, or preparing meals from the organic garden. Each visit leaves a tangible connection to the land, its biodiversity, and the community, demonstrating travel as a tool for environmental and cultural engagement.
Photo by Pierre Wikberg
Arctic Hideaway, Norway
Accessible only by boat, Arctic Hideaway rests on a small Helgeland island where fjords, wind, and light dominate. Architect Håvard Lund’s design dissolves boundaries between inside and outside, offering intimate cabins that respond to Arctic conditions. Guests spend days kayaking, hiking, or simply observing the sea and sky, with Arctic light and solitude shaping rhythm and awareness. The experience encourages creative stillness, reflection, and attunement to elemental forces.
Photo by Elise Hassey
Photo by Elise Hassey
Shinta Mani Wild, Cambodia
Deep in Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains, Shinta Mani Wild is immersed in rainforest and protected wilderness. Founded by Bill Bensley, the property engages guests in conservation through adventure, from zip-lining and jungle treks to wildlife monitoring. Accommodation is tented yet luxurious, blending design and nature. Each stay fosters awareness of ecological fragility, offering a direct connection to wildlife and forest stewardship.
Photo by Fat Dassie
Sashwa River of Stars, South Africa
Set on the quiet outskirts of Greater Kruger along a secluded river system, Sashwa River of Stars is a small, purpose-driven lodge shaped by wilderness, light, and intention. Founded with a mission rooted in conservation, community upliftment, and mindful hospitality, the project prioritizes low-impact design and deep ecological respect. Open-air suites face the river and savanna, inviting night skies, birdsong, and shifting light to become part of the experience. Wellness here is intuitive rather than programmed, guided by walking safaris, time spent observing wildlife, restorative stillness, and the grounding effect of true darkness. More refuge than resort, Sashwa offers a quiet reorientation, where presence, protection of place, and connection to the rhythms of Kruger define every stay.
Photo by Matt Wild
Photo by Matt Wild
Rabot Hotel, Saint Lucia
Rising from a working cacao estate beneath the Pitons, Rabot Hotel combines rainforest and volcanic soils. Guests follow cacao from grove to table, learning sustainable cultivation and production techniques. Architecture frames the jungle, guiding movement and perspective. Every moment emphasizes connection to land, craft, and the labor that shapes both.
Photo by Elise Hassey
Shinta Mani Mustang, Nepal
Set in Upper Mustang’s high-altitude desert, Shinta Mani Mustang integrates monastic and vernacular architecture. Air is thin, skies vast, and silence profound. Days are measured by short treks through villages, visits to cliffside monasteries, and mindful stillness. Life here unfolds slowly, highlighting awareness of altitude, environment, and cultural heritage.
Photo by Fabian Martinez
Photo by Fabian Martinez
Terrestre, Mexico
Located on Oaxaca’s rugged Pacific coast, Terrestre blends circular architecture with climate-led design. Buildings respond to sun, wind, and heat, inviting guests to inhabit the rhythms of land and sea. Daily life flows between exploration, reflection, and movement outdoors. The property celebrates elemental simplicity and a deep intimacy with coastal wilderness.
Photo by Nay Palad
Nay Palad Hideaway, Philippines
On Siargao’s tropical coast, Nay Palad Hideaway is wrapped by palms, lagoon, and reef. Surf culture and barefoot living define the tempo. Guests move from early morning waves to forest walks, shared meals, and slow afternoons. The property encourages unstructured engagement with both nature and local life, heightening attentiveness and presence.
Photo by Song Saa Private Island, Elise Hassey
Photo by Song Saa Private Island, Elise Hassey
Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia
Within Koh Rong’s protected marine reserve, Song Saa spans two jungle islands joined by a footbridge. The property is defined by conservation and sustainability, with architecture that opens to jungle and ocean. Guests explore reefs, participate in community programs, and move fluidly between privacy, ritual, and the rhythms of tide, light, and ecology.
Photo by Ambiente Landscape Hotel
Ambiente Landscape Hotel, USA
Tucked into Sedona’s red rock desert, Ambiente frames geological drama through minimalist design. Architecture dissolves into cliffs and desert flora. Hikes, meditation, and star-filled nights guide experience. The property emphasizes intimacy with landscape, creating a dialogue between architecture, human presence, and the desert’s immense scale.
Photo by Finn Lough
Photo by Finn Lough
Finn Lough, Northern Ireland
Surrounded by forest and lake, Finn Lough invites guests to inhabit woodland, water, and sky. Transparent domes open fully to the environment, allowing mist, light, and weather to dictate experience. Canoeing, forest walks, and evenings by the fire encourage a quiet attunement to natural rhythm and the subtle patterns of the Northern Irish landscape.
Photo by Open SKy
Open Sky, USA
Near Utah’s Zion National Park, Open Sky is defined by desert canyons, red rock formations, and expansive skies. Architecture frames the vastness, while daily life is guided by dark skies, trail exploration, and quiet reflection. The desert’s scale and stillness cultivate awareness, offering a space where time, place, and interiority converge.
Room + Wild is the world's first and leading collective and platform for landscape-enhanced accommodation, ecotourism, nature-based destinations, and sustainable luxury travel experiences. We consistently inspire, influence, and spread awareness through our tailored travel guides, curated media content/channels, brand activations, press trips as well as visual and narrative storytelling.