You can’t get more remote than a visit to the seventh continent. Operator White Desert says its new camp, Echo, is “as close as you can get to feeling like you’re off the planet without leaving Earth.” The Echo camp is made up of just six ‘sky pods’, designed to look as if they’ve been beamed down from Mars. The expansive windows give guests the best possible views of the other-worldly location: vast, moonscape-like stretches of snow and ice, and pitted rock formations. Adventures include ski-ing, fat biking, and abseiling, as well as trips to see Emperor Penguins and the South Pole. As with all White Desert camps, Echo can be dismantled, leaving no trace on Antarctica - a true hidden gem.

An intimate hideaway in the ‘Big Sky Country’ of Montana, the Green O sits in a heavily wooded corner of a huge ranch in Greenough, where guests might see elk and black bears, and go whitewater-rafting or dog-sledding. Each of the 12 individual guesthouses is a hidden gem in itself. The four styles - Green, Tree, Light, or Round ‘Haus’ - offer varying experiences of the spectacular surroundings, but in each, you can listen to the sounds of the forest from your hot tub or star gaze from the skylight above your bed. It’s almost impossible to get this up close and personal with nature coupled with the outstanding levels of laid-back luxury across the accommodation, food and service.

This one-of-a-kind floating hotel takes guests on tours of Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, visiting spots no other tourists travel to, such as Kurushima, an island with only eight residents. The three-storey boat takes all the vital statistics of a traditional ryokan and translates them onto the water into 19 wood-panelled cabins; think of it as a cross between a luxury boutique hotel and a superyacht, with the aim of introducing passengers to the remarkable lifestyle of the Setouchi region. Food is a highlight, and chefs buy from local fishermen and producers every day.

The Galapagos Islands are one of our planet’s most important and fascinating natural wonders, and the remote location of the Galapagos Safari Camp enables guests to truly connect with this magnificent region. The camp is situated on the island of Santa Cruz, far from busy tourist spots, and on the rim of an extinct volcano, with safari tent accommodation cocooned by dense forest. The land and sea safaris are tailor-made and welcome families. You might see the giant turtles, take a fishing trip, or swim on a deserted beach.

The remote shoreline of Indonesia’s Sumba Island is almost untouched, and Cap Karoso, a hotly anticipated 2023 opening, intends to leave it that way. It’s more of a refuge than a hotel, with an organic farm, chickens, and buffalo as well as beach club, spa and gym, all blessed by local Shamans and full of Sumba art, craft, produce, and history. The 67 rooms include 20 villas with secluded tropical gardens and pools, all complemented by regular short residencies from chefs, artists, and musicians. Though only an hour’s flight from Bali’s Denpasar airport, Cap Karuso is a hidden sanctuary on peaceful Sumba.

Travelling to the world’s best hidden gems can take some commitment, but as one of the wildest places on earth, Fogo Island Inn rewards anyone making the journey richly. After an international flight to Toronto or Halifax, and an internal flight to the island of Gander, off Newfoundland, Fogo is reached via a ferry. The Inn is a contemporary concrete structure perched on a cliff overlooking the brutal North Atlantic’s ‘Iceberg alley’, but, once inside, the 29 spacious rooms speak of local comfort, style, and craft. Activities include bushcraft, heli-hiking, star-gazing and heli-hiking, guided by the expertise of Fogo islanders. All operating surpluses are returned to the community.

Take a detour from Aquitaine’s big names and ho tspots to discover Les Hortensias du Lac, a 25-room surf hotel from Relais & Chateaux, which sits between lake and sea in Hossegor, north of Biarritz. The words ‘luxury’ and ‘surf’ rarely go together, but expectations are turned on their head at this boutique retreat. The 1930s building is a prime example of Basque-Landaise design, and towering pines shade the infinity pool. The relaxed Hamptons-style vibe of surf, bike ride, and board games is perfectly matched with Landes levels of hospitality from the elegant restaurant, where chef Phillipe Moreno prepares modern coastal classics.

Minaret Station is a genuine retreat from the modern world and a truly exclusive experience for anyone who visits. Its four private lodges, accessible only by helicopter, are bordered by National Parks, Lake Wanaka, alpine meadows, and glacial valleys, balancing wilderness with extreme comfort and returning a sense of wonder to even the best-travelled guests. Each lodge has a spacious bedroom and living area as well as a terrace, and its Mountain Kitchen creates menus from Central Otago’s abundant produce, including venison, lamb, and beef from Minaret’s own farm.

Only a handful of trains worldwide are known for offering luxury accommodation and a decent night’s sleep, but Kruger Shalati beats all of these, with views of lions and leopards into the deal. It’s a permanent hotel made of 24 converted train carriages, sitting high up on the disused former rail bridge spanning the Sabie River, in the Kruger National Park. This isn’t a modern affectation; back when the train and bridge were both in use, it would stop on the bridge overnight. Though refashioned to contemporary levels of luxury, the train retains the glamor of the 1920s with its art deco interiors and a sense of the excitement of pioneering travel. Adjacent to the bridge are seven further suites, the dining areas, and two pools - there’s a third on the bridge.