Luxury Living in The Bush and Beyond

One of the many reasons I’m hopelessly devoted to glamping is the eco-factor, a by-product of staying in a natural setting. Having glamped on almost every continent, I’ve yet to meet a chic campsite that isn’t small scale, low impact, or energy efficient—a trend hinting at a green sensibility that’s becoming increasingly important to travelers. It was during one of my first eco cabin-tents experiences on a vegetated cay in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef that the chef at the upscale eco-isle pointed out fishing boats in the distance. “Today’s lunch (of pan-fried barramundi) was delivered ashore from one of those vessels”, he explained. Dining fish-to-fork at a table made of local wood has made every other meal (ever) hard to measure up. Sustainable situations like this are the rule versus the exception when you choose to glamp. Such is the case at the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle , where upon arrival I was handed a guava welcome beverage in a cup chiseled fr...

Glamping, a Global Travel Trend Over the past 10 years, glamping has moved up the ranks of the travel world. If you haven’t heard of it yet, here’s a primer on this growing trend. While it might seem like a silly word, these hybrid concepts are nothing new to the English language. (For example, “Automobile” combines the Greek word for self with Latin word for moveable.) Glamping is the combination of the words “glamour” and “camping.” Although backpackers will scoff at the idea that camping can be upgraded, many people who have slept on the ground for a night or two might admit that they prefer some small luxuries, like a mattress, a shower or a delicious, filling meal prepared after a day of hiking. What’s so attractive about glamping travel is that there are so many possibilities. Anyone can use their creativity to enhance the natural environment and redefine “roughing it.” Glamping can be as simple as splurging on a large framed canvas tent with windows or as complicated...