by Oh, glamping! How wonderful you are! For all those years the raven didn’t have the chance to sleep in the wild. Now, you can’t go into the countryside without stumbling across a yurt, a dome or a cabin lurking among the trees. According to a report by Grand View Research, the global glamping market will be worth $5.94 billion by 2030.
Europe is the glamping champion of the world, and has more posh camping options than any other continent. Emerging trends include wilder and more urban sites, increasingly sustainable buildings and a greater emphasis on wellness and activities, such as on-site yoga, wild swimming and forest swimming. Ultimately, you get earthy experiences without privacy.
Bed down in a biosphere in Lanzarote
This northernmost Canary island is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve – a Martian-looking land of amazing biodiversity – and lies the eco-luxe Finca de Arrieta, next to the golden beach of La Garita right in. , there are a handful of yurts with stunning interiors and private gardens and kitchens. He also works with local suppliers who can deliver Toyota bikes and hybrid cars, and organize everything from snorkelling trips to treks in Timanfaya National Park.
How to do it: Finca de Arrieta (lanzarotetreats.com) offers yurts (sleeps 2-7) from £248 for two nights, self-catering
Do for the mountains in France
High in Haute-Savoie, Les Écotagnes’ two handcrafted cabins are perched in the trees, overlooking the Aravis range. Raised walkways lead to each ridge, where decks offer unobstructed views and wood burners keep things cozy. There is also a hot tub and shared dining cabins that serve home-cooked meals. It is also ideal for Alpine activities: walking paths run from the door, gondolas facilitate access to the peaks and Lake Annecy is close, ideal for water sports and the 26 mile track around it.
How to do it: Ecotagnes (ecotagnes.com) offers cabins (sleeping 2-4) from £134pn, half board
Pick up among the pines in Croatia
And breathe… Secretly among the Pomer pine trees, on the shores of the Depot peninsula, Glamping Arena One 99 offers fresh forest air and sea breezes. There’s a selection of mini-lodges, lodges and safari tents here, all equipped with Egyptian cotton linens, fancy toiletries and espresso machines – this is no basic camping. You can also take part in on-site ceramics workshops, gong bath sessions and windsurfing lessons. Also nearby is the ancient port town of Pula.
How to do it: Glamping Arena One 99 (arenaglamping.com) has lodges and tents (sleeps 2-6) from £183 for two nights
Catalan style camp in Spain
Buzzy Barcelona is only an hour away but you wouldn’t know it – what makes Forest Days feel luxurious is its sense of identity. There are only four bell tents, well spaced at the foothills of the Catalan Pyrenees. Each is rustic yet comfortable with king-size mattresses, hand-crafted furniture, eco-friendly and plenty of exploration possibilities. Follow paths into the forest, along the top of the cliffs and down to the Aigua d’Ora river for a wild swim. Cycling, kayaking and canyoning are also available nearby.
How to do it: Forest Days Glamping (coolstays.com) offers tents (sleeping four) from £159pn, self-catering
Pod bag and pool in Devon
Loveland Farm has a lovely location by the sea, on Devon’s wild Hartland Peninsula. But it also had its own ecological swimming pool, set in a bright barn conversion, heated by a biomass boiler. Stay at one of the nine smart geodes on site: sunbathe on the deck, cook in your separate kitchen, go surfing. After dark, snuggle under cashmere blankets, pull down the projector for a movie night or star-gaze through your pods’ clear side and skylights.
How to make it: Loveland Farm (canopyandstars.co.uk) which have pods (sleeping 2-6) from £149pn self-catering
Take an escape from a lake in Sweden
The Swedes have a saying – friluftsliv – which expresses the happy feeling that comes from being immersed in nature. Dalsland Activities has four greenhouses that do just that. Perched on a private headland above Loch Ivag, these transparent boltholes offer unobstructed views of the sky, water, creek, trees and stars. They come with private swimming areas as well as access to fishing rods, rowing boats and SUPs, so you can paddle out anytime. Alternatively, kayak along the Steneby river or take a guided walk, looking for beavers.
How to do it: Dalsland Activities (dalslandsaktiviteter.se) offers greenhouses (sleeping two) from £410pp for three days, full board, or £235pn, B&B
Choose a perfect pile in Italy
The Palafitta tents near Lake Ledro are handcrafted to resemble the stilted pile dwellings that were built here around 4,000 years ago. However, the prehistoric inhabitants of Trentino are unlikely to have enjoyed anything quite so glamorous: these modern versions feature sunny verandas, small kitchens and comfy beds all with lake and mountain views. The tents are part of Best Ledro Camping, which sits next to Besta beach and Ledro’s crystal-clear waters – perfect for canoeing, sailing, fishing and swimming; you can also learn more ancient history at the local museum.
How to do it: Best Ledro Camping (bestledrocamping.it) offers tents (sleeps 2-4) from £235 for two nights, self-catering
Travel around a remote retreat in Norway
Canvas Hotel – nine waterfront Kyrgyz yurts huddled on an island in Norway’s southern Telemark region – is ideal for cyclists. The camp sits at the nexus of a network of thoughtfully designed cycling trails, which weave in and out of the surrounding forest, pools and rocky desert – but are accessible to amateurs. Includes bike rental and guide, as well as a post-tour steam in a sauna, a swim in the lake, soaks at the rustic “spa” (10 tin baths on the shore) and delicious meals cooked on an open fire.
How to do it: Hotel Canvas (canvas.norrona.com) offers yurts (sleeps two) from £259pppn, full board
Find family fun in Slovenia
For family-oriented adventures in style, try River Camping Bled. Surrounded by the River Sava, the site is a stone’s throw from Slovenia’s fairy-tale lake, meeting three mountain ranges and multiple valleys – perfect for hiking, cycling, rafting and sports of all kinds. Sleeping options range from large boutique tents and mirrored houses with terraces, kitchens and picture-perfect views, to bijou globes hidden in the forest. There is also a large swimming pool and playground, as well as a much larger Mother Nature playground beyond.
How to do it: River Camping Bled (rivercamping-bled.si) offers glamping accommodation (sleeps 2-6) from £92pn, self-catering
Go far away in Greenland
At Kiattua Camp, the first adventure is underway. This shack of trackless, off-grid tents – heated by wood burners and reindeer skins – sits on a private cove every summer, flanked by ancient mountains and accessible only by helicopter or boat. Includes gourmet meals (a modern take on traditional Greenlandic dishes) and various activities: kayak among icebergs, cruise over glaciers, walk to Viking ruins, fish for Arctic char, engage in Inuit culture and disconnect from the rest of the world.
How to do it: Arctic Swoop (swoop-arctic.com) offers a three-night stay at Kiattua Camp from £4,484pp, including meals and activities, excluding flights
