8 minute read
11 Unforgettable Experiences from 11 Years of Glamping
Wild foraging with an indigenous chef, horseback riding to a secret saloon, sleeping in a grain-silo suite…these are unforgettable glamping experiences. In today’s competitive landscape, crafting unique experiences has never been more important. Sure, you should have a beautiful space and setting, but that is no longer a differentiator. It’s all about the memories people take home. Having stayed at over 200 glamping camps and eco-resorts around the world, some experiences blend together, but there are a few dozen we’ll never forget. Here are our top 11 experiences from 11 years of glamping… and ideas to make them your own!
1. ZIPLINING TO LUNCH
Ziplining through the canopy of the Costa Rican rainforest and grounds of Pacuare Lodge, we zoomed towards our last platform and a perfectly set table came into view. Perched in a Ceiba tree, 60 feet off the ground, was a dining room for two. Our waiter, complete with an apron and chest harness, had hoisted three courses into the canopy so we could dine among the toucans and monkeys. Make It Your Own: Setting up a table at any high vista point, be it a water tower, rock ledge, or tree blind, can add a similar thrill and romance.
2. FARM & FORAGE FEAST
Farm-to-table dinners have become the norm, but what about foraging for the ingredients and cooking them with the chef? Lauralee, a member of the Qalipu First Nation and owner of the Upper Humber Settlement farmstay in Newfoundland, guided us around her six acres of land. We started by picking snap peas, strawberries, and beet greens in her garden, then she taught us to look beyond the rows of cultivated crops and discover the edible and medicinal world that’s all around us. Right under our nose was a carpet of young plantain, chickweed, lamb’s quarter, clover, sage flower, and alder pepper to spice up the freshest and most fulfilling salad we’ve ever had.
Make It Your Own: Virtually every plot of land has something edible or medicinal. Study up on your native plants and see what kind of treats you can share with your guests each season.
3. HORSEBACK RIDING TO A SECRET SALOON
Galloping on a hot summer day from Bull Hill Guest Ranch, deep into the Colville National Forest, a saloon appeared like a mirage. We tied up at the hitching post, pushed open the swinging
doors, and a bartender said, “What’ll ya have, pardner.” The ranch struck a deal with their John-Wayne-loving neighbor to open up his private bar when guests wanted a taste of the West and some firewater to wash it down.
Make It Your Own: Create a secret bar on your property (even if you only stock it upon request) and give it a speakeasy feel, like behind a bookshelf or a curtain of vines.
4. GLAMPING ABOVE TIGER’S NEST
Every traveler to Bhutan makes the trek to this 17th-century Buddhist monastery carved into the cliffs and made world-famous by National Geographic. Most hikers head back down after they visit the lavishly decorated altar rooms with sweeping views of Paro Valley. But Tiger’s Nest is just 1 of 7 spectacular temples on this mountain and there is a glamping camp at the top! Climbing 5,867 vertical feet to the Bumdrak temple, we trekked under trees dancing with lichen, laundry lines of monk robes, and cliffs that only seemed to get taller. Nine kilometers later, we reached the 800-year-old temple, filled with chanting devotees and the Bumdrak Camp, serving up bountiful Bhutanese food, local spirits, and cozy beds. Cuddled up with full bellies and hot water bottles at our feet, we felt like we had reached nirvana.
5. THE MASSEUSE-LESS MASSAGE
“Follow me to your couples massage,” said the hostess of Verana, a glamping retreat above the beaches of Yelapa, Mexico. She showed us to the outdoor spa on the cliffs and a hundred candles were shimmering around the steaming bath and massage tables. Then she said, “The spa is yours until the morning, enjoy.” Giving each other massages and soaking in the aromatic bath, as we watched shooting stars fall around us, sent us swooning for days (or apparently…years).
Make It Your Own: With simple supplies and a romantic setting, you can give guests an unforgettable massage experience…no masseuse required!
6. HELI-GLAMPING
Our helicopter flew into the mist of the twin waterfalls cascading out of Hudson Bay Mountain. We crested over the ridge and could see one wall tent in the distance….this was our private glamping camp perched a mile high. While our guide fired up the grill for a feast, we explored the summit, spotting lakes, glaciers, and countless peaks. We followed the mesquite smoke back to camp, feeling like the king of the hill.
Make It Your Own: Set up one unit on a remote part of your property or a pop-up structure on public land, and have guests arrive by bike, hike, horse, canoe, etc. Adding that element of travel, adventure, and exclusivity is something your guests won’t soon forget.
7. BINCREDIBLE FARMSTAY
As if staying in a grain bin turned into a two-story suite on a working farm isn’t memorable enough, we got to harvest the wheat that surrounded it! After checking in to our accommodation at Alive Sky, the owner invited us to ride on his million-dollar combine. Driving over the sea of wispy wheat and turning it into a billion little grains in a matter of seconds, blew this city girl’s mind.
Make It Your Own: Whether it’s feeding chickens or picking vegetables from the garden, invite guests to be a part of a day in your life on the land.
8. DRIVING COVERED WAGONS BETWEEN CAMPS
Just like the pioneers of the West, we moved through the Teton range by covered wagon…with our hands on the reins! Draft horses hauled our cowboy teepees, Dutch ovens, and gear to a new part of the Targhee National Forest each night and the team at Teton Wagon Train would turn it into a glamping camp. Started by the family who first guided settlers over the pass in 1889, this Wyoming outfitter is keeping the spirit of the West alive with their mobile camp and an invitation for guests to live out the legend.
9. SERENADE ON A SANPAN
Floating in the Zambezi River, there was a sanpan lined with lanterns, sprinkled with flower petals, and a table for two. Dining to the sounds of flowing water, cicadas, baboons, and the occasional hippo was like a safari symphony, then came the actual choir. Approaching in a canoe, were six singers harmonizing in the Tonga language. Even though we didn’t understand the words, the chorus of this song still plays in my head whenever we are by a river under the stars.
Make It Your Own: A floating dining room, even if it’s a canoe with some apps and a bottle of wine, would make a magical addition to an evening, and if you can grace your guests with a singer or guitarist, even better!
10. MEDIEVAL ARTS & GAMES
We’re not into cosplay and haven’t even seen Lord of the Rings, but when presented with the opportunity to learn to broadsword fence, cast pewter, and dance the night away in a tented banquet hall, we gladly dressed the part. We pulled knight and maiden costumes from the Good Knights wardrobe tent and became a part of the merriment of their Medieval Encampment, created out of the Alberta prairie and the owners’ wildest imagination.
11. RELEASING BABY SEA TURTLES
The dawn light peaked through the bamboo of our treehouse at Playa Viva. It was time to wake up and release the sea turtle hatchlings that had been born overnight at their sanctuary. Holding a coconut shell full of baby leatherbacks, we brought them toward the Pacific Ocean. Over a hundred little guys waddled toward the water, trying to catch a wave into their future home. We cheered for them like proud parents and hoped to meet again on their return to this beach someday.
About Mike & Anne Howard
Traveling for the last 11 years across 76 countries, Mike & Anne are travel experts with a glamping speciality. They launched HoneyTrek.com to chronicle their journey, and have since written National Geographic’s bestselling book Ultimate Journeys for Two and the first guide on glamping in North America, Comfortably Wild. Earning a Lowell Thomas Journalism Award for their book and a seat on the American Glamping Association Board of Advisors, they are committed to the success of the glamping industry. Businesses from budding glampgrounds to established tent manufacturers have partnered with the Howards for their skills as photographers, writers, influencers, and consultants to improve their guest experience and create thriving businesses. Visit: HoneyTrek.com/GlampingExperts & Glamping Show Booth #1002 to connect with the Howards!
