AL MAHA DESERT RESORT & SPA
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Nestled in a date-palm oasis deep amid the rolling dunes of the seemingly endless Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (225 square kilometers, in fact), Al Maha is a luxe vision of a Bedouin camp. Its 42 canvas-covered suites are worthy of a sheik, with four-poster beds, chaise longues, hand-knotted carpets, and antique tabletops trimmed in brass. Each also has its own private infinity pool and sundeck, the perfect perch from which to spot wildlife such as gazelles, desert foxes, and Arabian oryx; in-room binoculars are a thoughtful touch, as are the drawing supplies—easel, paper, and pastels—for those who want to sketch the Lawrence of Arabia scenery. Activities include camel riding, Bedouin-style barbecues, 4×4 desert safaris, and falconry demonstrations, though guests could just as easily stick close to the comforts of the camp, sampling the spa’s rasoul mud baths, nibbling on meze in the dining pavilion, or just staring off across the sand to the distant outline of the Hajar mountains.

971-4/832-9900; al-maha.com; From US$1,880