We think 2014 is the Year of Unexpected Luxury. Innovative ideas, remote Indian bush camps, resorts on wild Omani hilltops, Tahitian islands - all wait out there for the luxe explorer.  Some say the world is getting smaller luxury-wise, we think it is getting wilder and wider and more exciting all the time. Here's are top three wild destinations that should be on your wish list in the fourteenth year of a new century.

The Mountain Retreat 

  Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman

Opening in the first quarter 2014. Alila Jabal Akhdar will mix rugged landscape with Alila luxury; a combustible combination.  A hot new destination? This one's scorching.  Located in the central section of the Al Hajar Mountains, overlooking a dramatic gorge the resort is at the top of our wish list. Jabal Akhdar means 'The Green Mountain' in Arabic, and the resort sits in the wild heart of the mountains range, in one of Oman's most spectacular areas. Set 2000 metres above sea level, away from the desert heat, Alila Jabal Akhdar   perches like a hunting falcon on the edge of the abyss. All around the magnificent landscape glows pink and gold. This is an area of untouched natural beauty and Alila are the first to explore. Read More

Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman

Nomadic Luxury

The Ultimate Travelling Camp

Nomadic luxury -who can resist? Read More

The Ultimate Travelling Camp

The Wild One

The Brando

Not so much the Wild Bunch, as the Wild One Marlon Brando lived life to the rhythm of his own eccentric beat. He retreated from the world to a private Tahitian paradise -now years later you can too. Opening this year, 2014. This enterprise on Marlon's private island of Tetiaroa, a 12-islet atoll 30 miles northeast of Tahiti has been talked about since 2005 and now (hopefully) it's here... Read More

Brando Island, Tahiti

 

Inspiration We'd like to thank our friends at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) held in Cannes in December for brokering meetings with some of these exciting new ventures. ILTM holds a series of luxury shows around the world: ILTM Asia, ILTM Americas, ILTM Japan, ILTM Africa and ILTM Spa. www.iltm.com/

Hilary Doling 9/1/14