For more-ecofriendly five-star luxury, Australia’s Longitude 131º wilderness camp sits on a dune near Uluru-Kata Tjuta Nation-al Park, offering views of the sunset over Ayers Rock. The white-domed roofs house only 30 guests, who get a taste of Aboriginal lore through tours of the isolated area (single, $1,100; longitude131.com.au).
Bahrain’s new Banyan Tree Desert Spa and Resort houses the biggest spa in the Middle East. Guests can watch gazelles at the nearby wildlife reserve, tour the gulf country’s well-preserved forts or relax in individual villas with private pools (from about $1,500 per night; banyantree.com/Bahrain).
For a brush with celebrity, try Namibia’s Burning Shore Beach Lodge, where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie booked every room to await the birth of their daughter. Nestled between the world’s largest dunes and the Atlantic, the lodge offers dolphin cruises and Jeep rides across the lunar landscape (from $990 per night; burningshore.info). Paparazzi not included.
