Global Collection of Hotels and Lodges Nearly Doubles to 45 Destinations Spanning Six Continents
Since its launch in January 2015, the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World collection has nearly doubled the number of properties in its impressive collection, increasing its geographic breadth to the Canadian High Arctic, Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, the Seychelles, the mountains of northern Greece and beyond. National Geographic Unique Lodges offer travelers a full-service experience from booking to checkout.
The collection began with 24 charter members and accepted 14 in June 2015 and seven over the past few months, bringing it to 45 lodges — and counting. These extraordinary properties were selected for the outstanding guest service and experiences they offer, and for their leadership in sustainable tourism and commitment to protecting cultural and natural heritage. They must undergo a rigorous vetting process and a site audit to become part of the collection.

Hacienda Volcan & Suites’ Facade. Photo Credit: Mark Callanan/National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World

Photo Courtesy Fregate Island Private, The Seychelles (Private Pool Residence)/National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World
On the Unique Lodges website, travelers can search for lodges by region or by activity — such as birding or kayaking — and find the lowest rates available. They can request a reservation or book a National Geographic Private Expedition that features a Unique Lodge, such as an expedition to Costa Rica that features a stay at Pacuare Lodge and Lapa Rios Eco Lodge, or a trip to the Greek Isles that includes three nights at Kapari Natural Resort on Santorini, with an option to continue your trip at Aristi Mountain Resort and Villas. Or they can create a custom itinerary that incorporates a stay at a Unique Lodge.

Photo courtesy Aristi Mountain Resort and Villas, Greece (Exterior Night)/National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World
Lodges joining the collection include:
- Fregate Island Private, Seychelles
- Churchill Wild – Seal River Heritage Lodge, Canada
- Aristi Mountain Resort and Villas, Greece
- Tiamo Resort, Bahamas
- Reserva do Ibitipoca, Brazil
- Banyan Tree Ringha, China
- Lone Mountain Ranch, Montana, U.S.
With the additions this past year come a wide range of new opportunities for travelers, such as walking safaris with world-class guides at The Bushcamp Company in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, horseback riding and hiking in the shadow of a volcano at Mexico’s Hacienda de San Antonio, and cooking classes with a renowned chef in Alaska’s backcountry at Winterlake Lodge. At all of the properties in the collection, guests who book their stay through the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World online site (www.NationalGeographicLodges.com) are treated to a special, exclusive experience, such as a meeting with the son of a traditional shaman at Pacuare Lodge in Costa Rica, or a private catered dinner in a grove of ancient milkwood trees at South Africa’s Grootbos Private Nature Reserve.

Photo courtesy Winterlake Lodge (Main Lodge Exterior), South-Central Alaska, United States/National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World

Photo courtesy Churchill Wild – Seal River Heritage Lodge, Manitoba, Canada/National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World
The owners and managers of the lodges are some of the world’s leading minds in sustainable tourism. By bringing them together, the collection has created a vibrant forum for the exchange of ideas, innovations, and best practices. At a gathering of members in May 2015, topics of discussion included an air conditioning system run on coconut oil and deep sea water at The Brando in French Polynesia, and an initiative at Sukau Rainforest Lodge in Malaysian Borneo to ward off wild elephants using bees—creating an income generator for local communities while reducing conflicts between humans and wildlife.

Photo courtesy Lone Mountain Ranch, Montana, United States/National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World