Whether your idea of the best Eid escapes involves sunrise yoga in the foothills of the Himalayas, drifting barefoot across a Maldivian atoll or exploring one of the most remote corners of Indonesia, this year’s most memorable getaways are anything but ordinary. From design-led riads and storied European hideaways to wilderness lodges and private island retreats, these journeys offer 10 inspiring ways to celebrate the holiday.
Ananda in the Himalayas, India
Set high above the Ganges Valley in the foothills of the Himalayas, Ananda in the Himalayas has been drawing travellers in search of genuine restoration for more than two decades. Spread across 100 acres of gardens and forest, this retreat combines Ayurveda, yoga and meditation with highly personalised wellness programmes, each designed for a minimum stay of five nights and tailored to goals ranging from stress management to fertility support. Between treatments, guests can join guided meditations, healing talks, nature walks and cooking classes, or venture further afield for white-water rafting on the Ganges and wildlife safari at the nearby Rajaji National Park. Back in your suite, evenings end with an aromatic bath, panoramic valley views and a four-poster bed dressed in crisp cotton.
Quick summary
- 📍 Location: Narendra Nagar, Uttarakhand, India
- ⭐ Style: Wellness retreat above the Ganges Valley
- 🏨 Setting: 100 acres of gardens and Himalayan forest
- 💆 Wellness: Five-night minimum personalised programmes
- ✨ Ideal for: Genuine restoration and reflective travellers
anandaspa.com, @anandainthehimalayas
Jnane Tamsna, Morocco
Set within a nine-acre garden in Marrakech’s Palmeraie, Jnane Tamsna is a beautifully authentic hideaway. Five interconnected riads house guests across 24 rooms, no two the same, each with its own terrace and layered with textiles, ceramics, books and collected art in the manner of a very well-travelled home. Mornings begin with breakfast in the garden among the roses, days extend into the souks and tanneries, a cookery class in the outdoor kitchen, or simply a long afternoon by one of the five pools. Families are warmly welcomed, with camel rides through the date palms, Arabic calligraphy and magic lessons for younger guests. By evening, a changing menu of Moroccan dishes is served beneath the trees.
Quick summary
- 📍 Location: Palmeraie, Marrakech, Morocco
- ⭐ Style: Five interconnected riads, lived-in and layered
- 🏨 Accommodation: 24 individually designed rooms, each with a terrace
- 🍽 Highlight: Five pools, nine-acre garden and a changing nightly menu
- ✨ Ideal for: Families and design-led travellers seeking warmth and character
Six Senses Kanuhura, Maldives
If paradise had an address, it might well be Six Senses Kanuhura. Reached by a 40-minute seaplane from Malé, this barefoot escape unfolds across three private islands in the Lhaviyani Atoll, where bicycles with personalised wooden name tags await on arrival and there is little reason to wear shoes for the rest of your stay. A sense of bliss settles in almost immediately. One-bedroom overwater villas are ideal for couples, while two- and three-bedroom beach villas with private pools opening directly onto the sand are made for families and groups. Time is split between snorkelling over coral gardens, private island picnics and sunset dolphin cruises, with long breakfasts at The Market, a stop at the ice cream shack and dinners across seven excellent restaurants. The spa is a destination in itself, with yoga, sound healing, biohacking and holistic treatments, while sustainability is woven into every aspect of the resort, from coral rehabilitation to the island’s hydroponic garden. Visit during the quieter shoulder season and you may find the beaches emptier, the service even more personal, and the reef at its most vibrant.
Quick summary
- 📍 Location: Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives (40-minute seaplane from Malé)
- ⭐ Style: Barefoot escape across three private islands
- 🏨 Accommodation: Overwater and beach villas, the latter with private pools
- 🍽 Highlight: Seven restaurants and a destination spa with sound healing and yoga
- ✨ Ideal for: Couples, families and groups seeking variety and seclusion
sixsenses.com/kanuhura, @sixsenseskanuhura
Voaara, Madagascar
On the north-west coast of Sainte-Marie Island, where coconut palms, hibiscus and ylang-ylang fringe the shore and humpback whales pass just offshore in season, Voaara feels like one of the Indian Ocean’s best-kept secrets. Set along 1.5 kilometres of untouched white sand, this rustic hideaway has just seven bungalows and a three-bedroom villa, each furnished with African art and locally crafted pieces. Spend your time snorkelling in clear turquoise water, diving, deep-sea fishing or simply stretching out on the beach as zebu wander past. Dining ranges from Mediterranean and Asian dishes at La Plage to asado-style grilling by the sea, while the Bird’s Nest offers a romantic setting for dinner with a side of stargazing. Entirely solar powered and staffed predominantly by locals, Voaara proves that barefoot luxury and meaningful community impact can coexist beautifully.
Quick summary
- 📍 Location: Sainte-Marie Island, north-west coast, Madagascar
- ⭐ Style: Rustic barefoot hideaway with strong community ties
- 🏨 Accommodation: Seven bungalows and a three-bedroom villa
- 🍽 Highlight: Mediterranean and Asian dishes, asado grilling and stargazing dinners
- ✨ Ideal for: Snorkelling, diving and slow, meaningful travel
Belmond Hotel Splendido, Portofino, Italy
If your idea of an Eid escape involves waking to views of Portofino’s pastel harbour and embracing a little Italian dolce vita, Belmond Hotel Splendido delivers the fantasy in full. Perched high above the bay in a former 16th-century monastery, this storied retreat has been synonymous with Riviera glamour since the 1950s. Rooms and suites pair original frescoes with light pastels and the understated elegance of the Italian Riviera. Spend the day swimming in the heated saltwater pool, exploring the Ligurian coast by motorboat or picnicking among the olive groves and vineyards of nearby Mount Portofino. Back at the hotel, the Dior Spa, flower-filled terraces and one of Italy’s most scenic tennis courts provide plenty of reasons to linger. Dinner on the terrace, with Portofino twinkling below, is worth dressing up for.
Quick summary
- 📍 Location: Portofino, Italian Riviera, Italy
- ⭐ Style: Storied 16th-century monastery, Riviera icon since the 1950s
- 🏨 Accommodation: Rooms and suites with original frescoes and pastel palettes
- 🍽 Highlight: Heated saltwater pool, Dior Spa, terrace dining over the bay
- ✨ Ideal for: Couples and travellers chasing dolce vita
belmond.com/hotel-splendido, @belmondhotelsplendido
Kurulu Bay, Sri Lanka
On the still waters of Koggala Lake, just inland from Ahangama, Kurulu Bay offers a more peaceful side of Sri Lanka’s south coast. Built within the grounds of the owner’s private residence, the 14 standalone villas and treehouses were designed in harmony with the surrounding landscape, allowing the architecture to sit naturally among the trees and maintain an uninterrupted connection to the lake and jungle beyond. Interiors are pared back and calming, with oversized rain showers and floor-to-ceiling windows that blur the line between indoors and out. Days unfold between yoga by the lake, Ayurvedic treatments and boat trips to nearby temples and islands. The restaurant serves refined Sri Lankan cooking, from delicate egg hoppers to fragrant prawn curry and the day’s freshest catch, while the warm, intuitive service and strong ties to the local community give the entire place a rare sense of soul.
Quick summary
- 📍 Location: Koggala Lake, near Ahangama, Sri Lanka
- ⭐ Style: Quiet lakeside retreat within a private estate
- 🏨 Accommodation: 14 standalone villas and treehouses with rain showers
- 🍽 Highlight: Refined Sri Lankan cooking, lake yoga and Ayurvedic treatments
- ✨ Ideal for: A slower, soulful side of Sri Lanka
Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Rwanda
For travellers seeking a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience, Singita Kwitonda Lodge offers an unforgettable way to spend Eid. Set right on the edge of Volcanoes National Park, the lodge places mountain gorilla trekking within easy reach, an experience that is as moving and introspective as it is thrilling. Guided hikes through bamboo forests and high-altitude meadows lead to intimate encounters with these remarkable animals, before guests return to a lodge built from volcanic stone, handmade brick and woven details crafted by local artisans. The 11 suites are vast and cocooning, each with a heated plunge pool, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, in-suite wellness treatments and sweeping views of the Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura volcanoes. Families and groups are equally well catered to with spacious two-bedroom suites and the exclusive-use four-bedroom Kataza House. Back from the forest, farm-to-table meals inspired by the lodge’s own garden, wine tastings and yoga provide time to reflect on the day’s encounters.
Quick summary
- 📍 Location: Edge of Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
- ⭐ Style: Wilderness lodge of volcanic stone, brick and woven detail
- 🏨 Accommodation: 11 vast suites with heated plunge pools and twin fireplaces
- 🦍 Highlight: Mountain gorilla trekking and farm-to-table dining
- ✨ Ideal for: Once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters, families and groups
Sanubari Sumba Island, Indonesia
Just an hour east of Bali, the island of Sumba feels like a world apart, where wild horses roam empty beaches and ancient Marapu traditions continue much as they have for centuries. Set within a 100-hectare reserve on the ancestral lands of the Marapu people, Sanubari is made for travellers who prefer their island escapes with substance. Days might begin with a surf session on uncrowded world-class breaks, followed by paddleboarding through freshwater rivers, horseback rides at sunset or visits to nearby villages and megalithic sites. The beachfront villas are understated and elegant, allowing the landscape to take centre stage, while the restaurant serves line-caught seafood and produce sourced from the resort’s own gardens and neighbouring farms. Come here with a stack of books, and expect to return home with a new perspective.
Quick summary
- 📍 Location: Sumba, Indonesia (one hour east of Bali)
- ⭐ Style: Off-the-beaten-path retreat within a 100-hectare reserve
- 🏨 Accommodation: Understated beachfront villas on Marapu ancestral lands
- 🏄 Highlight: World-class surf, paddleboarding and sunset horseback rides
- ✨ Ideal for: Travellers seeking depth, substance and unspoilt wilderness
Naturhotel Forsthofgut, Austria
For those who find restoration in mountain air and long hours spent outdoors, Naturhotel Forsthofgut offers a refreshing alternative to the usual beach escape. Set at the foot of the Leogang mountains, this family-run retreat has evolved from a traditional farmhouse into one of Austria’s most celebrated nature-led hotels. Mornings might begin on a forest trail or mountain bike route, followed by a swim in the spring-fed bathing lake and an afternoon in the 5,700-square-metre waldSPA, where saunas, relaxation rooms and an infinity pool are tucked among the trees. Families are equally well looked after, with riding stables, water slides and endless alpine space to explore. In the evening, the kitchen showcases the best of the region, from smoked trout to butter and cheeses sourced from nearby farms.
Quick summary
- 📍 Location: Leogang, Austria
- ⭐ Style: Family-run, nature-led mountain hotel
- 🏨 Accommodation: Alpine rooms within an evolved traditional farmhouse
- 🌲 Highlight: 5,700-square-metre waldSPA, spring-fed bathing lake, forest trails
- ✨ Ideal for: Active families and travellers who restore in mountain air
forsthofgut.at, @naturhotelforsthofgut
Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea is one of the world’s great underwater environments, long protected by its remoteness and only recently opened to travellers. Scattered across a remote archipelago of coral-fringed islands, Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve offers a magical introduction to this extraordinary coastline. The 65 beach and overwater villas are inspired by seashells, with private pools, telescopes and interiors that echo the colours and textures of the surrounding landscape. Beneath the surface, vibrant coral gardens invite days of snorkelling, diving, sailing and kayaking, while the sea-facing Neyrah Spa draws on regional ingredients such as oud and moringa oil. As night falls, the stars take over, just as they once guided the nomadic tribes who crossed these waters long before the first guests arrived.
Quick summary
- 📍 Location: Blue Hole Archipelago, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
- ⭐ Style: Shell-inspired villas across a remote coral archipelago
- 🏨 Accommodation: 65 beach and overwater villas with private pools and telescopes
- 🌊 Highlight: Neyrah Spa with oud and moringa, plus reef-side diving and stargazing
- ✨ Ideal for: Privacy-seeking travellers drawn to virgin coastlines
