The top luxury remote retreat in our October 2026 ranking is Amangiri in Canyon Point, Utah, where peak-season rooms were reported at $3,500 a night in 2021. This list covers 10 retreats that take effort to reach, from a desert canyon resort to an igloo hotel on the edge of a Greenland icefjord. We ranked them by remoteness, scale and how much privacy a guest buys.
| Rank | Retreat | Location | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amangiri | Canyon Point, Utah, USA | Desert canyon, 34 suites |
| 2 | North Island | Seychelles | Private island, 11 villas |
| 3 | Longitude 131 | Uluru, Australia | Luxury tents facing Uluru |
| 4 | Fregate Island Private | Seychelles | 16 villas on an island of 2 square kilometers |
| 5 | Fogo Island Inn | Newfoundland, Canada | 29 rooms on a northern shore |
| 6 | Eleven Winterlake Lodge | Alaska, USA | Fly-in lodge on the Iditarod Trail |
| 7 | Petit St. Vincent | The Grenadines, Caribbean | 22 cottages, about 113 acres |
| 8 | Ever Bloomfield | Daintree Coast, Australia | 14-key lodge, boat or helicopter only |
| 9 | Jules’ Undersea Lodge | Key Largo, Florida, USA | Underwater room reached by diving |
| 10 | Hotel Arctic | Ilulissat, Greenland | 87 rooms and five igloos |
1. Amangiri, Canyon Point, Utah, USA
Amangiri opened in 2009 on about 600 acres of Utah desert in a remote corner of southern Utah. A sandstone escarpment pushes straight into the main swimming pool, and the dining room seats 79.
It started with 34 suites, then added Camp Sarika in 2020, ten freestanding tented pavilions for up to 30 guests. Peak-season rates were reported at $3,500 a night in 2021. The ranking leans on that price and on the resort’s distance from anywhere else.
2. North Island, Seychelles
A 2.01 square-kilometer island that was bought in the late 1990s and converted into a resort, North Island opened as a resort in 2003. Ten standard villas and one special villa, Villa North, are all it holds. Prince William and Catherine spent their honeymoon here in May 2011.
Its ownership and brand affiliations have changed over the years, so check the current setup before booking. It earns a high place for its size alone, as the island is about 2 kilometers long.
3. Longitude 131, Uluru, Australia
Baillie Lodges runs this camp of luxury tented pavilions on a dune, each one facing Uluru at the center of the Australian desert. Guests arrive by a flight to Ayers Rock airport and a short transfer.
Older rate cards listed A$1,100 per person per night, twin share. Prices have probably moved, so check before you budget.
4. Fregate Island Private, Seychelles
Part of the Oetker Collection, Fregate covers 2.07 square kilometers and holds 16 villas. The island hosts up to 79 guests at a time.
We placed it just below North Island, which is almost exactly the same size but has an even more exclusive feel with fewer villas.
5. Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland, Canada
Architect Todd Saunders designed the inn for the charity Shorefast, which reinvests profits in the local community. It opened in 2013 with 29 guest rooms, rooftop saunas, a cinema, a library and an art gallery.
The Michelin Guide awarded it three Keys in September 2024. A ferry ride separates it from the mainland, which is the whole point.
6. Eleven Winterlake Lodge, Alaska, USA
The lodge sits at mile 198 of the Iditarod Trail, overlooking Finger Lake. Float planes reach it in summer and ski planes in winter, and no road gets anywhere near.
Eleven Experience bought it from the Dixon family and closed it for renovation, with a reopening listed for 2026. Reports differ on the date, so confirm with Eleven before booking.
7. Petit St. Vincent, The Grenadines, Caribbean
This private island resort has 22 cottages and villas on roughly 113 acres. Hurricane Beryl hit in July 2024, and the resort was reported closed for restoration afterward.
A reopening has been targeted for 2026, but we found no confirmed date. Treat it as a retreat to watch.
8. Ever Bloomfield, Daintree Coast, Australia
The old Bloomfield Lodge has been rebranded as Ever Bloomfield. It sits 180 kilometers north of Cairns on the Daintree Coast and is reachable only by boat or helicopter. Bookings for the 14 keys, which are all inclusive, open to guests from 1 November 2026.
It is the newest entry here, and the only one we have yet to see in operation.
9. Jules’ Undersea Lodge, Key Largo, Florida, USA
You swim in to reach the room at the bottom of a lagoon in the Florida Keys, and the only way out is the same route. It is the most unusual entry on this list.
The operator listed an overnight stay at $1,800 per couple in March 2026, with extra guests at $500 each.
10. Hotel Arctic, Ilulissat, Greenland
This 4-star hotel stands on the edge of the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO site. Five aluminum igloos at the fjord’s edge look out over icebergs and Disko Bay.
The airport is a five-minute shuttle ride away, so it is remote but not hard to reach.
FAQ
What is the best luxury remote retreat in the world?
In our ranking it is Amangiri in Utah, a 600-acre desert resort with 34 suites that opened in 2009.
Which retreats are on private islands?
North Island and Fregate Island Private in the Seychelles, and Petit St. Vincent in the Grenadines.
Which retreats are closed or reopening?
Petit St. Vincent was reported closed after Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Winterlake Lodge has been renovated for a 2026 reopening and Ever Bloomfield opens on 1 November 2026.
Can you stay underwater?
Yes. At Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, guests dive to reach the room. The operator listed an overnight stay at $1,800 per couple in March 2026.
What changed since the previous version?
Amangiri and Longitude 131 stay in the top three. Kokopelli’s Cave, Motu Teta and Garvault were removed because we could not verify their current status, and several new retreats joined.
Are the rates quoted here current?
Rates change with season and demand, so check with the operator. Where a figure is quoted, we give the year it was reported.
How we put this list together
We compared each retreat’s location, number of rooms, access and recent operating status, and gave more weight to places that are harder to reach. Prices are quoted only where an operator or a dated rate card gave one.
Last updated: October 2026.
