The 4 ultimate Winged Boots bucket list experiences for 2023

The Ritz-Carlton, Ras al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert, UAE

In just over one-hour’s drive from Jumeirah Beach, twinkling city views are replaced with sweeping desert dunes and a calm stillness that feels worlds away from Dubai’s hubbub. The Ritz-Carlton’s luxury tented resort in Al Wadi Desert can be found in the neighbouring emirate, Ras Al Khaimah and sits within a nature reserve that boasts 100 private villas each with a personal pool. There is plenty for the entire family to enjoy with pony and camel rides available for all abilities at the equestrian centre alongside archery, biking, stargazing, bird-watching, nature drives and other outdoor pursuits suitable for all generations. There’s also a tranquil spa that offers pioneering wellness treatments and four dining destinations. Experiencing this resort and the emirate’s desert is an excellent way to explore the UAE’s bedouin heritage and make your next trip one to remember.

Himalayas, Bhutan

After a 60-year hiatus, the historic Trans Bhutan Trail has reopened and is welcoming adventurers. It was originally used by Buddhist monks on their pilgrimage as it was the only way to traverse Bhutan back in the 16th century. Now it serves as a gateway to discovering the first carbon-negative country in the world. With more than 18 bridges, over 10,000 steps and hundreds of miles of pathways, the trail is peppered with museums and ancient fortresses while also surrounded by dense forest and lush meadows. At its peak is Tiger’s Nest (pictured) a world-famous monastery embedded into the cliff face. You can be amongst the first in over half a century to experience the Trans Bhutan Trail, helping to preserve and celebrate local culture while also contributing to sustainable livelihoods.

Kanab, Arizona

On the northern edge of Arizona, near the Utah border, you can visit The Wave, an iconic sandstone rock formation within the Coyote Buttes North area of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. Foot traffic is limited in the canyon to help preserve its beauty, so a permit must be obtained prior to visiting. Receiving a permit is extremely exclusive; only 62 are allocated daily with 48 available per day via a lottery that opens on the first of the month, four months in advance. A daily lottery provides the remaining 12 tickets for last-minute hikers. If you are fortunate enough to seek a permit, you can expect a six-mile trek where you’ll discover The Wave amongst its majestic counterparts, The Second Wave, The Alcove, Top Rock Arch, Melody Arch and the Grotto, Sand Cove, and Fatali's Boneyard.

Looking to explore more of the USA? Our luxury holidays to America will have you booking your next trip in no time.

Giraffe Manor, Nairobi

After adopting one giraffe in the 1970s, the then-owners dedicated their lives to the conservation of these long-necked beauties, before it was bought by a neighbour in 2009 who turned the manor into a globally recognised hotel. This boutique hotel protrudes grandly above 12-acres of private grounds located within 140-acres of indigenous forest. With only 12 bedrooms, a stay here guarantees you’ll get to enjoy some majestic one-on-one time with the manor’s colony of endangered Rothschild giraffes. They’ll stick their long necks through the open windows to enjoy breakfast with you, and depending on your room category, may even wake you up in the morning with their doe eyes and long black tongues tapping at the glass. Now that's our kind of alarm clock!

And if Giraffe Manor has you seeking other luxury hotels in Africa, our list of resorts will have you returning back to this spectacular continent time and time again.