The Five Best Desert Hotels

2. Sossusvlei Mount Lodge, Namibia
The Namib Desert’s attraction lies not just in the natural features, but also the array of wildlife it supports – and at Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge, guests can see the best of both. From the veranda of one of the lodge’s 10 desert villas, there are panoramic views across the horizon. Guides lead safaris into the bush and there are quad bike and 4x4 rides across the towering dunes. With private pools, star-gazing skylights and futuristic glass-encased bathrooms, a stay at Sossusvlei is somewhere between Architectural Digest and a National Geographic documentary.
Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge, Sossusvlei, Namibia (00 27 11 809 4300; www.ccafrica.com). Doubles start at NAD4,410 (£302), full-board including all activities and game drives.

3. Awasi, Chile
As deserts go, the Atacama in Chile is one of the most extraordinary, with an ever-changing scene of mountains, vast flat expanses, salt lakes and hot springs. There are just eight cottages built from adobe, stone, wood and thatch at Awasi in the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama. Just over 30 miles from the Bolivian border in the heart of the driest desert on earth, guests spend their days exploring the majestic surroundings of luminous turquoise lakes, valleys and mountain villages, by foot, bike, 4x4 or on horseback. At night, lighting around Awasi is kept to a minimum, so guests can sit by open fires swathed in alpaca blankets and enjoy the twinkling lightshow above.
Awasi, Tocopilla 4, San Pedro de Atacama, II Región, Chile (00 56 55 85 14 60; www.awasi.com). Doubles start at US$390 (£205), including breakfast and transfers from Calama.

4. Al Maha, UAE
A little over an hour’s drive from the high rises and hectic traffic of Dubai city, an altogether different side of life in the emirate awaits. Al Maha Desert Resort is modelled on a traditional Bedouin camp. But there is nothing temporary about the facilities; each guest-room comes with its own private pool and 24-hour room service. Set in the heart of the oasis from which it takes its name, Al Maha is surrounded by undulating desert, roamed by herds of Arabian oryx. Guests can try their hand at traditional desert pursuits like falconry, visit the Al Ain fortress and museum, or take 4x4 picnic excursions into the jagged tooth-like peaks of the Hajar Mountains.
Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, Al Ain, Dubai, UAE (00 971 4 303 4222; www.al-maha.com). Suites start at US$900 (£474), full board.

5. Pansea Ksar Ghilane, Tunisia
Teetering on the edge of the Erg, a sea of rolling, powdery dunes stretching far into the horizon of the Tunisian Sahara, Ksar Ghilane is part-hotel, part-luxury camp. Its 60 white linen tents cut a surreal picture scattered throughout the lush, green palm groves of an oasis beyond the outpost of Zaafrane, in Tunisia’s sparsely populated southern corner. Framed by the red and brown hues of the landscape beyond, the linen tents that house the guests were inspired by the dwellings of the nomads that roam this part of the Sahara. Inside, each is stylishly decorated with local textiles and rugs. Outside, the camp’s guests get a unique view of life in the desert, with a chance to explore by camel, visit the ancient springs of Atn Rath or return for a session in the traditional hammam.
Pansea Ksar Ghilane, Zaafrane, Tunisia (00 216 75 759 330; www.pansea.com). Tents start at €70 (£54), including breakfast.