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SCMP Reporter

Nihiwatu,  Indonesia (www.nihiwatu.com)

Location 400km east of Bali.

Getting there Direct flight from Bali to the island of Sumba followed by five-hour overland transfer.

Accommodation Villa Haweri is a luxury private villa dramatically positioned on a small headland.

Special feature Beautiful  waterfalls and  amazing Stone Age villages.

Don't forget Stock up on camera film in Bali.

Top dollar US$950 a night.

Fregate Island, Seychelles (www.fregate.com)

Location Approximately  1,600km south of India,  1,600km east of Africa, and  1,600km north-east of Madagascar.

Getting there Fly to Mahe  International Airport then 20-minute transfer by helicopter and small plane.

Accommodation Each 2,000 sq ft hardwood post and lintel villa is situated to make it feel like a part of the surrounding landscape and to ensure privacy  for guests.

Special feature Chefs create gourmet meals using produce grown hydroponically  at the resort.

Don't forget  To forget about dieting.

Top dollar US$2,500 a night.

Turtle Island, Fiji (www.turtlefiji.com)

Location About two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand.

Getting there Flight to Nadi International Airport then a 30-minute low-level seaplane flight.

Accommodation Hand-woven, seven-metre vaulted ceilings arch over the wheat-coloured walls and mellow wood or terracotta floors. Louvred windows open to the tranquil waters of the Blue Lagoon.

Special feature Chosen as location for 1949 and 1980 Blue Lagoon movies starring Jean Simmons and Brooke Shields respectively.

Don't forget Autograph book.

Top dollar US$2,390 a night.

Royal Palm Hotel, Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands (www.royalpalmgalapagos.com)

Location About  1,040km west of Ecuador.

Getting there International flight to Quito, Ecuador, arriving late afternoon and requiring overnight stay, then three-hour flight to Galapagos including a one-hour stop-over in Guayaquil.  Finally, a 40-minute transfer by boat and van.

Accommodation Open-plan villa with 360-degree views,  fireplace and private garden.

Special feature This is where Charles Darwin gathered information for use in his Origin of the Species.

Don't forget 'I Spy' book of reptiles.

Top dollar Price upon application.

Quilalea, Mozambique (www.quilalea.com)

Location Southeast coast of Africa facing the Indian Ocean.

Getting there International flight to the capital  Maputo,  domestic flight to Pemba  followed by 15-minute flight to Quirimba  and 20-minute boat ride to Quilalea.

Accommodation Each villa is constructed entirely with indigenous materials and handcrafted timber, opening onto a private veranda with panoramic sea views.

Special feature Enjoy a magical sunset sail aboard a traditional sailing dhow.

Don't forget Portugese phrase book.

Top dollar US$375 a person.

The Beach House, Barbuda, Caribbean (www.thebeachhousebarbuda.com)

Location  Almost 40km north of Antigua in the middle of the Caribbean chain.

Getting there Direct flight to Antigua followed by internal flight to Barbuda.

Accommodation All rooms are ocean-facing and feature private  terraces.

Special feature Nearly 200 shipwrecks in crystal-clear water.

Don't forget  Scuba mask and snorkel.

Top dollar US$972 a night.

Morgan's Rock, Nicaragua (www.morgansrock.com)

Location Just north of Guanacaste, Costa Rica,  south from the colonial city of Granada and Nicaragua's capital, Managua.

Getting there International flight to Managua, 1.5-hour flight to Granada followed by 1.5-hour drive.

Accommodation The hardwood bungalows, all made from sustainable resources, face west where the sun  disappears into the Pacific Ocean every evening.

Special feature  Some villas have trees growing through their roofs.

Don't forget Binoculars to view the incredible variety of animals and birds in the surrounding forest.

Top dollar US$265 a night.

Le Tahaa, French Polynesia (www.letahaa.com)

Location 230km west of Tahiti in the Society Islands archipelago.

Getting there Fly to Papeete, capital of Tahiti, then 45-minute flight to Bora Bora followed by 35-minute boat ride.

Accommodation Private patio and  gardens, some  with private swimming pool.

Special feature The aroma from the precious vanilla orchid, which produces 25 tonnes of vanilla  a year.

Don't forget A passion for vanilla.

Top dollar US$1,150 a night.

Baja Camp, Baja California (www.bajacamp.com)

Location The Isle of Espiritu Santo,  California, a nature reserve.

Getting there Flight to Los Angeles, then La Paz, then two-hour boat ride to Isla Espiritu Santo.

Accommodation Spacious tents with double beds complete with sheets, towels, bedside tables and lamps.

Special feature The abundance of fish and shellfish in the Sea of Cortez allows you to go trolling and drift fishing, ensuring a  seafood feast every night.

Don't forget Fishing rod.

Top dollar US$480 a night.

Wilson Island, Australia (www.wilsonisland.com)

Location Part of the Great Barrier Reef off the Queensland Coast.

Getting there Fly to Cairns, then to Gladstone, then a 30-minute helicopter ride to Heron Island followed by 45-minute boat transfer.

Accommodation Six permanent tents with raised timber floors, all with reef and ocean outlooks, are designed for ultimate comfort.

Special feature Experience the wonder of watching green and loggerhead turtles laying their eggs or their baby hatchlings emerging from their nests.

Don't forget Plenty of reading material.

Top dollar US$2,990 a person.



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