'ACTIVE GLOBETROTTERS accustomed to sacrificing comfort stars for a physically challenging vacation really no longer have to choose,' says travel expert Annette Loftus. The founder of Aspera Explorations, a company specialising in luxurious off-road holidays, Loftus recognises that her demanding clientele increasingly seek adventure with their indulgences. 'Massages in the Amazon, gourmet meals in the Galapagos - that our explorers can expect all these and even a little action at the most exclusive hotels is becoming very much the norm.' From Chile to China, backpacks and bunk beds are giving way to top-rank resorts committed to catering to every sybaritic whim. Topping Loftus's own wish list is Mahua Kothi, the first wildlife lodge from Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa) and India's Taj Hotels group. Nestled among the Satpura hills of Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh in central India, 12 air-conditioned kutiyas (jungle village huts) are scattered across 16 hectares of pristine grassland. Built in traditional style with tapered, hand-finished walls, exposed beams and floors made of local katni stone, high-thread-count sheets, private courtyards with shaded day beds and hand-blended natural bath products set them far apart from their native neighbours. Dinner under the stars and moonlit dancing by the lake further distinguish the camp from the standard alternatives but it's the 'top-notch, world-class safari experience' brought to India by CC Africa that Loftus expects will be the main attraction. Considered one of India's most scenic spots, the park boasts tropical forests inhabited by tigers, leopards, jackals, jungle cats, wild boars, sloth bears and sambar. CC Africa-trained naturalists lead twice-daily safaris in open 4x4 vehicles equipped with extra seat padding, among other tweaked details, although those who want to unleash their inner Tarzan may opt to ride an elephant instead. Either way, Ayurvedic massages and Taj's renowned butler service greet pampered campers upon their return. Elsewhere in the animal kingdom, Namibia's star has risen meteorically since Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie chose it as their baby's birthplace earlier this year. Lower-profile adventurous types jockey for rooms at the ultra-exclusive, four-villa Ntwala Island Lodge on a remote island at the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe rivers. Polished wood platform beds offer commanding views onto outdoor decks with private pools perched above the dramatic Mambova rapids. And no-one misses the chance to tour the bush in a private boat with a dedicated guide to see the local hippos, elephants and lions. Bird-watchers are rewarded for their patience with pygmy geese and African skimmers among the rare species that frequent the exotic waters, where the fly fishing is rated among the best in the world, particularly in summer. Back on land, nightfall brings indulgences for the palate from one of Africa's finest chefs and a cellar stocked with South African wines. Also in the southern hemisphere, Explora en Atacama-Hotel de Larache - the architecturally sublime, 52-room retreat alongside Licancabur Volcano in Chile's remote Atacama desert - recently launched Travesias, a travel service to take its clientele to equally extraordinary off-the-beaten-track spots in Bolivia and Argentina. The 10-day trip across Bolivia's altiplanos (high plains) region starts at the Larache, which is known for its fine Chilean wines and organic cuisine. After a four-day acclimatisation programme that includes hiking, horse riding and mountain-biking excursions around the local desert, guests are driven in a customised van across the border into Bolivia, where they trek on foot through the altiplanos to Salar de Uyuni, one of the largest and highest salt flats on Earth. Although the treks are strenuous, hot showers and gourmet meals are provided at the tented camp and the high-paying guests are never burdened by the weight of their monogrammed luggage thanks to a team of porters, chefs and support staff. Another remote region attracting attention is northern Myanmar's Kachin State, where an new eco-resort - Malikha Lodge, managed by Ayeyarwaddy Expeditions - provides both luxury and adventure in one of the world's least-visited wildernesses. Among the first permitted to set up in the area, the company organises rafting and trekking trips, including a Maykha river expedition that its founder, Brett Melzer, promises is 'the most extreme offered on the planet'. Fresh coffee brought to the tents every morning and fine wine around campfires under the stars refine the outdoor experience, but the real creature comforts can be found back at the eight delightful bungalows, designed by French architect Jean-Michel Gathy, who made his name at Amanresorts. Three hundred-plus thread-count sheets, feather-down duvets, and deep-soak teak bathtubs are among the details that distinguish the resort as Myanmar's most luxurious yet. North across the Himalayas, the world's top resort brands are busy planting their flags on remote peaks and in fertile valleys, turning the challenging prospect of high-altitude trekking into a comforting reality of high-class adventuring. Amanresorts and Christina Ong's Uma Paro have staked claim to the top end of Bhutan's tourist experience, substituting spa treatments for suffering among well-heeled travellers who previously complained about the kingdom's sub-par accommodation. Meanwhile, Banyan Tree has been developing a sybaritic circuit in China's Yunnan province. At Banyan Tree Lijiang, guests can acclimatise at a still-breathable 2,400 metres above sea level. Under Naxi red clay roofs, 15 rooms and 40 villas impress with bold red lacquer furnishings and plush Tibetan rugs. The views of Jade Dragon Mountain from the heated plunge pools are postcard perfect, but visitors warm up for higher elevations with a trail trek around the mountain's verdant base, taking in shaman rituals and a memorable 'fire-sea jumping' ceremony. Thai therapists ease walk-weary muscles back at the spa. Even the most pampered can head four hours further uphill to the company's sister property, Banyan Tree Ringha, nestled between grazing land and the 800-year-old Ringha Da Bao Si monastery. Tibetan-inspired suites have heated blankets, deep-soak barrel bathtubs built for two and a chic stone stove that might keep some from venturing off the resort's scenic grounds. That would be unfortunate, however, as the six guides, veterans of the perilous ridges of Everest, unanimously recommend the Nomad Alpine Trek in summertime, when herds congregate on grassland carpeted in rhododendrons, poppies and wild lilies. General manager Richard Neo knows just how to reward returning trekkers: 'high tea and a gui shi hot stone massage'. With treats like these, adventure travel has never looked more attractive. Getting There Aspera Explorations leads scheduled and bespoke action-travel holidays around the world from HK$14,000 a person. Visit www.asperaexplorations.com . Mahua Kothi Cathay Pacific flies four times a week between Hong Kong and Mumbai; connect to Nagpur on Jet Airways, then it's a 90-minute drive to the camp. Introductory rate of HK$5,000 a person per night until April 15. Call 91 983 328 9941, or visit www.tajsafaris.com . Ntwala Island Lodge South African Airways flies daily between Hong Kong and Johannesburg. From there, connect on SAA to Victoria Falls, then take a 30-minute charter flight to the Lodge. Doubles from HK$3,150 a person per night. Call 27 11 706 7207, or visit www.islandsinafrica.com . Explora Cathay Pacific flies daily between Hong Kong and Los Angeles. Connect on LAN Airlines to Santiago then connect on LAN to Calama. From there it's a 90-minute drive to the resort. HK$12,000 a person for three nights. Call 56 2 206 6060, or visit www.explora.com . Malikha Lodge Thai Airways flies daily between Hong Kong and Yangon via Bangkok. Air Bagan flies between Yangon and Putao every Tuesday and Friday from October to April. The lodge is a 15-minute drive from Putao airport. From HK$9,335 a person for three nights. Call 95 1 652809, or visit www.easternsafaris.com . Banyan Tree Resorts Dragonair flies daily between Hong Kong and Kunming; connect on China Eastern or China Southern Airlines to Lijiang. Lijiang doubles from HK$3,888 a night; Ringha doubles from HK$3,110 a night. Call 65 6849 5800, or visit www.banyantree.com .