stargazing & glamping at the elqui domos

ELQUI VALLEY, CHILE

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this region fell on our radar through a friend that had visited a few years ago and highly recommended us checking it out. we were intrigued by the valley's claim to fame – "world-class stargazing" and thanks to ~320 days of sunshine per year, there isn't a high risk for a cloudy night. after a 2 hour drive from the la serena airport, we arrived at the incredibly cool elqui domos. our time here reminded me a lot of our stay at el cosmico in marfa, texas. as the only astronomic hotel in the southern hemisphere, this spot is extremely unique and special. each dome is equipped with it's own living area, open ceiling [for a night full of stars!], a mini fridge packed with local goodies, and only a few short steps from the chilly pool – perfect for a desert dip. even better? they offer star gazing sessions, yoga classes, guided meditation, horseback riding, massages and much more. plus, the cute village of pisco elqui is only a couple miles away. 

"A SENSE OF A RELIEF AND REST"

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we read that those who have stayed in the elqui valley, say they experienced a better mood and "sense of relief or rest". it might be a bunch of hoop-lah, but i don't care and totally see where these people are coming from. the calm desert air, striking mountains, and millions of stars is certainly one of the most beautiful settings that nature can give us. Experts say the contemplation of a clear and starry sky helps reduce anxiety and stress levels...who doesn't need that? our time here was spent lounging, swimming, playing cards, and snuggling up 4-wide to watch shooting stars. scroll down for the lodging details on this awesome spot. 

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READ MORE: 
W E L C O M E   T O  C H I L E ' S  S P I R I T U A L  D E S E R T:  T H E  E L Q U I  V A L L E Y

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DETAILS:

WHERE: elqui valley, {central} chile
TIME OF YEAR: march - april [perfect weather, i'd recommend beating the heat and coming in the fall!] 
HOW TO GET THERE: 2 hour drive from the la serena airport
PRICE PER NIGHT: ranges from around $180 per night with breakfast included
ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE: astronomic tours, day and nighttime horse rides, reiki, massages & meditation, tarot session. bike and car rental are also available if needed.
 

P I N  F O R  L A T E R:

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Y O U  M I G H T  A L S O  L I K E:

adventure guide: where to glamp in 2017

1.BAJA MEXICO

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PHOTO LOCATION: cuatro cuatros | ensenada, mexico
WHEN WE VISITED: february, 2016
WHAT WE LOVED: the delicious [traditional] mexican breakfast served at the campsite, and their dreamy sunset deck & bar. you can also go whale watching, wine tasting and more that they will help you set up.
OUR TRIP DETAILS: read more about our visit here & here!

2. SLOVENIA

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PHOTO LOCATION: chateau ramsak | maribor, slovenia
WHEN WE VISITED: october, 2016
WHAT WE LOVED: the entire camp sits on a 200 year old winery in a very small village. while you're actually quite close to the city, you feel completely removed and peaceful. we barely left the property!
OUR TRIP DETAILS: read more about our visit here!

3. sahara desert, morocco 

PHOTO LOCATION:  desert luxury camp | merzouga, morocco
WHEN WE VISITED: september, 2016
WHAT WE LOVED: the sunrise camel rides, mint tea sundowners, endless star gazing, their friendly staff and the experience of sleeping in the sahara desert.
OUR TRIP DETAILS: read more about our trip here or check out the morocco travel guide 

4. Marfa, TEXas

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PHOTO LOCATION: el cosmico | marfa, texas
WHEN WE VISITED: november, 2014
WHAT WE LOVED: the fireplace in our teepee and the ease of getting to all the coolness marfa has to offer.
OUR TRIP DETAILS: read more about our trip here! 

5. West YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA 

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PHOTO LOCATION: yellowstone under canvas | west yellowstone, MT  
WHEN WE VISITED: september, 2014
WHAT WE LOVED: the countless mountain activities available – kayaking, fly fishing, horseback riding and more.
OUR TRIP DETAILS: read more about our trip here! 

glamping @ chateau ramšak | maribor, slovenia

THE WINE REGION OF MARIBOR, SLOVENIA:
a big reason we chose to take this trip and love travel in general is the opportunity we get to meet incredible people from around the world and create friendships with them. when we were in lake bled we got to know andrej, the owner of the hostel we were staying at [gh bled]. he was there to relax in the mountains and check in on a few projects. originally we had planned to leave slovenia after ljubljana and head south to bosnia. however, after andrej told us about his new project back in his hometown of maribor, yet another beautiful hilly wine region, we were stoked to add an additional two nights to our slovenian obsession. 

THE EXPERIENCE:
this new glampsite is tucked in the charming wine region of stajerska, with beautifully designed tents, a tree house, wonderful views of the vineyard, an open-air bar, private jacuzzis attached to your deck [!!] and a natural stream running through the grounds. breakfast is included each morning and i found myself craving it after we left – europeans just get how to do breakfast: fresh and healthy fruit, yogurt, bread and museli, charcuterie, cheese... even though you are only 15 minutes from downtown maribor, this place feels like you are in a different time all together and it is by far the most glamorous site we have stayed in.  [price per night: €150-250 | depending on season]

THE WINERY:
the entire campsite sits on a 200 year old winery in a very small village. the chateau boasts its own wine cellar and houses the largest wine press in europe. they offer tours and tastings of course, and interestingly only make white wine [the grape that has traditionally grown here] which helps them stay focused as a small batch winemaker. their wine is shockingly good and the 'tasting' was heavy handed on the pours. it went down a little too easy and i'm already wishing we would have left with a few more bottles. for anyone visiting slovenia soon, this spot is truly a must!

* this stay was part of a collaboration, all opinions are my own. 

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umbria, italy: our camper van at perugia farmhouse

WHY UMBRIA?
our italy plans were pretty un-planned other than wanting to get up into the mountains and of course get to florence/tuscany for the wedding i mentioned here. while in rome we randomly met 3 different italians that were born and raised in umbria, and they all pretty much said we "had to go". umbria is a region i hadn't really heard of, bordering tuscany and often referred to as the country's green heart. the region is known for its medieval hill towns, dense forests and local cuisine – and tends to be less touristy than tuscany. after doing a little research and seeing the perugia farmhouse , we thought this would be a fun and random next stop. 

THE FARMHOUSE:
after a 2.5 hour train from rome, a 20 minute bus ride and a 15 minute walk, we arrived. for a little more privacy we chose the roller caravan [which actually ended up being cheaper than two beds in the dorm room] and ended up loving it so much that we extended our stay by 2 nights. this place is tucked back in the middle of the countryside, so if you don't have a car [like us] it is tough to get around. we made the decision to just not leave the property and enjoy the pool, animals, local winery and food farm with craft beer, hiking trails, communal kitchen and cool people – everyone staying/working there was around our age and really fun. we all cooked dinner together one night which is what i love about the hostel vibes. 

THE REGION:
umbria is broken into smaller cities, and we mainly stayed in perugia. if you're planning a visit, some other cities we didn't have time to explore but heard were cool are: assisi, spoleto, gubbio & todi. 
 

^^ this is our adorable new friend martin

^^ these are weirdly good 

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glamping in the sahara with desert luxury camp

i literally had no idea that the sahara would be on our morocco agenda until a few days before we went. after doing research and talking to other travelers, i quickly realized it was something we could not miss during our visit. there are hundreds of ways to get to and stay in the desert, but after reading up on different experiences we wanted something a little more private and special because, who knows when we'll be back. 

after rental car drama because of the eid holiday i mentioned in this post – we were lucky to catch a ride with a very sweet german couple. we packed our bags into a teeny tiny car and had a hilarious 8+ hour ride. the next two nights were spent at desert luxury camp, an awesome outfitter we are so excited to partner with. 

the DLC experience: 
the camp strongly urged us to stay two nights in the desert to get the full experience, and i'm so happy we did. DLC takes what might be a stressful experience and has it completely dialed in. we arrived in merzouga in the evening and were immediately greeted and picked up in a 4x4 to drive us through the dunes into camp. driving in the dunes is scary at first, but so much fun and to see what these trucks can handle is incredible. 

we settled in with mint tea and snacks before watching a beautiful sunset and later cozied up in our tent which was mind-blowingly nice considering we were in the middle of nowhere. later a delicious moroccan dinner was served al fresco followed by drums and singing around the firepit.

the following day started with a sunrise camel trek, sand boarding, yoga, reading, cards and packing in outdoor activities before the sun and sand were too hot. during that time we hid under the shade and threw back cold [non-alcoholic] drinks. i have to admit, the mid afternoon in the desert is pretty brutal, but the cool mornings and evenings make up for it. what i liked most about DLC was the all-inclusive-ness of it all. a lot of camps charge many hidden fees – but here, everything is included when you arrive. activities, food, drinks ... and the staff is incredibly loving and helpful, the camp is secluded & beautiful and the experience is indescribable.  

a few tips:

• getting there: the famous sand dunes you've probably seen [erg chebbi] are located near the town of merzouga which is about an 8 hour drive from fes or a 10 hour drive from marrakech
  • options: rent a car, hire a driver or take a bus [CTM is your best bet for a pleasant experience]
  • if traveling to or from marrakech, most people stop for one night in ouarzazate 
• price per night: desert excursions range anywhere from $70 to $500 euros per person depending on the experience you want. DLC is about $220 euros per person with all activities and food included. 
   

^^ my first ever monkeys in the wild sighting! 

my gear: sports bra,  tshirt, leggings, trousers
kyle's gear: tshirt | shorts | pants

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