Chesa Marchetta—Sils Maria, Switzerland
In 2026, Artfarm—the hospitality company behind Mount St. restaurant in London, the Fife Arms Hotel in Scotland, amongst others—returns to its Swiss roots. Founders Iwan and Manuela Wirth, both Swiss, have been toiling away for four years on renovating Chesa Marchetta, a 16th-century guesthouse located in Sils Maria, considered the cultural heart of the Engadin Valley. There are thirteen guest rooms as well as a three-bedroom adjoining house, and an intimate, seasonally-driven restaurant helmed by Davide Degiovanni, formerly of 5 Hertford Street and Gordon Ramsay’s Union Street Café. Consider this a deeply chic, intimate antidote to the Engadin’s overabundance of palatial, over-the-top luxury hotels.
Nkasa Linyanti—Nkasa Rupara National Park, Namibia
There aren’t many corners of southern Africa left that feel untapped by the safari industry, but Natural Selection is bringing a new, conservation-forward jewel to Nkasa Rupara National Park, located in Namibia’s panhandle, the Caprivi Strip. Unlike the country’s signature desert and coastal environments, this 74,000-acre wetland is a lush, reed lined labyrinth of seasonal floods, where elephants, hippos, buffalo and over 430 bird species traverse ancient migratory paths. Through Natural Selection’s Conservation, Community and Research fees, guests of Nkasa Linyanti support initiatives such as the BioBoundary Project, which minimizes human-elephant conflict. As with all of Natural Selection’s stylish, perfectly-positioned camps, Nkasa Linyanti sets a stage where adventure, learning and stewardship intertwine.
Singita Elela—Okavango Delta, Botswana
Big safari news: luxury standard-bearer Singita is (finally) entering Botswana. And not just anywhere, but on the plum NH26 Concession, spanning over 400,000 acres of pristine wilderness. Meaning “to flow” in Setswana, Elela is designed as a dynamic reflection of the natural rhythms that define the iconic Okavango Delta: circular, stilted camps immerse guests in flooded grasslands, offering unparalleled wildlife encounters, perhaps even from your bedroom. There are eight camps in total, from intimate one-bedroom retreats to a four-bedroom setup that’s a perfect multigenerational haven.
La Réserve Seychelles—Praslin, Seychelles
This is not your typical tropical all-inclusive. Tucked away on the northeastern corner of Praslin, the second largest island in the Seychelles, this new resort from La Réserve promises to bring its French-tinged take on luxury to this tropical destination. Featuring just six private villas nestled along a secluded white sand beach and immersed in the islands’ remarkable biodiversity, each villa will span approximately 8,000 square feet with four to six bedrooms each, complete with full kitchens, private pools and direct beach access. Guests are treated to a fully staffed, all-inclusive experience with dedicated a Maître de Maison orchestrating every detail, private chefs personalizing daily menus, and discreet housekeeping that slips in and out essentially unnoticed.
