the nomad lab

Fancy finding a modern Swiss chalet in the middle of Japan. 

Kimamaya Boutique Hotel is a Design Hotel, located by Niseko, one of Japan’s fantastic ski resorts. The petite 9-room hotel combines a little bit of authentic Hokkaido farm architecture with a little bit of sleek Scandinavian style. 

Get Zen.

I would just love to come home from a long day on the slopes and step into the warmth of this chalet. Alpine-style rooms with supremely comfortable beds to sink into, rain showers in charcoal slate bathrooms, and three (!) different types of pillows to choose from. 

I also have a serious thing for lofts. Climb a ladder up to my bedroom? Count me in. (Although I suppose I should probably factor in the fact that my muscles would be insanely sore after a long day of snowboarding, and would hate me for forcing myself up a ladder to get into bed.)

The simplicity and warmth of the whole lodge makes it the perfect cozy escape from the chilly snow-laden slopes outdoors. The lodge also makes a great setting for other seasons, when travelers come to go hiking and enjoy the outdoors. 

Check out more here:

Kimamaya Boutique Hotel

(Photos from Kimamaya Boutique Hotel)

Chole Mjini Treehouse Lodge.

I love this eco-lodge hideaway in Tanzania. 

Built on Chole Island, this lodge stays true to its environmental ideology while maintaining its own individual character and design.

Chole Mjini focuses on being green, and on contributing heavily to the local community.

The Chole Mjini Conservation & Development Company has actually built a primary school and an adult education center for the island, and they donate a portion of each night of your lodging costs to supporting the community. Definitely take the opportunity to tour the local village during your stay here.

While you shouldn’t expect certain modern conveniences here (like electricity and flushing toilets), the experience is well worth it.

You’ll stay in an open rustic treehouse, surrounded by wildlife and breathtaking scenery. I strongly recommend checking out the website and reading each treehouse description - they’re personally written by the man who built each of them!

There’s a wealth of water activities, which include snorkeling, swimming with whale sharks and jellyfish, watching turtles hatch, and sunset sailing. The food is, of course, freshly caught and locally grown. Meals are served in the dining room, an open-air room surrounded by fig tree roots and crumbling dirt walls, or with a candle-lit service right on the water.

This sounds like the perfect place to get away from it all. And you know, be one with nature, and all that. 

I probably don’t need to say it, but don’t expect internet or cellphone service here either. Take it as a blessing.

Visit the website here: Chole Mjini Lodge

(Photos from Afrika Afrika Safaris)

Cave Lodge.

A mountain lodge located just next to Tham Lod, a famous cave, this lodge offers tours all over the area: kayaking, cave exploring, trekking, and meeting the friendly hill tribe villages nearby.

The bungalows were designed based on traditional hillside villages, and have an open, welcoming feel with lots of natural materials. Hammocks, swings, and lots of wildlife to see!

See more details here: Cave Lodge 

And more photos and activities below!

Pang Mapha Caves.

The hundreds of caves in the area are the perfect place to get your spelunking on. Caverns, bamboo rafting, prehistoric coffins, etc. Tours include lots of adventures in caving, abseiling, trekking, and kayaking. 

Hillside Tribes.

Learn to weave from the locals. Take a Thai cooking class. Trek to nearby Karen or Lahu villages to meet the local tribes. 

(All photos from Cave Lodge)