Hotels with grand transfers

The Big Six

King Pacific Lodge, Canada

Set in a remote corner of British Columbia, the King Pacific Lodge is accessible by floatplane from the nearby town of Bella Bella, after a two-hour flight from Vancouver on Pacific Coastal Airlines. This floating wilderness lodge is set on the edge of the Great Bear Rainforest – one of the last intact temperate rainforests. Discover the pristine surroundings and wildlife by foot, kayak and boat.

King Pacific Lodge, Princess Royal Island, British Columbia, Canada (001 604 987 5452; kingpacificlodge.com). Doubles from C$9,800 (£6,533) for a four-night itinerary, with full board and transfers from Vancouver.

La Folie Lodge, Laos

To get to La Folie Lodge, guests are first led to the banks of the Mekong River near the small village of Ban Muang. Here, they board a catamaran-style raft for a 20-minute ride downstream. When you arrive at Don Daeng Island, a tractor pulls you and your luggage in a cart across a sandy beach to the lodge proper. There are just 24 colonial-style rooms waiting, spread amid tropical gardens with a main lodge and pool. The Unesco-listed temples of Vat Phou are just across the Mekong.

La Folie Lodge, Dong Daeng, Champasak, Laos (00 856 30 53 47 603; lafolie-laos.com). Doubles start at US$95 (£63), including breakfast and transfers.

Vigilius Mountain Resort, Italy

A cable car is only one way to get to the Vigilius Resort, which perches 4,920ft up in the dramatic peaks of Italy's South Tyrol. The resort's contemporary architecture is a mix of wood, glass and stone, which complements views of the mountain and lower slopes. Rooms are simply furnished and allow the scenery to speak for itself, while a spa makes ample use of the area's enriching spring water.

Vigilius Mountain Resort, Vigiloch Mountain, Lana, South Tyrol, Italy (00 39 0473 556 600; vigilius.it). Doubles start at €270, including breakfast and cable-car tickets.

Shakti 360˚ Leti, India

Majestic views of dramatic peaks accompany guests along the trail that leads to Shakti 360˚ Leti. The only way to reach the resort located 8,000ft up in the Himalayan mountains of India's remote Kumaon region is to complete the final leg by foot – an hour from the nearest road. Serenity is guaranteed along the walk. Four cottages ensure guests can leave the world behind once at the resort.

Shakti 360˚ Leti, Paundhunga, Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, India (00 91 124 456 3899; shaktihimalaya.com). Doubles start at US$3,832 (£2,555) for a three-night package, all inclusive with transfers.

St Regis Resort Deer Valley, United States

A funicular whisks guests 500ft up to this resort on the slopes of one of America's most fashionable ski resorts. Built by celebrated Swiss cable-car maker Gangloff of Berne, it's just one of the attractions of a stay at this grand hotel with 181 rooms and panoramic views of Utah's Wasatch mountain range. Another treat is the instant access to Deer Valley's pistes, which offer myriad outdoor activities.

St Regis Resort Deer Valley, 2300 Deer Valley Drive East, Park City, Utah, US (001 435 940 5700; stregis.com/deervalley). Doubles start at US$319 (£213), room only.

Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman

Guests can opt to paraglide with a resident expert from the 926ft Zighy Mountain on to a crescent-shaped beach that fringes this Six Senses resort. Located on Oman's Musandam Peninsula, it has 82 rooms, suites and villas built to resemble a traditional Omani village, surrounded by sand and swaying palm trees. There's a Six Senses Spa and activities include windsurfing, diving, biking and trekking to keep the pulse racing.

Six Senses Zighy Bay, Dibba, Musandam, Oman (00 968 267 35 555; sixsenses.com). Doubles start at US$648 (£432), room only.