Encounter the great outdoors from distinctive dwellings that put a new twist on camping trips

By Becca Bergman and J. Gabriel Boylan

Sherman's Travel magazine

In the bright, brilliant Andalusian countryside of southern Spain lies the Hoopoe Yurt Hotel (www.yurthotel.com), a tranquil oasis whose stillness is broken only by the distant clang of sheep and goat bells. The hotel consists of just five yurts - circular, weatherproof structures with wooden floors and lattice framework - each set in its own meadow. Yurts originated in Central Asia and the decor of each (including Mongolian and Afghani themes) pays tribute. All are airy, light, and welcoming, with hammocks draped from giant cork trees nearby for outdoor lounging. Guests gather around a natural swimming pool by day and under a lantern-lit pergola at night for hot tapas or a three-course dinner. Chefs cull ingredients for meals from the kitchen garden and local farms. In keeping with a low-impact lifestyle, solar power fuels the entire operation, including the hot showers in private bathrooms and the electrical sockets and overhead lights in the yurts. Close by, guests can find horseback riding, ancient caves with Paleolithic paintings, and colorful villages. Relaxation is the central theme on these camping trips, and bird-watching (for the camp's namesake, among others) is the sport of choice.