Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai

Al Maha lies inside the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, 225 square kilometres of dunes and gravel plain off the Al Ain road, less than an hour from the city and a world away from it. Laid out like a Bedouin encampment among palm groves and green gardens, it is also a refuge for the Arabian oryx, which wander through the camp, along with gazelles. There are 42 standalone villas, each with its own temperature-controlled pool and wooden deck under a canvas-style roof, furnished with handmade Arabian pieces and antiques. They run from one-bedroom Bedouin suites to the three-bedroom Presidential Villa. Stays include meals and desert activities, chosen from falconry, camel treks, horse riding, archery, nature walks and wildlife drives, with a sundowner as the light goes. Al Diwaan serves Arabic and Mediterranean dishes, the Hajar terrace bar looks out over the sand, and dinner can also be set up in the dunes or on your own deck. The spa uses organic products and also treats guests by their private pool. Families are welcome, and at night the silence of the reserve is the point.