Kanha National Park, North & Central India, India

Kipling was one of the first luxury camps created in India, and with its recent colonial-inspired makeover and expert staff, remains the leader of the pack. Although not far the main road, it has a wonderfully remote feel, with black-faced langur monkeys, chital deer and occasionally even a tiger or two wandering through! The low-slung, wood-beamed, red-tiled guest cottages are decked out in sumptuous block-printed fabric and furniture made from locally sourced wood, while beautiful Gond artworks enliven the communal shamiana lounge, where you can relax in the evenings around a log fire (it can get surprisingly chilly after dark during the winter). The Camp’s other main selling point is Tara, the elephant which travel writer Mark Shand (the brother of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall) famously rode around India in the 1989. One of the great pleasures of a stay at Kipling is helping to bathe her in the river – an unforgettable experience!