These new hotels are set in the world’s most punishing deserts but are still beautiful enough to be mistaken for a mirage

Empty, endless expanses of sand, sky, and stars—deserts are some of the last remaining places to experience true wilderness on earth. Their profound spiritual beauty comes from that which also makes them so formidable: The stark severity and engulfing emptiness are enough to challenge even the bravest of adventurers. But a trip to the desert doesn’t always have to be so demanding. A crop of new design-forward hotels is blooming in deserts around the world, not fighting against the harsh environment but instead embracing it.andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, Namib Desert, Namibia

Namibia has shot straight to the top of the bucket list for many intrepid travelers, and there is no shortage of high-design hotels to choose from in the surreal and striking Namib Desert. Recently renovated in a full rebuild, the minimalist interiors of andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge are neatly dressed in natural materials, and decorated with desert minerals and gems like agate and quartz. As the lodge is set in a certified Dark Sky Reserve, glass is another prominent design feature, ensuring the night skies—which are some of the darkest on earth—are on full display. Also on-site, guests will find a state-of-the-art observatory managed by the resident astronomer.Six Senses Shaharut, Negev Desert, Israel

A study in soothing, sun-blasted neutrals and landscaped with native cacti and desert blooms, the 58-room Six Senses Shaharut, slated to open in spring 2020, has been designed to blend in with the desert topography of Negev Desert’s Arava Valley. Amenities will include camel stables, an open-air amphitheater cinema cut from preexisting contours in the terrain, and a Bedouin-tented dining area complete with firepit.Jumeirah Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Jumeirah Al Wathba Desert Resort & Spa takes its inspiration from an earthen desert village and draws a color palette from the encircling Arabian Desert. The relaxing resort sprawls across 20,000 square meters and is adorned with Arabian-style architectural touches like airy courtyards, arabesque art, and water features and pools inspired by the historical falaj, a water irrigation system dating back thousands of years.Posada by the Joshua Tree House, Arizona, United States

Set at the end of a long dirt road within nearly 40 dusty acres of saguaro cactus on the border of a national park, Posada by the Joshua Tree House is a photogenic, sun-doused inn of just five suites purpose-built for the influencer set. The highly curated desert aesthetic is built in layers with organic textiles, hothouse plants, and earthy colors. The vibe extends to the outdoors with a rock canyon pool, a firepit, and a 5,000-square-foot outdoor patio. Each suite can be individually reserved on Airbnb or the entire inn can be booked.Anatara Tozeur Resort, Tozeur, Tunisia

Located on the northern edge of the shimmering Sahara Desert, the oasis city of Tozeur is known for its 14th-century architecture, as well as its gold-hued desert surroundings (parts of the Star Wars franchise were filmed nearby). The soon-to-open Anantara Tozeur Resort will pay homage to its natural backdrop and Tunisia’s cultural artistry with 93 plush, open rooms with views over the palms and dunes; keyhole archways; Moorish fret-cut lighting; an open-air tented restaurant; and a traditional hammam.The Willow House, Texas, United States

The Willow House is a startlingly bold desert retreat made up of 12 stand-alone casitas on over 250 sweeping acres of private land in Texas’ wild, wild west. Designed with uninterrupted mystical views of the Chisos Mountain Range in mind, each window, door, and patio frames the unrelenting, immense landscape. Interiors riff off Georgia O’Keeffe and are dressed in tones that only exist in the surrounding environment, which ensures that this hideaway blends in as much as it stands out.Al Faya Lodge Sharjah, UAE

With a pared-back elemental quality, Al Faya Lodge is a boutique hotel and spa in the Emirate of Sharjah. Lying close to the dusty earth, two single-story concrete buildings that were once a clinic and a grocery store have been reinvented into a modern mirage of weathered steel and sun-bleached cement. Each of the five rooms features mountain views, stargazing skylights, and access to the tranquil saltwater pool and spa.

Source: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/stunning-hotels-in-the-desert