Bagan, Myanmar, Myanmar (Burma)

The ruins of ancient Bagan are mesmerising, but exploring them in the heat of the central plains can be hard work, which is why a cool, tranquil, restorative base is essential. Opened only in 2013, the Bagan Lodge – the site’s newest and most stylish boutique property – is just that. Its French designers set out to create the feel of the ‘Golden Age of Travel’, and the result is a triumph. Tropical woods, rattan screens and cream-coloured cotton in the rooms complement a luxurious outdoor pool and the highest standards of service – all within easy range of Bagan’s most famous monuments.