Why travellers are digging a stay in a cave

Put any thoughts of huddling around a fire from your mind. Caves, castles and unearthed treasures find themselves transformed into decadent luxury and five-star seclusion in these underground sanctuaries. It’s these kind of places where stories of the past are weaved into sumptuous, unforgettable atmospheres that are perfect for anyone dreaming of a truly unique escape. Who knows? You might even find a painting on the wall…

Sextantio Albergo Diffuso – Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Italy

Head beneath the surface to revel in the majestic Medieval stone interiors of the Sextantio Albergo Diffuso, a lovingly restored echo of a bygone Italian age found high in the Apennines. The hushed romantic intimacy delivers a richly authentic experience, nestled within the rustic charms of rolling Abruzzo hills where tiled roofs peek over treetops and the sound of bells ring around the hilltops.

Perivolas Hotel – Oia, Greece

Three hundred year old caves aren’t usually this luxurious! Carved into cliffs overlooking the south Aegean Sea, the sumptuous Santorinian caves of the Perivolas Hotel play host to twenty beautifully appointed houses, each furnished with the very best in high class comforts and amenities – you’ll enjoy saunas, steam baths, infinity pools and every kind of elegant Mediterranean simplicity (as long as you can tear yourself away from the view). Cavemen surely never had it this good.

Museum Hotel – Uchisar, Turkey

Cappadocia’s past and present thread together in the inviting stone rooms of Turkey’s only Relais & Chateau member. The exquisite ruins and restorations that make up the Museum Hotel showcase historical artifacts and priceless bounties, and you delve into a living museum for a stay that’ll feel like slipping out of time and into the sublime historical vision of the hotel’s founder. Stretching valley views set the scene, and even the cuisine unearths rare delights from forgotten ages.

The Lookout Underground Motel – Coober Pedy, Australia

The town of Coober Pedy is known for its underground dwellings, built to help residents escape the heat of the South Australian sun. The Lookout Cave Underground Motel isn’t solely about getting out of the sun, though watching the fiery, dreamlike sunsets from the roof terrace is definitely not something to miss! When you head inside, you can revel in rich red limestone walls intricately carved to evoke Aboriginal design, and better yet it’ll always be the perfect temperature.

Hotel les Hautes Roches – Rochecorbon, France

There’s already enough proof that rock walls don’t necessarily mean Stone Age design, but the Hotel les Hautes Roches knocks the luxury factor up another notch. Rooms carved from the imposing tufa cliffs provide stunning views down to the lazy waters of the Loire, giving you the feeling that you’re truly inhabiting the landscape. Classic French design meshes with a hint of the quirky to create an unforgettable and totally unique place to stay, and that glorious French countryside is just waiting to be explored.

Panoramic Cave Hotel – Goreme, Turkey

Formed over millions of years by intricate geological processes, fairy chimneys don’t just sound magical – they look the part too. Now you can stay in one of these enchanting rock formations, as well as rooms hewn from the very rock faces themselves. With classically Turkish design inside and views across the rugged, other-worldly landscape outside, Panoramic Cave Hotel is one place where comfort and spectacle come together in spectacular harmony.