The 2011 Romance List
The Serai, India
You’re sitting out on a deck as the sun drops low against the desert landscape and within minutes, the sky turns a bright yellow against the sand. For the next half hour the palette moves from yellow, to orange, red and purple, with some outrageous hues in between. The Serai, near Jaisalmer in Rajasthan is unique in that it’s a luxury desert camp with just 21 large canvas tents set on one hundred acres in the Great Thar Desert. If you love being at one with the wilderness, in peaceful and sumptuous surroundings then this is the type of place that will completely change the way you think of luxurious getaways.
An intimate dining tent serves the finest local delicacies and western offerings, and for that never-to-forget experience guests can arrange to dine anywhere on the estate – a romantic dinner for two under the bright desert stars is not something you get to do every day. For honeymooners and romantics, the luxury tented suites have plunge pools in a private courtyard and the Royal Suite has its own spa, plunge pool, day bed, dining areas and private butler. The service standards are impeccable at the Serai and it’s an ideal base to explore the fabled tenth century desert kingdom of Jaisalmer, including the amazing Jaisalmer Fort with its intricately carved Jain temples.
Review from Joanna Hall [Meet our Romance List Panel]
Why you'll love it
This is a complete departure from the tropical island-type getaway that typifies many ‘romantic’ destinations – instead it’s something of a throwback to the British Raj with gin and tonic instead of pina coladas.