Beyond the beach

The Lodge, Verbier: A Swiss Alps Summer holiday like no other

Verbier is best known as a world-class ski destination, but summer in the Swiss Alps is a well-kept secret worth discovering. When the snow melts, the mountains transform into something breathtaking: wildflower meadows replace ski runs, hiking and mountain biking trails open up across the peaks, and the air carries a clarity that is impossible to replicate at lower altitudes.

The Lodge, Verbier, Virgin Limited Edition’s luxury chalet is nestled in the heart of this alpine landscape. Available to rent in its entirety or for individual stays during selected weeks, it offers a private summer retreat whether you're travelling as a large group or as a couple or family looking for something genuinely special. Long summer days stretch late into the evening, with access to some of Europe's most spectacular mountain scenery right on the doorstep. Whether you're looking for serious hiking, high-altitude cycling, or simply the pleasure of exceptional food and wine with a mountain backdrop, a summer stay in Verbier delivers in ways that are hard to overstate.

Best for: Luxury Alpine summer holidays, exclusive chalet hire, couples and family hiking or cycling holidays in Europe

Kasbah Tamadot: Luxury in the heart of the Moroccan mountains

Morocco is one of the world's great travel destinations, and while Marrakech rightly draws visitors from across the globe, the Atlas Mountains offer a side of the country that relatively few travellers take the time to explore. Kasbah Tamadot sits in the foothills at 1,500 metres, surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery and traditional Berber villages that have changed little over centuries. Recognised with three Michelin Hotel Keys, it is a property that more than justifies the journey.

In summer, the altitude keeps temperatures noticeably cooler than the city below, making afternoons by the pool genuinely comfortable and evenings on the terrace a particular pleasure. Guided treks into the surrounding landscape offer some of the most authentic cultural experiences available anywhere in North Africa, while the property itself with its terracotta walls, hand-crafted interiors and sweeping valley views is a destination in its own right. For travellers seeking a luxury Morocco holiday that goes beyond the medina, Kasbah Tamadot is the answer.

Best for: Luxury holidays in Morocco, Atlas Mountains trekking, cultural summer escapes

Mont Rochelle Hotel & Vineyard: Wine country luxury in the Cape Winelands

The Franschhoek Valley in South Africa's Western Cape is one of the world's great wine regions, and one of its most beautiful. Rolling vineyards, mountain backdrops, and a town renowned for world-class restaurants make the Cape Winelands an exceptional destination at any time of year. For travellers from the Northern Hemisphere, there is a particularly useful quirk to factor in: summer at home corresponds to the South African winter, meaning the Cape enjoys cool, crisp, photogenic days, ideal for exploring the estates in comfortable temperatures year-round.

Mont Rochelle sits above the valley on a working wine estate, where its award-winning wines are produced against one of the most dramatic mountain backdrops in the Cape. Combining the intimacy of a boutique hotel with the scale and drama of its surroundings, the property offers estate wine tastings, cycling between farms, and browsing Franschhoek's galleries and boutiques, making for days that feel effortlessly full. This is luxury travel at its most relaxed and rewarding.

Best for: Cape Winelands holidays, South Africa luxury hotels, wine country escapes

Kenya's greatest safari experiences: Mahali Mzuri and Finch Hattons

Kenya is one of the world's great safari destinations, and two of Virgin Limited Edition's properties offer very different and equally extraordinary ways to experience it. For those seeking a summer holiday with genuine drama and wonder at its heart, both make a compelling case.

Mahali Mzuri - named one of Esquire’s Best New Hotels 2026 - sits within its own private conservancy bordering the Maasai Mara reserve, offering privileged access to one of Africa's most iconic landscapes away from the larger crowds of the main park. Twelve beautifully appointed tented suites look out over open savannah, and twice-daily game drives with expert guides ensure the best possible wildlife encounters. For those visiting in July and August, the added spectacle of the Great Migration when approximately 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra move across from Tanzania makes for a summer highlight unlike anything else on earth.

For travellers drawn to a wilder, less-visited side of Kenya, Finch Hattons - voted one of Travel + Leisure's 500 Best Hotels 2025 - in Tsavo West offers a summer escape of equal distinction. Ancient elephant herds roam landscapes shaped by volcanic activity, and the sheer scale and solitude of Tsavo, one of Africa's largest national parks, creates an experience that extends well beyond the game drive. Guided bush walks bring the landscape to life at ground level, nature hikes through the Chyulu Hills reveal dramatic panoramic views, and bird watching in one of East Africa's most biodiverse environments is world-class. For those wanting to understand the landscape more fully, guided cultural visits to local Maasai communities offer fascinating insight into one of Kenya's most iconic and enduring cultures. The camp itself is a beautifully considered retreat: a dedicated spa and wellness space, a natural spring-fed pool, and candlelit dinners beneath open skies.

Whether you choose the Mara or the wilderness of Tsavo or are fortunate enough to experience both, a Kenya safari with Virgin Limited Edition is one of summer's great alternatives, and the kind of experience that stays with you long after you return home.

Best for: Luxury Kenya summer safaris, Maasai Mara tented camps, Tsavo West safaris, bush walking and hiking in Kenya

Plan your Summer escape with Virgin Limited Edition

Whether you're drawn to the Alpine meadows of the Swiss Alps, the ancient landscapes of Morocco, the vineyards of South Africa, or the sweeping savannahs of Kenya, Virgin Limited Edition offers a collection of retreats that redefine what a summer holiday looks like.