Evidence supports the idea that “biege” landscapes can play a role in stress recovery. In an experimental study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, researchers exposed 95 healthy adult men to a stressor and then gave them a 10-minute 360 VR “recovery” scene. The group who watched a desert landscape showed stronger stress recovery, including reductions in cortisol and improvements in blood-pressure markers.

There is also a clear psychological mechanism for why open, vast environments can change how people feel. A multi-study paper by researchers from UC Irvine and other universities found that “awe” triggered by perceptually vast stimuli reduces self-focus (the “small self” effect) and shifts attention toward a wider frame. That maps well onto the desert’s scale and long horizons.

One of the key factors is darkness. In desert regions, nights remain genuinely dark. The absence of light pollution, advertising glow, and urban background has a direct effect on sleep depth and the overall sense of recovery.

Desert retreats gain attention because they meet a practical need: rest from the environment itself. Good desert architecture focuses on shelter, quiet, and thermal comfort, and it lets landscape set the rhythm.

The Most Beautiful Desert Retreats Worldwide

Amangiri (US)
One of the most talked-about retreats in the world. Located in the southern Utah desert, Amangiri sits within a landscape that feels almost Martian in its scale and form. The architecture is embedded into the terrain, while the spa focuses on local materials and therapeutic practices shaped by desert conditions. Many guests note that geography itself, rather than a menu of treatments, becomes the core of the experience.

Zannier Hotels Sonop (Namibia)
Perched dramatically among the rocks of the Namib Desert, Sonop feels both cinematic and deeply remote. Canvas suites, vast skies, and absolute silence define the experience. The retreat embraces isolation as its greatest asset, offering nights shaped by darkness and days ruled by space.

andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge (Namibia)
Located near the iconic dunes of Sossusvlei, this lodge combines contemporary design with one of the most striking desert landscapes on earth. Floor-to-ceiling glass opens the interior to endless sand and sky. The architecture and layout are designed to minimize visual noise. Around ten stone-and-glass villas are positioned along the curve of an escarpment so that each opens directly onto the desert, without unnecessary barriers. Nights here are exceptionally dark. The lodge borders an International Dark Sky Reserve, making stargazing one of the defining experiences of the stay.

Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa (UAE)
Located deep within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Al Maha Resort offers a rare sense of enclosure and stillness close to the city. Private villas, roaming oryx, and uninterrupted dune views create an environment where time slows naturally. Luxury here is expressed through privacy, space, and quiet continuity.

Tierra Atacama (Chile)
Set on the edge of San Pedro de Atacama with views toward the Andes and the Licancabur volcano, Tierra Atacama is designed to feel inseparable from its surroundings. After an approximately US$12 million, year-long renovation, the hotel reopened in April 2025, and it returned with the same strength that made it a reference in the Atacama: days built around high-desert excursions and evenings shaped by quiet recovery in the spa and by the pool. Here, the desert writes the schedule through light, dryness, altitude, and scale.

Scarabeo Camp (Morocco)
For a Morocco “desert night” that stays close to Marrakech, Scarabeo Camp in the stony Agafay Desert delivers the essentials: open horizons, Atlas views, and a simple tented setup that lets the landscape lead. It works especially well for short stays because the logistics stay easy while the atmosphere still feels remote, and the experience is defined by dark skies, firelight, and long, quiet evenings. Scarabeo runs distinct camp formats, including the Stone Camp, with an aesthetic that keeps things clean and grounded.