If you thought camping was only for those with a gas stove, granola bars and a desire to  sleep amongst grubs on the ground, then think again.  “Glamping” –a uniquely Australian term combining “glamour” and “camping” – well describes a more comfort-focused approach to sleeping under canvas.

Surely the most well-known place for glamping is in the Australian Outback at Longitude 131, overlooking Ayers Rock in the center of the red desert.  Described as a “luxury wilderness camp,” Longitude 131 features 15 white tents in a line along the desert, each with a King bed, air conditioning, Bose sound system with iPod dock, private bathroom, bathrobes and evening turn-down service.  This is camping like you’ve never experienced (unless you’ve been on a luxury tented safari excursion in Africa.)

We’re not the only ones in love with Longitude 131.  The Qantas Australian Tourism Awards recently honored Longitude 131 as the winner in its Unique Accommodations category.  These awards are presented once per year to outstanding properties that typify the best in their category.  Longitude 131 sits next to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, with its well known Ayers Rock and the Olgas, massive red rock formations that attract droves of tourists to this remote desert outpost.  Rates at the lodge include all meals and a full touring program that separates you from the tourist crowds, delving deeper into the significance of the region and the beauty of the austere landscape.  Fine meals round out the experience, with the opportunity to dine under the massive Outback sky under a canopy of stars. And at the end of the day, you tuck into comfortable bed in your fully-appointed tent. No sleeping bags necessary.

One of the many unique and exhilarating experiences that Down Under Endeavours has to offer to its clients, Longitude 131 is the pinnacle of “glamping” in a region that is historically and geologically significant.

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