Desert Nomad

Desert Nomad: California

Kick off your shoes at the front door of this beautiful desert sanctuary and leave them off for the duration of your stay. Here’s a place to unplug your phone and completely relax. The traditional Mediterranean-style house sits on an acre of private land, with a dreamy backdrop of bright blue skies and Joshua trees. Come morning, grab a yoga mat for a stretch at sunrise, then cradle your coffee while overlooking the garden (keep your eyes peeled for the rabbits and chipmunks that come to visit). Days are spent lounging on day beds, cooling off in the deep end of the pool, and gazing at the ever-changing colours of the surrounding mountains. As the sun falls, fire up the barbecue, before taking a post-supper dip in the jacuzzi or breaking out the movie projector for a vintage cinema-style experience in the living room. If you can tear yourself away from your own personal oasis, the spectacular Joshua Tree National Park is less than a ten-minute drive away while Yucca Valley is just a short eleven-minute drive from home.

Home truths:
*The four single beds in the fifth bedroom can be pushed together to make two kings
*You will need a car to stay in this remote location – there's a gravel drive with plenty of parking space at the house
*Due to the remote nature of your home, internet and mobile phone reception can be patchy – make sure you connect to the WiFi when you arrive, or alternatively, unplug for the duration of your stay
*Let your hosts know in advance if you’d like to use the jacuzzi so it can be pre-heated for you
*If you’d like the pool heated there’s an additional cost of $150 per day, but with the long sunny days here, you probably won’t need it
*There's a laptop-friendly workspace
*This area is all about tranquillity, so loud music is not allowed