The Final Frontier: When “Elsewhere” Begins Here

17/01/2026

The final frontier: our luxury nature boutique hotel distinguished by HIP Hotels

There comes a moment in the life of every great traveler when novelty fades. One has roamed metropolises, explored distant shores, and tasted the most ostentatious luxuries. And then, one day, you look for something else. No longer “more,” but “better.” No longer the scenery, but the soul.

That is why it is a quest HIP Hotels has honored in its latest story: “Where to go when you’ve already been everywhere.”

We are deeply touched to see instants d’Absolu featured among these rare stopovers, these “final frontiers” of global hospitality. To be included in this selection alongside places like The Kumaon, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, is particularly moving for us. Indeed, like them, we believe that a hotel should not just be a place to stay, but a sacred dialogue between architecture, humanity, and a sovereign nature.

View from inside, in the lounge, at instants d'Absolu eco-lodge overlooking the wild landscapes of Cantal, France. — The outside invited in: where architecture fades away to make room for pure contemplation. Particularly in the Moonwatcher room, which opens onto the old barn staircase.

The Luxury of the Unexplored

For HIP Hotels, the Cantal becomes this “end of the world” destination. Indeed, here, at Lac du Pêcher, “elsewhere” is not measured in miles, but in intensity of presence. Whether in the radical silence of a frosty morning or in the design of a suite with botanical pigments. But also in Daniel’s “gastronomadic” ** cuisine, we work every day to preserve this part of the unexplored.

To be recognized as a destination for those who have “already seen it all” is the greatest reward for us. It validates our vision of the “Luxury of the Essential”—that blend of wild ruggedness and absolute refinement—and its resonance with a new way of inhabiting the world.

Thank you to HIP Hotels for this recognition, and thank you to our pionner Travelers, who sometimes cross continents to come and lose (and find) themselves in the heart of our volcanoes.

The adventure is only just beginning.

** “gastronomadic”: a term taken from the little dream dictionary of “instants d’Absolu”: Refers to cuisine that draws on the spirit of travel and local roots. It celebrates the simplicity of life, embracing the seasons and the produce available. What’s more, it is renewed every evening according to inspiration for a home-cooked dinner — always with an element of surprise.