Surrounded by luscious natural beauty, Six Senses is the only resort in Laamu Atoll, a marvellous environment for watersports, sea exploration and the ideal family holiday. Six Senses blends excitement with comfort, intimacy with communal areas, and a variety of activities to please all members of the family.
There’s a subtle art to the escape. Some believe it is a matter of dropping everything and diving into forgetfulness. Eager to disconnect from modern life we sometimes disengage. Cheval Blanc have a different approach for the Maldives: to leave behind all burdens, but to enjoy the finest things in life.
Some places make very lasting impressions. Gili Lankanfushi, my favourite resort in the Maldives, is such a place. Its long jetties stretch over the lagoon passages to the endless beauty of the ocean blue. All the worries and the burdens of modern life slipped off my shoulders and I regained some of the innocence of Eden.
Joali is a work of art in unison with nature perfect for a romantic getaway. Amidst the aquamarine, the Raa Atoll in Northern Maldives appears as a droplet, with a vanilla glow surrounding the lush foliage. As the sea plane kisses the shore, the meandering strings of 73 villas of Joali emerge. Many pleasant joys await, starting with a magical welcome from your personal butler – ‘Jadugar’
Soneva Fushi is set on the large idyllic Baa Atoll island archipelago, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Sheltered by a dense forest, this Robinson Crusoe hideaway has its own house reef, frequented by manta rays, turtles and Nemo. Exciting explorations to witness breathtaking views and marine diversity with myriad activities in crystal waters make Fushi an unforgettable experience.
Picture a place so remote and isolated, you have to fly in by helicopter, over breathtaking national parks and beyond. It could very well be the opening act of an award winning movie, one where you are about to enter a lost world.
There aren’t many places where the charm of a bygone age survives, authentic and unadulterated. Fewer still have carried this tradition uninterrupted through the tumultuous 20th century. Union Øye Hotel opened its doors in 1891 and has since remained one of the finest hotels in Europe.
Fifteen tents, created by resort design genius Bill Bensley, dot a river valley in the Cardamon National Park. These wonderful structures are perched over flowing water and decorated with painstaking attention to detail. It is like being out on an expedition with a wild cavalcade of jetsetters.
In the heart of every nature lover, there is the call of Galapagos. Pikaia Lodge has created a setting that captures all that’s best of the Archipelago, with many added perks, and the flexibility to explore from a privileged base. Pikaia lodge is, in my reckoning, the only way to stay in Galapagos without a liveaboard.
Every person of consequence must, at one time or another, retire to a medieval tower in the Italian countryside to ponder all matters transcendental. Near Assisi, a private 1500-acre estate harbours 11th-century Pieve San Quirico Castle, built in the 11th century by Frederick II of Swabia and now restored with a few added luxuries for your pleasure.
