Innholdsfortegnelse for September - November 2023 i International Traveller

Shinta Mani Mustang ‘Mustang’ is derived from the Tibetan word that means ‘Plain of Aspiration’, which is a reference to the location of the all-inclusive Shinta Mani Mustang – a Bensley Collection property in Nepal. The resort is tucked away in a pocket of the Kali Gandaki Gorge at an elevation of 2800 metres. The bespoke base camp beckons adventurers who enjoy life's little luxuries; each of the 29 suites nod to traditional open-plan Tibetan homes and command views of the majestic mountain landscape. shintamanimustang.com AMARI RAAYA MALDIVES Expect sparkling ocean views from your villa at Amari Raaya Maldives, located on an island haven in Raa Atoll. The destination resort highlights its unique setting through experiences such as nature walks through the mangroves, dining in a sky-high watch tower or…

NOMAD | Travel trend Rewind to mid-20th century USA: the golden age of the great American motel. With an increase in people owning family cars and opting for road trips over train journeys, these low-rise lodgings became a ubiquitous sight all over the country. They offered affordable, convenient and stylish places to rest along the way. They made their way to Australian shores, too, and were as popular as ever in the 1960s and ’70s. But at the turn of the century – as newly built highways bypassed small towns – the popularity and necessity of the humble motel dwindled. Neon lights that advertised ‘colour TVs’ and ‘air conditioning’ flickered. Vacancy signs were permanently switched on. Many motels aged terribly or were boarded up completely. However in recent years, motels…

Hotel to home WHERE IT IS Hôtel Grand Powers, part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World portfolio, is located in the glittering ‘Golden Triangle’ of Paris, between the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées in the city's 8th arrondissement. Visitors will find themselves near to high-end shops such as Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton, in addition to some of the city's finest landmarks. slh.com WHY WE LOVE IT The interior of Hôtel Grand Powers is a composite of the rich design eras the space has witnessed in its 200-year-plus history. The Haussmann bones of the building have been accentuated by a recent revamp that uses modern, minimalist flair to give breathing space to some of the hotel's original features. The result is a spacious, light-filled layout that…

In partnership with Marriot International Fiji Resorts FIND WHITE SANDY BEACHES, POOLSIDE COCKTAILS AND AN ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES ON BEAUTIFUL TOKORIKI ISLAND, THE PERFECT SPOT FOR YOUR NEXT TROPICAL HOLIDAY. Your island home awaits in the idyllic Mamanuca Islands of Fiji, home to warm turquoise waters, biodiverse coral reefs and white sand beaches just made for relaxation. Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island Fiji is a favourite luxury escape for families and travellers of all ages seeking a tropical oasis. And paradise doesn't have to mean remote, as Tokoriki Island is just a short cruise from Port Denarau, or you can arrive in style by private heli charter – the choice is yours. ABOUT THE RESORT Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island Fiji is exclusive in every sense of the…

18 An ancient oasis city The rock-hewn temples of Hegra and Dadan are the handiwork of the ancient civilisation that built Petra. Sarah Reid on why now is the time to visit AlUla. With major historical sites such as Machu Picchu and the Pyramids of Giza so ingrained in popular culture, it's common to feel a sense of déjà vu when we finally see them with our own eyes. It's a very different feeling visiting AlUla. While travellers familiar with Jordan's Petra will recognise the rock-hewn temples of Hegra as the handiwork of the ancient Arabic Nabataean civilisation, the mind boggles as to how the wealth of geological and archaeological riches of this remote corner of north-western Saudi Arabia went virtually unknown to the outside world for more than 2000 years. When Saudi…

The Wild Atlantic Way unfurls along a staggeringly beautiful 2500-kilometre stretch of Ireland's west coast, while Northern Ireland's Causeway Coastal Route tempts you north for an at-times mythical, always-magical journey between Belfast and Derry-Londonderry. Explore the jaw-dropping wonder of these driving adventures. Discover your roots in Dublin Fresh off an easy one-stop flight from Australia, Dublin presents a fantastic opportunity to ground yourself in the Emerald Isle's history and culture before hitting the road. Whether or not you're one of the nearly 2.5 million Australians with Irish ancestry, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is a modern triumph of historical storytelling. Pre-book a consultation with a genealogist to trace your family's local connections, or explore the award-winning museum, which brings the Irish diaspora to life. Bedding down? Try Brooks Hotel, known…

PASSPORT | Last word Passengers onboard Aranui 5 can get a permanent memento of their travels thanks to the cargo cruise ship's resident tattoo artist, Eddy Tata. Eddy was born on the island of Ua Pou in the Marquesas, where he grew up learning to draw by watching his uncle Moana Kohumoetini inking members of the tight-knit island community. Eddy says Polynesians get tattooed for “the culture, to display our roots”. “For me, this is a great honour to see Polynesian tattoos on foreigners. Through them, Polynesian tattoos spread all around the world,” says Eddy, who works alongside his uncle Moana in the tattoo studio onboard the 125-metre-long vessel. And when he's not busy inking guests, Eddy is a waiter in the ship's restaurant. The word tattoo stems from the…

BE SEEN IN SONOMA THE SEA RANCH LODGE in Sonoma County (pictured top) has revealed its newly reimagined guestrooms after a multi-year multimilliondollar makeover. The debut of the 17 thoughtfully designed rooms in the North Building, built in 1968, marks the final phase of the project to revitalise the property, which overlooks a stunning stretch of the Northern Cali coastline. thesearanchlodge.com ALL EYES ON FIJI OUTRIGGER FIJI BEACH RESORT has unveiled phase one of its multimillion-dollar resort refurbishment. The resort (pictured above) now comprises 16 renovated premium bures and a new Premium Ocean View room category. Phase two will be completed in stages, with the upgrades taking place in the main accommodation wings, remaining bures and select public areas. outrigger.com ZANZIBAR'S HOT NEW HOTEL Global hospitality group The Lux Collective…

Design | NOMAD A century ago, Paris was a fever dream of creativity. Nothing encapsulated this more than the Ballets Russes, a dance company founded in the French capital in 1909 by the Russian impresario Serge Diaghilev that metabolised all that was modern at the time. Its daring productions ran for two decades and in that time attracted collaborations with the most avant-garde artists of the day. Early productions were typified by iconoclastic scores, Léon Bakst's bold Art Nouveau costume designs and dancer Vaslav Nijinsky, a tour de force; the 1913 premiere of Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring caused a riot in the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. By the 1920s, the productions were taking on surrealist stylings, and it is this era that Maison Balzac bottles in its Ballets Russesinspired…

Grass routes Conscious travel | POSTCARDS Slow travel is made easy in Slovenia, one of the smallest countries in Europe. The northern corner of the former Yugoslavian country is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the north-east and Croatia to the south. As well as being at the intersection of so many different cultures, the country spills from the alpine region to the Adriatic, making it one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world. The fact you don't have to travel vast distances in Slovenia – its coastline is just 47 kilometres long – means you can enjoy a change of pace away from the crowds in neighbouring countries and have time and space enough to discover its many treasures. Slovenia is the…

With the world beckoning once more, we can't wait to discover the wonders beyond our borders. But when it comes to DIY itineraries that skip-hop across the globe, things can get a little tricky. Helpfully, RoundAbout Travel is here to give you a helping hand. Since 2008, RoundAbout Travel has been simplifying round-the-world fares with its easy-to-use online platform and knowledge-based customer service. As the top rated travel agents in Australia, the team members will find the best value fare to ensure your time spent en route is as enjoyable as your hours spent rollerblading in Venice Beach or admiring art in Vienna. WHAT THEY DO It doesn't matter how dispersed your desired destinations are, as the 24 highly experienced RoundAbout Travel consultants are well-versed in compiling complex multi-continental fares…

1 Ancestral Puebloan culture in Colorado The Ancestral Puebloan people had a long-held union with the natural world that was part of everyday life, evidence of which can be found in the beautifully preserved ancient dwellings and religious kivas (meeting rooms) clustered on the cliffs in Mesa Verde National Park. The name Mesa Verde means ‘green table’, and it was one of the first UNESCO World Heritage sites in the United States, designated in 1978 to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the 26 pueblos and tribal communities that lived on the plateau between 55 and 1300 CE. The entrance fee to visit the 5000 or so stone sites in the southwestern corner of Colorado contributes to preserving and protecting the ruins and rock art at Mesa Verde. The stone dwellings,…

26 A celebration of Melanesian arts and culture in Vanuatu Bush nuts rattle around the ankles of the men from Papua New Guinea's West New Britain province as they move across the field to the beat of wooden drums. Wide-eyed children sit cross-legged on the grassy slope watching the dancers, dressed in colourfully dyed grass skirts, elaborate feather headdresses and shell necklaces, with the flags of South Pacific nations fluttering in the breeze behind them. Once the performance is over, the Huli wigmen take to the stage, their faces painted bright yellow, with a hornbill beak on their back to symbolise strength and courage and a dangling pigtail belt designed to attract women. It's an extraordinary privilege to see dances often only performed in remote villages in PNG, West Papua, Vanuatu,…

43 Viticultural learnings Steve Madgwick heads to Georgia's Kakheti region, said to be the birthplace of wine, to sample the fruits of its age-old traditions. As long as the singer's voice floats up from the hole, the new vintage is underway and on track, like thousands before it. If the singing unexpectedly stops, however, the rescue mission kicks in and the process must begin again. The hole in question is the opening of the qvevri, an egg-shaped earthenware vessel buried into the earth, used to ferment, store and age the ‘natural’ or ‘unfiltered’ wines of Georgia. Natural because this Caucasus country doesn't remove grape skins, pips and stalks during fermentation, or add unnatural preservatives, yeast or extra sugar during wine production (sometimes sulphides are added at bottling). Cleaning the qvevri is crucial.…

93 The magic of Mauritius There's no denying Mauritius has a certain magic quality to it. In fact, the island itself came into being through some alchemical force; a volcanic eruption 10 million years ago forced mountainous peaks to jut from the Indian Ocean like blades through a billowing blue sheet of silk. Here, velvety frangipanis sweeten the air and the fronds of palm trees dance in the breeze. The island continues to enchant visitors with its tropical beaches, vibrant melting pot of cultures and hearty Creole cuisine. Moor yourself at one of its blissful resorts, such as The Oberoi on the island's serene west coast. Or SALT of Palmar on the eastern side, a member of Design Hotels (pictured), where designer Camille Walala's exuberant interiors echo the vibrance of…

An enduring, sea-loving legacy forms the backstory of new luxury lifestyle brand Explora Journeys, allowing guests to experience cruises crafted to showcase the ocean's vast beauty. The Geneva-based, Swiss-Italian Aponte family has impressive maritime roots stretching back 300 years, and today that heritage blends with a crystalised vision to redefine premium ocean travel. From a focus on journeys (rather than just itineraries) to elegantly designed suites, intuitive hospitality and onboard wellness and relaxation experiences, Explora Journeys unveils a luxe escape into what the company calls an ‘ocean state of mind’. But perhaps most incredible of all is the dedication to curating a wildly innovative onboard gastronomic offering. INSPIRED BY THE WORLD BEYOND As a nod to global travel and exploration, the culinary experiences onboard both the EXPLORA I and EXPLORA…

While the renowned Seven Wonders will always be on our list, there are a multitude of under-the-radar marvels to get excited about too. Cruise along rivers that snake their way through changing landscapes and cultures, wander through ancient cities that have been carved out of rock and immerse yourself in enduring tribal cultures. Follow the footsteps of great explorers with Wendy Wu Tours to see these eight wonders. The mighty Mekong The Mekong River is the lifeblood of Southeast Asia, winding 4800 kilometres from Tibet to the South China Sea. A cruise along this legendary waterway is beauty in motion, encompassing verdant mountains, rice paddies and hodgepodge villages crammed with traditional stilt houses. Meander through the most enchanting stretch of this river onboard the Victoria Mekong as part of Wendy…

If ease and comfort are your thing (who are we kidding, of course they're your thing), you need to get yourself a Swiss Travel Pass and start exploring the beautiful surroundings on the 1280-kilometre Grand Train Tour of Switzerland. This experience transports you into the thick of the action, adventure and landscape without lifting a finger (except maybe to wine and dine from your comfy seat). Seriously though, why spend hours driving and concentrating on the road when you can sit back, relax and take in everything Switzerland has to offer with no hassle? Not to mention Swiss trains run like clockwork, so you'll always be where you planned to be right on time. The eight different sections of the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland include five premium panoramic trains…

Wonders need not always be colossal or grand. Smallscale objects can elicit large emotions – they can surprise and delight us or fill us with awe. The German concept of wunderkammer (‘room of wonder’) began as an aristocratic pursuit in 16th-century Europe during the Age of Exploration, whereby worldly travellers showcased marvels from far-flung places in their own homes. These cabinets of curiosities were the precursor to modern-day museums. I came across the word while taking a tour around Villa del Balbianello, arguably the most magnificent villa on the shores of Lake Como. Twentieth-century adventurer and explorer Count Guido Monzino – who led the first Italian expedition to summit Mt Everest – was the last living resident of the lavish property. Most visitors come to admire the tiered Italian gardens…

Memory lane | NOMAD I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse,” Walt Disney once said. The Walt Disney Company, at the time known as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, was founded in October 1923 and has since gone on to influence filmmaking, animation and tourism in an unprecedented way. The creation of Mickey Mouse in 1928 was the Walt Disney Company's creative turning point. Mickey represents everything the business wanted to portray – happiness, fun, dreams and the ability to bring families together. To further that narrative, Disney began the groundwork for its biggest venture yet, the creation of Mickey Mouse Park. Up until that point, amusement parks were not typically considered family-friendly, but instead rife with…

Cities | POSTCARDS DAY ONE 8AM: Haere ma – welcome to Ōtautahi Christchurch. Start your day with a hearty breakfast at THE GEORGE, a convivial boutique hotel and member of the exclusive Small Luxury Hotels group. Chug that shot of revitalising juice: there's a big day ahead. 9AM: Just 100 metres down the road, hop on (and off) one of the restored heritage tramcars of CHRISTCHURCH TRAMS for an informative zip around town. With 18 stops taking in the key features of the city accompanied by the driver's flow of insights, it's the perfect way to get a quick lay of the land and explore wherever takes your fancy. Kids ride free. 11AM: It may feel at first as though you've arrived in Oxford, England, but the beautiful Gothic Revival buildings…

The Datai Langkawi | POSTCARDS Nestled in the fever-dream density of a 10-million-year-old rainforest on Malaysia's Langkawi archipelago, The Datai Langkawi may be one of the most beautiful holiday spots you'll ever visit. Grand yet totally immersive, the timeless resort – designed by late Australian architect Kerry Hill and sensitively refreshed in recent years – celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2023, while planting the seeds of an even more sustainable, life-affirming future. Langkawi was declared a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2007 for its astounding ecological and biological diversity; it is, undoubtedly, a natural wonder. The Datai is a wonder, too: for its nuanced interweaving of our human desire to marvel at this paradise, with the passion and dedication to protect it at the same time. Perhaps the reason we travel…

52 Seoul searching Being transformed by a destination doesn't stop when you leave it, as Leigh-Ann Pow discovered during lockdown thanks to memories, music and a Netflix subscription. What did you obsess over during lockdown? Was it making bread complete with a bubbling, belligerent sourdough starter? Did you maintain your equilibrium by religiously doing the daily Wordle puzzle? Or perhaps you created your own home gym and spent the endless days, weeks and months feeling the burn. My obsession was a little larger in scale. It was actually the culture of an entire country: Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, South Korea to some, The Land of the Morning Calm to others). It wasn't a random choice; my last international trip before the global shutdown was to Seoul, a city in a…

82 England's crowning coastal path Lace up your boots. The King Charles III England Coast Path will be the longest managed coastal path in the world when each section of the 4345-kilometre trail is completed by the end of 2024. Formerly known as The England Coastal Path, the new national trail named in the monarch's honour will encircle the entire English seaboard, looping in the magical shape-shifting seas and landscapes of the Dorset coastline and beyond. Enjoy a tramper tour along the trail, set to unlock some of the most dramatic landscapes in the country. Carla Grossetti 83 WALKING THE CAMINO People have travelled internationally for centuries. Before the advent of planes, ships and cars – they simply walked. The Camino de Santiago, a religious pilgrimage that started in the Middle Ages,…