Adventures in the extraordinary
Expert-led escapes for the time to come
As we take time to dream more while we wait for travel restrictions to be lifted, we can all appreciate the privilege of travel and the beauty of nature more acutely than ever before. As the world resettles on its axis and dreams can become reality once again, Aman destinations will provide opportunities for extraordinary encounters with nature, the discovery of life-changing new skills, and pathways to higher, more enriching states of being. From Zen monks to champion kitesurfers, Aman’s experts on the ground share their personal insights into the places, sights and activities that inspire them.
Amanpulo
At one with the wind in the Philippines
Combining some the world’s best instructors and ideal wind and water conditions, Pamalican Island is one of the great kitesurfing destinations of the world, and Amanpulo’s dedicated Kite and Surf Centre provides expert instruction in the exhilarating solo sport for beginners and experienced kiters alike. The centre reopens for the season in November, in time for the arrival of the island’s revered amihan wind.
‘Kitesurfing is the perfect sport for you to be alone in your own world at one with the elements. Riding the winds and being in the ocean brings you back to the source of life, to nature. When we are one with wind and water, we are one with ourselves. Our hearts and minds cohere and we achieve a state of flow, allowing us to see the magical synchronicities of our daily lives, and giving us a chance to be present in each moment and be grateful.’
– Paula Rosales, kitesurfing athlete and instructor
Discover more
– Paula Rosales, kitesurfing athlete and instructor
Discover more
Aman-I-Khas
Travels in the Tigerlands
To best appreciate Ranthambhore National Park’s exceptional wildlife requires a next-level leader. Daulat Singh is a former wildlife officer, a tiger-attack survivor and Aman-I-Khas’ resident safari guide, leading daily forays into the park. Between October and May, climb aboard Daulat’s open-top Jeep and venture into the jungle to spy its myriad species, including wild cats, marsh crocodiles, and hundreds of rare and colourful birds. The wildlife spectacle extends to the camp itself, where there is no wire fencing and the only boundary is the thousands of trees planted around the canvas pavilions, allowing guests to live side-by-side with nature. When darkness falls, there is never a shortage of stories to share by the campfire.
‘In Ranthambore, the roar of the Bengal tiger – the voice of the jungle – is always a thrill to hear, often followed by the crush of leaves as a tigress thunders through the undergrowth after her prey. In this forest, survival of the fittest is the only rule. Every animal knows its place – from the tigers and leopards at the top of the chain to the Sambar deer and chinkara at the bottom, via sloth bears, hyenas and langurs. Each of these remarkable creatures has its own story – at Aman-I-Khas, we invite people to witness these stories in person, and to remember them forever.’
– Daulat Singh, safari guide
Discover more
– Daulat Singh, safari guide
Discover more
Amangiri
Rock climbing in Utah
Here in Canyon Point, in the ancient land of the Navajo, surrounded by otherworldly geologies formed at the very dawn of time, the opportunity to reconnect with the elements has never been so compelling. Amangiri stands seemingly remote from human life, a gateway to an older, wilder world. Climb the desert’s dramatic mesas; traverse the via ferrata – the ‘iron roads’ that lead along the canyon walls; and follow miles of trails to discover a rich panoply of flora traditionally used for medical purposes and artisanal crafts.
‘For me, traversing the Via Ferrata is like traveling through time. The physical transition from rock layer to rock layer is an immersive journey that starts 165 million years ago in the Jurassic era at the bottom and ends in the relatively youthful Cretaceous, and its 100-million-year-old rock formations at the top. Here, you are standing in the middle of the Grand Staircase, which runs from Bryce Canyon all the way to the Grand Canyon. On a clear day you can see both.’
– Christian Seamans, Amangiri guide
Discover more
– Christian Seamans, Amangiri guide
Discover more
Amankora
A higher state of being in Bhutan
Embark on a journey like no other. Amid a landscape of cliff-clinging monasteries, forest valleys, and rare flora and fauna, cross six valleys, hike 50 miles, and conquer mighty Himalayan peaks along the way. Over 10 days, this high-altitude training programme combines hiking, meditation, mental focus and breathing exercises to give participants the skills they need to master mountain climbing, discovering the natural and cultural treasures of Bhutan along the way.
Comprising five nature-linked lodges, Amankora is dotted along the Buddhist kingdom’s west-east axis of these Himalayan peaks, punctuated by emerald-green forests and glacial valleys. Such a dramatic landscape is of course conducive to breathtaking mountain adventure, but it is also encouraging moments of reflection and tranquillity. Time spent with the Bhutanese is always a humbling reminder that happiness is their greatest asset – and this destination is not merely a place, it's a warm welcome to a wonderful way of being.
Discover more
Discover more
Aman Venice
The lagoon on a plate
Aman Venice’s consultant chef, the three-Michelin-starred Norbert Niederkolfer, invites discerning diners to the Palazzo Kitchen Table, an exclusive, intimate and interactive live-cooking experience, where he and a roster of visiting chefs demonstrate their culinary creativity and shares the stories of their cherished ingredients. Guests can also join the kitchen team on guided walks of the Rialto market, picking up Veneto-grown fruit, vegetables and fresh-from-the-lagoon fish and seafood, and returning to Aman Venice to sample their finds for lunch.
‘“Cook the Mountain” was my starting point as a chef, but the idea of using the surrounding nature – the products of the territory – in the kitchen is really a universal concept. It’s a truly sustainable approach that teaches you to respect your environment. Everyone can do the same, wherever they are. It is precisely from this versatility that Cook the Lagoon was born: in Venice, why use the extraordinary products of the lagoon to create sustainable, naturally seasonal, authentic dishes?'
– Norbert Niederkofler, chef
Discover more
– Norbert Niederkofler, chef
Discover more
Aman Kyoto
Artistic inspiration and moments of Zen
The 17th-century polymath Honami Koetsu is one of the most influential figures in Kyoto’s cultural history. His nature-inspired decorative paintings, ceramics and lacquerware were instrumental in establishing the Rinpa school of art, with its vibrant colours, literary preoccupation and fondness for flora and the natural landscape. Koetsu and the artists he inspired helped shape Aman Kyoto’s surrounding neighbourhood, and the resort pays homage to the grace and tactility of his work. Nearby, a private temple offers guests insights into the multifaceted life of the artist, as well as seven tea houses. Koetsu was a devotee of the tea ceremony, and Aman Kyoto guests are invited to join a monk for tea as part of an exclusive Zen meditation journey at the Temple – a precious and transformative opportunity to reconnect with the self.
‘Unable to shine between the branches
Of the trees in the broad, sparse forest,
On an autumn night the moon
Raises false hopes’
– Honami Koetsu, calligrapher and craftsman
Discover more
Of the trees in the broad, sparse forest,
On an autumn night the moon
Raises false hopes’
– Honami Koetsu, calligrapher and craftsman
Discover more