From Kyoto to Greece

Aman Kyoto, Japan

Once the imperial capital of Japan, Kyoto was built in 794. Spared much of the devastation of WW2 that other Japanese cities faced, it retains many of its historic buildings – so much so that there are almost 20 Unesco World Heritage Sites within the city. Visit some of the most sacred sites with a knowledgeable local guide, including the Golden Pavilion, Ryoan-ji Temple and Nijo Castle. At the Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery, enjoy a discussion with Robert on the history of Japanese pottery, while sipping cocktails and sake. 

Amangalla, Sri Lanka

In the historic port of Galle, Amangalla rests within the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Unesco World Heritage Site. Named after Galla, the Sinhalese word for the town, the hotel reveals the Fort’s daily activities and rich legacy, its narrow streets lined with buildings from the Dutch and British colonial eras. The hotel’s 200-year-old gardens are home to a tranquil swimming pool and yoga pavilion, while The Baths, its serene spa complex, offers hydrotherapy and Ayurveda therapies prescribed by an in-house physician. Dine beside the pool, in the elegant Dining Room of the great reception hall, or on the sunny veranda, then take a stroll through the Fort’s quaint lanes to watch locals flying kites on the ramparts overlooking the sea. 

Amanzoe, Peloponnese, Greece

The helicopter flight from Athens to Amanzoe creates a swift segue into an altogether wilder Greece - a place of pure nature, where time stands still. Scattered with Unesco ruins, the undiscovered Peloponnese has been at the heart of Greek culture for millennia - and it is here that Amanzoe has made its hilltop home, a modern-day Acropolis from which 360-degree views encompass olive groves, Aegean blue, and little else.