What’s new, June 2025
LET THE REVELS BEGIN
The Tailor, Australia
The Tailor is working with a new partner, Reveling, who create immersive travel experiences in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales with an emphasis on environmentally and socially conscious travel. Choose to focus your trip on wildlife, gastronomy, sport, adventure, culture - or a combination. The Tailor recommends a full-day tour on Queensland’s Stradbroke Island in the company of an Indigenous Minjerribah guide, blending wildlife encounters with cultural insights and natural beauty. Learn about local traditions, swim in the gin-clear ocean, enjoy a seafood picnic on the beach and end the day with a refreshing beer at a local brewery.
LOCAL HEROS
Ahipara, New Zealand
Ahipara is developing a new style of travel for those who want to go deeper and keep things authentic. The team are hard at work on their new ‘Live Like a Local’ portfolio, with local accommodation and experiences for guests interested in longer stays in a particular region, with lots of local day-to-day interaction. Rather than slick lodges, the accommodation is the sort of thing clued up locals would select, with self-drive, recommendations for local pubs, community events and more. Naturally, this complements the top-end luxury Ahipara is well-known for!
HIDE AND SEE
Sticky Rice Travel, Borneo
You’d be foolish not to go birding when you’re in Borneo. Discover the quiet magic of the highland forests around Trusmadi and the Crocker Range, where from one of the local hides, many run by local conservationists who know the forests like home, you can catch sight of the island’s most elusive species, including the Bulwer’s pheasant, Bornean banded pitta and Dayak blue flycatcher. Sticky Rice have their fingers on the pulse and are the first to uncover new hides in key wildlife locations. They make sure their guests have front row seats.
HIGH TABLE
Banyan, India
Banyan recommends booking a table at Jaipur’s deeply glamorous new addition, The Sarvato, opened by HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur and restaurateur Abhishek Honawar. In the heart of the City Palace, the bar and restaurant occupies a spectacular position on the roof of the palace’s Chandra Mahal, with views over the palace complex. Offering delicious cocktails and a six-course tasting menu of traditional Rajasthani cooking with a modern twist, The Sarvato will reopen in September after the monsoon.
GOLDEN HOURS
ITEM, Türkiye
Discover the soul of Istanbul on an exclusive Golden Horn tour with Yigit Tahtalioglu, host of more than 40 Turkish television documentaries. This bespoke experience unveils the great hidden treasures of the city, from the Underground Mosque and Byzantine towers to vibrant contemporary art at Istanbul Sanat and Feshane Art Istanbul. Stroll through historic neighbourhoods, visit sacred sites such as Zal Pasha Mosque and the Church of Mary, before ending the day with a sunset cruise with dinner along the Golden Horn. A perfect blend of culture, history and glamour.
PALMERAIE MAGIC
PLAN-IT, Morocco
Everyone’s talking about Jnane Rumi, a newly launched boutique retreat in Marrakech’s Palmeraie, a 1,000-year old palm tree grove ten minutes from the Medina, which blends Moroccan tradition with avant-garde design. There’s a private annex with its own garden, pool and terraces, as well as seven suites in the main house and three further pavilions. With its candlelit courtyards, Andalusian-style gardens, beautiful swimming pool, and hammam-inspired spa, it offers an indulgent and peaceful escape from the city. Come evening, dine on reimagined classic Moroccan dishes and exceptional botanical cocktails.
CITY SANCTUARY
Galavanta, Colombia
Casa Carolina Hotel has opened in the heart of Cartagena’s walled city, after undergoing a transformation that maintains the original property’s historic architecture and colonial charm. Focused on well-being, the sunshine-coloured hotel offers a cosy spa and holistic treatments, as well as a yoga studio, and a small but perfectly formed rooftop bar and pool. The 16th-century building is close to historic landmarks such as Santa Catalina de Alejandría Cathedral and the Palace of Proclamation, as well as the boutiques, cafés and bars that dot the area.
TRAVEL HISTORY
Enigma, Peru
Peru boasts an astonishing wealth of archaeological wonders far beyond the most familiar Incan treasures. The country was home to the oldest known civilization in the Americas, the 5,000-year-old Caral-Supe, centered in the Caral region a few hours north of Lima. Now, ongoing excavations in the area have uncovered the well-preserved remains of a high-status woman buried with a remarkable array of artefacts, causing enormous excitement. Enigma can arrange for guests to visit Caral sites in the company of a local archaeologist, giving greater access and a fascinating insight into Peru’s cultural heritage.
