ASIA

From bucket list experiences, through to the most luxurious and jaw-dropping places to stay, eat and drink, Alice Frances discovers the very best Asia has to offer for 2022 and beyond

O N C E I N A L I F E T I M E

Do

Hit the snow in style in Japan

Niseko, Japan

Considering Japan’s top ski-resorts get more than twice the snow dumping that world-famous Utah and Colorado get in a year, it’s not surprising skiers are now flocking to Japan.

And, for a high-end experience, there’s now no beating up-and-coming Niseko, located in Hokkaido, just south of Sapporo. After a day carving through the Champagne-powder sski-fields, you can then unwind in an onsen (hot spring), right next to a towering, active volcano. In the past two years, several five-star resorts have opened, including a Ritz-Carlton and W Hotel, alongside boutique stores and fine-dining restaurants, making Niseko a new favourite among A-listers. niseko-village.com/en

Experience India aboard Asia’s most luxurious train

Rajasthan, India

Recently named Asia’s Leading Luxury Train at the 2021 World Travel Awards for the second year running, there’s no more opulent way to see India than aboard the Maharajas’ Express.

With fine dining and spaciously appointed luxury cabins, there are four itineraries to choose from, ranging from three to six-night stays. It’s hard to go past the Indian Splendour though, which runs from Delhi to Mumbai over six nights, taking in a game drive at Ranthambore National Park and a lavish dinner at Rambagh Palace along the way. the-maharajas.com

See orangutan in the wild

to the orangutan. Try the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Northern Borneo where around 60 to 80 orangutans live wild and free across the 43sq km of protected land. Many of the nearby hotels in Sandakan offer a shuttle service to the reserve — or it’s a short 45-minute flight from Kota Kinabalu where you’ll find five-star resorts, including a Mariott, Hyatt Regency and Shangri La.

Make a wish at the Sky Lantern Festival

Pingxi, Taiwan

Though lantern festivals are common in Asia, this is a cut above the rest. Held in the remote mountain town of Pingxi, its low light pollution and stunning cliffs make it the perfect spot to view the annual sea of luminous lanterns rising from the dark.

Book in now for the February 2023 festival where you can write your wishes on your lantern and send it up into the heavens for good luck in the New Year. Stay in Taipei at the luxurious Shangri La Hotel, from where a private car can take you to the spectacle. eng.taiwan.net.tw

Take a five-star cruise through Southeast Asia

Singapore to Hong Kong, China

Take in some of the world’s most blissful beaches — as well as buzzing cities and glorious temples and monuments — aboard this Silversea cruise that has it all. Starting in Singapore, this 14-day itinerary takes in Ko Samui, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Hue before arriving in Hong Kong, with a few days spent at sea to truly enjoy the lavish facilities on board.

Each spacious cabin comes with butler service, plus there are eight restaurants to choose from, lounges, cafes, a spa, casino and cinema — but no crowds, with cruise numbers limited to ensure one of the highest space-to-guest ratios in the business. silversea.com

Watch turtles hatching on a remote Malaysian island

Turtle Islands National Park, Malaysian Borneo

Known locally as Pulau Penyu, this picturesque spot is also the nesting site of the endangered green hawksbill turtle. Stop by for the day to take your chances on seeing one, or opt to stay overnight on the island, where you can take in a sunset stroll on the beach before dinner, then settle in for the evening’s show.

Come nightfall, female turtles crawl up the beach and lay their eggs, which are whisked away to the hatchery to protect them from predators. Follow your park ranger for a tour of the hatchery, where — if you’re lucky — you may even get to witness a turtle hatching.

Stay

The Oberoi Amarvilas

Agra, India

You really can’t go past the Oberoi for a room with a view. Enjoy a candlelit dinner on your own private balcony and watch as night falls over the Taj Mahal and it lights up in all its majesty, right in front of you. All rooms at this truly decadent five-star resort come with marble ensuite bathrooms and personal butlers, while larger suites include private sun decks and loungers, living and dining spaces — as well as a luxurious marble bath that overlooks the Taj Mahal. oberoihotels.com

Amiana Resort Nha Trang

Nha Trang, Vietnam

If you’re planning a trip with young children or teens in tow, look no further than this Amiana Resort — the Luxury Family Resort Global Winner at the recent Luxury Hotel Awards 2021. You’ll likely not want to leave the sprawling grounds, nestled on a private white-sand beach with multiple, giant saltwater and freshwater pools, a world-class spa and mudbath, restaurants, kids club and watersports centre. But if you can tear yourself away, there’s a plethora of excursions available, from snorkelling and fishing trips, to shopping and cultural trips to the nearby heart of Nha Trang — many offered on push-bikes or Vespas. amianaresort.com

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives

Fari Islands, Maldives

To really get away from it all, there’s no better spot than the Maldives. One of the newest — and most luxurious resorts — is the Ritz-Carlton,

Eat

The Chairman

Hong Kong, China

Recently voted Asia’s Best Restaurant and the 10th best in the world, The Chairman offers up fresh traditional Cantonese fare in a modern setting. Its tea menu is almost as spectacular as its wine list, and the food is simply sensational. Don’t miss the flowery crab or the crispy pork belly rice cakes. thechairmangroup.com

The Den

Tokyo, Japan

For the fourth year running, The Den has been named Best Restaurant in Japan. With two Michelin stars, its signature dishes include a waffle filled with white-miso-marinated foie gras, and “Dentucky Fried Chicken” — a wing stuffed with black sticky rice, pinenuts and goji berries. You’ll likely be sat at the counter overlooking head chef Zaiya Hasgawa — and no visit is complete without meeting the restaurant’s mascot, Puchi Jr, Hasgawa’s much-loved chihuahua. jimbochoden.com/en

which just opened its doors in June. The over-water villas feature private infinity pools and sundecks, while larger villas also come with private chefs and butlers. Otherwise, there’s five fine-dining restaurants and bars to choose from, a tennis court, dive centre, kids club, spa, and even a photography studio to ensure you take home picture-perfect mementoes from your stay. ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/maldives-fari-islands

Anantara Resort

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

The Uluwatu Anantara Resort, perched dramatically on the cliffs above the Indian Ocean, is known as one of Bali’s most lavish, as well as being the sister resort to one in upmarket Seminyak. Now, a third resort is due to open its doors mid-2022 in the serene surrounds of Ubud. It’s promising the same impeccable five-star attention to detail, with a world-class spa, dedicated kids club and several dining options, including a “Dining by Design” experience, curated by a private chef, in and around the resort. anantara.com

Commune by the Great Wall

Beijing, China

Visiting the Great Wall should really be on everyone’s bucket list — but if you’re in search of a different experience to a day tour from your central Beijing accommodation, then this one could be for you. This five-star hotel by the Hyatt is within walking distance of the Shui Guan section of the Wall — meaning you can pop out to visit it at your own leisure, without the crowds. The sprawling complex includes a 176-room hotel as well as 36 architecturally designed villas, each unique and offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains. hyatt.com above the city, it resembles the bow of a superyacht, delivering breathtaking views. It might be famous for its extensive whiskey selection, but it also boasts an impressive oyster and caviar bar at which guests can indulge. lebua.com/restaurants/alfresco-64

Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle

Chiang Rai, Thailand

Step into another world in northern Thailand, at this one-of-a-kind resort. Interact with rescue elephants, seize the day fishing with locals or explore mountain trails and bamboo jungles before returning to unwind in luxury tents. Forget what you know about tents, because these luxurious, safari-styled offerings are far from what you may expect. Featuring hardwood, bamboo and leather interiors, opulent bathrooms (including outdoor rain showers) and wooden hot tubs, each “tent” offers a breathtaking view. fourseasons.com/goldentriangle

Ultraviolet

Shanghai, China

Michelin-starred Ultraviolet’s experience begins on a bus that takes you to your final destination, where just 10 diners eat at a time. French chef Paul Pairet has won several awards (including Chef ’s Choice) and while it’s not cheap at US$900 a head, you won’t leave hungry, with 22 courses on offer. uvbypp.cc

Drink

Sky Bar

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Take the lift to level 33 of the Traders Hotel where you’ll find a long swimming pool, surrounded by private booths — perfect for a lazy afternoon cocktail. Or visit at sunset and settle in by a window seat for the best view in town. shangri-la.com/kualalumpur/shangrila

Alfresco 64 Whiskey Bar

Bangkok, Thailand

One of the most opulent bars in Thailand, 64 is also the world’s highest open-air whiskey bar. Towering

Amangalla

Galle, Sri Lanka

A simply stunning resort, Amangalla has a truly unique location, nestled within the ramparts of Sri Lanka’s 17th-century Calle Fort, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Offering views of the Fort and harbour on one side and the hotel’s lush gardens and pools on the other, it also boasts exquisite dining options and a world-famous spa, The Baths (don’t miss the Ayurvedic therapy options). For a different change of pace, visit Amangalla’s sister resort, Amanwella (pictured), 75km further along the coast, which provides the perfect rural counter-offering. Perched on a private gold sand beach, surrounded by lush jungle, it’s ideal for honeymooners, with romantic private beach barbecues on offer, or wildlife safari excursions to the nearby national parks, where you’ll likely spot elephants — perhaps even a leopard. aman.com/resorts/amangalla; aman.com/resorts/amanwella

Coa

Hong Kong, China

Named Asia’s Best Bar, Coa is — surprisingly — a cosy Mexican bar named after the tool used for harvesting agave. Featuring a 41-page agave list, owner/bartender Jay Khan has visited every distillery and can find your perfect match. coa.com.hk

Bar 81

Seoul, South Korea

Located in South Korea’s tallest building, this Champagne bar offers staggering views and opulent decadence. White and gold crystals hang from the ceiling, resembling bubbling Champagne — making it an ideal location from which to say “Cheers!” (or “Geonbae!” in Korean). lottehotel.com/seoul-signiel/en/dining/ bar-81.html

C O N T I N E N T A L M Y S T E R Y B O X

Europe’s lesser-known routes offer up a selection of amazing experiences, writes Thomas Bywater

Europe is home to the classics. It’s the birthplace of 79 recognised regional languages, 12 royal households and the three tenors.

It offers world capitals of culture, cuisine and the arts, all within an area roughly the size of Western Australia, and with far better transport. After a two-year interregnum, the Romes, the Amsterdams and Barcelonas of the old world are welcoming travellers back. But it’s often on the roads between these metropoles that you’ll find the most memorable experiences. A guided tour can help join the dots, translate the route ahead and pick up the heavy lifting of logistics. With their planned itineraries for 2022 and beyond, many tour operators are taking their passengers off the beaten track with the aim of illuminating some lesser-known corners of the map. Here are just a few of the many options available, to help inspire your plans.

Italy’s Southern sole

Hidden on the under-heel of Italy is another side to the Apennines. The ancient region of Apulia and Calabria (pictured above right) is famously relaxed. Neighbouring Neapolitans look down on “Puglia” for being a bit agrarian, but that’s just the vibe we’re after.

The white-walled conical houses define the region. Called trulli, these are the traditional field shelters and storehouses of the laidback Apulian farmers.

More recently they’ve been transformed into everything from stores to boutique-diffused hotels.

Globus offers a nine-day Hidden Treasures of Southern Italy itinerary, cruising along the bottom of “the boot”.

Highlights include tastes of local produce at the masserie farm estates and the white caves of Castellana Grotte. Once known as the home of the infamous crime family Sacra Corona Unita, you’ll find a different kind of underworld on this tour of Apulia: walking the 3km network of karst limestone grottoes.

The off-grid region is popular with celebrities looking for a low-key escape. There’s no danger the paparazzi will catch you in sleepy Savelletri or Arbelobello. Priced from $2969pp. globustours.co.nz Tolstoyan epic of a journey that travels West via the northern route from Russia, through Finland, Estonia and the Eastern Baltic.

With portions of overnight train travel, rail and sail, the journey is a chance to see the country up close and personal. Yes, the star attractions of Moscow and St Petersburg are en route, but from here the trip leaves Red Square for the medieval Kremlins of Suzdal and the spoked fortress of Novgorod.

Crossing the Curonian Spit — and Europe’s largest sand dunes — and into Lithuania, the trip finishes in Vilnius. Price from $4608pp. intrepidtravel.com

Turkish delight

Where does Europe end? A question that has puzzled Turks, Trojans and tourists over the years. Where East meets West on the banks of the Bosphorus, Turkey’s place on the Dardanelles makes it a favourite place for both beach lovers and history buffs.

Many Kiwis feel compelled to visit the Gallipoli Peninsula at least once in their lifetime. But beyond the parapets of Anzac cove and the World War battlefields, there’s a lot more to Turkey.

Intrepid Travel’s Treasures of Turkey 15-day trip around the country begins in Istanbul and ends in the fairytale cliffs of Cappadocia, with three nights at the Splendid Cave Hotel.

Optional extras include joining one of the 100 daily hot air balloons in a ride over Goreme, Turkey’s ballooning capital. Priced from $3488pp. intrepidtravel.com

Operatic Oberammergau

Oberammergau. Difficult to say, easy to appreciate.

The picturesque town in southern Bavaria is on the edge of the Alps. On the mountain route between Austria and Germany, its streets are painted with Bauernmalerei murals. It is a familiar stop on the way to the operatic Zugspitze, Germany’s tallest summit.

However, once every 10 years the sleepy village of 5000 welcomes half a million visitors, making a pilgrimage to the foothills of the Alps for the Oberammergau Passion Play.

Since 1634 the parish has held the medieval epic telling of the Passion of the Christ. Drawing the faithful from around the world — and more than a few curious tourists — it is performed in an open-air amphitheatre against a backdrop of mountains.

There is extra drama following the postponement of the 2020 festival due to the pandemic, the first time this has happened since World War I. They are resurrecting the Passionsspiel for September 2022.

At a crossroad in the Alps, itineraries converge from central Europe, Northern Italy and Switzerland.

If you want to stay hyperlocal, and remain in the mountains, Globus runs a nine-day Bavarian Highlights tour with the chance to visit more Wagnerian landmarks, including Bayreuth and Neuschwanstein Castle. Where to begin, Lohengrin? From $4659pp, with alternate transcontinental itineraries via the Passionsspeile at globustours.co.nz

Crossing the Caucasus

If you’re looking to push the boundaries of a European tour as far as they go, you’re in the right place. Wedged between the Black and Caspian seas, Georgia and Armenia have all the ingredients of a European holiday — castles, brandy and some seriously edgy history — but none of your pre-conceptions.

Beginning in Yerevan and heading north across the Tsiv-Gombori Range into Tbilisi, you’ll see a part of Europe that travel guides forgot with G Adventures’ eight-day Best of Georgia and Armenia.

From the snow-capped Mt Ararat and the monastery of Khor Virap to the unfamiliar runic alphabet, parts of Armenia feel like Europe in a parallel universe. In spite of famous exports such as adopted Kiwi rock stars, Russian dictators and Churchill’s favourite brandy, the region remains little explored.

Across mountains in Uplistsikhe you’ll find grottos, castles and Roman amphorae. Finishing in the fortified capital of Tbilisi, the “Rome of the Caucasus” is a European city break you might not have considered. From $1983pp. gadventures.com

Iceland and geothermal fire

Transformed by geothermal energy, the volcanic land of the sagas has changed more in the past decade than it has in the past two millennia, although its landscapes are still full of primordial charm.

One of the countries hardest-hit by the 2008 GFC, Iceland emerged from the turmoil like a magma-powered phoenix. You’ll find space-age power plants, thermal baths and pristine black beaches and waterfalls.

The timeless landscape has helped fuel a renaissance in Viking romance as well as the country’s burgeoning film and television industry. The inspiration for fantasy writers George R. R. Martin and J. R. R. Tolkien, New Zealanders from Middle-earth are likely to find kindred spirits.

With Trafalgar’s six-day Iceland return trip from Reykjavik, you’ll get to visit many of the island nation’s compelling sites, including waterfalls at Hraunfoss and Barnafoss, the Geysir Hot Spring area and Thingvellir National Park, as well as the geothermal blue lagoon. From $3850pp. trafalgar.com/en-nz

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