Signature Luxury Travel & Style
WELLNESS TRAVEL
From the heart of India to the plains of Africa, these new wellness-inspired journeys nourish mind, body and soul.
Abercrombie & Kent is already an expert at curating thoughtful itineraries with a luxurious bent, but focusing on wellness brings a rejuvenating new dimension to the tour operator’s journeys through Kenya, Peru, India and Southeast Asia. Limited to a maximum of 18 guests, the exclusive tours unfold at a relaxed pace with a wealth of wellness-inspired activities on offer. The idea is to give guests authentic and deeply immersive experiences that have them go home replenished and a little wiser than when they left.
Guests can be as active as they like on their trip – whether bike riding through the temples of Siem Reap, running through grasslands with Kenya’s Maasai tribe, or kayaking on a remote Andean lagoon – and there are opportunities to take part in rituals and traditions that have shaped the cultures of each inspiring destination the journeys explore. Imagine taking part in an Earth ceremony in the spirit of the Incas, meditating by a waterfall with an expert guide in Luang Prabang, or honing your warrior skills in a Kenyan village; travelling as part of a small group gives guests access to exclusive and off-the-beaten-track experiences that make a holiday truly extraordinary.
INDIA 13 days
Uncovering the true heart of a destination is what A&K does best and, on this unhurried 13-day journey, guests will find themselves embracing the culture and spirit of this unique part of the world in unexpected ways.
Beginning in Delhi, the group will travel to Agra to marvel at the Taj Mahal at sunrise and sunset before uncovering the hidden gems awaiting them in Jaipur, Ajabgarh, Udaipur and Varanasi. In Rajasthan, a private consultation with an Ayurvedic doctor could well set guests’ wellness journeys on a new trajectory, and meditation, yoga and spa treatments are on the menu.
Meeting underprivileged girls at the A&Ksupported Hansraj Children’s Home is both uplifting and moving. The visit is followed by a bike ride through the surrounding countryside, a picnic lunch and a sunset cruise. Dinner at a local family’s home is the final flourish on an incredible day.
Guests can choose from a variety of activities throughout the trip, but a standout is the ancestor ceremony on an evening boat ride along the sacred waters of Varanasi. Chanted prayers, lantern-bearing priests and rhythmic drumming set the scene, and guests can light their own candles and launch them on the river in memory of a loved one. Tour dates: 5–17 October 2019 9–21 November 2019
PERU 10 days
A&K’s peaceful early-morning walks allow guests to revel in the mysteries of the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu without the crowds. The 10-day journey starts in Lima and ends in Cusco, energising and inspiring guests at every turn along the way.
Incredible vistas await in the Sacred Valley, where the pristine waters of Huaypo lagoon are there to be explored by kayak, and a rarely visited mountain community and farmstead experience are also on the itinerary. Guests can even put their hand up for a private coca-leaf reading with a local shaman.
Accommodation ranges from an intimate and authentic hacienda in the Sacred Valley to an opulent (and oxygenated) suite at Belmond Palacio Nazarenas in Cusco. Restorative spa treatments and time to reflect are artfully woven into the itinerary. Tour dates: 4–13 November 2019 3–12 December 2019
SOUTHEAST ASIA 13 days
Discovering the real Thailand, Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam can be tricky with the growth of mass tourism in these countries, but those lucky enough to be able to delve a little deeper with A&K will be well rewarded.
Beginning in Bangkok and ending in Ho Chi Minh City, the 13-day itinerary takes guests on a meaningful journey through spiritual lands. Cambodia’s cinematic Siem Reap is breathtaking – explore it by bike or tuk-tuk – and take part in a waterfall meditation, swim and forest walk in Luang Prabang before spending three relaxing days at Six Senses Krabey Island, a private oasis with indulgent pool villas and a sensational spa.
In Laos, in between luxuriating at the lush boutique resort, Rosewood Luang Prabang, guests rise before dawn to take part in a silent ceremony with local monks, enjoy a detoxifying cleanse with a skilled healer from the local Hmong tribe, and learn the art of farming the rice fields that make Laos so picturesque. Tour dates: 9–21 October 2019 30 October–11 November 2019
KENYA 9 days
A wellness-inspired safari through the vast Maasai Mara and Tsavo National Park promises nine days of perspective-shifting adventure. Meeting endangered giraffes and orphaned elephants up close will make an impact, and seeing Africa’s Big Five in their natural habitats is simply jaw-dropping.
Between game drives, guests can rejuvenate with sunrise yoga and meditation overlooking the rolling Chyulu Hills, take a guided hike into the wild, or go for a run with members of the Maasai tribe. Less active options include cooking and spear-throwing lessons. The small-group journey also gives guests the chance to visit a local A&K-supported village school to meet the students and serve them lunch.
Spa treatments, scenic sundowners and dinners under the stars provide just the tonic a weary traveller needs to recharge, with elegant tented camps and sumptuous suites providing a welcome sanctuary for rest and reflection along the way. Tour dates: 20–28 October 2019. 29 October–6 November 2019