Goss for globetrotters
Jet away with us to a fortress in India, the vineyards of South Australia and a pair of resorts by the ocean
LITTLE UNITES OUR trio of breakaways this month, aside from the fact that each, in its own way, offers an opportunity for rest and revival that’s as far removed from the daily urban grind as it’s possible to get. So that whether you decide to travel to India’s vast Land of Kings, or to what are arguably the most celebrated winelands of the Southern Hemisphere (a region named, you may be surprised to learn, after a 19th-century battle between the British and the French) – or, indeed, to board a private jet in Bangkok that takes you first to Sri Lanka and then onward to a faraway atoll in the watery vastness of the Indian Ocean – you’re pretty much guaranteed the experience of a lifetime.
ALILA FORT BISHANGARH
Better known for the sleek modernist aesthetic that’s found in many of its properties, Singapore-based hotel company Alila has now moved into what might be called heritage properties – and what better location in which to do so than in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan? Here, after a lengthy restoration, the once-abandoned 230-year-old Fort Bishangarh opened under the Alila banner in the summer of 2017 as a luxury hotel with 59 accommodations, each one of them stunningly different. Perched atop a rocky outcrop at the edge of Jaipur and with architecture that combines Mogul and local styles, the largely sandstone fort could hardly be more dramatic or imposing. Within, however, it’s been turned into a palatial residence whose elegance derives from a blend of minimalist simplicity and carefully chosen furnishings, fabrics and artefacts. As a base for exploring this magnificent region, Alila Fort Bishangarh could hardly be bettered, but there are also plenty of good reasons for staying “home”, including a superb spa, cuisine devised by celebrity chef Ranveer Brar, gardens and orchards, and even a Kids’ Club.
ULTIMATE BAROSSA VALLEY WINE EXPERIENCE
It may not be as stunning as South Africa’s Western Cape, but South Australia’s Barossa Valley produces some of the finest wines from the world’s nether regions, including the magnificent Shiraz varietals for which the area is famous. As it’s less than an hour’s drive from Adelaide, the Barossa is also a richly rewarding destination for wine-lovers, hence the creation of a new journey to the region by Aussie travel specialist Flight Centre. Combining return business-class travel aboard Cathay Pacific, a limousine on the ground, a helicopter tour of the vineyards and accommodation in a luxurious cottage, the seven-day itinerary culminates in the opportunity to create 800 bottles of your own private blend, which is then shipped to any point in the world you desire.
LUXURIES OF THE INDIAN OCEAN
It seems as if every luxury hotel operator is getting into private jet tours these days, the latest to take flight being Anantara. Using the 12-passenger Gulfstream G5 or eightseat Cessna Citation X aircraft of its MJet associate, the Bangkok-based company is offering a five-night itinerary that takes in two of its properties: the Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort in southern Sri Lanka (two nights) and the Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas (three nights). In Sri Lanka, you’ll learn how to create the country’s spicy cuisine in a cooking class and indulge in rare vintages from the resort’s extensive wine cellar. Flying on to your Maldivian atoll, where you’ll sleep in an overwater villa, you’ll stargaze in the resort’s own observatory and experience another form of bliss with a signature spa treatment.