Experiences

A train journey between Moscow and Vladivostock used to be an arduous three week slog sitting on hard benches with the cold Siberian wind leaking in through the windows. No longer. The uber luxury Golden Eagle contrasts old world Tzar-esque grandeur with luxury amenities and fine dining as it makes its two week journey across eight different time zones and over 10,000 kms. This is one of the world’s great journeys and beginning your experience in Moscow, we’ll get you behind the scenes access to the Bolshoi as well as a private tour of the Kremlin and Red Square. Once aboard the train settle into your cabin and enjoy a fortnight of being thoroughly pampered with three gourmet meals a day, afternoon tea and a wonderful selection of activities and excursions at each stop. Visit Irkutsk aptly named the Paris of Siberia, Kazan’s ancient citadel, Mongolia’s capital Ulan Bataar and Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake just one of the highlights of your Siberian crossing. You’ll have plenty of time to soak in the stunning surroundings and stop along the shores for a personalised boat trip and waterside bbq. Ending your journey in Russia’s Far East, you’ll experience life in one of the most remote cities on earth, Vladivostock, once closed to the outside world, this naval base is home to Russia’s Pacific fleet and an apt end to a momentous trip. This will be an experience you’ll never forget through sparsely populated tundra, isolated historic cities and endless vistas.

A converted 16^th Century monastery, the Belmond Monasterio is located in the very center of Cuzco, the heart of the ancient Incan Empire. The hotel is set around a peaceful courtyard laden with wild flowers and a 300 year old cedar tree. Few experiences are more special than having breakfast in its shade before a day exploring the city. With rooms ranging from superior rooms to one bedroom suites, space and comfort are of particular emphasis at the Belmond Monasterio. All rooms are unique and individually designed combining luxury with antique artwork and dark wooden furniture. To ensure ultimate comfort for all clients, there is even the option to have supplementary oxygen piped into the room to combat any possible effects of the moderate altitude of Cusco and guarantee a brilliant nights sleep. With two restaurants on site and a host of Peruvian eateries in close proximity, enjoy Andean cuisine at its finest either al fresco or in the fine dining Illary. Step outside the hotels impressive front doors and you will find yourself just a few yards from Cuzco’s ancient Cathedral and ancient square. It truly is the ideal base (and bubble of luxury) from which to step out and learn about Incan life in the Andes. And for those heading to Machu Picchu the train Belmond Hiram Bingham train will whisk you up the Sacred Valley, whilst you sip champagne and enjoy your brunch, to the foot of the ancient ruins.

On the unspoilt north coast of the Thai island of Koh Samui, Belmond Napasai is a beachfront oasis set amongst 17 acres of pristine gardens and palm groves. The hotel is a sanctuary with a stunning infinity pool built into the hillside, just a few steps from the private beach and crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand. With 45 standalone villas (all with private balconies and sea views) dotted across the gentle hillside and 14 one to four bedroom oceanfront residences, Belmond Napasai offers space and privacy in abundance. We simply adore the residences with their stunning infinity pools lapping the ocean’s edge, perfect for a private dinner or family get together. There’s a multitude of activities for all ages; from cooking classes to the spa famed for its traditional Thai massages. For the more active, the beach is the starting point for a range of unique experiences including private boat excursions to the surrounding islands and coastline or snorkelling and scuba diving in the aqua marine waters. And for a true Thai experience we’d thoroughly recommend an elephant safari. Belmond Napasai also has a host of dining options at the fine dining Lai Thai and the toes-in-the-sand casual beach restaurant so no matter your mood you’ll always be able to enjoy the finest Thai fare. Easily accessible, Belmond Napasai is a mere 25 minutes drive from Koh Samui airport and there’s plenty of opportunities to get out and explore all parts of the island including its pristine interior covered with jungle and rainforest that’s bursting with life.

Perhaps one of the most well-known hotels in Europe, Belmond Hotel Cipriani is adjacent to St Mark’s Square yet a world away from the crowds, situated on the private island of Guidecca just across the Grand Canal. A true oasis of tranquility the hotel provides understated sophistication with more than a touch of La Dolce Vita. Rooms and suites are spacious, bedecked in Italian marbles and sumptuous fabrics. Most have either a terrace, balcony or private terrace overlooking the hotel’s manicured grounds, its mini-vineyard or the canals. The stunning outdoor heated swimming pool is the centrepiece of the hotel, an ideal place to cool off during the hot summer months so be sure to schedule in some time to relax whilst in Venice. The hotel also hosts a plethora of activities including, amongst our favourites, exploring the canals by kayak or custom-made water-bikes. For the historians, here at Lux, we can organise privately guided tours of the city perhaps with a stop off along the way at the little visited island of Burano. And at the end of a long day exploring Venice, the hotel’s bar, make the best Vespa Martini and Bellinis around. Of course it comes as no surprise that the restaurants and bars at Belmond Hotel Cipriani are of exceptional quality. It’s a special experience to enjoy your breakfast al fresco overlooking one of the world’s most famous waterways. Enjoy dinner at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant Oro, one of the finest restaurants in all of Venice and deservedly awarded a Michelin Star or perhaps if you fancy more casual fare, the over water Cip’s Club is relaxed yet elegant and the ideal spot for a long supper on a summer’s evening. There are regular shuttles over to St Marks from the hotel’s private dock so you are never far away from the historic Palazzos, the canal side restaurants or a glass of Prosecco.

A jewel in the Seychelles crown, North is as close to perfection as you are likely to get. With just 11 presidential villas scattered along a picture-perfect beach and an island teeming with giant tortoise, a visit to North is a must. Although you may never want to leave your expansive villa, explore the island with you own off road golf buggy, stop off at honeymoon beach - a private enclave that is reserved exclusively for one couple or family at a time. The culinary offering is out of this world with breakfast cooked freshly for you in your villa and a dining concept of eat anywhere, anytime and anything meaning that you will never be bound by a menu or time of day. Scuba diving is amongst the best in the word and the staff  the friendliest and most hospitable that we have experienced anywhere.

Twenty minutes from the main island of Tahiti, the Brando is one of the most secluded yet luxurious hotels on earth. A perfect idyll made up of 12 deserted atolls, the Brando provides a sanctuary for a host of wildlife from hatching turtles to rays, coconut crabs and sea birds. With just 35 magnificent beach front villas each with their own infinity pool you are ensured total privacy. What’s more the food is of the highest caliber – Guy Martin, the two Michelin starred chef from Paris has his very own outpost on the island with a menu mirroring his flagship restaurant in Paris. By day kayak between the islands and explore the deserted atoll making sure to take a swim in the picture postcard ‘billionaires swimming pool’. It certainly doesn’t get much better than this.

Just an hour outside Marrakesh in the tranquil foothills of the Atlas, Kasbah Tamadot feels more like a private home than a hotel. It’s the ideal place to gather the whole family or a group of friends to spend time together. Explore local Berber villages, ride camels along dried up river beds or simply relax by the stunning infinity pool. By night the roof Depending on the time of year we can also arrange a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the majestic peaks of the high Atlas.

The unique Minaret Station is a spectacular luxury lodge set in the Southern Alps of New Zealand’s South Island accessible only by helicopter. We’ve gotten to know a couple of the resident guides so whether you’d prefer heli-skiing, fishing, jet boating or flying to a remote mountain top for a private gourmet lunch, we’ll ensure that every experience is tailored specifically to you. Of course we will leave you plenty of time to relax around the wonderful lodge and your private cabin (complete with its own hot tub of course) before enjoying a delicious dinner using only the best local produce.

Exploring the remote lower reaches of the Mekong Delta offers an incredible insight into Cambodian and Vietnamese rural life that few outsiders have been privileged to experience. We have teamed up with Aqua Mekong, a luxurious cruiser with just 20 cabins to take you from Tonle Sap in southern Cambodia towards the bustling metropolis of Saigon in Vietnam all the while enjoying the finest Indochinese cuisine and privately curated shore excursions. Look forward to meeting teenage monks as they begin their journeys towards enlightenment, cycling along the shores of the gently meandering river and gaining a true insight into the culture of this remote part of South East Asia.

Every Skier or snowboarder must, at least once in their life, ski in the Canadian Rockies. Whistler covers a huge area, encompassing both Whistler and Black Comb mountains and offers perhaps the best runs in North America. Suitable for beginners, experts and families alike, the mix of powder snow and an almost endless choice of runs guarantees a fantastic skiing experience. Not only that but the options of snowmobiling, heli-skiing and an abundance of restaurants dotted around the villages cobbled stone streets means that whether you’re interested in skiing or not there will always be something to do. Our perfect bolthole? It has to be one of the expansive private residences at the Four Seasons where you can enjoy top level service and unparalleled privacy.

In the heart of the action in Courcheval 1850, Cheval Blanc epitomises chic ski lodge. A luxury bolthole located on the slopes, it’s the little details that we love from preheated ski boots placed ready on the side of the slope each morning to the cups of hot chocolate waiting at the bottom of the mountain. Without doubt the skiing is amongst the best in the Alps but it is when you get back to the hotel that the magic really begins. Boasting a three Michelin star restaurant and beautifully designed suites, not to mention a world class spa to soothe tired limbs Cheval Blanc is truly the place to be. With Lux’s concierge service we will secure the very best tables in town as well as a private driver and ensure all of your ski equipment is waiting ready for your arrival.

One of Europe’s premier destination wellness clinics, the Sha is located in the beautiful Bay of Altea in south eastern Spain. Offering a huge range of treatments, courses and programs, no matter your goal or ailment, the Sha will help design the perfect stay. Whether for a short four day detox program featuring their award winning spa designed menus or a full recovery program featuring water therapies, massages or anti stress treatment, the Sha clinic will help you get back to feeling your very best. Of course the hotel itself is uber lux with spacious suites, incredible dining opportunities and a team of staff on hand to make sure your every whim is catered to.

The very epitome of healthy living, Chiva Som has for the last 21 years offered a quintessentially Thai wellness escape. Enjoy some of the best Thai massages, a delicious calorie controlled diet using only organically grown produce and a mixture of spa therapies and wellness programs. The beautiful retreat also boasts a team of US trained doctors specializing in many forms of dermatological and surgical treatments catering to your every need. Nestled alongside a tranquil beach on the Gulf of Thailand, close to Hua Hin, we’ll arrange a luxurious yet traditional Thai Pavilion just for you and help plan the perfect wellness escape.

In the highlands of Rwanda, deep in the bamboo forests reside families of highly protected mountain gorillas. We’ll take you to see these mesmorizing primates, the impressive silver back males, the mothers tending to their young and the juveniles playing and generally monkeying around. It’s a truly awe inspiring moment staring into the eyes of these magnificent animals in their own natural habitat. After a morning in the forest head back to your luxury bolt-hole, Virunga Lodge, a hill top retreat offering jaw-dropping views of lakes and the six surrounding volcanoes bordering the Congo. We’ll also hook you up with your own guide to show you the local villages and even visit one of the village schools.

Head to the Land of Fire and Ice in search of adventure and with so much to do, Iceland truly is a year-round destination. The perfect base? Deplar Farm in the remote north of the island where heli-skiing and wild fishing are specialties. In summer, enjoy 24 hour daylight giving you plenty of time to snorkel between tectonic plates in the clearest water in the world, visit geothermal geysers or explore the countryside on ATVs. In the winter months snow-based activities are a must and whilst snowmobiling and husky sledging are fantastic, there is nothing more quintessentially Icelandic than boarding super jeeps and heading towards the volcano fields. And of course the bonus of visiting in winter is the opportunity to see the spectacular Northern Lights dancing in the night sky.

For the ultimate Indian Ocean get away we can think of nowhere better than the private Maldivian atoll home to Four Seasons Landaa Giravaru. As soon as you step foot on the powder white sands, you’ll be pampered by your butler who is on hand throughout to help you get the most out of your holiday. Your expansive beachfront villa, with its very own pool, is the perfect spot to enjoy a private seafood bbq or romantic dinner under the stars. To enhance your stay, we’ll arrange special after-hours access to the spa for a very special moonlight massage or alternatively a trip on the crystal-clear waters to snorkel with majestic manta rays and swarms of tropical fish.

A true hideaway, Petit St Vincent is in the southern Grenadines, a gorgeous chain of islands just 150 miles west of Barbados. This private island is home to 22 individually designed luxury cottages dotted along the beach and amongst the tropical gardens. Enjoy amazing Caribbean hospitality whilst feasting on the freshest seafood and relaxing along the stunning western beach. We’ll arrange a private yacht to take you to the world famous Tobago Cays to snorkel with turtles and rays before sailing to a private sandbank for a gourmet picnic and sundowners.

What better way to see South Africa’s stunning veld than relaxing aboard the luxurious Rovos Rail train. With a variety of destinations from Namibia to Victoria Falls, you’ll start your journey in oh-so-lovely Cape Town before heading north in search of adventure. With exquisite wines and menu gourmands on board you’ll be treated to the finest South African cuisine as you watch the winelands give way to grasslands and eventually the bush. Your mobile home will carry you to some of southern Africa’s greatest wonders; the sand dunes of Sossusvlei, the Drackensburg Mountains or even a private game drive in the Nambiti game reserve. Naturally your suite features a full double bed with ensuite shower and all the comforts to make you feel right at home.

The French waterways in summertime are quite simply stunning. Meandering through sleepy medieval villages and flowering fields aboard your private luxury barge is one of life’s great experiences. Spend a week or more slowly making your way through the Languedoc, enjoying private wine tastings, exploring local markets or just relaxing beside your onboard swimming pool whilst a private chef and crew look after your every request. For the more active we’ll even set you up with bikes to explore the tow paths and villages dotted along the canals.

An hour north of San Francisco, Napa produces some of the world’s greatest vintages, think big cabernets and smooth chardonnays. With our network of insiders and private guides, Lux can arrange unique wine tastings and gourmet experiences tailored specifically to your tastes. We can gain access to a number of the top wineries not usually open to the public as well as securing tables at many of the valley’s top Michelin starred restaurants. For a grand finale we will arrange a private sunrise hot air balloon replete with champagne breakfast when you return to earth.

Life is lived at a slower pace in Bhutan with a focus on happiness and well-being alongside strong Bhuddist beliefs. The Himalayan kingdom is a true oasis; a series of serene valleys hidden away between snow-capped peaks.. The intimate luxury lodges that dot the valleys are the perfect base to explore temples, traditional festivals get under the skin of local life. We’ll send you on an unforgettable journey between Gantey, Paro and Punakha to meet monks, explore monasteries and visit the eponymous Tiger’s Nest Monastery in the clouds.

From horse riding to fly fishing, hiking, rafting and hot springs, Dunton provides the ultimate escape for the entire family. Located in the Colorado Rockies, the resort is a perfectly restored ghost town in a beautiful alpine valley. We’ll set you up in your own private log cabin, complete with fire place and majestic views over the peaceful forest. A huge team of knowledgeable staff are on hand to look after and pamper you throughout with incredible lunches and dinners and memories that will last a lifetime.

Escape to Oman for the ultimate family holiday. The deserted beach and gently lapping sea of the Musandam peninsula is perfect for the whole family and Six Senses Zighy Bay just two hours from Dubai, is a wonderful retreat to spend quality time with your loved ones. For a spectacular entrance we can arrange for you to ‘check in’ on top of the mountains behind the resort before you paraglide directly onto the beach in front of your room. With a spectacular restaurant built into the cliffs above the resort and a pristine beach lapped by invitingly warm tropical waters, Zighy Bay is the ideal location for all the family year round.

Escape from the traditional land based safari and instead take to the water to gain a different perspective on the Okovango’s resident wildlife. Aboard your very own cruiser you’ll visit isolated channels and tributaries, watching elephants, giraffes and lion come to drink and cool off. We’ve found the perfect luxury camp, at the heart of one of the world’s largest inland waterways with your very own plunge pool and an incredible culinary offering.

The highly-endangered Bengal Tiger now inhabits just a few select locations on the subcontinent so the opportunity to see these majestic cats in their natural habitat is a rare privilege. Fortunately, Lux has developed the ultimate Indian tiger safari that will see you based in Ranthambore National Park at the spectacular Vanyavillas; a true oasis in the heart of the jungle where Rudyard Kipling first took inspiration. With daily excursions in search of the elusive tiger, we will give you the best possible chance of laying eyes on this magnificent feline.