World Traveller June 2019

INSPIRED BY 

ISSUE 134 | JUNE 2019 | COMPLIMENTARY COPY 

A WEEKEND 

IN CAIRO 

PHUKET 

READER OFFERS 

COOL IDEAS 

FOR SUMMER 

NAMIBIA 

On the road 

to discovery 

Produced in Dubai Production City 

Classic Cuba 

How to pack incredible encounters and experiences into two weeks

JAresorts.com /Manafaru @JAManafaru_Maldives

Inspired by nature, 

ENHANCED BY LUXURY 

In the north of the Maldives lies an award-winning sanctuary, JA Manafaru. Nestled amid 

tropical backdrops are three ultra-luxurious Residences, designed for utmost comfort, and 

privacy without any compromises. Indulge in bespoke amenities to rejuvenate your mind, 

body, and soul. 

Awaken to the glaze of the tropical sun in the Grand Water Suite, with your own infinity pool 

a few steps outside the bedroom. Relish from expertly cooked dishes served in the coziness 

of the Royal Island Suite or leisurely watch as the day passes by from ‘The Royal Residence’, 

as the hues of the clear Maldivian sky shift from their beautiful blues to vivid violets. 

Your ultimate luxury getaway in the Maldives awaits off the shores of JA Manafaru. 

For bookings or more information, visit JAresorts.com 

or email reservations.manafaru@jaresorts.com

DOUBLEPOOL VILLAS 

BY BANYAN TREE 

Enjoy the tailored hospitality of your own Villa host to top 

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DESTINATION: 

LOUVRE ABU DHABI 

© Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi / Photo by Hufton+Crow. Architect: Jean Nouvel. 

SEE HUMANITY IN A NEW LIGHT 

Louvre Abu Dhabi brings different cultures together 

to shine light on the shared stories of human creativity. 

Admission: AED 63, children under 13 free 

BOOK 

A DAY 

AWAY 

louvreabudhabi.ae

Welcome note 

With the Eid Al Fitr holidays here and schools breaking up for 

the summer next month, you’ve got a couple more reasons 

to take a trip. If you haven’t yet stuck a pin in the map, simply 

turn to page 26 for eight jam-packed pages of inspiration. 

Managing Director 

Victoria Thatcher 

Editorial Director 

John Thatcher 

General Manager 

David Wade 

Managing Editor 

Faye Bartle 

faye@hotmediapublishing.com 

Content Writers 

Habiba Azab 

Sophia Dyer 

Art Director 

Kerri Bennett 

Senior Designer 

Hiral Kapadia 

Senior Advertising Manager 

Mia Cachero 

mia@hotmediapublishing.com 

Production Manager 

Muthu Kumar 

From living the high life in a luxury treehouse, 

to taking over an entire island in the Maldives and 

climbing aboard Britain’s first new sleeper train in 

35 years, get set to have a remarkable summer. 

Before you get swept away with the season’s 

travel frenzy, however, we suggest you curl up 

with our long reads. This month, we take you to on 

a fantasy trip to Cuba (page 36), on a journey to 

uncover the authentic charms of Thailand (page 

44) and on an adventure off the beaten track in 

Namibia (page 50). 

If you prefer to pack in a handful of long 

weekends, we’ve taken a closer look at some of the 

options you can tick off your list. A great place to 

start is with Habiba Azab’s guide to Cairo (page 

60), which tells you exactly how to get under the 

skin of this fast-paced city. 

Happy travels, 

Faye Bartle 

Win! 

A stay at Qasr Al 

Sarab Desert Resort 

by Anantara in Abu 

Dhabi on p75 

FIVE THINGS 

WE LEARNED 

THIS ISSUE: 

1 

You'll find Havana's 

coolest creative types 

on the rooftop at El del 

Frente, p36 

2 

Disney’s Aladdin was 

partly shot in the 

Hashemite Kingdom of 

southern Jordan, p20 

3 

Simple things, like 

loading your holiday 

reads onto your tablet 

instead of carrying the 

books, can make a big 

difference to your ecotravel 

credentials, p22 

4 

Don't leave Cairo 

without tasting Koshari; 

a unique mixture of rice, 

macaroni and lentils, 

all covered with a spicy 

tomato sauce, p60 

5 

Khao Phing Kan, 

is better known as 

Christopher Lee's 

private island in the 

James Bond film The 

Man with the Golden 

Gun, p44 

The filming of Aladdin © Disney 

INSPIRED BY 

Photography credits: 

Getty Images and Phocal Media 

Reproduction in whole or in 

part without written permission 

from HOT Media Publishing is 

strictly prohibited. HOT Media 

Publishing does not accept 

liability for omissions or errors in 

World Traveller. 

Tel: 00971 4 364 2876 

Fax: 00971 4 369 7494 

COVER IMAGE 

Getty Images 

Find us at… 

ONLINE worldtravellermagazine.com 

FACEBOOK @WorldTravellerME 

INSTAGRAM @worldtravellerme 

TWITTER @WTravellerME 

worldtravellermagazine.com 5

Discover a Revolutionary Beauty Line! 

Renew for the journey ahead. 

We have something new and exciting for you. 

Behold the mind-blowing, anti-aging and hydrating facial treatments by an innovative 

Korean product line, which uses Diamonds. Yes, you read that right! Diamonds are 

known for their ability to deliver ingredients to the deepest layers of your skin. 

Want to know the best part? You get to go home with your own box of exquisite 

products after each treatment. 

For more information or to make a booking please call +971 4 414 6754. 

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai | Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay, PO Box 121000, Dubai, UAE 

mhrs.dxbjw.spa@marriott.com | jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com

Credit: The Wild Hotel, Mykonos © Yiorgos Kordakis 

Contents 

June 2019 

16 

GLOBETROTTER 

regulars 

10 15 22 74 76 

TRENDING 

DESTINATIONS 

This month's go-to 

places include magical 

Madagascar, the Windy 

City of Chicago, and 

beautiful Langkawi. 

GLOBETROTTER 

From as-seen-onscreen 

destinations to 

foodie finds in Hong 

Kong and hot new 

hotels, there's plenty to 

sink your teeth into. 

THE KNOWLEDGE 

Give your ecocredentials 

a boost 

with these easy and 

practical tips for happy 

holidays that don't cost 

the earth. 

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD 

Head online for 

exclusive content and, 

better still, the chance 

to win a two-night stay 

at Qasr Al Sarab Desert 

Resort by Anantara. 

SUITE DREAMS 

Fall in love with the 

Eiffel Tower views 

from the Jean-Michel 

Wilmotte designed 

Suite Amour at Hotel 

Lutetia in Paris. 


CONTENTS 

features 

26 36 

COOL IDEAS FOR HOW TO DO CUBA 

SUMMER 

Our Cuba expert, Claire 

Summer's here and Boobbyer, takes us on 

if you're still making a journey through an 

plans, we have a whole island rich in culture 

host of cool ideas to help. and endless charm. 

44 

REALITY BITES 

Who said Phuket was 

all beaches and revelry? 

Nick Redman tries an 

authentic Thai on a trip 

full of flavour. 

50 

REMOTE CONTROL 

Chris Haslam veers 

off the tourist trail in 

Namibia to discover 

the land as it once was: 

empty and magical. 

6 0 

CAIRO 

weekends 

58 60 

CULTURE TRIP A LONG WEEKEND 

The first of our new IN CAIRO 

series highlights the Our Egypt insider goes 

cultural charms of beyond the pyramids to 

Tunisia's capital. 

reveal the heart of Cairo. 

66 

STAYCATIONS 

Feel in need of a break? 

We have a couple more 

reasons to book a 

weekend escape. 

70 

TRAVEL OFFERS 

It's time we sent you 

packing. Choose your 

next adventure from 

our exclusive offers. 

8 worldtravellermagazine.com

RARE, INDIGENOUS, CAPTIVATING. 

Experience the alluring, golden desert landscape, the captivating silence of nature, the free-roaming 

wildlife in the reserve, all enjoyed from your private suite and pool. Indulge in a luxurious desert adventure 

with camel treks, horseback riding, falconry, archery, dune drives and more. 

HOTELS THAT DEFINE THE DESTINATION 

FOR RESERVATIONS, PLEASE CALL 971 4 832 9900 

OR VISIT THELUXURYCOLLECTION.COM/ALMAHA

TRENDING DESTINATIONS 

Emily Williams, dnata Travel’s resident globetrotter, 

reveals the best places to hop on a plane to this month 

Chicago 

There's much to love about Chicago in June. Make the most of the moderate weather and enjoy the open-air music, 

food and art festivals, have a picnic in Grant Park, and browse the unique boutiques and outlet malls. A top spot for 

foodies, you'll never go hungry here, with a variety of outdoor food festivals taking place throughout the summer, 

offering dishes from around the world. And of course, you can try the famous deep-dish pizza at any time of year. 

Highlights 1 Take a helicopter flight at dusk for breathtaking views of the illuminated city skyline with narration by an experienced guide. 

2 Art buffs should head to the Art Institute of Chicago to see Manet’s works in the Modern Beauty exhibition running until 8 September. 

3 Lose yourself in the Lurie gardens, an oasis of beautiful shrubberies and flowers in the middle of the city. 



Amalfi Coast 

Fly in to Rome and explore Italy’s ancient past before hopping on a domestic flight to Naples, or driving directly 

to the dream-like Amalfi Coast. Take in some of the world’s most incredible coastal landscapes, with rugged cliffs 

towering over boutique beaches, olive gardens and lemon groves. Highlights include Sorrento, which sits atop a cliff 

with views of Mount Vesuvius, the colourful houses of Positano, and taking a boat trip to the island of Capri. 

Highlights 1 Learn how to cook traditional Italian food just like mama, at Mamma Agata’s cooking school. 2 Walk the lemon path from Maiori 

to Minori to see the golden fruits aplenty – a scene iconic of the Amalfi coast. 3 Consider travelling 4km to the bay of Conca de’ Marini where 

you can discover the Emerald Grotto – a cave with an intense green hue. 


Langkawi 

In beautiful Langkawi, the oncoming wet season brings comfortable temperatures. Plus, it's less crowded. Best 

accessed from Kuala Lumpur via a domestic flight, this coastal gem is geographically closer to Thailand than 

mainland Malaysia. There’s much to explore across its 99 islets, with breathtaking beaches interspersed with 

tropical rainforests and vibrant towns. Base yourself at a luxury resort for the perfect island escape. 

Highlights 1 Climb aboard a boat and explore the mangrove forest where you'll see eagles flying above head. 2 Take an Instagram snap at new 

heights: the pedestrianized, 410ft-long Langkawi Sky Bridge offers spectacular views worthy of sharing. 3 Head to the Langkawi night market 

to pick up a bargain or two and soak up the bustling ambience. 



Madagascar 

It’s not surprising that the remote Indian Ocean island of Madagascar tends to make the bucket list of nature and 

wildlife enthusiasts. Here, a high percentage of all plant and animal life, including the endangered lemur, exist 

nowhere else on Earth. Fly in via African gateways to access its vast stretches of white-sand beaches, rainforests, 

and even active volcanoes. In June, before the peak tourist season, rainfall is minimal and the flora is striking. 

Highlights 1 Take a cruise to see humpback whales as they arrive for the summer months. 2 Head South to visit the city of Ambositra, 

where you will find rich culture including Madagascar’s traditional wood-carving industry. 3 Go camping at Masoala Park, where you 

can enjoy hiking the trails before bedding down for a night under the stars. 


JUNE 

Globetrotter 

XXXXXXXXXXXXX 

Be informed, be inspired, be there 

MAMMA MIA! 

Escape to the charming Savelletri di 

Fasano, along Italy's Adriatic coast, and 

be surrounded by ancient olive groves 

at the newly renovated Masseria Torre 

Maizza. This stylish Rocco Forte resort 

in Puglia, set in an original farmhouse 

dating to the 16th century, has 40 suites 

with stunning views of the Apulian 

countryside. We say book the new twobedroom 

Torre Suite on the top floor of 

the masseria’s original tower, and live la 

dolce vita at the pool, 9-hole golf course 

and private beach club. 

Photo: Interni Restaurant © Margarita Nikitaki 


GLOBETROTTER 

NEW HOTELS 

Hot new places 

to sleep, dine 

and unwind 

1 The Wild Hotel, Mykonos 

If you're a fan of the Paola 

Navone designed Interni 

Restaurant in Mykonos, 

then you'll love the island's 

new hotel from the very 

same owner: The Wild Hotel 

in Kalafati Beach. Set in a 

natural amphitheatre next 

to a tiny beachfront village 

that was once inhabited by 

brave fishermen known as 

‘the wild ones', the hotel has 

40 suites and villas inspired 

by traditional Grecian 

architecture. It would be a 

tragedy not to stay. 

The Wild Hotel 

Photo by Yiorgos Kordakis 

Bed down in a Deluxe Double 

The Wild Hotel 

Located on a 

picturesque cliffside, 

this design-led 

retreat has a dreamy 

infinity pool with 

views across the 

Aegean Sea, a 

private beach, and 

The Taverna serving 

classic dishes from 

the Cyclades Islands. 

The pool at The Wild Hotel 

Photo by Yiorgos Kordakis 

2 Hotel Hendricks, New 

York City 

Just one block from the 

Fashion District and 

Bryant Park in the heart of 

Manhattan, this chic Big 

Apple bolthole celebrates 

its official opening this 

month. With interiors 

by LA-based designer 

Marcello Pozzi, each of the 

176 guestrooms boast ace 

views of the Empire State 

Building and the cityscape. 

With two rooftop bars and 

the Latin-infused restaurant 

Carbonero, it's our new 

favourite Midtown hotspot. 

Hotel Hendricks 

A little touch of 

luxury amid the 

hustle and bustle of 

Midtown, you'll feel 

like an insider here. 

Be sure to head to 

The Zoo rooftop for 

panoramic views of 

vibrant Manhattan. 

A swimming pool with a view 

The Zoo rooftop 

3 The One Palácio da 

Anunciada, Lisbon 

This stunning retreat in 

exclusive La Baixa is housed 

within a restored 16th 

century palace that was 

once the home of one of 

Portugal’s most esteemed 

noble families, Condes de 

Ericeira. Stay in the Tower 

Suite for great views, dine 

on traditional Portuguese 

fare at Condes de Ericeira 

Restaurant and seek out the 

century-old dragon tree in 

the magnificent gardens. 

The One Palácio 

da Anunciada 

Staying here places 

you at the heart 

of the city's luxury 

shopping district, 

and close to the main 

tourist attractions, 

such as St George’s 

Castle and the Santa 

Justa Lift. 

Make a grand entrance 


TAKE THE PLUNGE 

SCTDA X WORLD TRAVELLER 

There are many ways to cool off this summer in the waters of Sharjah. With diving, 

kayaking, deep sea fishing and more to enjoy, it’s time to stretch your sea legs… 

Kayaking in Kalba 

Scuba diving in Khorfakkan 

A sunset yoga session in Khorfakkan 

Flanked by the Arabian Gulf to the 

west and the Indian Ocean to 

the east, Sharjah is surrounded 

by beautiful stretches of coastline that 

call adventure seekers to test their skills 

on the water. But you don’t have to be 

a seasoned watersports fan to take a 

deeper dive into the emirate’s aquatic 

allure. Just a short drive east of the city 

centre (45 minutes to be precise, thanks 

to the new tunnel along the Sharjah- 

Khorfakkan road), is the picturesque 

bay of Khorfakkan, which is home to 

several seafront hotels. With a backdrop 

of the Hajar Mountains, this cosy 

enclave, which translates to the ‘creek 

of two jaws’, enjoys cooler mountain 

temperatures, making it the ideal spot 

for a summer escape. Visitors can 

take part in a host of water activities, 

including scuba diving, and discover a 

vibrant underwater world. 

Further along the east coast is the 

historic fishing village of Kalba, which 

lays claim to Arabia’s oldest natural 

mangrove forest. Get back to nature 

by learning more about the area’s rich 

ecosystem, which boasts many species 

of rare, indigenous wildlife, such as the 

eagle owl, that live amid the protected 

Fishing in Khorfakkan 

natural beaches. Go kayaking through 

the mangroves and you can observe some 

of the rarest bird species in the world 

that thrive in the forest. Next, take an 

educational trip to the nearby Kalba Bird 

of Prey Centre to learn more about our 

feathered friends. 

Avid deep sea fishers will find a 

reason to cast a line on either side of the 

emirate. On the Arabian Gulf side to the 

west, you can catch barracuda, kingfish 

and trevally, while on the east coast you 

may be in the running for yellowfin tuna, 

dorado and sailfish. 

If you fancy a day of undisturbed 

relaxation or beach-side activities, the 

beaches of Sharjah are sure to deliver. Al 

Khan Beach, near the Al Khan historic 

area, is a popular spot for active types as 

well as those who prefer to slow down 

the pace. Teaming beautiful scenery 

with clean, safe waters and a range of 

activities to suit all abilities, step into 

the gentle surf and feel a wave of calm 

wash over you as you ponder your next 

big travel adventure. 

To find out more, visit sharjah.com 


GLOBETROTTER 

Amber at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong 

FOODIE FLINGS 

Indulge in these gourmet 

escapes in Asia's culinary 

powerhouse: Hong Kong 

STARRY BITES 

To celebrate the reopening 

of the two Michelin-starred 

Amber, and the launch of 

three new culinary concepts 

– SOMM, Sushi Shikon and 

Kappo Rin (the latter two are 

limited to just eight seats) – 

the Great Gourmet Escape 

by The Landmark Mandarin 

Oriental, Hong Kong is sure to 

tempt you. Stay in a luxurious 

suite, with a daily bubbly 

breakfast, seven-course 

dinner for two at Amber, 

late check-out and priority 

restaurant reservations. 

A TASTE OF THE ARTS 

Team a love of art and food 

with the zen-inspired private 

dining experience inside 

Zhi-gang Lu’s art piece, 

The Wonder Room, at The 

Peninsula Hong Kong. Crafted 

using meticulous woodworking 

techniques, the complex 

egg-shaped structure is a 

modern take on the traditional 

Chinese teahouse, and marks 

the launch of Peninsula's Art 

in Resonance programme. 

Available until 21 June. 

ON OUR RADAR 

The updated volume of 

this coffee table favourite 

for globetrotters features 

the best of the popular 

travel series, with 150 

bite-sized itineraries 

of the world’s most 

captivating cities. The 

New York Times 36 

Hours World, published 

by Taschen, taschen.com 

Starved of sleep? You 

need the Sleep Collection 

Journey at One&Only 

Reethi Rah in Maldives. 

The four-night escape 

offers pampering sleep 

goodies, soothing 

underwater activities, 

advice from a sleep trainer 

and a 90-minute, slumberinducing 

spa treatment. 

Not for the faint-hearted, 

Anantara Dhigu, Anantara 

Veli and Naladhu Private 

Island in Maldives now offer 

IV Therapy. With sessions 

for jet-lag, immunity 

anti-ageing and more, 

vitamins, minerals and 

amino acids are introduced 

to the bloodstream via an 

intravenous drip. 

Spotlighting places 

around the world that 

have inspired the famous 

fashion house, the Gucci 

Courrier collection 

features patches that 

reference Gucci's iconic 

store in Piccadilly, 

London. Selected pieces 

are now available at 

Maison Assouline Dubai. 


GLOBETROTTER 

The Langham Huntington, Pasadena 

ON LOCATION 

Follow in the footsteps of silver screen stars 

by visiting these popular filming spots 

What: Saving Mr. Banks, Murder She 

Wrote, and more 

Where: The Langham Huntington, 

Pasadena 

Filmmakers have long been drawn to the 

property’s Spanish Mission architecture, 

elegant gardens, and panoramic view 

that epitomises the cinematic expression 

of Southern California. Today, a new 

tour by filming locations explorer Jared 

Cowan will guide you on a cinematic 

excursion of the hotel, with still images, 

film clips and exclusive anecdotes from 

industry execs bringing the experience 

to life. The 90-minute tour ends with 

cream tea in Lonny Lounge. 

Get on the scene: Organised by 

My Valley Pass and The Langham 

Huntington, Pasadena. Available 

until 14 July. 

What: Aladdin 

Where: Wadi Rum and Wadi 

Disi in Jordan 

Disney’s Aladdin, directed by Guy 

Ritchie and featuring an all-star cast 

including Will Smith as the Genie, 

Mena Massoud as Aladdin and Naomi 

Scott as Jasmine, was shot between 

Longcross Studios and Arborfield 

Studios in the UK and the Hashemite 

Kingdom of southern Jordan. On 

location filming took place in the 

stunning Wadi Rum and Wadi Disi 

desert, where Lawrence of Arabia was 

shot, with 150 locals joining the UK 

crew to help bring the mysterious city 

of Agrabah to life. 

Get on the scene: Discover the desert 

by glamping in a Bedouin style tent at 

Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp. 

The filming of Aladdin © Disney 

Lights, camera, action! 

For the red-carpet treatment on your doorstep, make sure you're among the first to 

stay at Paramount Hotel Dubai, which is set to open in Q3 2019 (it'll be the first ever 

property by Paramount Hotels and Resorts in the Middle East). Located in Business 

Bay, the design is inspired by Hollywood movie sets, with a screening room, Californiastyle 

pool deck and more – even the General Manager is known as ‘the Director’. 

Rooms and suites have cinema-inspired names, with exclusive behind-the-scenes 

photography from the Paramount Pictures archive on the walls. 


CREATE 

SPECIAL 

MOMENTS 

WITH US. 

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incomparable panoramic views 

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of all worlds with luxurious 

accommodation, three 

contemporary dining 

destinations and a blissful 

caravanserai-inspired, Saray Spa. 

DUBAI MARRIOTT HARBOUR HOTEL & SUITES 

KING SALMAN BIN ABDULAZIZ AL SAUD STREET 

DUBAI MARINA, PO BOX 66662, DUBAI, UAE 

T. 971.4.319.4000 | DUBAIMARRIOTTHARBOURHOTEL.COM 

Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites 

@marriottharbour

KNOW-HOW 

The Knowledge 

HOW TO... 

How to holiday the sustainable way 

Give your eco-credentials a boost with these tips for happy 

holidays that don’t cost the earth 

BEFORE YOU GO 

Choose your destination wisely. 

“Travelling affects the environment so 

explore your transportation options 

and, wherever possible, try to minimise 

your pollution,” says Randy Durband, 

CEO of The Global Sustainable Tourism 

Council (GSTC). Remember, you don’t 

always need to travel far and wide to 

have a brilliant break. There are many 

destinations in and around the Middle 

East, at which a variety of rich travel 

experiences await. 

Do you research. “Once you have 

decided on your destination, check 

for hotels and resorts that have an 

active sustainability programme or 

eco-friendly initiatives,” says Randy. If 

the hotel has been certified by a GSTC 

accredited body, it means it has passed 

impartial sustainability checks. You 

can also look into the eco experiences 

and activities on offer. JA Manafaru in 

Maldives, for instance, offers a House 

Reef Cleaning snorkelling experience 

that invites guests to help collect 

foreign objects from the reefs. Atlantis, 

The Palm in Dubai shines a light on 

cultivating marine wildlife, most recently 

releasing 15 baby sharks into the Gulf. 

Pack lightly. “One’s carbon footprint 

includes the amount of weight we 

carry,” says Randy. Make an effort to 

streamline your suitcase as much as 

possible by packing mindfully. Simple 

steps can make difference, such as 

loading your holiday reads onto your 

tablet instead of carrying the physical 

books. Even the little things will count, 

such as taking your new toothbrush 

out of its plastic wrapper ahead of 

your trip, so you’re saving space and 

avoiding throwing away rubbish at your 

destination, where you may not have 

access to recycling facilities. 

WHILE YOU’RE THERE 

Shop consciously. “Don’t haggle for 

the lowest price with a vendor who 

makes in a week what you spend on 

one coffee,” says Randy. Although it 

may be tempting to battle it out for a 

bargain, be mindful that what may seem 

like little money to you could mean a 

lot to them. You should also make sure 

that your souvenirs don’t contain coral, 

shells or wood products harvested from 

unsustainable forests. 

Swot up on animal rights. “As it comes 

down to a matter of opinion, it's not 

easy to state which animal attractions 

are ethical, but you should always 

do your research,” says Randy. “A 

good source to learn about the issues 

surrounding this topic is animondial. 

com.” Although it may be cool to take a 

picture riding an elephant, for example, 

consider how these animals are being 

treated before supporting it with your 

money. Look into volunteering at an 

animal sanctuary, where you’ll get to 

meet animals up close in a safe and 

ethical way. 

Be a responsible guest. “Be conscious 

of your destination’s environmental 

challenges,” says Randy. “For example, 

limit water usage when visiting desert 

destinations.” Opting for showers over 

baths, bringing your own reusable 

water bottle to refill and making an 

effort to reuse your towels are all easy 

ways to consume less. If everyone 

makes a small effort, it combines to 

make a big difference. 

WHEN YOU’RE HOME 

Share the good stuff. “Write 

favourable online reviews about 

hotels and attractions that operate 

sustainably,” says Randy. You can 

influence others to make mindful 

holiday choices through the photos 

you share and the stories you 

tell. Keep learning and spreading 

awareness about how good it feels to 

holiday with a conscience. 


WORLD TRAVELLER X LE MÉRIDIEN AL AQAH BEACH RESORT 

Rise and shine 

Get set for a summer full of adventure at this family-friendly resort in Fujairah 

*Terms and conditions apply. 

Tucked away between the Indian 

Ocean and the Al Hajar mountains, 

natural beauty is a given at Le 

Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, but 

there’s more to this Fujairah favourite 

than meets the eye. On top of sun, sea 

and sand, this popular holiday spot is a 

hub for thrill-seekers, with everything 

from scuba diving to fly fishing, 

abseiling and zip lining on offer. 

Drive here from Dubai and you’ll only 

need to endure a 90-minute chorus of 

“are we nearly there yet?” until you’re 

at the centre of all the action. Upon 

arrival, check into a spacious Superior 

Ocean View Room for a tranquil view of 

the swimming pool and beach. Or, for 

larger broods, The Penthouse Bedroom 

Suite has more than enough space for 

six people to bed down in style. 

Head to the breakfast buffet where 

the aroma of freshly roasted coffee 

will get you into active mode, pronto. 

Towel in hand, hot step it to Baywatch 

village, which hosts the largest freeform 

swimming pool on the emirate’s 

East Coast. After a morning splashing 

about, kids aged four to 16 can join the 

Le Meridien Family Club, which has 

a non-stop line-up of activities and 

entertainment. Meanwhile, mum and 

dad can check into Al Aqah Spa for a 

relaxing couples’ massage followed by a 

dip in the plunge pool. 

Next, for some adrenaline-pumping 

family fun, get warmed up for the 

resort’s own obstacle course, the Al 

Aqah Challenge. Featuring the firstof-its-kind 

rope course tower on the 

East Coast, you can take part in five 

activities under the watchful eye of 

the expert instructors. From zooming 

through the air on the zip lines to 

scaling the climbing wall, it’s sure to 

bring out your competitive side. 

After a jam-packed day, your appetite 

will surely be reaching a peak. As luck 

would have it, the resort is home to 

eight dining venues. Sink your teeth 

into delicious grills at the beachfront 

Gonu, or head to Views Restaurant for 

an east-meets-west fusion buffet and 

live music. Alternatively, check out hot 

new foodie spot Taste, which serves 

flavourful Indian and Thai food. 

What’s more, during the summer, 

you can enjoy the full Al Aqah 

experience for less, with Marriott 

Bonvoy members saving up to 25% 

and non-members receiving 15% off 

everything until 25 September*. 

To find out more, visit marriott.com 


Wake up to dazzling sea views 

A taste for luxury 

Combine a love of food and travel at this Thai-inspired resort in Dubai, where 

bespoke dining experiences and summer savings make it a trip to remember 

In his Meditations on Gastronomy, 

philosopher Jean Brillat-Savarin boldly 

said, “The discovery of a new dish does 

more for the happiness of the human race 

than the discovery of a star.” With cutlery 

in place of a telescope, Anantara The Palm 

Dubai Resort promises to put a smile on 

your face with its delicious line-up of 

memorable dining experiences. 

Famous for its over-water villas, this 

luxurious resort occupies a premium spot 

on the East Crescent of Palm Jumeirah, 

delivering an idyllic beach experience that’s 

within easy reach of the bright lights of the 

big city. Currently, you can save up to 30% 

on a One Bedroom Over Water Villa or a 

One Bedroom Beach Pool Villa, complete 

with a daily buffet breakfast for two. Once 

you’ve found your feet, let the culinary 

team whisk you off on a gastronomic 

journey like no other. At the top of the 

wish list is the bespoke Dining by Design 

experience, which takes place on a secluded 

slice of sand, offering a curated collection 

of menus to pick from. Or, for a true taste of 

culinary extravagance, you can collaborate 

with a personal chef to tailor a fine feast 

that ticks all the boxes. Candles set the 

mood for this exclusive romantic meal for 

two while the sea laps the shore, providing 

the ultimate tranquil soundtrack. A butler 

is on hand during the meal to tend to any 

request you may have. 

After a day swimming in lagoon, or 

unwinding at your private pool, perhaps 

you’re in the mood for a lighter evening 


WORLD TRAVELLER X ANANTARA THE PALM DUBAI RESORT 

meal? Anantara’s Sunset Dining experience 

allows just that. Relish the handpicked 

selection of Mediterranean antipasti, 

including international cured meats and 

fine cheeses, as the amber and golden hues 

of the sunset provide a blissful ambience. 

It’s priced at Dhs600 per couple for 

antipasti, dessert and a bottle of grape. 

Those with exotic tastes can immerse 

themselves in Anantara’s Thai heritage by 

taking a cooking class at Spice Spoons. This 

richly interactive, step-by-step cooking 

experience will teach you how to make an 

array of authentic Thai dishes. Not only can 

you enjoy your creations for lunch, but you 

can take your new skill back home with you 

as a lasting memory of your holiday. 

Once your appetite is satisfied, you 

can round off your trip by trying some 

of the non-foodie experiences on offer. 

Watersports abound with waterskiing, 

kayaking and wakeboarding fit for 

thrillseekers. Those seeking a more 

serene experience out at sea can try paddle 

boarding or fishing. If you’re in the mood 

to be pampered, you can indulge with a 

traditional hammam or a tension-busting 

massage. However you prefer to spend 

your down time, this tropical paradise is a 

magnet for all those with good taste. 

To find out more, call +971 4 567 8888 

or visit anantara.com 

Join a Spice Spoons 

cooking class 

The Dining by Design experience takes 

place on a secluded stretch of sand 


XXXXXXXXXXXXX 

IceHotel365 

Cool ideas for summer 

Still sweating over your plans for 

the summer? Fear not, we have the 

answers. Lots of them. Whether 

you fancy a drop in temperature, 

endless sunshine or simply staying 

put to take advantage of amazing 

hotel deals, we'll take you there 


SUMMER TRAVEL 2019 

HEAD SOMEWHERE CHILLED 

Iceland 

Things don't get much cooler than Iceland's 

soaring glaciers, and summer (when it's 

warmer and sunny) is the best time to 

explore their mighty magnificence. Do so 

while strapped into a snowmobile. 

New Zealand 

The seasons are flipped below the equator 

so while we're sweltering, New Zealanders 

are throwing on their thermals and hitting the 

slopes. Join them in the North Island and you 

can ski on an active volcano at Mt Ruapehu. 

Australia 

You don't have to go to extremes to enjoy 

cooler climes. Sydney is a brilliant city all year 

round, and its temperate winter is perfect for 

discovering it on foot and via ferry. 

St Petersberg 

Svalbard 

Sweden 

The country's original Ice Hotel is rebuilt 

every winter, yet its younger sibling, Ice 

Hotel365, is a 20-room permanent palace of 

ice – and a cooling -5°C inside. 

Sydney 

Iceland 

Enjoy endless 

sunshine 

(literally) 

1As the official hometown 

of Santa Claus, you'd 

expect the beautiful 

wilderness of Finland's 

Rovaniemi to be abuzz at 

Christmas, but its appeal in 

summer is equally magical: 

24hr daylight, thanks to its 

position on the Arctic Circle. 

Plenty of time to pack the 

likes of horseback riding and 

husky rides into your day – 

or even a trip to see Santa, 

who's always on duty here. 

2An archipelago that's 

halfway between 

Norway and the North 

Pole, Svalbard is actually 

home to more polar bears 

than humans – and the 

world's northernmost sushi 

restaurant. Its polar summer 

means it's in daylight until 

the end of September, a time 

when its fjords are flooded 

by the arrival of whales, a 

sight best observed by kayak. 

3You don't have to head 

somewhere remote 

to bask in the glow of 

endless daylight. During the 

so-named White Nights of 

summer (mid-June is the 

peak), the sun never truly 

sets on St Petersberg – cue 

a time for myriad festivals, 

concerts and alfreso parties. 


LIVE THE HIGH LIFE 

Take your childhood dreams to the next level by bedding 

down inside these luxury treehouses designed especially 

for grown-ups. Set amid lush rainforest, Keemala in 

Phuket (pictured), has seven treehouses, as well as the 

cleverly designed Bird's Nest Pool Villas, so you can take 

a dip amid the branches. For a touch of Maldives magic, 

the Skyhouse with Bubble villa at Amilla Fushi calls 

with its infinity pool extended over the treetops and the 

bubble itself housing a telescope, daybed, and removable 

roof for stargazing. If you're game for something a bit 

more rustic, La Cabane en L’Air in France is a collection 

of some 200 treehouses spread across the country. We 

rate the Cabane Spa Vintage treehouse in Aquitaine, 

which wows with its pink vintage car on the terrace and 

breathtaking views of the Garonne Valley. 



Beat the crowds to see one of these 

in-the-know places 

Opposite: A Bird's Nest Pool 

Villa, Keemala in Phuket 

This page, clockwise from top: 

Aso Rock, Abuja; Tashkent; Sochi 

ABUJA, NIGERIA 

With Emirates launching 

three additional flights each 

week from the beginning 

of June, it has never been 

easier to get from Dubai to 

Nigeria’s capital city and seat 

of political power. Abuja runs 

at a different pace to Lagos, 

with lots to do outdoors. 

Take time out to visit the 

imposing Aso Rock before 

exploring the many green 

spaces, such as Millennium 

Park, which was designed by 

world-renowned architect 

Manfredi Nicoletti. 

TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN 

The capital and largest city 

of Uzbekistan, Tashkent is 

a hotspot for culture buffs, 

with more than 2,200 years 

of history and almost 50 

museums to discover. Start 

by paying a trip to the 

State Museum of History of 

Uzbekistan, one of the oldest 

museums in Central Asia 

with more than 300,000 

exhibits. Next, embark on 

an architecture tour to take 

in the beautiful mosques, 

madrassahs and skyscrapers. 

There are five flights a week 

from Dubai, via Flydubai – a 

route that launched in March 

this year. 

SOCHI, RUSSIA 

This Black Sea city, which 

hosted the 2014 Winter 

Olympics and Paralympics, 

teams stunning scenery 

with culture thanks to its 

mountainous coastline and 

historical sites. Take a peek 

inside Stalin’s Dacha, the 

historic summer residence 

of Joseph Stalin, and shop 

the famous fruit markets, 

stopping to taste a local 

delicacy: Russian Lavash (a 

baked flatbread) with a warm 

cup of tea. Flydubai will 

whizz you here from Dubai 

from 7 June. 


GET A REAL 

TASTE FOR 

A CITY 

Its name may not roll of the tongue 

(O, da! Eda!, which translates to 

English as Oh, yes! That's food!) but 

this annual Moscow festival (June 

2-28) promises to serve up the whole 

gastronomic panorama of Moscow, 

giving guests the opportunity to 

sample dishes from start-ups to 

established restaurants and chefs of 

the calibre of Vladimir Mukhin. 

Nordic cuisine still commands 

a seat at the top table of on trend 

gastronomic fare and Copenhagen 

Cooking is one of the biggest food 

festivals in Northern Europe. For ten 

days from 23 August you can gorge 

on a smörgåsbord of Nordic dishes 

cooked up by stellar name chefs. 

The northeasternmost US state 

of Maine is famous for its succulent 

lobsters, so much so that there's a 

dedicated festival - Maine Lobster 

Festival, 31 July to 4 August – at 

which 19,000 pounds of the coveted 

crustaceans are cooked up. If you're 

partial to a lobster roll, this is where 

you can chow down on the ultimate 

grilled sandwich. 



Try out a soon-to-be 

family favourite 

GET QUEUING... FOR STAR WARS: GALAXY'S EDGE 

Disney splashed a sum that was out of this galaxy to land the Star 

Wars franchise, and continues to invest heavily in it. Before the finale 

to the original series of movies drops in December, Star Wars fans 

have long anticipated the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, a 

14-acre Star Wars land added to both Disneyland in California (open 

now) and Disney World in Florida (opening in the fall), both of which 

reportedly cost a cool $1 billion to build. Rides include Millennium 

Falcon: Smugglers Run, which puts riders at the control of Han Solo's 

legendary ship, and the forthcoming Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, 

an interactive battle against the First Order. May the force be with you. 

ALL ABOARD... BRITAIN'S FIRST NEW SLEEPER TRAIN IN 35 YEARS 

With the idea to offer a hotel on wheels, the new Caledonian Sleeper 

service, which hits the tracks from London to Edinburgh and Glasgow, 

is the first time you can spend the night in a double bed on a UK railway. 

Departing London a little before midnight, your pyjama-clad clan can 

bed down in an en-suite Caledonian Double and wake in Scotland to 

Highland porridge with honey for breakfast. Adventure awaits. 

GO WILD... WITH BEAR GRYLLS 

Before The Bear Grylls Survival Academy opens on Ras Al Khaimah's 

Jebel Jais next year, you'll have to travel to the UK or US to partake of 

his exhilarating adventure courses, designed for fathers and sons, and 

mothers and daughters alike. The Primal Survival Family Adventure 

teaches myriad survival skills as you cross testing terrain for 24hrs. This 

is what happens when you call a child Bear. 

Left: Mikkeller & Friends, 

Copenhagen 

Inset: Star Wars: Galaxy's 

Edge © Disney 


RECONNECT WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS 

Samujana 

Feeling overwhelmed with life? Push 

the reset button in the lush green jungle 

of Lipa in the Philippines, where The 

Farm at San Benito is offering a new 

mental health programme for those 

who are affected by depression, stress, 

and anxiety. A 90-minute drive south 

of Manila, this holistic medical wellness 

resort has a team of professionals 

on hand to help rid you of unwanted 

thoughts. Expect psychotherapy 

sessions, hydrotherapy and daily 

movement activities, including mandala 

flower arrangement, with nourishing 

homegrown vegan food aplenty. 

Yoga buffs can practise their sun 

salutations at Samujana in Koh Samui, 

which promises to refresh body and 

mind with its health and wellbeing 

holidays. Each of the villas have a 

private infinity pool for moments of 

reflection, and little touches make it 

easy to kick-start a healthier lifestyle, 

with yoga mats in the living room, 

nutritious snacks in the mini-bar, 

meditation apps on the in-room mobile, 

and a delicious detox menu to dine 

from. You can book a one-, two- or 

three-day programme that'll hook you 

up with healthy meals, yoga sessions, 

pampering spa treatments and more. 

If being a master in the kitchen feeds 

your soul, you can take time out to learn 

some culinary skills at Sauce by The 

Sauce by The Langham 

Langham, the new informal cookery 

school at the five-star hotel in London. 

There are classes to suit all confidence 

levels and abilities, including Building 

Blocks for enthusiastic home cooks, 

which will put you through you paces 

by honing your knife skills, teaching you 

how to make fresh pasta, and helping 

you learn the basics of preparing stocks 

and sauces. With up to 12 people per 

class, it's a great way to meet likeminded 

foodies, while focusing on you. 

Throw caution to 

the wind 

The white sands, swaying coconut palms, and glistening 

waters of the Indian Ocean can be all yours at Naladhu 

Private Island Maldives, which is now available for private 

takeovers. Here, you and your entourage (there are 20 

houses dotted across the island) can craft a tailor-made 

stay, with everything from snorkelling with sharks to 

picnics on the sandbanks just a finger click away. 



STAY HOME AND 

HOTEL HOP 

1To the desert. Channel 

your inner David 

Attenborough by getting 

an up-close view of indigenous 

wildlife, such as Arabian oryx 

and gazelles, albeit from the 

comfort of your temperaturecontrolled 

infinity pool, at Al 

Maha, a Luxury Collection 

Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai. 

An enduring favourite for a 

traditional Arabian experience, 

the resort is nestled amid the 

golden dunes of Dubai Desert 

Conservation Reserve. 

2To the city. If it's 

sweeping views of the 

skyline you're after, the 

new voco Dubai more than 

delivers. Situated in the heart of 

all the action on Sheikh Zayed 

Road, each of the rooms have 

floor-to-ceiling panoramic 

windows, so you can gaze at 

the city in all its glory. 

Clockwise from top: 

Al Maha, a Luxury 

Collection Desert 

Resort & Spa, Dubai; 

voco Dubai; JA Hatta 

Fort Hotel; Mandarin 

Oriental Jumeira, 

Dubai 

3To the sea. If you've 

already stayed your way 

around Palm Jumeirah, 

it may be time to nudge 

yourself along the coast a little 

to Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, 

Dubai – the emirate's closest 

beachfront resort to Downtown 

Dubai. Hit the sand for an early 

morning sunbathing session, 

dine overlooking the sea at The 

Bay and be pampered in the 

spa – just be sure to request a 

room with a sea view. 

4To the mountains. A 

firm family favourite, 

JA Hatta Fort Hotel is 

a happy hideaway set against 

the stunning backdrop of the 

Al Hajar Mountains. There are 

plenty of ways to get active 

here, from exploring the 

rugged bike trails, to hiking in 

the mountains, whizzing down 

the zip line and kayaking in the 

lakes. You'll feel a world away. 


worldtravellermagazine.com 

Your passport to the Middle East's first fully 

bookable travel inspiration website 

Extend your journey with World Traveller magazine 

by heading online to read more inspirational and 

exclusive travel content and take advantage of upto-the-minute 

hotel and holiday features 

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XXXXXXXXXXXXX 

Amanpuri, Thailand 

Postcards 

Stories from journeys 

far and wide 

CUBA p36 

THAILAND p44 

NAMIBIA p50 


CUBA 

This page: A dapper 

gent with outsized cigar 

poses in front of Havana's 

traditional architecture 

Opposite: Vintage pink 

American convertible 


LAOS 

How to do 

Cuba 

Colonial mansions with crumbling facades. Big, 

fat cigars, revolutionary billboards, salsa and 

sandy beaches — you’ve seen them all in your 

travel fantasies. Now let expert Claire Boobbyer 

show you how to make the dream a reality... 


ith its cigar-smoking 

rebels, sparkling 

seas, vintage vehicles, 

potent music, and 

locals who survive 

on their wits and humour, Cuba will 

almost certainly steal your heart. But like 

so many seducers, this tropical island, 

shaded a Socialist red on the map, is 

complicated. It's at once gorgeous and 

falling apart; ridiculously rich in culture, 

but short on basic goods and common 

conveniences. (Cuba's not for you if you 

need Instagram connection 24/7; or if 

you don't handle train cancellations well; 

or if you come over shaky when you can't 

find a breakfast latte with soya milk.) 

The island's fairly large and packs in 

a lot of encounters and experiences, so 

you'll need two weeks to do it justice. 

For us, that means seeing the highlights 

and a bit more: the capital Havana; lush 

Viñales Valley; Trinidad and Santiago 

cities; and the distant east - jungly Oriente 

is Cuba's best-kept secret and you won't 

regret stretching your time. Anxious 

about bypassing urbane Santa Clara 

and coastal Cienfuegos towns? You'll 

get more colonial grandeur and better 

beaches on the route mapped out here. 

Delays and safety concerns make 

domestic flights a bad idea and car hire is 

expensive and convoluted. Instead, do as 

most travellers do and take cross-country 

coaches or hire a car and driver. Pack 

patience, flexibility, your sense of humour 

and your glad rags. Cuba's infectious 

magic will knock you sideways. From 

cutting-edge art and hip-swivelling music 

to wild beaches, colonial hotspots and 

brilliant B&Bs, here's how to pack it all in... 

DAYS 1-3 

HOT-RIGHT-NOW HAVANA 

Havana is utterly beautiful. Not quite 

the starlet she once was, perhaps, but 

her 500-year-old bone structure is still 

there, in primped-up plazas and swanky 

mansions. The city is Cuba's political and 

cultural capital and, more prosaically, 

has the biggest airport for arrivals. Most 

flights touch down in time for dinner 

and drinks, and you'd be nuts not to take 

advantage. From the airport, Havana is 40 

minutes by taxi via a flipbook of socialist 

billboards. Few places on Earth offer 

stays in such splendour for such great 

value - think Spanish colonial romance 

These pages, clockwise from 

above: Mural of revolutionary 

Che Guevara in Plaza de la 

Revolution, Havana; Cuban 

local in traditionally colourful 

dress with hand-rolled cigar; 

fishing off the Malecon at 

sunset; a dish of fried octopus 


CUBA 

meets Art Deco. Havana is a city on the up, 

and you'll find its coolest creative types 

on the rooftop at El del Frente (O'Reilly 

303). Come and dine alfresco, then slip 

into speakeasy-feel Cero Habana (Aguiar 

209). Prefer somewhere more established? 

Anyone with a guidebook will know about 

Ernest Hemingway's favourite haunts. 

By all means take a stool at his favoured 

spot, El Floridita (Obispo 557), and drink 

in the long, classy lounge and live music 

along with your drink. But avoid La 

Bodeguita del Medio (Empedrado 207), 

which does the city's worst Mojito. 

The plundered loot of Spain's Latin 

American empire was funnelled through 

Havana for more than 200 years, via the 

so-called treasure fleets. And the silver 

cascading through the Atlantic-facing 

city needed protection — with forts 

mostly built by African slaves — to defy 

those pirates of the Caribbean. Havana's 

wealth was later bolstered by sugar 

exports, and profits were invested in 

handsome bricks and mortar. Now those 

Old Havana streets are made for walking, 

between UNESCO-protected Baroque 

churches, bougainvillea-draped portals, 

lofty mansions, muscular fortresses and 

kerbside cafés. The four main plazas — 

Catedral, Armas, Vieja and San Francisco 

— are highlights. Devote time to the 

plush presidential-palaceturned-Museum 

of the Revolution, which charts Cuba's 

history of rebellion. In the Museum of 

Fine Arts, take a guided tour of the Cuban 

collection (make for the avant-garde and 

contemporary art floors). Artsy types 

can go further with a curator-guide 

(Sussette Martínez; sussem@gmail.com), 

visiting artists' home-studios: maybe see 

a Cadillac converted into a submarine, 

or a Che Guevara 'Turin' shroud. 

Wherever you're going, grab a rickshawstyle 

bicycle taxi for speed. Havana's 

almendrón taxi system — classic cars 

running fixed routes — has disintegrated 

somewhat. Now, you'll pay $6-$9 for 

taxis for journeys of up to 4km. The 

hop-on-hop-off circulating red tourist 

bus is for people with plenty of time. 

Shimmy along for matinee rumba at 

tight, sweaty and untouristy El Jelengue 

de Areito in Centro Habana, a dilapidated 

residential zone. After dinner, look 

out for the green light bulb on Calle 11 

marking under-the-radar La Casa de la 

Bombilla Verde, to hear live nueva trova 


CUBA 

These pages: Viñales 

Valley in the Sierra de los 

Órganos mountains 


CUBA 

music. Your next address is the city's 

Fábrica de Arte Cubano for challenging 

photography, singer-songwriters, 

avant-garde dance and the chance to 

mingle with Cuban entrepreneurs. Do 

this lot and you'll have captured Cuba's 

political, social and cultural zeitgeist. 

You can sleep when you get home. 

Take the strain off your feet on your 

last day in Havana and make your way 

through Centro by bicycle taxi for a 

window onto street life — having first 

bought a cigar factory ticket, available 

from any hotel. The H Upmann 

Factory tour reveals one of the world's 

most aromatic and elaborate crafts. 

Buy cigars from official 'Habanos' 

stores only (on the street, you might 

get fakes made of dried banana). 

If cigars aren't your bag, try a farmto-table 

cooking class at organic 

paradise Finca Tungasuk (tungasuk. 

com) in buried-in-the-bushes Caimito, 

40 minutes from Havana. Or make like 

Rihanna in Havana and hire a Cadillac 

with driver (malecon663.com). Explore 

the two castles defending the Bay of 

Havana, then motor to the leafy, artsy 

El Vedado district, home to weddingcake 

mansions, top paladares (private 

restaurants), and music venues. After 

snapping the monumental Plaza de 

la Revolución, step into Christopher 

Columbus Cemetery for the largest 

communion of marble angels in Latin 

America (see a husband's devotion 

embodied in bronze, stone and Lalique 

glass at Catalina Lasa's tomb). In the 

golden hour before sunset, cruise up 

and down Havana's seaside boulevard, 

the Malecón, with its hymn to fabulous, 

colourful architectural eclecticism 

Toast your time in Havana with a drink 

on the roof of the Kempinski hotel; you'll 

have a great view of curlicued motifs on 

theatres and museums. Partygoers should 

end the night dancing salsa in front of 

a live band at alfresco Club 1830. In the 

Old Town, music-crawl the lounges of 

Calle Obispo: La Lluvia de Oro is a winner 

for its old-time looks and live bands. 

DAYS 4-5 

VERDANT VIÑALES 

Rise early for Víazul's 9am coach to 

Viñales, 180km west of Havana. You'll 

want as much time as transport allows 

‘ 

CHRISTOPHER 

COLUMBUS SAID 

OF BARACOA: 'SO 

MUCH BEAUTY 

THAT I CAN FIND 

NO WORDS TO 

DESCRIBE IT' 

’ 

in the town and its lush valley. UNESCOprotected 

Viñales Valley is a vision of 

velvet-green mountains rising from 

palms, tobacco plants and ruddy red soil 

tilled by oxen and plough. Besides the 

country air, its greatest draws are the 

organic food, horse-riding and rockclimbing. 

And you'll see much better 

valley sights than those tipped in the 

guidebooks on a walk with a guide from 

the Visitors' Centre (close to Hotel Los 

Jazmines; 8.30am-5pm). Otherwise, 

stroll around a private mogote with 

farmer Omar from Casa Omar y Mayra 

(casaomarymayra@gmail.com), or ask 

your B&B to help you hire horses for 

a guided ride to the unspoilt Valley of 

Silence. Swap valley sunsets the next 

day for tangerine-coloured starfish at 

Cayo Jutías, a sparkling white beach 

that's an easy day-trip with one of the 

travel agencies on the small main strip. 

Or hire a taxi to take you to the tobacco 

farm of Hector Luis Prieto (hectorfinca. 

com). He does a superb tour and creole 

lunch for a bargain price. The insatiable 

could squeeze in both by private taxi. 

DAYS 6-7 

TRINIDAD: COLONIAL 

SPLENDOUR 

There's no quick fix to reach Trinidad, 

but it's a must-visit for its pistachio-and 

cinnamon-coloured homes, dreamy 

palaces, and coppery horses ridden by 

mangón (very good-looking) cowboys 

trotting through town. Víazul's daily 

bus from Viñales takes nine-and-ahalf 

hours (or rent a car). But if you're 

prepared for a little organised chaos, 

you can keep it to six or seven hours by 

taking collective taxis. Vintage vehicles 

pick up passengers from Viñales B&Bs 

and drive them to a highway restaurant; 

you could then be shifted to another 

vehicle and redirected to Trinidad. It 


CUBA 

sounds like a jumbled plan, but go with 

it you'll never be stranded in Cuba. 

Trinidad was central to Cuba's 19thcentury 

sugar boom, and its wealthy 

sugar barons enshrined egos in stone: 

palaces embellished with all the finest 

furniture, frescoes and chandeliers 

money could buy. You can sleep amid 

the grandeur at some of the small city's 

finest homes. The next day, gain full 

immersion by just wandering. A cluster 

of music venues, all within a stone’s 

throw of each other, makes flirting with 

each one a cinch. Top dazzler is Casa de 

la Trova, a traditional colonial home with 

live bands and a patio for dancing. If you 

know the moves, wait at the edge for a 

partner to approach. If you're a learner, 

standby, too. It's the only way to improve 

and Cubans are accommodating. 

Morning light spills over Trinidad 

in a golden sheen. Photographer Julio 

Muñoz has been capturing life there for 

years. His easy manner and contacts 

make his street-photography tour a 

nuanced introduction beyond the city's 

UNESCO-protected chocolate-box façade. 

Later, climb the observation tower at 

the Cantero Palace history museum, 

where a central fountain once sprinkled 

eau de cologne for the ladies and spirits 

for society gents. Look out for the faces 

of Trinidad's elderly folk exquisitely 

carved into abandoned door pieces at 

the gallery of Lázaro Niebla Castro. 

DAYS 8-10 

SIGHTS AND SALSA 

IN SANTIAGO 

Santiago is steeped in history, humidity 

and a rocking music scene. With 

African, Haitian and Jamaican roots, its 

vibe is more Caribbean than Havana's. 

To get there from Trinidad, don't spend 

a day on Víazul's direct route: (12hr 

50min); instead take a $50 taxi to Sancti 

Spíritus (about one hour north) and 

catch the 3.10pm bus or an overnighter 

(9.10pm and 1.50am; 10hr 20min). 

Don't pack all the sights into your 

first day — plan a siesta, breaks on the 

Casa Granda hotel terrace or coffee at 

museum café Casa Dranguet. Explore 

highlights of the 500-year-old historic 

core on foot: the first governor's 

mansion and the Moncada Museum, 

charting Fidel Castro's rise to power. 

Start the night at funky alfresco chess 

‘ 

MAGUANA IS THE CUTEST BEACH 

CORNER IN CUBA. IF YOU SQUEEZED 

IN A DIP IN THE AREA'S GLASSY 

RIVER OF HONEY, LEGEND SAYS 

YOU'LL RETURN TO BARACOA 

’ 

café, Café Ajedrez, with its live bands, 

followed by evening ensembles at Casa 

de la Trova, and a storming end-ofnight 

salsa shiver at Bar Claqueta. Next 

day, swap city for country and hire a 

car and driver through Out of the Box 

(outofthebox.zone). Plan to take in 

glorious Avenida Manduley mansions in 

the Vista Alegre district, Fidel Castro's 

tomb at magnificent marble Santa 

Ifigenia Cemetery, and impressive 

UNESCO-protected El Morro Castle 

at the mouth of Santiago Bay. Time 

your visit for the sunset cannon-firing 

ceremony. Fancy carnival? Come in July, 

prepared for stifling temperatures. 

DAYS 11-14 

BARACOA: BEAUTIFUL 

BEACHES 

Baracoa is spellbinding. Some of the 

world's smallest species of bird, frog 

and bat live here, as does the rainbowcoloured 

hyper-local natural beauty the 

polymita snail. These small wonders 

inhabit the coconut palms, cocoa trees, 

coffee bushes and pine forests of this 

Atlantic region. When Christopher 

Columbus first glimpsed the wild 

beaches and green slopes in 1492, he 

wrote there was 'so much beauty that 

I can find no words to describe it'. 

A Víazul bus from Santiago at 7.40am 

can get you to this tropical enclave in 

time for lunch. Climb the hill to Hotel 

El Castillo for lush views of anvil-flat 

mountain El Yunque, and map out the 

following days' plans. For wild beach 

exploration, head south, going off-piste 

on hired bikes (baracoabikerental.com) 

or in a cab ($30 return). At Manglito 

Beach, sink into an Adirondack chair 

with a drink, and order fresh seafood 

from Tato's food shack. Hike up through 

palms the next day to El Yunque's 

summit. The views of the nibbled 

Atlantic coastline — a jade-green 

forest hemline against a peacock-blue 

sea — are awesome. After that you'll 

want relaxation. You can find it at 

Maguana, the cutest beach corner in 

Cuba, a rugged 22km north of Baracoa. 

Then grit your teeth, book a cab 

to Baracoa's bus station, and catch 

the 1pm coach all the way back to 

Havana (17hr 30min). If you squeezed 

in a dip in the area's glassy River 

of Honey, legend says you'll return 

to Baracoa. You know you will. 

Inspired to travel? To book a trip, call 

+971 4 316 6666 or visit dnatatravel.com 

Credit: The Sunday Times Travel Magazine/ News Licensing 


These pages, from left: 

Maguana Beach, Baracoa; 

a Cuban bass player heads 

to a gig 


INDONESIA 

This page: The pool 

at Amanpuri 


THAILAND 

Blazing curries, festivals sizzling with street life, 

buildings as pretty as patisserie — who said Phuket was all beaches 

and revelry? Nick Redman tries an authentic Thai 

omewhere I stopped in at a café 

laced with bougainvillea and 

open to a street that smelt of 

washing powder and incense. 

I was heading to fill my face at Naka 

night market, beyond Phuket Town, but 

the server wiping the laminated pink 

tablecloths pulled me in with her grin. 

Her doughnuts, just shaken from the 

pan and billowing steam, sealed the 

deal: puffs of hot, sweet, delicious air. 

With a tankard of sugar-laced iced tea, 

I must have consumed 2,000 calories 

— and I still hadn't had dinner. 

When I eventually located it, Naka 

market was a welcome sight. Sweetpotato 

balls skittered around deep pans 

of oil, trailing bubbles, while skewered 

squids the colour of tangerines spat 

in lines over orange coals. Roe-topped 

sushi glistened like fat pink brooches, 

drawing Thai families and backpackers 

alike into a mild scrum. And that, 

as they say, was just for starters. 

I'd come to Phuket, essentially, for 

a beach holiday, despite knowing that 

Thai purists often roll their eyes at the 

mention of the name: overdeveloped, 

overpriced, basically just over, as tinier 

idylls tempt more intrepid travellers. 

Sure, in places, it's all gone a bit Patong, 

the brazen resort of R-rated stage shows. 

And yet, in a week, I found an island of 

rare, delicious flavours: magnificent 

wildlife, surreal landscapes and blissful 

solitude. All that and great food. 

It was Aunt Yai and Uncle Nun who'd 

whetted my appetite, a Thai couple who 

welcomed me into their kitchen in the 

shadow of a massive banyan tree by the 

sea. It looked reassuringly traditional 

‘ 

I FOUND AN 

ISLAND OF RARE, 

DELICIOUS 

FLAVOURS: 

MAGNIFICENT 

WILDLIFE, 

SURREAL 

LANDSCAPES 

AND BLISSFUL 

SOLITUDE 

’ 

— even the roof was tin, the kind you 

see in so many fishing villages. But 

enjoying their authentic southern Thai 

cooking hadn't entailed a showerless, 

sleepless week in a hammock on some 

Alex-Garland-scary remote sands. 

Quite the opposite — they were inhouse 

at Rosewood Phuket, the recently 

opened resort I was staying in. 

Wanting to have a foot in the real world, 

not a perimeter fence between, the hotel 

had talent-scouted around and found 

their future chefs stirring up a storm in a 

casual joint loved by the neighbourhood. 

And now here they were, working their 

magic for a global guest list. It was so 

much more credible than importing 

some highly paid international type 

with an eye for culinary appropriation. 

I liked the setting, Emerald Bay, and 

I also liked the Rosewood: a jumble of 

Modernist-cubic pavilion residences 

knee-deep in jasmine and hibiscus, 

smartly furnished with standing mirrors 

in ebony-tone frames, drum lampshades 

and stained dark floorboards. 

This was, of course, a globally 

recognisable canvas, which only served 

to counterpoint the appeal of Uncle 

Nun and Aunt Yai's homegrown cuisine. 

Gesturing enthusiastically, they singled 

out ingredients for their dishes — 

currently lurking in the slate-green 

stillness of their pond. Here a grouper, 

there a sea bass and behind, in the corner, 

a few scuttling blue crabs. A least one of 

these would soon reappear in my gaeng 

poo: a blazing regional curry speciality 

with gossamer-fine noodles brought 

steaming to my table under a hazy moon. 

Their tour de force was moo hong, a 

southern Thai favourite you might call the 

signature dish of Phuket. After hours of 

simmering in a treacly mix of coriander 

root, star anise, soy sauce, palm sugar 

and peppercorn, it was cinnamon-sweet 

and sludgy-soft, a tinglingly delicious 

experience I don't recall from the menu 

at my nearest Thai back home. Some 

have linked its flavour, soy in particular, 

to Chinese influences — most likely 

imparted by settlers, who arrived in 

droves in the 19th-century, when the 

Phuket tin industry was growing to 

meet American canning demands. 

I'd tried the curry already, in Phuket 

Town, my first port of call after landing, 

checking in at 2 Rooms, a charming 

'30s-style side-alley lodge with a 

gramophone and teak-look bed. Woven 

with multicultural threads, the island's 

informal capital is surely its most 

underrated attraction. Despite exuding a 

modern, urban feel in places, at its historic 

heart it was good enough to eat, in every 

respect. Raya restaurant was the kind of 

place you wish would open up on your 


THAILAND 

street, with its giant ceiling fans, cool green 

walls and epic menu. That said, its gaeng 

poo was the main event, milkily innocuous 

to behold at first, but flaring suddenly on the 

tongue and wonderfully bitter with turmeric. 

Another day I inhaled the heritage 

of ancient Muslim traders: the sight of 

Yameay Mosque with its emerald green 

domes; the aroma of a chicken roti at Abdul 

Murtabak's place, a simple institution lined 

with framed engravings of Mecca. Lock 

Tien, Phuket Town's local-food centre, did 

delicious Hokkien (as in, fried) noodles — 

another Sino-influence. And as my time 

in town coincided with Chinese New Year, 

I watched fireworks crackle in the night 

above teeming, steaming street markets 

dispensing dumplings and grilled seafood. 

For afters, the grid streets delivered a 

visual feast of dwellings, with work spaces 

at ground level known as shophouses. 

The result of Portuguese and Chinese 

colonial currents merging, they displayed 

stunning pastel-painted facades. But 

the centre was no museum piece. Local 

hipsters were on hand, drinking lattes 

in blond-wood places with names like 

Bookhemian and The Shelter Coffee — a 

welcome hit of real-life modern Phuket. 

After this, I was set for more immersion 

in recipes and rituals. The finale to my 

barbecued-prawn dinner at the Anantara 

Layan Phuket Resort wasn't any old ice 

cream, but a bowl of scoops gently flavoured 

with Thai basil. As Phuket moments 

go, it was lovely, although ultimately it 

lost out to the magnificent tallow glow 

on the horizon as the day drained away. 

Everything looked enchanted, down to the 

mysterious forested island in the bay, amid 

the coffee-cream swirls of low-tide sands. 

Time for a reality check: next day was 

market day in Patong, a 25-minute drive 

south for me, in the company of the resort 

chef, Hong. Like Rosewood, Anantara 

seemed adept at dissolving the barrier 

between tourists and Thais, inviting them 

to accompany Hong to busy Banzaan Fresh 

Market for produce to make into dishes with 

a Phuket-flavoured twist, back in her kitchen. 

At the entrance, ready-mix trios of fresh 

beansprouts, tofu and chives were piled in 

bundles, the ingredients of pad Thai. So far, 

so Spinny's. But as we moved deeper, things 

‘ 

THE READY-MIX 

TRIOS OF FRESH 

BEANSPROUTS, 

TOFU AND CHIVES 

WERE PILED HIGH 

IN BUNDLES 

’ 

grew more visceral, with the shattering 

crack of cleavers on chicken feet, the sight of 

muddy shrimp paste in bags and the smell 

of fish-gut marinade, months old, prepared 

to flavour southern curries. Hong advised 

against even touching some of the fish to 

which Western digestive systems might well 

be unaccustomed. 'We have bacteria. We 

grow up on this,' she said, while describing 

one lurid specimen. 'If you eat, maybe you 

poo poo.' I rubbed pungent betel leaves 

between my fingers, and in doing so got the 

ubiquitous smell of Thailand: a faintly bitter, 

chocolate aroma that had been tickling 

my nostrils for days, something almost 

sedative. The landscapes had the same effect 

that afternoon on a slow drive inland. 

Sunshine turned the telegraph wires silver 

as if spun by giant spiders, then it pooled 

green on expanses of forest floor. Sometimes 

we passed pineapples glinting among 

stretches of rubber trees, or glimpsed blackand-white 

cattle with egrets, by a lake, on 

our bucolic glide to Phuket's more feral side. 

If it sounded run-of-the-mill tourist, the 

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, our destination, 

was the opposite: a dignified and thoughtprovoking 

encounter with another slice of 

real Phuket. The visit began with a video 

showing the hideous ways humans have 

treated Thailand's pachyderms over the 

centuries, forcing them, with nails, cuts 

and burns, to submit to a life carrying 

heavy loads of timber or holidaymakers. 

But the mood soon lifted when we came to 

walk with the residents in their managed 

wilderness: one of a pioneering few in 

Thailand committed to rescuing victims and 

releasing them into a contented retirement. 

The animals were mesmerising to 

watch, sometimes up close, sometimes 

from raised lookouts laden with bananas, 

to encourage curious trunks. I really fell 


This page, clockwise 

from above: Khao 

Phing Kan (James Bond 

Island); evening lantern 

lighting ceremony 

at Anantara Layan 

Phuket Resort; a fresh 

salad with rice and 

cooked shrimp) 


This page: Sala Pool 

Villa at Anantara Layan 

Phuket Resort 


THAILAND 

Credit: The Sunday Times Travel Magazine / News Licensing 

‘ 

THE JUNGLE 

STEAMED 

WITH RISING 

CLOUDS THAT 

MELTED INTO 

THE RAINBOW- 

CURVED AIR IN 

THE SUNLIGHT 

’ 

for Jan Jao, encountered in the shade of 

a mangosteen tree, her slow-flapping 

ears speckled with sunlight, pink and 

grey like terrazzo flooring. She moved 

idly, huge hollowed temples above 

eyes as kindly as those of a favourite 

grandmother. Madee I was more wary 

of. Arriving late to meet us by a banquet 

of fruit, she thumped her trunk on the 

ground, producing a weird woodwind 

sound. She was in a bad mood, a ranger 

said — a co-resident of hers, Kannika, 

had come first and got stuck in without 

her. Madee popped a whole watermelon 

into her mouth as if it were a grape. After 

all, she had a bit of catching up to do. 

Phuket offered up plenty of even wilder 

moments, wilder shores, too: beyond 

the main island, it splinters into palmy 

specks, sprinkled across the surrounding 

seas. On a boat east into Phang Nga Bay, I 

spent a morning transfixed by sea eagles 

soaring overhead, circling the towering 

limestone karsts that have made the 

marine park famous. One, Khao Phing 

Kan, is better known as Christopher Lee's 

private island in the James Bond film The 

Man with the Golden Gun. Topped with 

rainforest vegetation it resembled the last 

decayed tooth left in some centenarian 

giant's gum, every bit as strange as it 

had looked on celluloid back in 1974. 

Attracting tourist longtail boats, it 

was better from a distance. Besides, 

the bay held so much more: chattering 

bats speckling the dim cave interiors 

of Hong Island, into which we kayaked; 

and the floating village of Ko Panyi, 

settled centuries ago by Indonesian 

Islamic emigrants. Here was a Phuket 

the crowds of Patong never see: a seagypsy 

stronghold with a golden-domed 

mosque visible for miles. Wandering the 

pier-like floors was creakily atmospheric 

in the hot lull of late afternoon. 

Something of Ko Panyi's sedate 

spirituality seemed to inhabit my last 

hotel, Amanpuri — perhaps because it 

resembled a place of worship rather than 

a resort, with its flaring pagoda roofs 

and decorative basins of moody water. I 

bedded down well before midnight, rising 

early to breakfast on kai yad sai: omelettes 

made lace-thin, filled with shrimp and 

vegetables. Staff glided around with the 

faint tick-tack of flip-flops, depositing 

little rectangular golden vases upon tables, 

each holding a single lotus flower. If I'd 

needed definitive proof that Phuket was 

not shabby, then serene Amanpuri was it. 

It was hard to believe this place opened 

three decades ago — its Asian minimalism 

looked as if it had been created last year. 

And yet, despite the airy, understated 

architecture, I felt I'd been drawn into 

a silent commune of platinum-card 

privilege and purity, set on its own private 

peninsula, peering out from coconut 

palms. Guests wandered about with yoga 

mats under their arms like enormous 

cheroots, reinforcing the apparent 

resort USP: determined relaxation. The 

food, from sushi to seasonal fruit, was 

supermodel-delicate. I swam out and 

climbed on to the pontoon in the bay for 

some perspective on the place — in vain. 

'My obstetrician said to get a Belly Bandit 

online,' I heard a women tell her friend, 

describing her recent pregnancy as they 

lazed. 'It literally reminds your organs 

where to return to after the distension.' 

Where was the real Phuket when I 

needed it? At 4pm, a Thai lady materialised 

atop the central stepped sala pavilion, 

pulled out a griddle and set about cooking 

pancakes called khanom krok, some 

of them filled with sweetcorn, others 

shimmery with coconut. It was a daily 

ritual, I learnt. OK, Naka night market 

it wasn't, yet the appearance of street 

food was like the breaking of a spell. A 

polite scuffle erupted among the slim 

and the wealthy, soon chatting and 

scoffing on the steps. Not wanting to 

be a calorie singleton I grabbed a plate 

and, vowing to buy my own Belly Bandit 

back in England, got stuck in to a last 

real-but-perfect piece of Phuket. 




These pages: 

Elephants at sunset in 

Etosha National Park 

Remote control 

So famous is Namibia's tourist-trodden self-drive circuit, it's known simply as 

'Route One'. Chris Haslam veers off track to discover the destination as it once was 


NAMIBIA 

here are many things in 

Namibia that can kill you,' 

announces the welcome 

video cheerfully, as a lion, a 

Cape cobra and a scorpion 

flash across the screen. 

'But the biggest killer,' chirps 

the narrator, 'is speed.' Cue a montage of 

wrecked rental vehicles - identical, but for 

the broken glass and torn steel, to those 

in the car rental depot. The backpackers 

who've spent the safety briefing scrolling 

on their phones go pale. A German 

lady hisses at her husband: 'You told 

me Namibia was safe.' But despite this 

sobering introduction, Namibia really 

is Africa's safest, most effortlessly 

explorable nation. Self-driving in Namibia 

makes it easy to be intrepid. Part road 

trip, part safari, it's two bucket-list trips 

for the price of one. It's affordable, too, 

with flight-inclusive self-drives much 

cheaper than in South Africa. And, at 

the wheel of a 4WD, the driving is epic. 

It's for these reasons that so many 

excited visitors fly in to Windhoek, ready 

to depart on the famed tourist trail 

they call Route One. It heads southwest 

to the dunes of the Sossusvlei, then 

loops north for the adrenaline sports 

and Baltic-style seaside charms of 

Swakopmund. From here, it's a six-hour 

drive further north to reach the wildlife 

of Etosha National Park. But Namibia is 

fifth on the list of the world's emptiest 

countries (with just three people per 

square kilometre), so it doesn't require 

many tourists to feel crowded. 

Two decades ago, I wandered the 

Sossusvlei like a lonely ghost in a Dalí 

landscape. These days, such solace 

is impossible. There's a car park full 

of coaches, overland trucks, and that 

backpacking couple. Instagrammers 

queue at the Deadvlei for a photograph 

with the skeletal camel thorns. There'll 

be huge Chinese tour groups enjoying 

Kaffee und Kuchen on Swakopmund's 

prom and, as you watch lions drinking at 

Etosha's Okondeka waterhole, you might 

hear that German lady whisper 'Ist es 

sicher?!' ('Is it safe?!') To experience the 

cinematic desolation and spectacular 

wildlife that Namibia is famous for, you 

need to leave the herd. But it's not as 

daunting as it sounds. All you need is 

the ability to read a map, an awareness 

of your limitations in what can be a 

merciless land, and the desire to find 

places so wild, so lonely and so alien, 

they'll make you breathless. Scared, 

even. Just as Namibia is supposed to. 

So, back to the safety video. Which you 

definitely need to watch. After which 

you’re shown around a brutish Toyota 

4WD. There's the sat nav, the sand jack 

for digging yourself out of trouble, the 

tyre deflator, the spare jerry cans, the 

spade, the axe, the fire extinguisher, 

the worryingly comprehensive firstaid 

kit and a tracking device that 

can monitor your speed: 120kph on 

tarmac roads and 80kph on gravel, 

where most accidents occur. Exceed 

that and your insurance is void. 

Then there's the optional rooftop 

tent. I've never taken one because 

deep down I know there'll be a night 

when I'll forget I'm sleeping 2.5 

metres off the ground, leave the tent 


NAMIBIA 

to mark my territory and break my 

neck. And then get eaten by hyenas. 

I start my journey with a 520km 

drive up the B1 from Windhoek to 

the Damaraland and Huab Lodge, a 

halfway house on the road to nowhere. 

For the first three hours, the road is 

smooth, shimmering tarmac. Then I 

reach Outjo and take the C35, the first 

of the bone-shaking gravel roads. Two 

hours later, at a lonely spot marked by 

a large, dead python, I turn onto the 

D2670. It's mostly dust, so I use the tyre 

deflator to get more grip. A lappet-faced 

vulture watches from a rock. I know 

what he's thinking. It's just 30km from 

here to the lodge, but it takes an hour. 

I thought that two nights at this 

eccentric little camp — eight thatched 

huts overlooking the dry bed of the 

Huab River — would be enough, but I 

was wrong. The birdlife is astonishing: 

I count 26 species from my terrace 

and, as we're drinking sundowners, 

nightjars are hunting around the bar. 

At dawn, the riverbed is a alive with 

wildlife: oryx, giraffes, zebra and kudus 

commuting along its sandy path. That 

afternoon I spend a thrilling four hours 

following the spoor of a huge leopard 

that ultimately does what leopards do 

best and vanishes like a Cheshire cat. 

A giant eagle owl watches wisely from 

a tree. I know what she's thinking, too. 

It's only as I'm leaving that I notice the 

swimming pool and nearby hot spring. 

I told you two nights wasn't enough. 

Four hours east, past the gold 

mines and cattle farms of central 

Namibia, a track off the B1 brings 

me to the Mundulea Nature Reserve: 

120sq km of former cattle country 

that's being returned to nature. Black 

rhinos, cheetahs and giraffes are 

among the species that have wandered 

back in, accompanied by zebra, roan 

antelopes and black-faced impala. 

It's dark by the time I arrive. Entering 

the camp is an experience somewhere 

between Edgar Rice Burroughs and 

Apocalypse Now. Bleached skulls, 

flickering hurricane lamps and twisting 

paths leading to big, simply furnished 

safari tents. By the campfire, owner, 

guide and conservationist Bruno Nebe 

is expounding on pangolins. On another 

fire, sorcerer's apprentice Patrick is 

cooking a three-course dinner — baking 

‘ 

IF YOU GET LOST, BREAK DOWN, 

OR UPSET THE ELEPHANTS, IT CAN 

BE A ONE-WAY TRIP 

’ 

bread in an oven made from an old fire 

extinguisher. Apart from some iffy solar, 

there's no electricity. No phone signal. 

No wi-fi. Owls, jackals and a distant 

leopard provide the background music to 

a safari camp so remote that Bruno only 

opens it when he has enough bookings 

to justify the expense. Lucky for me, 

then, that Tim and Pauline are here. 

Early retirees from the UK, they did 

Route One last year, but knew instantly 

there had to be more to the world's most 

beautiful nation. So this year, they rented 

a 4WD and went off the beaten track. 

Together, we spend three days walking 

with Bruno. It's like being shown Africa by 

Gandalf. He dodges jade-green boomslang 

snakes lurking on low branches, tracks 

his beloved pangolins with a radio 

antenna and, at one point, drops a rock 

into a dark shaft in the karst and blithely 

mentions that he doesn't know how deep 

it is because when he climbed down he 

ran out of rope before he hit the bottom. 

I part company with Tim and Pauline in 

the dusty, low-rise town of Otjiwarongo. 

They're off to explore the rock paintings 

of the Erongo Mountains. I'm heading 

northwest into the Kunene, an otherworld 

of unclimbed peaks, sparkling gravel 

plains and river canyons running into a 

fogbound dune belt, where they disappear 

before reaching the cold Skeleton Coast. 

With skill and the right kit, you can 

self-drive the Kunene. But if you get 

lost, break down, or upset the elephants, 

it can be a one-way trip, so it's best to 

park the car and call Caesar Zandberg, 

one of the three best desert guides in 

Namibia. If you thought your rental 4WD 

was well-equipped, wait until you see 

Caesar's chariot: a 4.5-litre turbo-diesel 

V8 Toyota J7 Land Cruiser with a snorkel, 

twin fuel tanks, solar panels on the roof 

and enough kit to turn any shady corner 

of the Kunene into a luxury tented resort. 

I join Caesar a week after unusually 

heavy rains have hit the Kunene. On 

past visits, the place has been as dry 

and bleached as a lost tourist's bones, 

but it only takes a centimetre of rainfall 

to unleash life. The hills and plains 

are covered in bushman-grass baize, 

and streaks of bright yellow devil's 

thorn flowers stretch for miles like an 

industrial custard spill. Most excitingly, 

the Hoarusib River is flowing, bringing 

waters of life from the Giraffe Mountains. 

Caesar drops T-bone steaks the size of 

telephone directories onto the woodfire 

grill, tosses a salad — a Caesar 

one, obviously — and refills my drink. 


These pages, clockwise 

from left: Little Himba 

boy wearing traditional 

jewellery; moon rising 

over a dry river valley; 

Vingerklip finger rock in 

the evening light, near 

the Vingerklip Lodge; a 

black-backed jackal 


These pages, 

clockwise from below: 

Animals reflect in 

the sunset in Etosha 

National Park; an offroad 

vehicle with roof 

tent parked beneath a 

starry sky 

He gazes across the ephemeral river 

to where a couple of Himba kids are 

minding their goats. 'There's good grazing 

everywhere now,' he says. 'That means 

the oryx, zebra and giraffes will disperse 

into the far valleys, so we'll have to drive 

further and look harder to find them.' 

I'm delighted to hear that, because the 

further we go, the less company we'll 

encounter. A reliable way to estimate how 

far you've come from civilisation is to 

calculate your distance from the nearest 

Starbucks. Standing on a nameless hilltop 

in Kunene, I'm guessing the nearest 

skinny almond caramel macchiato is 

1,800km away in Jo'burg. I mention this 

to Caesar, but he doesn't know what 

Starbucks is, much less a macchiato. 

The view from here is of apparent 

lifelessness, but look closer: this hill 

and its neighbours are cut with the 

spiral scratches left by generations 

of oryx, antelopes and zebra who've 

come in search of the bonsai-sized 

commiphora shrubs that sprout on 

the summits, sucking moisture from 

the fog. It's an astonishing sight. We 

spot an oryx, and, far, far away, the 

dust plume of another vehicle. 

'Bloody tourists,' sniffs Caesar, 

watching the distant speck through binos. 

'They're overrunning the place.' That 

night, we camp in a side-valley of the 

Hoanib River. A campfire and a gemsbok 

‘ 

A LAPPET- 

FACED VULTURE 

WATCHES FROM 

A ROCK. I KNOW 

WHAT HE'S 

THINKING 

’ 

ragu turn this starkly beautiful spot into 

the suite of my dreams, with 50-metre 

sandstone walls and a ceiling made of 

stars. We're discussing how the scarcity 

of game makes the few sightings we've 

had — that oryx, three zebra and a pair 

of giraffes — even more memorable. At 

that very moment, a pair of black-backed 

jackals, led by their noses, turn up and 

stand just close enough to the fire that 

we can see itwws reflection in their eyes. 

Next morning, Caesar stops the 

Toyota in the exact middle of nowhere. 

'The elephants are coming,' he says. 

We scan the heat haze for 20 minutes, 

and then, one by one, emerge nine 

dusty pachyderms — mothers, aunts 

and kids — following an ancient path 

across the plain to the dune belt and 

then, well, no-one really knows. 

I only spend four days in the Kunene, 

but it feels much longer. Time slows 

down in the desert. Your senses grow 

sharper. Water tastes sweeter and your 

appetite becomes lion-like. Mysteries 

abound: the Hoarusib, flowing wide, 

deep and fast enough yesterday to 

wash away a two-tonne Toyota is 

dry as a bone today, and above Clay 

Castles — a surreal canyon of Petralike 

natural caves — a long-dead 

explorer has spelt '26 Jan 1919' in rocks 

scoured clean by the west wind. There 

are moments of wonder — the frog 

living in a shrinking puddle at least 

80km from the next water source; the 

slash-like trail of a Peringuey's adder 

left on a dune — and moments when 

you realise you're probably walking 

where no human has ever been before. 

This adventure has its downsides. 

Souvenir shopping is limited to 

rocks sold by Herero herders, or the 

Himba pillow — a wooden affair like 

the devices to prop corpses' heads in 

mortuaries. The joys of queueing and 

of socialising with other tourists are 

absent, and when you do emerge from 

the parched back of beyond, you may 

find humanity a bit irritating. But 

then, if you got off Route One in the 

first place, you probably always did. 



Credit: The Sunday Times Travel Magazine/News Licensing 


NAMIBIA 

This page: Soft, 

colourful corals around 

Lizard Island 

Credit: Andrew Eames/The Sunday Times Travel Magazine / News Licensing 


HELLO 

SUMMERTIME 

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Weekends 

Staycations and short-haul escapes 

AL FAYA LODGE HAS LANDED 

What may appear like a futuristic home 

on Mars is actually a luxury retreat in the 

heart of the Mleiha desert in Sharjah. The 

recently-opened Al Faya Lodge places 

you in the lap of nature, with wildlife 

and stargazing experiences among the 

highlights of this eco-friendly hotspot. 

Originally built in the 1960s, the lodge's 

three stone buildings have been lovingly 

converted to house rooms, a restaurant, 

library, a luxury spa and more. 


WEEKENDS 

Exploring Sidi Bou Said 

CULTURE TRIP 

Let us reacquaint you with this culture 

spot that's ideally placed for a mindnourishing 

mini break 

1 

TUNIS 

A 

magnetic combination of souks and 

aromatic spices, desert dunes and 

historic sites, Tunisia tells a gripping 

tale. This year marks a shift in 

perspective, with tourist numbers on the rise, 

and capital city Tunis being crowned the Arab 

Region’s Capital of Islamic Culture by the Islamic 

Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. 

To gain a better understanding of the 

destination’s old-world charm, we must first 

rewind to the 12th-16th century when Tunis was 

one of the greatest and wealthiest cities in the 

Islamic world. Its special status gave rise to a 

wave of monuments that are a testament to the 

past. Within the Medina of Tunis, a UNESCO 

World Heritage site, there are around 700 

scattered across the old city, including palaces, 

mosques, mausoleums, madrasas and fountains. 

The modern district has a different appeal, 

with many of the old buildings transformed into 

museums and cultural centres, tea rooms and 

restaurants. In the fashionable Les Berges du 

Lac quarter, head to Patisserie Masmoudi (@ 

patisseriemasmoudi) to taste a traditional pastry, 

DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT... 

... discovering Sidi Bou Said. 

Just 20km from Tunis, this 

clifftop town overlooks the 

sparkling Mediterranean and 

is thought to have inspired 

famous artists and writers. 

... making the 60-minute 

car journey to the Dahmani 

commune to view the 'cultural 

Exploring Sidi Bou Said 

cave' brimming with locally 

produced modern art. 

... embarking on a guided, 

film lovers tour of the 

such as the sticky-sweet makroudh, with a 

Tunisian desert, the birthplace cup of green mint tea. To view east meets 

of the original Star Wars saga. 

west contemporary art, pop into Musk 

and Amber Gallery (@musk_and_amber), which 

is a showcase for Tunisian-heritage-inspired 

pieces by local artisans. 

Adventure seekers will find plenty to keep 

them on their toes, with year-round activities 

including golf, quad biking in the desert and 

watersports (the beaches of Borj Cedria and 

Ezzahra are just 20km from the city centre). 

When planning a trip, bear in mind that April to 

October is best for sea and sun, while autumn 

and spring provide the ideal weather conditions 

for boat trips and more active excursions. 

In terms of where to stay, the beachside The 

Residence Tunis is home to chic yet comfortable 

rooms and suites, an 18-hole golf course, and 

a luxurious spa famous for its thalasso spa 

treatments. Villa Didon in Carthage places 

you smack bang in the historical district, while 

Concorde Les Berges Du Lac Hotel has a scenic 

Dining on the beach 

setting on the shore of Lake Tunis. 

Photos courtesy of The Residence Tunis 


long 

the 

weekend 

Cairo 

Rich in history, heritage and culture, 

the Egyptian capital is affectionately 

known as the “Mother of the World”. 

Habiba Azab tells us why 

This page: The Great 

Sphinx of Giza 

Opposite: A Nile cruise, 

photo by 

Hassan Mohamed 


LONG WEEKEND 

With its bottleneck traffic, beguiling crowds and ancient tales, 

Cairo is chaos at its most magnificent, fascinating and captivating 

form. The fast-paced city’s constant buzz is the result of its 20 

million strong inhabitants charming their way with their warm 

smiles and exceptional humour. As the locals say, if you love Cairo, 

it'll definitely love you back. 

The sprawling capital blends the best of old-world and newworld 

Egypt. Soaring minarets, historic mosques and some of the 

greatest architecture of medieval Islam can only be found in old 

Islamic Cairo. Meanwhile, a short cab ride away is the capital’s 

other centre of antiquity, Coptic Cairo. Home to some of the oldest 

churches and monasteries in the history of Christianity including 

the Hanging Church, which served as the seat of the Coptic 

Pope from the 7 th to the 13 th century. For a more modern outlook, 

Zamalek is a cosy neighbourhood with local art galleries and 

boutique gems hidden around every corner. Alternatively, Garden 

City is the place to go for felucca rides, whereas Downtown Cairo 

is the cultural hub of contemporary dance, music and art. 

Cairo welcomes you with its mighty past and vivacious present. 

And although it can be an assault on the senses, if done right you 

can’t help but keep coming back for more. 

STYLISH SLEEPS 

From luxury abodes to boutiques boltholes, bed down in style 

Once the hunting palace 

of Egyptian Khedive 

Isma'il Pasha, Marriott 

Mena House combines 

the charm of a bygone 

era with service fit for 

royalty. Rooms are 

lavishly furnished with 

exquisite rare antiques 

and handcrafted furniture, 

while The Sultan Lounge 

is a memorable place 

to start your evening – 

cocktails as the sun sets 

over the Great Pyramids 

is an Instagram-worthy 

moment to capture. 

Boasting panoramic 

views of the Nile river, The 

Nile Ritz-Carlton lies at 

the heart of the city. Take 

a stroll back in time and 

Le Riad Hotel 

De Charme 

stay in one of the 331 rooms 

overlooking the historical 

Egyptian museum, and then 

taste signature Arabian 

delicacies as the belly 

dancers sway. 

Just around the corner, 

Four Seasons Cairo at 

The First Residence draws 

discerning travellers with its 

stylish design, colonial décor 

and opulent interiors. 

Set amid lush ancient 

zoological gardens, soak 

up the scenery on the 

open-deck pool followed 

by a soothing body 

treatment at the luxury 

spa, which offers direct 

views of the Nile. 

Inspired by the grandeur 

of the Ottoman Empire, 

Le Riad Hotel De Charme 

is a quaint lodging tucked 

away in old town Cairo 

with only 17 suites to 

count. With its rich warm 

colours, Fatimid traditional 

prints and lovingly 

preserved paintings, each 

room evokes the romance 

of old times. 

Villa Belle Époque 

is another boutique 

gem hidden on the 

quiet streets of Maadi. 

Conjuring up French 

summer vibes, this 

charming white-washed 

villa boasts 31 rooms, 

13 of which are named 

after an Egyptian city 

combining contemporary 

and traditional designs to 

represent it. 


sizzling 

street food 

For a truly authentic 

taste of the city, grab a 

bite at these top stop-offs 

It’s no surprise that 

bustling Cairo is home to 

an extraordinary variety 

of rustic street fare; from 

buzzing street food stalls 

to eclectic local vendors, 

there’s something for 

every taste. You’ll know 

you’ve reached KEBDET 

EL PRINCE when you find 

dozens of locals huddling 

up and impatiently 

waiting for their tables. 

Start off by ordering the 

heavenly molokhia with 

rice and tender waraet 

lahma, both local goodies 

that’ll leave you wanting 

more. Another authentic 

dish that every visitor 

should try at least once is 

Koshari; a unique mixture 

of rice, macaroni and 

lentils, all covered with 

a spicy tomato sauce, 

and KOSHARI EL TAHRIR 

has been ruling the roost 

for years. While strolling 

along the Corniche at 

night you’ll find stands in 

every nook and corner 

serving HUMMUS SHAM. 

The warm and spicy drink 

is a very popular must-try 

made out of chickpeas, 

lemon, chili, along with 

spices of your choice. 

MEM0RABILIA 

Looking to take home a 

keepsake? Here are some 

must-haves 

Incense: Intrinsic to the 

worship of the gods and 

goddesses of Ancient 

Egypt, incense was 

used to ward off evil 

spirits. Choose between 

many shapes, types 

and fragrances to use 

in beautifully crafted 

burners. 

Where to find it? 

Khan El Khalili Market 

Papyrus scroll: Another 

item of ancient origin, 

Papyrus scrolls were 

man-made paper upon 

which Egyptians kept 

most of their important 

records. Of course, 

what you’ll find today 

are just replicas of the 

originals. However, with 

hieroglyphic alphabets 

and battle print scenes, 

they look just as real. 

Where to find it? Egypt 

Papyrus Museum, Giza 

Scarab beetle: Mostly 

made out of alabaster 

or granite, legend has 

it that Scarab beetles 

symbolize the Great Ra, 

the deity and leader 

of all Egyptian gods 

who created himself 

out of nothing. Ancient 

Egyptians believed that 

Ra was swallowed by 

the sky goddess Nut 

every evening as the sun 

dipped down only to be 

reborn every morning 

representing renewal 

and resurrection. 


Khan El Khalili Market 

Fez “Tarboush”: Worn 

by citizens and Pashas 

from 1805 until 1952, 

this cultural headgear 

became a symbol of 

modernity during the 

Ottoman Empire. For a 

true Bedouin look, wrap 

a white turban around 

your Fez. 


Moez street 

Old is gold 

With a history that dates back to 1382, Khan El Khalili 

is one of the oldest flea markets in Egypt and by 

far the most popular. Bask in the city’s rich history 

and lose yourself in the winding alleyways of Islamic 

historical buildings while haggling for gorgeous 

antiques, handmade accessories, ornate perfume 

bottles and traditional clothing. Book addicts, 

meanwhile, should make a beeline to El Azbakeya 

Wall, a book market that was first introduced in 

the 19th century and displays more than 130 stalls 

overflowing with old, unique and used books. If 

you’re up for a splash of colour, Fokhareen Market is 

brimming with pottery gems you simply wouldn’t find 

anywhere else. 


Opposite page, from top: 

The traditional Egyptian 

dish Koshari; Papyrus scroll; 

Khan El Khalili Market, photo 

by Zeyad Abouzeid 

This page from top: 

Muhammad Ali Mosque, 

photo by Hassan Mohamed; 

The Great Pyramids, photo 

by Zeyad Abouzeid 

LONG WEEKEND 

MOSQUE CULTURE 

Admire the splendour of Islamic 

architecture in the City of a 

Thousand Minarets 

insider tips 

Salma Ammar 

shares insider 

tips and tricks on 

exploring the city 

“Tipping, known as 

baksheesh, is a huge 

part of the Egyptian 

culture. From waiters 

to bathroom attendants, you pretty much 

tip for anything and everything so make 

sure you save those smaller bills. Of course, 

a trip to Cairo is not complete until you’ve 

seen a show featuring the famous Sufi 

dancers. The plethora of twirling colours 

flowing all around is magical and better 

yet, free. Just head to the Al-Ghuri Mosque 

on Wednesday and Saturday nights at 

around 8pm for the dazzling show followed 

by a quick detour to one of the most 

authentic Egyptian culinary destinations, 

Fashet Sumaya. Hidden down a quiet 

lane in downtown Bab El Louk, here you 

can enjoy traditional home cooked meals 

served by Sumaya herself, the friendly 

owner of the establishment. Her perfectly 

seasoned lamb dish is a must-try.” 

HISTORY 

BUFFS 

Home to one of the 

oldest civilizations in 

the world, Cairo is the 

land of myth, legend 

and deep-seated history, 

and no trip is complete 

without a stop at the 

Great Pyramids of Giza. 

The last of the ancient 

seven wonders of the 

world, the monumental 

tombs are relics of 

Egypt’s Old Kingdom 

built 4,500 years ago 

to withstand the test of 

time, deeming them one 

of the pure mysteries 

of the world. Beat the 

crowds by planning 

your trip in the early 

morning and don’t miss 

snapping the all-time 

classic photo of kissing 

the Sphinx. Make the 

Egyptian Museum your 

next stop and marvel 

MOSQUE OF MUHAMMAD ALI. Beautiful in 

its simplicity yet intricately designed, this 

masterpiece wows with its creative use of slim 

minarets, cascading domes, large chandeliers, 

Thuluth inscriptions and beautiful globe lamps. 

AL AZHAR MOSQUE. Considered a beacon of 

theological authority to the entire Islamic world, 

immerse yourself in a tale worth more than 1,000 

years. With three minarets from the 14th, 15th 

and 16th centuries, the mosque blends different 

architectural styles while playing host to the 

world’s second-oldest university for the Sunni 

theology, Al Azhar University. 

MOSQUE OF AHMAD IBN TULUN. Still in its 

original mud brick form, this historical landmark is 

the oldest mosque in city. Lying in the heart of old 

Islamic Cairo, climb up the staircase of its minaret 

(which was uniquely built on the outside) and soak 

up a bird’s eye view of the old town. 

at the beauty of more 

than 12,000 ancient 

antiques and artefacts 

on display, including 

royal mummies and the 

infamous gold mask of 

Tutankhamun. The City 

of the Dead is another 

must-see and a hidden 

gem that’s hauntingly 

beautiful. Known as 

Cairo’s Necropolis, 

the four-miles Islamic 

cemetery holds tombs 

of the world’s most 

notable Islamic figures 

and is largely inhabited 

by citizens living 

among the remains 

of their ancestors. 

With intricate shrines 

inscribed with phrases 

from the Qur’an, 

the city exudes a 

fascinating atmosphere 

of life and death, 

making it a truly unique 

experience. 


WORLD TRAVELLER X DCT ABU DHABI 

THREE WAYS TO EXPERIENCE ABU DHABI... 

Spa serenity 

Slip into a fluffy bathrobe and unwind on a pampering spa 

break in the UAE capital. After all, you deserve it… 

Photo: Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara 

1 

Desert Islands Resort & 

Spa by Anantara. Bringing 

healing rituals al fresco, 

you can enjoy treatments 

along the seafront or inside a 

private beach cabana at this 

back-to-nature spa. Couples 

can try the 120-minute Desert 

Island Retreat package, which 

includes a floral foot ritual, sand 

scrub and full body massage. 

Or, for a self-care moment, the 

45-minute Makkakech Rhassoul 

Wrap, will envelop you in 

natural clay to detoxify the skin. 

2Remède Spa at The St. 

Regis Abu Dhabi. One 

of the emirate's largest 

spas, there’s ample space 

to chill between treatments 

here, including in the bubbling 

Jacuzzi. Request a sea view 

treatment room or plump for 

the VIP Suite, where you can 

unwind on the outdoor terrace 

with a nourishing juice. The 

exclusive St. Regis Splendour 

package will lavish you with a 

half-day of results-driven, topto-toe 

treatments. 

3The Spa at Emirates 

Palace Abu Dhabi. 

Indulge the senses at this 

Moroccan-inspired spa, which 

has a traditional hammam at 

its heart, complete with two 

Jacuzzis, two steam rooms, 

heated marble and an ice 

cave. Once you’re suitably 

scrubbed and buffed, the 

relaxation room calls. Soak up 

the tranquil ambiance before 

carrying on your spa journey, 

as the expert therapists tailor 

treatments to suit you. 


WORLD TRAVELLER X JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS DUBAI 

STAYCATION 

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai 

Take your staycation experience to the next level at the world’s tallest five-star hotel 

ROOMS & SUITES 

If you’re in need of a restful night’s 

sleep, you’re sure to experience it here. 

Bed down in one of 1,608 soundproofed 

rooms or suites that tower above 

the city, complete with views of the 

twinkling skyline or the sea. During the 

summer, you can save 15% off the usual 

rate. Marriott Bonvoy members are 

treated to more benefits still, enjoying 

25% off and complimentary breakfast. 

THE FOOD 

There are 15 award-winning restaurants 

and bars to discover, including Japanese 

restaurant Izakaya and glamorous 

nightspot Vault, which has stunning 

views of Downtown Dubai. The latest 

addition to the culinary scene is 

Masala Library by Jiggs Kalra, which 

has mastered the art of molecular 

gastronomy. We heartily recommend you 

indulge in the great value tasting menu. 

THE ACTIVITIES 

Occupying a premium spot along 

Dubai’s main thoroughfare, Sheikh 

Zayed Road, the hotel is within 

easy reach of a roster of top tourist 

attractions. Post sightseeing, there are 

plenty of ways to unwind back at the 

hotel. Take a dip in the outdoor pool or, 

for a spot of pampering, head to Saray 

Spa, where you can still the mind in the 

UAE’s only Dead Sea floatation pool. 

To find out more, call +971 4 414 3000 or visit jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com 


Inspiration. Expertly crafted. 

Comprising two iconic towers, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is centrally located beside the 

Dubai Water Canal and offers a spectrum of facilities and services for a seamless experience. 

The hotel features: 1,608 Luxurious Guest Rooms and Suites, Over 15 Award-Winning Restaurants 

and Lounges, Saray Spa featuring Traditional Hammams, A Dead Sea Floatation Pool and 

17 Treatment Rooms, State-of-the-Art Health Club and Fitness facilities, 8,000 sqm of spectacular 

Meeting Spaces. 

JW Marriott® Marquis® Hotel Dubai 

jwmarriott.com/DXBJW 

Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay, PO Box 121000, Dubai, UAE | T +971.4.414.0000 | jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com

WORLD TRAVELLER X THE ST. REGIS ABU DHABI 

STAYCATION 

The St. Regis Abu Dhabi 

Live the high life at this luxury hotel where views, fine fare and pampering define your stay 

ROOMS & SUITES 

The height of sophistication, all 283 

rooms and suites at this hotel on the 

Corniche boast stellar views. We rate the 

one-bedroom Al Hosen Suite (pictured), 

which offers a generous snapshot of the 

sea through floor-to-ceiling windows. 

There are some fantastic staycation offers 

for Eid al-Fitr, including complimentary 

upgrades, dining credits and savings for 

families booking two rooms. 

THE FOOD 

There are six restaurants and bars to 

discover, including Villa Toscana, which 

will take you on a culinary journey to 

Tuscany. For a taste of the season, sit 

down to the delicious new Summer 

Fruits Afternoon Tea at Crystal Lounge. 

When the weekend rolls around, head 

to the suits-all Family Friday Brunch at 

The Terrace on the Corniche to indulge in 

seafood, sushi and foie gras. 

THE ACTIVITIES 

Kick-start you summer pampering 

regime with a bespoke treatment at 

Remède Spa, which is offering selected 

treatments for less until the end of 

August. Next, head outdoors to unwind 

in a secluded cabana at Nation Rivera 

Beach Club before stretching your 

legs along the private beach. Kids can 

scamper to Treasure Island Children’s 

Club for some supervised fun. 

To find out more, call +971 2 694 4444 or visit marriott.com 


An Exquisite Eid Al-Fitr Staycation 

Celebrate Eid al-Fitr with a family staycation to create lasting memories. Live exquisite in one of our 

Superior Rooms or for the ultimate level of luxury upgrade to a Signature Suite. Located at the vibrant 

heart of Abu Dhabi with a 200 metre stretch of pristine beach, overlooking the turquoise waters of the 

Nation Riviera Beach Club at the finest address in the city. 

Superior Room from AED 650* includes: 

Complimentary upgrade to Sea View Room (subject to availability), AED 200 restaurant dining credit, 

breakfast and 4:00 pm late checkout. 

Signature Suites from AED 1200* includes: 

AED 400 restaurant dining credit, breakfast and 4:00 pm late checkout. 

Book one room and save 50% on the second room. 

Perfect for families, connecting rooms available (subject to availability) 

*All prices are in UAE Dirham and are exclusive of all applicable service charges, local fees and taxes. Offer valid from 1st – 15th June 2019. 

The St. Regis Abu Dhabi 

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates t. +971 2 694 4444 stregisabudhabi.com 

©2019 Marriott International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Preferred Guest, SPG, St. Regis and their logos are the trademarks of Marriott International, Inc., or its affiliates. 

Stay exquisite at more than 40 St. Regis hotels and resorts worldwide. 

@stregishotels

1 

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DNATA TRAVEL OFFERS 

AROUND THE WORLD 

SEYCHELLES 

RAFFLES SEYCHELLES 


USD1,730 per person 

Includes: Stay 3 nights in a Ocean 

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December 2019. 

MALAYSIA 

THE RITZ-CARLTON, KUALA 

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WEEKEND ESCAPES 

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BY ANANTARA 



Includes: Stay 3 nights in a Deluxe 

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Offer: Stay 3 nights, pay for 

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GRAND MILLENNIUM AMMAN 




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Offer: Complimentary upgrade 

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December 2019. 

Mövenpick Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel Dubai 

Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara 

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai 

How to book 

By calling dnata on 

+971 4 316 6666 

By stepping into a dnata outlet 

or by visiting dnatatravel.com 

On the website you can also sign up to the dnata 

newsletter and receive more offers direct to your 

inbox. T&Cs apply. 


INSIGHT 

EXPERIENCES 

DELICIOUSLY 

AUTHENTIC 

DINING 

TRAVEL AND 

STAY IN STYLE 

SMALLER 

GROUP 

CAMARADERIE 

SEAMLESS, 

STRESS-FREE 

TRAVEL 

THE MAGIC OF AN 

INSIGHT EXPERIENCE 

Dublin, Ireland: Explore Trinity 

College with a university insider, 

before getting priority access to the 

famous library and Book of Kells. 

Book at dnatatravel.com 

call 800 DNATA (36282) or 

speak to us in-store 

Download our app 

Follow us on 

• Holidays starting from US$1275.00 

• Year round savings available, check 

with us

THROUGH 

THE LENS 

The SOHO building in 

Tokyo, Japan 

"Although I've been to Tokyo 

several times, I only discovered 

this place on Instagram fairly 

recently. So when I visited 

last November, I knew I had to 

find it. After a lot of extensive 

research, I finally managed 

to locate it – no easy feat 

considering it's not a main 

attraction in the city. Being a 

hotel and private office space, it 

was impossible to just go in, but 

I was a man on a mission and 

snuck in anyway to take the shot. 

The guy in the photo is someone 

that I met randomly along the 

way and asked if he could kindly 

pose for the photo. Thankfully, 

he understood me and didn't 

think I was a crazy tourist." 

Th 

Travel photographer, 

Loïc Lagarde, loves to travel 

because "I can’t stay still. I 

always need to be on the 

move discovering something 

new and exciting every day." 

@loic.lagarde, loiclagarde.com 

EMAIL US YOUR BEST 

TRAVEL PHOTOS 

in high-res jpeg format, along 

with the stories behind them to 

habiba@hotmediapublishing. 

com and you may end up 

being featured 

on this page 


Now win! 

DIGITAL 

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COMPANION 

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sharing your experiences. Here’s 

where you can find us… 

@worldtravellerme 

Double tap our dreamy 

destination shots and tag 

us in your images for a chance to 

feature on our wall. 

@WorldTravellerME 

Stay up to date with travel 

stories as we post them. 

@WTravellerME 

Make the most of your 

280-character allowance 

by sharing your best travel 

moments with us. 

#WorldTravellerME 

A two-night stay at Qasr Al Sarab 

Desert Resort by Anantara 

Escape the city and sink into luxury at this traditionallystyled 

desert resort on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. You'll stay 

in a One Bedroom Anantara Pool Villa, with breakfast for two. 

Chill out with a dip in your private plunge pool and take part in 

thrilling sunrise and sunset desert activities. Or, you can simply 

unwind at Anantara Spa. To find out more and to enter, visit 

worldtravellermagazine.com/win (terms & conditions apply). 

TRAVEL INSPO AT YOUR FINGERTIPS 

Let our travel news and round-ups, available to read on our website, 

inspire your next trip… 

1The Knowledge. 

Read our handy 

how-tos, from 

getting to grips with 

travel insurance to 

helping kids beat jet 

lag, and more. 

2Staycations. 

Take a peek 

inside these top 

hotels and resorts on 

your doorstep and 

then book your next 

mini break. 

3Insider Guides. 

Check out our 

in-the-know 

travel edits of some 

of the most popular 

holiday destinations 

on our radar. 


XXXXXXXXXXXXX 

Suite dreams 

Our monthly finish with a flourish, delving into a 

suite that has a character and style all of its own 

Suite Amour 

Hotel Lutetia 

It's easy to fall in love with this suite, which makes the 

most of its vantage point at the pinnacle of the hotel with 

a private terrace offering picture-perfect views across the 

rooftops of Paris and the Eiffel Tower. It's one of seven 

signature suites designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte at 

this palace hotel in the St. Germain-des-Pres area of the 

Left Bank. Back inside, ascend the staircase to the suite's 

other main attraction, the stylish sitting room complete 

with artworks and luxurious bespoke furniture. 


AT THE EDGE OF THE 

WORLD, WHERE THE SKY 

SWIMS IN SEA BLUE 

this island sanctuary 

welcomes you with breeze 

and birdsong, candlelit dinners 

and infinite views. 

Just daydreams away 

from the buzz of the capital, 

you can lose yourself 

in the peaceful luxury 

of your own perfect universe. 

YOUR EXTRAORDINARY STORY 

Zaya Nurai Island Resort 

#InAbuDhabi 

visitabudhabi.ae

Inspiration. Expertly crafted. 

Comprising two iconic towers, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is centrally located beside the 

Dubai Water Canal and offers a spectrum of facilities and services for a seamless experience. 

The hotel features: 1,608 Luxurious Guest Rooms and Suites, Over 15 Award-Winning Restaurants 

and Lounges, Saray Spa featuring Traditional Hammams, A Dead Sea Floatation Pool and 

17 Treatment Rooms, State-of-the-Art Health Club and Fitness facilities, 8,000 sqm of spectacular 

Meeting Spaces. 

JW Marriott® Marquis® Hotel Dubai 

jwmarriott.com/DXBJW 

Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay, PO Box 121000, Dubai, UAE | T +971.4.414.0000 | jwmarriottmarquisdubailife.com

World Traveller June 2019

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