The great thing about bucket lists is that every single one is different. Your particular bucket list may be about unique places to stay or unique places to eat, it may centre around traditional local cultures or culinary experiences, you may be in the market for outdoor activities, or you may just want to add some breathtaking views to the memory bank. Wherever your travel interests lie, we know that as a Luxury Gold guest, you will want to do it in style. Here are 10 unique vacations of the moment.

1. Chase the Northern Lights

Scientists think the furthest south the aurora borealis has been spotted is in Honolulu, and over recent years parts of Europe have had surprise sightings. But if you want to be fully immersed in the holographic splendor of the sun and earth’s clashing magnetic fields, you will have to commit more time and patience to the experience. To “chase” the northern lights, your best bet is to head to northern Norway, somewhere like Tromsö, where your probability of seeing the sky lit up with blues, greens and purples is 70-90% in cloudless conditions between August and April.

You may also enjoy reading:Unusual Architecture: Design Marvels Across Europe

2. Receive a Shaman’s Welcome in the Sacred Valley

Our Treasures of the Incas journey is one of our most unique vacations; once you’ve met a local artist in Lima, it’s time to venture into the Sacred Valley in the Andes of Peru, north of the Inca capital of Cusco. Here, a local shaman will perform a welcoming ceremony, designed to connect you to this magical, mystical place of natural beauty, before you head on to the travel bucket list classic, Machu Picchu. Dating back to pre-historic times, the welcome ceremony is a way to celebrate and show gratitude to Pachamama, the only goddess revered by the Indigenous people of the Andes. The journey continues on to Buenos Aires and to Rio de Janeiro for cocktails on Copacabana Beach.

3. Sleep Under the Stars in California

Don’t overlook what’s on your doorstep in favor of getting off the beaten path to find the world’s “hidden gems”. California’s National Parks are home to some of the most iconic views and landscapes on the planet. Yosemite is popular because it’s special – it has glacier-sculpted geology, fairytale sequoias, jewel-like lakes and so much more. Everyone who enters falls in love, particularly if they stay at one of 13 campgrounds, with access to a campfire.

4. Enjoy a Soothing, Open-air Onsen in Japan

Hot springs and the bathing facilities around them are called “onsen” in Japan, where they constitute an important part of daily life and are deeply rooted in the culture. Benefits of bathing in hot springs include relaxation, improved sleep, improved circulation, less joint pain, better skin and a clearer mind. Onsen etiquette usually requires full nudity and no tattoos. Our Majestic Japan journey features the Oirase Keiryu Hotel, one of our most unique places to stay, thanks to its onsen deep within the forest.

Bookmark for later: These Are The Most Unique Romantic Getaways The World Has To Offer

5. Get a Taste for the Wine Life in South Africa

South Africa is home to some of the most breathtaking views in the world. It’s a wildly diverse place to travel, with culinary experiences, wildlife spotting and outdoor activities all on the agenda. Those looking for unique family vacations choose the safari, but if following the vines has always appealed to you, this is the place to do that, too. On our Spectacular South Africa journey, we head to the historic Cape Winelands, where we travel by chauffeured vintage car to indulge in a wine tasting at Vergelegen Estate and a farm-to-table lunch at Boschendal Wine Estate. Sip a delicious Pinotage surrounded by astounding natural beauty – it’s one for the books.

6. Behold an Uluru Sunset

Two weeks in Australia – you’ve probably been meaning to do it for a while, if you haven’t already. Our luxury journey takes in some of the country’s more unusual vacation destinations, as well as classics like Sydney, Melbourne and the Great Barrier Reef. Near the centre of Australia is Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, a large sandstone monolith. It is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara, the Aboriginal people of the area, known as the Anangu. Stopping here to see the sun slip behind the rock is soul-stirring experience – this is a landscape of surreal proportions, awash with the pinks, purples and oranges that only the sun can conjure.

7. Spy the Elusive Tigers of Ranthambore

On the Essence of India, we take the Jan Shatabdi Express from historic Bharatpur to Ranthambore, one of our favorite and most unusual vacation destinations. It’s a vast expanse of wild jungle, with a 10th century palace at its centre, and it’s the greatest place to spot wild tigers. In the former private hunting grounds of the maharajahs of Jaipur, we join a Local Expert on a quest, exploring the fort’s crocodile-filled lakes and vine-laced chhatris (dome-shaped pavilions) along the way.

You may also like: Step Inside the Most Unique Luxury Retreats in India

8. Take the Orient Express to Venice

This one is high on many bucket lists, and rightfully so. It is simply one of the world’s most decadent ways to travel, and it seems fitting that you should take it between two similarly decadent destinations: Paris and Venice. The carriages on the world famous train date from the Golden Age of travel, the 1920s and 30s, and the art-deco features are a feast for the senses, even without the views through the windows. Every detail and moment of a journey on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has been carefully considered.

9. Go Whale Watching in Kaikoura

New Zealand dazzles from top to bottom, with the makings of unique vacations every stop of the way. Our luxury journey, The Long White Cloud, takes in the wilderness of Wanaka, the adventure of Queenstown, the mammoth serenity of the Fiordland National Park and sulphuric Rotorua, where we tour a working kiwi nursery and hatchery. There are nonstop bucket list ticks here, but Kaikoura often tops them all, particularly if you love wildlife spotting. Giant sperm whales live reasonably close to the shore of Kaikoura year-round, and there is little on earth that tops spying one of these glorious creatures from a catamaran.

More travel inspiration for those seeing a unique vacation: These Are The Most Unique Romantic Getaways The World Has To Offer

10. Dance at Mardi Gras in New Orleans

You are never short of unique things to do in New Orleans, and a trip here should be considered a bucket list trip anyway, particularly by those seeking new culinary experiences. But if you can make it here for Mardi Gras, there is simply nothing on earth like it. On Fat Tuesday, right before Ash Wednesday, it’s an epic carnival featuring parades and parties of pure, unadulterated revelry. And if you can’t make it in March, our Southern Grace journey includes a behind-the-scenes tour of Mardi Gras World’s Blaine Kern Studios, a workshop that has created floats, costumes and props since 1947. It’s a whirlwind of colour and culture.

Feeling inspired be there unique vacations? Take a look at our collection of small group luxury journeys. 

If you’re looking for a vacation that focuses on wellbeing and relaxation, you may be eyeing up some spas and wellness retreats, but where to begin? It all depends on what you’re hoping to achieve. Perhaps you’re seeking stress relief and rejuvenation and would like world class treatments in a pampering setting that’s supportive and sumptuous? Or maybe you’re looking to jump-start a lifestyle change, with a vacation that includes fitness, healthy food, meditation and yoga. Here, we’ll begin by answering a few FAQs about spas and wellness retreats, and then we’ll jump into some of our favorite options.

What is a spa?

There are always exceptions, of course, but generally speaking, a spa is a place of wellbeing, pampering and relaxation. You might attend a spa for one treatment, or for a package that spans the whole day. And there are countless types of spa – for instance, medical spas offer advanced aesthetic treatments alongside the usual facials, while thermal spas use heat to soothe the body, through baths, steam rooms and hammams. Spas might have specialisms in aromatherapy, ayurveda or thalassotherapy. Increasingly, the world’s best hotels are devoting time and money to elaborate spa offerings, so in the best case scenario, you’re also sleeping in the same building.

What is a wellness retreat?

This tends to be a structured vacation, based around one or more activities, like yoga, pilates, hiking or meditation. Guests are encouraged to really break from their everyday lives and feel invigorated by programmes that include meals cooked by private chefs, time for reflection, nature walks, rest, and classes and workshops, possibly with some treatments woven into the itinerary, too.

What is included in a spa day?

Sometimes, you just want to lie down and luxuriate somewhere that was purpose built to be soothing, and not leave it for a full day. That’s where spa days come in. Whether you choose one or six treatments to have while you’re there, a spa day will usually involve paying a fee to use facilities like relaxation lounges, thermal suites, baths and pools.

Read more about spa treatments with: Ayurveda to Onsen: These Wellness Practices Have Stood the Test of Time

Soma Byron Bay, Australia

 

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Give our Inspiring Australia journey a boost by booking into one of the best wellness retreats in the world while you’re in the right hemisphere. In the middle of the Australian rainforest, Soma is architecturally unique – all sharp-edged and super luxe, purpose built to offer people a place to escape and “reengineer their lives”. It’s run by Gary Gorrow, a Vedic meditation expert with CEO clients, and Peter Ostick, a founder and business person who went on his own life-saving mindfulness journey. Through the bamboo thicket is a see-through geodesic dome, where classes take place. Retreats are two to three days long, with a focus on meditation, yoga, rounding (advanced, for Vedic meditators) or immersion (for those experiencing burnout). When guests are not in breathwork, yoga or meditation classes, there is a freshwater infinity pool, a whole food plant-based menu, and a schedule of bodywork treatments.

Fairmont Banff Springs, Canada

On our Majesty of the Rockies journey, we spend two nights at this hotel, a castle in the Rocky Mountains, surrounded by lush forest. The castle contains one of the best spas in the world, and certainly one of the most picturesque: the Willow Stream Spa. Here, a gentle soundtrack for your relaxation is provided by burbling mineral pools and trickling waterfalls, and treatments are designed with the landscapes in mind. The Signature Healing Ascent is two hours of deep relaxation and rejuvenation for your whole body: a warm, aromatic footbath, followed by a dry-brush exfoliation and a soothing, hydrating massage. And the Alpine Glow LED Facial promotes healing, stimulates collagen production, and leaves you as radiant as the Rockies.

Bookmark for later: In Canada’s Rocky Mountains, Natural Wellness and Luxury Go Hand in Hand

Acquaforte Thalasso and Spa, Sardinia

 

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This dreamy, bougainvillea-adorned Sardinian estate contains one of the best spas in the world, and one of the best thalassotherapy centres in the world. Thalassotherapy is all about the healing powers of seawater, something the Romans knew all about – there are ruins of their thermal bath in Nora, a few minutes from the resort. Then, 25 years ago, a medical team led by Dr Angelo Cerina came to finish what the Romans started, creating an extraordinary method for detoxing and rejuvenating the body. At Acquaforte now, there are six pools of Sardinian sea water, with varying saline densities and at varying temperatures. There are also wonderful massages, including one with honey and salt, designed to “purify and smooth the skin, preparing it to welcome the smiling sun”.

Kamalaya Koh Samui, Thailand

This tends to be a wellness retreat for people who are serious about doing a lot of work on themselves, people who might describe themselves as being on a journey. There are also what you might call regulars who return year after year to this, one of the best spas in the world. On the other hand, maybe you just feel it’s high time for a gut cleanse, or to master some pranayama breathing techniques, and you’d like to do so on a tropical hillside sanctuary, with a private beach. Rightfully on any list of best spas in the world, Kamalaya offers comprehensive wellness programmes dealing with detoxing, stress and burnout, and creating healthy lifestyles. Whether you’re searching for “internal harmony” or something less ambitious, as soon as you land here, you’ll feel better.

You might also enjoy:  For Stress-Free Travel, These Luxury Products Make All the Difference

Six Senses Vana, India

 

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This one-of-a-kind Himalayan resort falls wholeheartedly into the wellness retreat category. Your experience begins before you even arrive, when you’ll be asked for all the information staff need to draw up your custom health and wellness plan. On arrival, your guest experience manager will provide detox tea and linen kurta pyjamas, and from there it’s a minimum of five days of immersion in healing, rebalancing, rewilding and rechilding. Each day of your stay involves yoga, meditation, workshops, functional fitness, wellness consultations and treatments. The food is wonderful and your menus will be tailored to which Ayurvedic dosha you are diagnosed as: vata, pitta, or kapha. Meals are not meagre bootcamp offerings, but feast-like thalis, abundant with curries, salads, rice and chutneys. Explore our luxury India vacations.

The Spa at Coworth Park, UK

If you’re the sort of traveler who has our Castles & Kingdoms journey on your to-do list, you will adore the traditional spa at this Berkshire country estate, amid green fields and wildflower meadows, a mere hour from London. Guests in thick, white robes follow the English oak trees to the dual level eco-luxury spa, where they can pick and choose from personalised massages, skincare (“the Germaine de Capuccini Timexpert Hydralyronic facial” reaches deep into the skin for “noticeable outcomes”), nail care and more. Visit for one treatment or stay for the day; it’s a beautiful place to luxuriate, with a gym and a gorgeous indoor pool.

Go behind the scenes: Skip The Jacuzzi and Brave the Ice Bath: Industry Insider Joanna Moran Reveals Her Top Spa Secrets

Le Grand Spa at Le Grand Bellevue, Switzerland

 

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Extend your Luxury Gold journey through Majestic Switzerland to incorporate the divinely alpine town of Gstaad. Le Grand Bellevue is a lemon-coloured Wes Anderson-style palace that’s spilling with blooms through summer and thickly snow-clad through winter. Within, there’s caviar at Leonard’s, truffle fondue at the log cabin Le Chalet, adaptogenic coffee at the art deco bar and reviving sleep in sumptuous suites. But Le Grand Spa is the cherry on the layer cake, with its 17 wellness zones including steam baths, an ice fountain, a herbal sauna, a hay sauna, a salt inhalation grotto and an outdoor relaxation pool. And if that doesn’t soothe and calm you, the Swiss Back Release will restore you to a truly blissed, Swiss state.

SHA Mexico

The original SHA opened in Alicante, Spain in 2008, when its in-depth approach to holistic living made it stand out from wellness culture as a whole. Their follow-up property is even better. It’s in the north of the Riviera Maya, on the coast of Costa Mujeres, with acres of wild white sands and turquoise waters. If you want all that natural beauty, but you also want a program that’s “data driven and science-led”, SHA is for you. The ‘recover and energize’ program, for instance, is a minimum of four days and includes a 3D body scan, various medical appointments with clinicians, tailored meal plans, acupuncture, osteopathy, Abhyanga massage, intravenous ozone therapy treatment, personal training, cryotherapy and so much more. SHA’s are the best wellness retreats in the world if you want a true 360-degree experience.

Dior Spa at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, France

 

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There are a few Dior spas, including a cocooning, white, sanctuary-like space at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris, but for a more escapist wellness vacation, this one in Antibes is more invigorating. The spa is on the edge of the hotel grounds, beyond a 150-year-old rose garden and a grove of imposing pine trees. The treatment rooms are adorned with Dior textiles, mostly white and blue to echo the glittering French Riviera location. There are four Dior-designed wellness programs available: relaxation therapy, detox and slimming therapy, reverse aging therapy and homme therapy. And there’s an Eden-Roc eau de parfum to take home with you, so the scent of salty sea air and pine lingers, along with your newfound sense of wellbeing. Our Ultimate France journey begins at the Fairmont Monte Carlo, less than an hour from here.

More inspiration for spa lovers: Expert Selected: The 4 Best Hotel Spas You Can Visit With Luxury Gold

Two Bunch Palms, USA

An actual oasis in the Californian desert, this is a contemporary wellness hotel and hot springs, with mineral waters emerging from a 600-year-old spring. Sprinkled among the palm groves are hammocks, parasols and shaded rock grotto pools – it offers the sort of relaxation that involves quietly padding around barefoot in the sunshine. One of the best spas in the world, the treatment rooms are cool, breezy standalone bungalows for individual massages and facials, or you can go all-in with the four-hour Desert Revival, which includes massage, reiki and an adaptogen wrap. The rest of the experience is distinctly Californian, with sound baths, cacao ceremonies and vision board creation available, plus vegetable-forward dinners, matcha lattes and date shakes made with dates from Coachella Valley.

Amanemu, Japan

 

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Aman are responsible for many of the best spas in the world, and each suite or villa has its own onsen at their ryokan-inspired retreat in the south-western Ise-Shima National Park. Ancient pilgrim trails through dense forests lead to Shinto shrines, and guests have access to boats on Ago Bay, home to a community of pearl fishers and female freedivers, the ama. The spa features two private onsen pavilions, an outdoor yoga deck and hydrotherapy, and treatments incorporate local, seasonal ingredients, such as pearl powder, seaweed, and herbs and plants used in traditional kampo therapies. The area is renowned for its seafood, so there’s plenty of post-spa spiny lobster and abalone. And the Ise Jingu shrine breakfast is a deeply soothing tray of rice, fish, tofu, miso soup and pickles – a very alive way to start the day. Experience the majesty and mystery of Japan on our 11-day journey.

You may also enjoy reading: A Haven of Tranquility: Discovering the Best Luxury Spas in Japan

BodyHoliday Cariblue Beach, St. Lucia

This is everything you want from a luxury all-inclusive vacation in the Caribbean – beach location, lush tropical garden, butler service, hammocks, six restaurant options, spectacular views, scuba diving and kayaking – but with an added holistic living dimension at one of the best spas in the world. It’s a BodyHoliday, after all. Not a grueling one, though – the food is organic, with a farm-to-table focus, the daily lineup of fitness activities ranges from Beach Fit and BodySpin to beach trails, triathlon and yoga, and each day you can choose from a selection of 50-minute treatments, such as an aloe body wrap and a serenity massage. The resort also runs some more structured five-day wellness retreats, but it’s a delicious health and wellbeing reset whichever way you do it.

For the ultimate luxury vacation, take a look at our collection of limited-edition small group luxury journeys.

If you’re already planning next year’s trip to Asia and need some inspiration, then discover the best places to visit in Asia by Luxury Gold. There are countless beautiful places in Asia, whether you’re after picture-perfect beaches, mountains, ancient temples and civilizations, or sustainable luxury hotels – the world’s largest continent has it all.

Uncover the best places to visit in Asia, and make your 2025 the year of exploration

Siem Reap, Cambodia

There’s a reason why Siem Reap, a town in northwestern Cambodia, is a popular destination for many travelers beacuse it’s one of the best places to visit in Asia when it comes to awe-inspiring temples and UNESCO listed sites. When you visit Siem Reap with Luxury Gold, you’ll stay in the Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort, regularly awarded as Siem Reap’s best golf resort, where you can relax with views the ornate gardens after a day of exploring ancient ruins. 

Of course, there’s so much to see beyond your hotel; you’ll dine at Mahob, a stone’s throw away from Angkor Wat located in a cozy garden setting surrounded by trees, flowers and a lotus pond. A must-see when in Siem Reap, you’ll explore the Angkor Archaeological Park with a renowned archaeologist who will enlighten you on the largest religious complex on earth. See what’s happening in modern-day Cambodia as you attend Phare, an incredible show that sees local artists use theater, music, dance and modern circus arts to tell uniquely Cambodian tales brought to life by Phare. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports the lives of at-risk Cambodian youth through gainful employment in the arts. 

See it on: Cambodia and Vietnam in Style  

Maldives

For a more ‘no shoes, no news’ kind of vacation, the Maldives is one of the best places to visit in Asia, and its tranquil escapism will leave you feeling truly rested and recharged. One of our best luxury hotels in the world, Soneva Fushi in the Maldives offers the ultimate barefoot luxury experience. Set amidst the stunning Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the resort is a paradise for those seeking a sustainable escape in a beautiful and intimate setting.  

Gourmet dining options range from the dinner in the treetops to beachside barbecues under the stars for experiences you’ll never forget. The resort makes use of organic produce from its own gardens, meaning the food can even outshine the setting – though with special dining experiences such as the Astronomical Dinner Cruise and the Desert Island Picnic, the views will be unparalleled. 

Related reading: These Are the 10 Best Luxury Hotels in the World

Osaka, Japan

Any trip to Japan is going to be a culinary delight, but Osaka is one of the best places to visit in Asia for food-lovers. Often overlooked in favor of Kyoto, a trip to Osaka will allow you to explore this bustling city, visiting the Tenma, Tsuruhashi, and Shin-Sekai neighborhoods in search of the best teppanyaki. When you visit Osaka with Luxury Gold, you’ll discover why Osaka is known as the ‘kitchen of Japan’ as you stroll through Donburi street with a Local Expert, taste local specialties like takoyaki, crispy battered balls of octopus, spring onions and ginger. When you need to walk off some of the delicious food, you’ll explore the fascinating Osaka Castle, and visit the top of the Floating Garden Observatory in the Umeda Sky Building for incredible city views. 

See it on: Majestic Japan 

Agra, India

No visit to India is complete without a trip to Agra, home of the Taj Mahal – but there’s no better way to see this popular destination than with Luxury Gold. Your hotel, an oasis away from the city’s busy streets, is just a stone’s throw away from the Taj Mahal, and you can even see views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site from the pool. You’ll rise before the sun on one of your days in Agra to view the Taj Mahal. With the light of dawn and fewer visitors you’ll have time to fully appreciate its grandeur in peace, accompanied by only the birds and monkeys.  

You’ll leave the grandeur of the monument and meet the community living in the shadow of the Taj Mahal when you take a Mughal Heritage Walk. Discover hidden gems of the area and learn about daily life in the ancient village with impressive vistas of India’s most famous monument. Through this initiative, tourism helps suppoprt the community and improve their living conditions.   

The views continue as you visit the impressive fortress in Agra, delving into the history of the Mughal Dynasty who ruled their empire for over 300 years. Glorious mosques and fairytale palaces are protected within its walls. Get in touch with today’s Indian culture and society as you visit a private colonial bungalow for high tea, meeting the host family and listening to their stories about the British Raj.  

See it on: Essence of India

Phang Nga Bay, Thailand

Phang Nga Bay, also known as Ao Phang Nga National Park, may be one of the best places to visit in Asia – especially for film buffs, who’ll recognize it as the backdrop for the 1974 James Bond movie The Man with a Golden Gun, featuring Koh Tapu island. Its distinctive limestone cliffs and striking rock formations give it an otherworldly aura, supported by mangrove forests and small islands dotted around. Found between southern Thailand’s mainland and Phuket Island, here you can explore countless caves and lagoons, and snorkel along coral reefs.  

One of the best luxury hotels in the area, Six Senses Yao Noi offers cliffside private villas that feel like staying in a tree house, with incredible views over Phang Nga Bay. The boutique hotel is designed using natural materials that harmonize with the landscape, and when it comes to dining you can relish local, seasonal ingredients. For exclusive dining head to the Hilltop, where you can relish a Thai dinner with exceptional bay views. 

Singapore

The glamor of Singapore can’t be underestimated, with futuristic cityscapes, grand gardens, and incredible restaurants waiting within the city. Take a ride on the Eastern & Oriental Express, as you journey from the urban buzz of Singapore deep into the Malaysian jungle, and back again on this slow and luxurious journey. Don’t miss Singapore’s annual thrill as Formula 1 returns each September at the iconic Marina Bay Street Circuit. It was F1’s original night race, and the city lights almost outshine the cars. When it comes to dinner, both fine dining and authentic street food are covered; don’t sleep on the latter, with Hawker Centers offering some of the best food in Singapore – Chan Hon Meng was the first Singapore street food chef to win a Michelin star in 2016 for his stall, Hawker Chan. 

Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

The unique charm of Nuwara Eliya – a lush, picturesque hill city in central Sri Lanka’s tea country – is that it’s a far cry from the bright sunshine and cloudless beaches you’ll see on postcards, although that doesn’t make it any less picture perfect. At 1,800 meters above sea level you’ll find cool, crisp weather with highs of 22° (72ºF) in April, the region’s hottest month, as well as misty clouds that give it the name ‘Little England’. Like England itself, it’s the kind of climate that invites you to curl up with a steaming cup of tea – which you’ll be doing after a tour of one of Nuwara Eliya’s many historic tea estates. We promise you haven’t tasted tea like this before, with whole Ceylon tea leaves bringing a much more delicate flavor as they’re brewed right at the source. 

Outside of the tea estates, the cooler climate offers the perfect conditions for dramatic, misty hikes through the nearby forests, while the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club, one of the oldest golf clubs in Asia, is definitely worth a visit – and contributes to making this one of the best places to visit in Asia. 

Mt. Fuji, Japan

There’s no bad season to travel to Mount Fuji: in the summer it’s officially open for climbing; in fall the foliage turns a symphony of burnt orange and reds; in winter you can ski; and in spring, cherry blossoms are in bloom. While you can spot Fuji on the train between Tokyo and Osaka, it’s worth visiting for more than a fleeting glimpse. The Fuji Five Lake (Fujigoko) region at the northern foot of the mountain provides picture-perfect views of the mountain, as do Lake Kawaguchiko’s onsens (hot springs). 

See it on: Majestic Japan

Jaipur, India

The capital of India’s Rajasthan state, Jaipur is affectionately known as the ‘Pink City’ for its trademark, dusty pink building color, the most famous of which is Hawa Mahal, a five-story pink sandstone structure in the heart of the city with 953 small windows. If picture-worthy architecture and incredible palaces are on your list, Jaipur will deliver in spades.  

Unique experiences are waiting on your Luxury Gold journey to Jaipur, as you enjoy a private access tour around Jaipur City Palace including the maharajah’s personal living room, normally off limits to visitors, before you savor an Indian-inspired high tea on the regal terrace. More architectural marvels await as you stroll through the intricately designed complex of courtyards and halls of Amber Fort, decorated with shimmering walls and ceilings. Embrace the hubbub of the city as you visit Jaipur’s flower and spice market, or attend a traditional prayer ceremony at a white marble Hindu temple. 

See it on: Imperial Rajasthan 

Hue, Vietnam

Hue has a reputation among Vietnamese people as being the most romantic city in the country, and your Luxury Gold trip to Hue will show you the most beautiful sides of it. You’ll stay at Pilgrimage Village, a tranquil hotel situated among leafy trees and quiet countryside. This is your oasis, where you can take part in meditation, yoga or tai chi classes in your free time, and unwind in the steam bath. When you’re out and about, you’ll be cycling through rice fields through the countryside to Thanh Toan village, where you can visit the lively local market, bargain with the locals and see traditional houses. Soak up the agricultural way of life, a suitable contrast to the city.  

No trip to Hue is complete without a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Imperial Citadel, a place of historical significance and architectural beauty. Learn about Emperor Gia Long, the first ruler of the Nguyen Dynasty, who made this the center of a unified Vietnam. 

For a truly unique experience you’ll meet celebrated painter and singer, Camille Huyen, dining at her home, the fascinating Ben Xuan Garden House Theatre in Hue. Prepare for a memorable meal and private concert, hearing from her and her husband about their fascinating lives.  

Take to the water on a boat ride to the private museum of Tran Dihn Son, whose great-grandfather was a high-ranking mandarin during the Nguyen Dynasty, where you can see the vast collection of rare antiquities collected by him and his ancestors. 

See it on: Spirit of Vietnam 

Related reading: Hue is Where the Heart is: In Conversation With Artist Camille Huyen

Udaipur, India

Udaipur goes by many nicknames such as ‘City of Lakes’ or ‘Venice of the East’, famous not only for its lakes but also its palaces. On a Luxury Gold journey you’ll witness the city’s historical grandeur as you visit the City Palace complex that towers over the banks of Lake Pichola and lay eyes on the intricate Ranakpur’s Jain Temples, a marvel made up of almost 1500 white marble pillars. Later on, you’re able to cruise the serene waters of Lake Pichola or explore the old city’s colorful bazaar. 

You’ll truly experience Udaipur’s palatial architecture as you stay in The Leela Palace Built in the style of a grand Maharaja’s palace, The Leela Palace evokes the mystique of a bygone age where refined service and regal majesty combine to present an unparalleled experience. 

See it on: Imperial Rajasthan 

Bali, Indonesia

Bali is a well-trodden destination ever since 2010’s Eat, Pray, Love with Julia Roberts – but there are still relatively undiscovered spots where you can avoid the crowds while taking in Bali’s unparalleled beauty. One of those is Amed, an East Bali beach town and something of a hidden gem. One of the best spots in Asia for scuba diving in the world at Amed Reef, yoga classes overlooking the island at Blue Earth Village, or sundowners at the clifftop infinity pool at Sunset Point, Amed offers a laid-back vacation with plenty to see and do. 

Hoi An, Vietnam

Vietnam’s glowing, lantern-filled city of Hoi An is well-renowned as one of the country’s most romantic places to visit. When you journey with Luxury Gold, you’ll stay at the Anantara Hoi An Resort on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Just moments away from the historic part of Hoi An, this tranquil hotel overlooks the river where you can take in the views from your sunbed, or make use of its spa services when you’re not exploring.  Hoi An’s ancient Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you’ll explore this charming, historic area seeing well-preserved buildings that date back several centuries, spotting hundreds of colorful lanterns along the way. 

When you’re not in the town itself, you’ll visit the beautiful Cam Thanh Village with its dense coconut jungles, learning its history during the Vietnam War and its current status as a supplier of seafood, vegetables and rice. Glide across the water in a traditional bamboo-basket boat to the Thanh Dong village where you’ll hear about local farming customs, continuing through a peaceful water coconut forest to a riverside restaurant overlooking the rice fields. Get stuck into a hands-on cooking class alongside a local chef – and enjoy your hard work for lunch. 

See it on: Spirit of Vietnam 

Kobe, Japan

Don’t overlook cosmopolitan Kobe when thinking of the best places to visit in Asia. Here you can explore the bustling city while still being surrounded by sea and mountains when in downtown Kobe. Walking through Kobe is the best way to see the city, which is on the smaller side compared to goliaths like Tokyo. It’s all too easy to eat and drink your way round Kobe, home of the world-renowned Kobe beef – it won’t taste better than in its home city. Wakkoqu is one of the best restaurants to try Kobe beef, where you can watch the chef prepare your meal in front of you. Kobe is also one of Japan’s leading areas for sake brewing, with sake brewery tours showing you the process from grain to bottle. To relax away from the bustle of city life, visit one of the most famous hot springs in Japan, Arima Onsen, just 30 minutes from downtown Kobe but still within the city limits. Make sure to head out of the city one evening to the mountains where you can see the city lights sparkle, known as the “million dollar night view”. 

Luang Prabang, Laos

Step back in time when you visit Luang Prabang, with its well-preserved colonial architecture and traditional Lao style – the town is also UNESCO World Heritage Site. When you travel with Luxury Gold, the Luang Say Residence will be your home, designed in an elegant colonial style. This 5-star boutique hotel offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain ranges, while you can stroll through the lush tropical gardens within the hotel itself. You’ll rise with the sun to participate in the centuries-old Buddhist tradition of offering alms to the monks from the ancient temples of Luang Prabang, sharing this deeply spiritual ceremony with the local people.  

Ascend the sacred mountain, Mount Phousi, taking in the natural beauty from the top as you spot the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers with the jungle-clad mountains rising in the distance. Perhaps you’ll even spot the place where you’ll take a sunset cruise along the Mekong River later on, observing rural life along the tree-lined banks of this magnificent river while enjoying a sundowner and all the burning colors of the magnificent sunset.  

See it on: Sensational Vietnam and Laos

Discover the best places to visit in Asia on a luxury Asia tour with Luxury Gold.