A new dawn

From the fabled golden beaches to ancient temples, tea plantations and fishing villages, Sri Lanka offers a myriad of cultural experiences. The undisputed queen of the coastline is the quaint town of Galle, dominated by the imposing Galle Fort since the 1600s, when Dutch settlers strolled its cobbled streets.

Today, a Unesco World Heritage Site, the Fort is home to gracious Amangalla, where guests are invited to experience what lies within its walls - a bustling time capsule of narrow pathways lined with churches, boutiques and restaurants displaying their colonial heritage beneath terracotta-tiled roofs. Best seen on-foot, tours take place with a knowledgeable local guide and end at the iconic lighthouse on the ramparts, just in time for sunset. 

From Michelangelo to da Vinci, Italy’s artists are documented as greats. Nowhere is this culture more prominent than in Venice, a city that not only celebrates centuries-old traditions but lives and breathes art and craftsmanship, which is revealed at every turn.

From the historic Palazzo Papadopoli, guests of Aman Venice are invited to visit the city’s finest artists and ateliers, from leatherworkers, mosaicists and goldsmiths to perfumers and sculptors. Curated and led by the foremost experts in their fields, the hotel’s privately guided excursions range from private art classes with Venice’s marbling experts to visiting the Orsoni atelier to observe the production of 24k gold leaf mosaics, allowing guests to discover the city’s secrets away from the crowds.  

In a storied desert landscape of canyons, mesas, ridges and gorges, Amangiri rests quietly, a remote playground for adventures among the world’s finest natural landmarks. Thousands of square miles of untouched scenery surround the resort, from which the region’s fascinating geology can be experienced first-hand with expert guides who take guests of all abilities on adrenaline-filled adventures across the Colorado Plateau.

Scaling rock-faces and admiring endless vistas from the steepest mountaintops, the resort’s Via Ferrata routes include the iconic Cave Peak Stairway, a unique installation raising 400 feet (122 metres) above the ground.

Until the late 1960s, when the Kingdom's urban centres started to emerge, the population was dispersed across small, remote villages, meaning its cultures, traditions and landscapes have remained undiluted. Sensitively integrated into their surroundings as if they were always there, Amankora’s lodges, spread across five valleys, offer an insight into Bhutanese daily life.

For those looking ahead and planning future travel, Amankora's 12-night Designing a Kingdom journey is one of Aman's most extraordinary experiences. Visiting all five lodges with a bespoke itinerary and the safe hands of a private guide, guests will discover the country's dramatic mountain passes and forested wilds, encounter arts, crafts and architecture, and learn of local ways of life, with spiritual encounters along the way. 

The cultural heart of Indonesia, Java is studded with ancient treasures engulfed by paddy fields and rainforests. To experience the many facets of the island - from city to sanctuary – guests are invited to travel via train through Java to Amanjiwo on a luxury seven-hour voyage.

Starting in Jakarta, the panoramic journey passes temples, tree-lined hillsides and striking mountain landscapes with a new story appearing around every corner. Aman refreshments are served on board, accompanied by historic and cultural insights from Amanjiwo’s resident anthropologist along the way. Groups can also choose to make the journey in private, ensuring upmost comfort, safety and a truly memorable adventure.