Discover Abercrombie & Kent’s luxury wellness journeys

Sponsored by Abercrombie & Kent June 21, 2019

Born on safari in East Africa in 1962, Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) has been reinventing luxury travel for more than half a century. With 55 offices and more than 2500 travel experts on the ground around the world, A&K takes the world’s most discerning travellers to the ends of the earth on unforgettable adventures. Every journey includes unparalleled insider- access experiences, courtesy of A&K’s longstanding local connections. This is luxury travel redefined — exquisite, creative, courageous and enriching journeys — taking travellers out of their comfort zones, in comfort, to more than 100 countries and all seven continents. See the world in a new light and find yourself somewhere amazing on an A&K small-group journey.

Wellness-inspired luxury small group journeys

At the heart of A&K’s new wellness-inspired luxury small-group journeys is a mission to reveal the world’s most inspiring traditions and places in a way that authentically speaks to wellbeing. That means a perfect balance of deeply cultural and expertly led experiences in luxurious A&K style that also enrich the mind, body and spirit. These new journeys meaningfully combine culture and wellness as only A&K can. Travel to iconic destinations — Southeast Asia, India, Kenya and Peru — with a renowned A&K tour director and no more than 18 guests, all while immersing in activities and ancient practices that promote mindfulness and wellbeing, as well as unhurried stays in accommodation noted for their wellness offerings. There are many reasons to join A&K on a new and unique path to wellness.

Uniquely cultural and expertly designed

A&K’s wellness-inspired journeys combine the company’s signature travel experience with rich opportunities to engage the mind, body and spirit in meaningful ways. That means enjoying intimate, culturally immersive and luxurious journeys alongside wellness-focused experiences and deliberately relaxed stays that speak authentically to the places visited.

Immersing the mind and spirit in ancient traditions

From a guided meditation by a waterfall with a local expert in Luang Prabang to a shaman-led ritual honouring Mother Earth Pachamama in Peru’s Sacred Valley and an ancestor ceremony on India’s Ganges River, experience the beautiful and timeless traditions that have shaped the cultures A&K explores. Inspiring private talks with local experts, such as on Indian Ayurvedic healing properties, provide further opportunities for an in-depth understanding of the timeless wisdom of each place.

Designed to relax and replenish

Relish at least one included spa treatment during your journey as well as a half day free of activities at each destination, offering you ample opportunities to relax and reflect. You’ll also enjoy nourishing meals at your rooms that incorporate locally sourced, organic ingredients.

As active as you wish

Every journey comes with frequent opportunities to be active, all of which are always included and always optional. Choose gentle sunrise yoga, a refreshing bike ride through the temples of Siem Reap or Udaipur’s countryside, a thrilling run with members of Kenya’s Maasai tribe, or a hike to a towering peak rising over Machu Picchu.

Inspiring transformations

Experience the benefits of giving back when you visit the special communities that A&K partners with to empower lasting change. Look for the leaf symbol to identify the Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy-supported projects you’ll discover on your journey.

Authentic local experts at your side

Your wellness-inspired luxury small-group journey is led from start to finish by a resident tour director, a year-round resident with the kind of insight into local culture that only a true local can bring. Adding additional colour to your journey are local experts on your destination’s cultural and spiritual heritage, who help you to connect personally with every place you visit.

Adding the personal touch with Design Your Day

On a select day of every itinerary, look forward to making your experience that much more personal when you Design Your Day, choosing from three diverse activities ranging from spa treatments to active excursions.

An ideal group size for a rejuvenating journey

Every journey features a small-group size of no more than 18 guests, opening up a world of inspiring opportunities for couples and solo travellers to authentically connect with people and places off limits to large groups, and to reflect on your experiences among an intimate group of like-minded travellers. Enjoy more one-on-one interaction with your resident tour director, as well as access to off-the-beaten-path sites and luxurious accommodations only open to a small group.

Thoughtful luxuries from start to finish

With A&K’s exclusive Travelling Bell Boy service, simply leave your packed bags behind in your room as you walk out the door, and find them waiting inside your room at your next accommodation. Every journey also includes Traveller’s Valet®, the exclusive, complimentary laundry service provided once per journey. Stay in touch with friends and family at home with complimentary internet access during hotel stays (subject to availability). And twice during your journey, enjoy the opportunity to have continental breakfast served to you in the comfort of your hotel room. Private arrival and departure transfers are always included with your journey, regardless of when you choose to arrive or depart. Likewise, all of your gratuities are included, except one for your resident tour director, which is at your sole discretion.

Exceptional hotels with wellness in mind

A&K’s local experts start by selecting the best hotels in every region, always synonymous with five-star style, and often a Condé Nast Traveler Gold List or Travel + Leisure World’s Best property. They go a step further wherever possible to choose accommodation options with ideal locations and exceptional amenities that promote rejuvenation, mindfulness and tranquility.

Ideal locations for reflection and connection

Imagine waking in your own private casita enveloped by the Sacred Valley on the Wellness Peru journey, or in a former palace overlooking the holy Ganges River, where locals partake in spiritual practice daily on Wellness India, or amid the faraway pathways of the Masai Mara in a luxury lodge offering prime views of the resident wildlife on Wellness Kenya. On every wellness-inspired journey, expect stays in extraordinary and often intimate accommodation like these, always set in inspiring locales that are closest to the places you most dream of seeing.

Beautiful spas honouring local traditions

Just as important as the setting and surrounds of your hotel are the offerings within. With relaxation and rejuvenation top of mind, A&K experts zero in on accommodation options boasting the very best holistic spas, such as what you’ll find at Six Senses Krabey Island off the coast of Cambodia on Wellness Southeast Asia, where you can look forward to indulging in your choice of locally inspired treatments.

Harmonious spaces and wellness amenities

A&K prioritises accommodation that brings a truly holistic dimension to your stay with an abundance of wellness amenities. Find everything from modern fitness centres and hammams, swimming pools and restaurants sourcing their menus from an on-site organic garden to putting greens, croquet lawns and scenic outdoor spaces, where you may take part in sunrise yoga or evening stargazing. With balance in mind, A&K wellness-inspired journeys also offer ample time on your own to enjoy these amenities at your leisure. Choose your wellness-inspired small group journey with A&K from these remarkable destinations.

Kenya: Cultures & Wildlife

Discover cultural traditions and inspiring conservation efforts on a wellness-inspired safari through the vast Masai Mara and Tsavo National Park. Experiences include game drives with A&K driver guides, sunrise yoga, a rejuvenating spa treatment, a conservation focused visit to an elephant orphanage, a guided hike in the Chylulu Hills, the chance to run with members of the Maasai and a visit to an A&K Philanthropy-supported school.

Journey highlights

Connect with primal nature on unforgettable safari game drives with A&K’s expert driverguides, as well as on a guided hike through the untamed forests of the lush Chylulu Hills. Learn the time-honoured ways of the Maasai tribe with an immersive village visit, including the opportunity to practice warrior skills. Discover moving and beautifully harmonious conservation efforts, from raising and integrating young elephants back into the wild to transforming common recyclables into vibrant sculptures. Refresh and replenish with a restorative spa treatment as well as sunrise and sunset yoga. Gain a new perspective when you learn about an A&K Philanthropy-supported project providing clean water to local villages, and enjoy giving back with an optional visit to an AKP-supported school. Customise your experience when you Design Your Day in the Masai Mara, with options ranging from a sustainable wetlands tour and cooking class to the opportunity to run with members of the Maasai.

Kenya journey details

Nine days, from AU$17,485

Departures:

20 October 2019 to 28 October 2019

29 October 2019 to 6 November 2019

Maximum 18 Guests

Peru: Spirit of the Incas

Experience the mystical beauty, harmony and sacred rituals of the Incas on a wellness-inspired cultural journey to Peru. Experiences include guided hiking in Machu Picchu, a shaman-led payment to the earth ceremony in the Sacred Valley, an afternoon farmstead visit, kayaking Huaypo Lagoon, a restorative spa treatment, traditional medicine talks with local experts and a visit to an A&K Philanthropy-supported school.

Journey highlights

Thrill at the grandeur of ancient Machu Picchu during afternoon and early morning walks through the citadel, revelling in its mysteries. Partake in traditional rituals that include a payment to the earth ceremony honouring Mother Earth goddess Pachamama and an optional coca leaf reading by a local shaman. Learn about healing plants, such as ayahuasca, and traditional medicines during privately led talks with local experts. Bask in the rolling vistas of the Sacred Valley as you explore the remote Andean lagoon of Huaypo by kayak. Discover how an A&K Philanthropy supported local school provides education, nutrition, medical care and hope to underprivileged children in the Sacred Valley. Experience life at a modern Peruvian farmstead alongside the owners, joining them for a tour of the fields, followed by a true farm-to-table lunch showcasing fresh Peruvian fare.

Peru journey details

Ten days, from AU$11,605

Departures:

4 November 2019 to 13 November 2019

3 December 2019 to 12 December 2019

Maximum 18 Guests

India: Ancient Traditions & inspiring Icons

Embrace the soul of intoxicating India on a wellness-inspired cultural journey connecting you to the unique spirit and cultures of the Golden Triangle, Rajasthan and Varanasi. Experiences include guided meditation and bicycling in Udaipur, a private consultation with an Ayurvedic doctor and a spa treatment in Rajasthan, an A&K-Philanthropy-supported visit to a residential school and partaking in an ancestor’s ceremony on the sacred Ganges River.

Journey Highlights

Discover extraordinary monuments spanning India’s rich spiritual heritage, from the temples of Delhi and Udaipur to the breathtaking Taj Mahal, which you visit at both sunrise and sunset. Enjoy three rejuvenating nights in Udaipur complete with a guided meditation, bike ride through the countryside and a sunset cruise on Lake Pichola. Privately consult with an ayurvedic doctor and learn about the importance of one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems during a stay at Amanbagh, a retreat in the heart of Rajasthan. Design Your Day in the magical countryside of Rajasthan, with options that include visiting local artisans in their workshops or setting off on a photogenic tour of rural village life at dusk. Experience an inspired visit to an A&K Philanthropy- supported, residential school for young girls. Spend two awe-inspiring nights in Varanasi, a city sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, where you stay along the banks of the Ganges in a former palace and partake in an evening aarti ceremony.

India journey details

13 days, from AU$15,720

Departures:

5 October 2019 to 17 October 2019

9 November 2019 to 21 November 2019

Maximum 18 Guests

Southeast Asia: Timeless Rituals of Indochina

Immerse yourself in a wellness-inspired cultural journey to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, discovering enduring traditions and activities that promote wellbeing. Experiences include Siem Reap by bicycle, a Laotian-inspired spa treatment, alms giving and waterfall meditation in Luang Prabang, an A&K Philanthropy-supported visit to a local village and a luxurious stay on private Krabey Island.

Journey highlights

Take part in beautiful ceremonies that connect you to the ancient traditions of Southeast Asia, including a Laotian baci ceremony and alms offering. Practice meditation in Luang Prabang alongside a scenic waterfall with a local teacher before enjoying a walk. Explore cinematic Siem Reap, venturing to its awe-inspiring temples on a tuk-tuk or bicycle. Luxuriate on a private tropical island with a three night stay on turquoise-water-fringed Krabey Island in southern Cambodia. Choose from a selection of Laotian-inspired treatments delivered by skilled practitioners at Rosewood Luang Prabang’s luxurious spa. Enjoy a meaningful visit to a rural village partnering with A&K Philanthropy to source clean water in Siem Reap.

Southeast Asia journey details

Thirteen days, from AU$14,920

Departures:

9 October 2019 to 21 October 2019

30 October 2019 to 11 November 2019

Maximum 18 Guests