Islandhopping adventures around the world

Transcription

1

2 Islandhopping adventures around the world Many of us dream of going on an island-hopping expedition and it s not as difficult as you might have thought! Whether it s in Europe or Southeast Asia, there are plenty of beautiful islands waiting for you to explore Writer Karen Fong View over Waya island Yasawa Fiji/thinkstock 126 AsiaSpa May/June 2015 May/June 2015 AsiaSpa 127

3 this page: The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi in the Maldives. Previous page: Waya island in Yasawa, Fiji Nothing speaks to an adventure like jumping into a boat and taking off to explore your surrounding areas. On holiday, this adds sense of freedom and excitement to an otherwise relaxing vacation. Being out on the seas is exhilarating and gives you the chance to swim, snorkel or simply sightsee. And it never hurts that when you get back to shore, there s usually a spa waiting somewhere near. Fiji A beautiful archipelago of 332 islands, Fiji has beautiful weather, breathtaking scenery and lots to explore with only over 100 of the islands inhabited. The country s international airport is in Nadi, on the main island of Veti Levu and is a great place to get on a boat and sail out. Luxury tour operator Lightfoot Travel has created an island-hopping itinerary that lets you see the best of Fiji with a stay at Likuliku Resort in the Mamanuca archipelago. Its Magical Monu Riki tour takes guests through the Mamanuca group of islands that includes Qalita island, Mana Island and Monu Riki where they shot Tom Hank s Castaway, and where guests can snorkel or swim in the pristine waters. The tour continues through the islands of Monu and Yanuya and down to Mana Sandbank for another swim. Back at Likuliku Resort, guests can indulge in Tatadra Spa, meaning House of Dreams in Fijian. Making use of the archipelago s bountiful natural resources, it uses Pure Fiji in all their authentic treatments, such as the Dilo Foot Massage, a traditional treatment that uses oil from the native Dilo tree in a soothing soak, exfoliation and then mask to soothe tired feet and reduce swelling. The Maldives Undoubtedly a collection of 1,200 islands on everyone s bucket list, the Maldives has 128 AsiaSpa May/June 2015 May/June 2015 AsiaSpa 129

4 archipelago. Surrounded by a community of islands, some offering secluded lagoons, others with communites of villages still living life the traditional way. The resort balances its luxury offerings to guests with a series of measures that give back to the Maldivian population, including using a portion of their net revenue to build local preschools, and implementing their GIVE (Get Involved, Visionary Experiences) that lets guests explore local communities, such as visiting local fruit farms or hearing about local village recipes. From the resort, guests can visit Velidhoo and Holhudhoo Island by traditional Maldivian boat, called a Dhoni. There, they can tour the local communities, visit offices and sip tea at a café. Back at the resort, experience a traditional Maldivian spa treatment at The Spa by Thalgo. Using the wisdom of local Dhivehi medicine, treatments like the Umbuliveyo Banun use natural ingredients to create a herbal paste banana leaf wrap. The treatment also includes an oil stream head massage and body massage. Part of the proceeds from each Maldivian treatment goes to charity. The Komodo Islands Only an hour and a half from Bali, Komodo National Park is worlds away in terms of development and solitude. For those who love the untouched outdoors, this is a destination not to be missed. Listed as a World Heritage Site in 1986, the national park is made up of the large islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar as well as numerous smaller islands and atolls. The extensive biodiversity includes the famous Komodo dragon as well as an extremely rich marine environment that includes sea turtles, whales, dugongs as well as manta rays and sharks. With so much to see it makes sense to live close to the action. Aboard the Alila Purnama, meaning the full moon in Bahasa, guests can relax in modern sophistication while touring the various islands. The Alila Purnama is built by hand in the traditional style of the Indonesian Phinisi with furniture all custom-made from teak, rattan and other locally sourced materials. Available for charter, Alila Purnama does tours based on personalised itineraries, which can include THIS PAGE: Get away from it all to Fiji s Likuliku Resort. OPPOSITE PAGE: Enjoy a romantic dinner at the Sun Siyam Iru Fushi in the Maldives; hop on board the Alila Purnama to visit the Komodo Islands a reputation for being more of a romantic villa getaway, famous for being secluded and untouchable. But lately more resorts are making more of the islands accessible to guests to give them both an eye to the local population and the natural flora and fauna. The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, located in the Noonu Atoll, features 221 luxury ocean-front villas as well as 70 overwater bungalows, not to mention the 20-room Thalgo spa. Iru Fushi is in the northernmost side of the Maldivian 130 AsiaSpa May/June 2015 May/June 2015 AsiaSpa 131

5 a visit to Rinca Island to see the Komodo dragons, then to Sumbawa in the Flores Sea. The ship comes with its own PADI licensed instructor and offers Spa Alila treatments perfect for sailing, such as the Heal and Hydrate Body Masks, which include Aloe Vera and cucumber blended with coconut oil to heal and nourish the skin. Greece With its low currency working in the favour of travellers, Greece s islands are a Mediterranean dream with rocky coast lines, sheltered bays and charming villages, a different kind of paradise from what one typically gets in Asia. The new Anemi Hotel, a member of Design Hotels located on Folegandros island, is the chicest place one could ask for to launch their island-hopping Greek adventure. Connected to the islands of Mykonos, Milos, Sifnos, Serifos, Ios and Naxos just to name a few, by conventional or high-speed boats, Folegandros is also worth exploring itself for its natural beauty, sheer cliffs and white villages, listed as among the seven most beautiful in Europe. Because of its rocky terrain, it remains unspoilt by too much tourism but this doesn t mean guests can t enjoy the luxurious and stylish Anemi Hotel with its minimal white-on-white colour palette. Enjoy the fresh sea air with Yoga, Pilates and Aqua Aerobics programmes that will give you a chance to stretch out leg muscles used exploring the area. The yoga programme offers classes in hatha, ashtanga and iyengar yoga and cater to all levels of experience. St Vincent and the Grenadines North of Trinidad and Tobago in the Carribbean, the island nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines offers up volcanic terrain and mountains, great for those looking for a particularly active holiday. Water taxis and ferry services will take travellers between the main nine inhabited islands, though hotels and resorts can also arrange day trips to visit those less frequented. For a private island this page: Let your breath be taken away by the beautiful sunset aboard the Alila Purnama. opposite page: Young Island Resort in St Vincent and The Grenadines; breathtaking sunset at the Andaman experience, head to Young Island, the most northerly of the Grenadine chain of islands. Privately owned, it offers 13 acres of tropical island including the Mesopotamia Valley, which offers unparalleled panoramic views, and Trinity Falls, where crystal clear waters falls from 40 feet into a basin of volcanic rock. To see the islands that surround Young Island, try the resort s Sailaway Package, which includes five nights on the island and two at sea on a luxury catamaran. Visitors can snorkel and visit the islands of Bequia and Mustique while enjoying meals on the boat. While staying at Young Island, try Spa Kalina, named after St Vincent s earliest 132 AsiaSpa May/June 2015 May/June 2015 AsiaSpa 133

6 inhabitants, which uses Earth Mother Botanicals from Barbados using natural ingredients indigenous to the region such as their Bajan cane sugar body scrub and Ylang Ylang hydrating cream. Europe Not your ordinary island-hopping itinerary, Silversea Cruises offers up a journey through Europe that delves into the continent s rich and ancient history, and a chance to visit some of its lesser-known islands which offer equally interesting bits of history or nature. Throughout the journey, guests will have a chance to stop and stand amongst Europe s famous landmarks. Some of this year s itineraries included stops in places such as Guersney, known as the Island of Flowers where the German Occupation Museum stands, Skomer Island in Wales to see grey seals (and glow-worms), the Isle of Man, Scotland s St Kilda archipelago, the castles on the Isle of Mull. But every year and every tour offers something a little different, including a voyage further south to Spain s Cíes Islands that was once a hideout for pirates but is now a nature reserve and home to over 15,000 nesting birds. On board the purpose-built Silver this page: Indulge yourself with a relaxing massage on board the Silver Explorer at its Spa at Silversea. OPPOSITE PAGE: The Anemi Hotel in Greece Explorer, guests can enjoy all the luxuries of a fancy hotel including opulent suites and many restaurant dining options. The Spa at Silversea offers treatments for both men and women to soothe weary aches after a long day of trekking, walking or adventuring off-the-beaten path in one of the ship s Zodiac boats. Thailand and Malaysia A list like this just wouldn t be complete without a grand mention to Thailand, home to some of the best island-hopping areas in the world. Phuket and Krabi are the immediate go-to to explore Phang Nga bay and the like, however, venture further south and you reach Thailand s southernmost islands, almost closer to Malaysia than they are to Phuket. As a result, it s easy enough to use Langkawi as a base, giving you an opportunity to explore the best of both countries. Koh Lipe and its surrounding islands of Koh Adang and Koh Rawi sit both just inside and out of the Tarutao National Park, a protected area in Thailand that ensures its natural beauty is still kept in tact. The beaches are white and sandy while the clarity below the surface is astounding. Back on Langkawi, boat trips through the island s lush UNESCO Geopark is an above-water adventure. Visit the Island of the Pregnant Maiden, whose silhouette you can see in the mountains and where the fresh water lake makes for a great swim. Stay at The Andaman, A Luxury Collection Resort located on Langkawi s Datai Bay and visit its Coral Nursery, built to help the island recover from the 2004 Tsunami. Then head to V Integrated Wellness, where V Botanical Spa offers up traditional Malay treatments such as Urut Melayu traditional Malay massage designed to improve circulation AsiaSpa May/June 2015 May/June 2015 AsiaSpa 135