![]() |
Amankila Suite |
Exploring a destination out of season can lead to a path of
discovery and charm otherwise hidden by the bustle and busyness of peak
seasons. Aman hotels around the world are magical destinations all year round,
exceeding every expectation of popular sights in season, but promising
something almost more special once the crowds have dispersed. Whether breathing
in the rain-cleansed jungle air amid Angkor’s iconic temples or witnessing
Japan’s plum blossoms delicate announcement of spring; each reveals a new side
to a destination without the crowds.
![]() |
Restaurant |
AMAN TOKYO, Japan
Visitors flock to Tokyo in spring from March to May, when
the parks and gardens of the capital blush pink with cherry blossoms. During
the city’s quiet time, the winter months from November to February, crystal
clear skies allow for views from Aman Tokyo all the way to Mount Fuji on the
horizon. Day trips to the exceptional powder of Nagano for skiing and onsen
(hot spring) are possible, just 60-90 minutes away by train from Tokyo Station,
located a five-minute walk from Aman Tokyo. The first sumo wrestling
tournaments of the year take place in January, and a number of unique festivals
take place early in the year, including Hatsumode at Meiji Jingu, Setsubun (the
bean-throwing festival) and the Daruma Doll Fair. Gourmet experiences also
abound in the winter months, when crabs, oysters, blowfish, yellowtail, sea
urchin and sea toad grace tables, and a hot bowl of ramen noodles is the
ever-ready antidote to winter’s chill. Then there are the plum blossoms, which
bloom almost unlauded in February and can be enjoyed in peaceful seclusion.
![]() |
Alcova Tiepolo Suite |
AMAN VENICE, Italy
While summer seduces with emerald green waters and the charm
of the Lagoon islands, it is in winter when Venice lives up to her name, “La
Serenissima” – the most serene one. The cooler months, October to March, offer
the opportunity to ride the meandering canals of Venice on Gondolas with ease.
Guests can sip hot chocolate in Caffè Florian, the oldest café in the world
after strolling through galleries purged of appreciative chatter; Cicheti
washed down with ombre in one of the many hidden bacari: This is when the city
regains its true identity and once again belongs to Venetians, presenting an idyllic
time to explore the Veneto region, home to Treviso’s beautiful city centre and
Verona’s wine regions of Soave, Bardolino and Valpolicella.
![]() |
Ayung Suite |
AMANKORA, Bhutan
Majestic, spiritual and wild – and for a long time
off-limits to foreigners – Bhutan epitomises off the beaten track. Soaring
Himalayan peaks add to the aura of impenetrability, and yet the country enjoys
a surprisingly mild climate that makes it accessible all year long. Whether
visiting at the height of summer, when the mountains host a kaleidoscope of
wildflowers, or in the depths of winter, when cobalt skies prelude spectacular
starscapes, the Kingdom beguiles visitors in search of both adventure and
tranquility. Between November and March, temperatures range from 7 - 20°C by
day, dropping to around freezing at night, allowing guests to explore the
landscape at leisure before returning to roaring fires, hot cider and spiced
milk tea in a cosy Amankora lodge. Enjoy the crunch of virgin frost underfoot
on an early-morning walk; spot yaks on the mountain passes and migrating birds
by crystal-clear rivers; hike to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery; and savour
the sighting of endangered black necked cranes in Gangtey.
![]() |
Entrance to Lounge |
AMANGALLA &
AMANWELLA, Sri Lanka
While Sri Lanka’s high season generally runs from November
to April, there is no bad time to visit this tropical island nation. In fact,
the greater chance of cooling showers from May to October is timed with wilder
seas and better surfing on the south coast, as well as the opportunity to
experience Galle Fort, the tea plantations inland, and the region’s atmospheric
temples without the tourist throng. It is also a time to delve deeper into the
country’s cultural offerings by visiting the villages of Angulmaduwa and
Dickwella from Amanwella, where the ancient arts of brass turning and Beeralu
lace making are revealed, or mountain biking inland to take in daily life in
peaceful villages, picnic amid rice paddies and perhaps pick up a beautifully
cast brass lamp in a traditional brass workshop. Visiting antique shops, taking
cooking classes to learn the secrets of Sri Lanka’s exceptional cuisine and
generally exploring without the heat and crowds make the off-season a prime
time to visit this remarkable country.
![]() |
Lobby |
In the historic port of Galle, Amangalla lies within the
ramparts of Sri Lanka’s 17th-century Galle Fort. A UNESCO World Heritage Site,
the Fort’s narrow streets are lined with Dutch and British colonial era
buildings. Just two hours’ drive east along the coast, Amanwella is a
contemporary beachside resort overlooking a magnificent crescent-shaped beach.
Offering an expansive swimming pool, several dining venues and a Beach Club,
each of the resort’s 27 suites boast their own private plunge pool and terrace
with beautiful views.
AMANUSA, AMANKILA,
AMANDARI, Bali
One of the most lauded tropical island destinations in the
world, Bali can be visited at any time of the year where balmy summer weather
is the norm. The months between November and March are when crowds diminish and
short-lived afternoon rain showers freshen the air turning the island’s fabled
rice terraces emerald green. This photogenic time of year is also when the
buffalo ‘grand prix’ races and ‘fashion shows’ of Makepung take place in
November, the picturesque Ulun Danu Beratan Temple celebrates its anniversary
in January and the BaliSpirit Festival makes Ubud an inspiring centre for
international music, dance and yoga during the month of March.
![]() |
Main Pool |
The ‘Island of the Gods’ offers beach perfection, hillside
seclusion and cultural immersion in equal measures. Aman’s three Balinese
resorts provide unrivalled access to these different aspects of the island, and
a journey incorporating stays at all three will reveal Bali like no other. Each
offers regular spa retreats with visiting specialists, as well as cultural
excursions and activities tailored to personal preferences.
Situated on Bali’s southern peninsula close
to
Bali’s shopping and nightlife areas of Sanur, Legian and Seminyak, Amanusa
rests on a hillside overlooking the Indian Ocean and the fairways of the Bali
National Golf Club. A serene retreat with 35 free-standing suites and 10
villas, the resort has a Beach Club on a powder white beach and a pristine reef
just offshore – ideal for snorkelling and other water sports. Nine private bales
provide atmospheric venues for sunrise breakfasts, private dinners and all-day
lounging.
![]() |
Punakha Lodge Courtyard Night |
Overlooking the Lombok Strait in Karangasem, one of East
Bali’s most traditional regencies, Amankila offers easy access to untouched
countryside, local craft villages such as Tenganan, and the area’s royal ruins
including Ujung Water Palace. The resort’s restaurants and other facilities are
connected via raised walkways to 34 free-standing suites with exceptional sea
views. Guests can relax around the signature three-tiered swimming pool,
indulge in the ‘Royals in Love’ spa journey, learn to surf, visit the market in
nearby Amlapura or take time out at the Beach Club. This offers another
swimming pool and a restaurant set back from the private beach in a coconut grove.
In the village of Kedewatan, part of Bali’s cultural
capital, Ubud, Amandari is perched on an escarpment
high above the winding
Ayung River Gorge and follows the design of a traditional Balinese village with
pebbled walkways linking the 30 thatched-roof suites and villa to the
restaurant, bar, swimming pool, library, gym and Aman Spa. Amandari provides a
unique setting from which to experience the cultural richness of Bali’s
artistic centre, as well as its mountainous region to the north.
![]() |
Spa |
AMANFAYUN, China
One of China’s top tourist destinations due to its rich
heritage and natural beauty, Hangzhou is home to West Lake, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site surrounded by gardens and pagodas. It’s also a city praised since
the days of Marco Polo for its tea and silk, where ancient Buddhist pilgrimage
routes twist through woodland to emerge at picturesque temples. A year-round
destination where every season has its own unique charms, Hangzhou’s busiest
times are in the spring months of March through to May and autumn, September to
November, when the causeway across West Lake is bedecked with spring blossoms
or aflame with leaves. June to August is quieter due to the summer heat, but to
row across the lake, relax by Amanfayun’s swimming pool or sit in the cool of a
peaceful temple holds its own appeal.
Winter is perhaps the least obvious season to visit
Hangzhou, excluding Chinese New Year, however it does mean that from December
through to February there are fewer tourists in the country, allowing
Hanghzou’s temples, lakeside and tea plantations to return to their dreamy
peace of old, making it an ideal time of year for travellers to visit.
Amanfayun is a cosy retreat during the winter months with a
comprehensive Aman Spa and several quaint restaurants lining Fayun Pathway.
Ethereal in the snow, Amanfayun is a place of stone pathways leading to sunny
courtyards and peaceful abodes, like a traditional Chinese village caught in
time. Situated on 14 hectares to the west of West Lake, the resort comprises 47
dwellings surrounded by tea fields.
![]() |
Pool |
AMANBAGH, India
Known for its heat, crowds and exotic colour, India comes
into its own in the winter months of December to March, as travellers swarm to
witness the Taj Mahal at dawn and experience the pink and blue cities of Rajasthan.
But tucked away in the Aravalli Hills, Amanbagh is a verdant retreat surrounded
by gardens, offering tranquil respite during the main tourist season, it is
just as alluring in the fringe months. After the monsoon rains, experience the
transformation of the arid Aravalli Hills into a lush green oasis during August
and September. It is still warm and humid, with maximum highs of 26 to 30
degrees, but it is an ideal time for photographers to capture the colours of
Rajasthan. Many holy festivals take place during these months and pilgrims walk
for days to visit temples, receive blessings and collect holy water. Colourful
pilgrimage processions pass through rural Rajasthan right past Amanbagh. This
is also a good time to hike in the hills surrounding the resort: As there is a
lot of water in the area, wildlife is often spotted on early morning walks.
October and November are also beautiful, quiet months to visit, with the region
still green, but the temperatures and humidity starting to drop.
Amanbagh lies within a historic garden estate once the
staging area for royal hunts. Evoking the palatial elegance of the Mughal era,
Amanbagh’s Haveli Suites and Pool Pavilions provide a tranquil base from which
to explore the rich heritage of Rajasthan, India’s dramatic frontier region.
Amanbagh’s award-winning design features domed cupolas and private courtyards.
About AMAN
Aman was founded in 1988 with the vision of building a
collection of intimate retreats with the unassuming, warm hospitality of a gracious
private residence. The first, Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand, introduced the
concept, and since then, Aman has grown to encompass 31 hotels and resorts
located in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Dominican Republic, France, Greece,
Indonesia, India, Italy, Japan, Laos, Montenegro, Morocco, the Philippines, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, the Turks & Caicos Islands, the USA, and Vietnam.
No comments:
Post a Comment