Luxury Travel Mag Exclusive / 8 Authentic Travel Experiences Inspiring Us This Summer 2025 / By Natasha Dragun / luxurytravelmag

A new awakening

There are few better ways to start a day than watching dawn break over Uluṟu. And now there’s a new way to savour the start of the day in the heart of Australia thanks to the freshly minted ‘Sunrise Journeys’ by Maruku Arts.

This applauded Aboriginal artists’ cooperative has launched a light and sound spectacle that uses the desert as a canvas, created in collaboration with three Aṉangu creatives: Selina Kulitja (Maruku Arts), Denise Brady (Kaltukatjara Art), and Valerie Brumby (Walkatjara Art). It also involves Aṉangu musician and composer, Jeremy Whiskey, and expert visual experience creator, Mandylights.

Selina, Denise and Valerie composed a painting entitled Ngura Nganampa Wiṟu Mulapa (‘Our Country is Truly Beautiful’), depicting their deep shared connection to culture and the land.

Sign up for the immersive experience and witness the Red Centre come alive through Indigenous art, music, and narration.

maruku.com.au

Snap to it

Every year, the planet’s top shutterbugs submit images to the World Photography Organisation to be judged, and the 2024 winners celebrate images and stories that reveal people and places in a stunning new light.

The prestigious ‘Photographer of the Year’ title was awarded to Juliette Pavyfor her series Spiralkampagnen: Forced Contraception and Unintended Sterilisation of Greenlandic Women.

Other accolades were handed out to the likes of Bulgarian snapper Valery Poshterov, whose photo (below) took home the award for ‘Best Portraiture’. We can see why.

worldphoto.org

Sail away

If you love channelling your inner explorer on cruise adventures through remote waters, you won’t want to muss the chance to jump aboard luxe Aqua Blu for the ship’s upcoming 2025 expeditions around some of the wildest parts of East Indonesia.

The two new itineraries are the ‘Spice Islands, Raja Ampat and West Papua’ and ‘West Papua and Asmat Tribe Expedition’, giving guests the chance to explore lush jungles, impressive cave systems and vivid underwater ecosystems, while meeting some of Indonesia’s Indigenous communities along the way.

Snorkelling and diving excursions invite possible sightings of whale sharks, hammerhead sharks and other rare wildlife, while private tenders whisk guests deep into the jungle to discover local villages, interact with members of the Asmat tribe and, perhaps, spot endemic forest kangaroos.

aquaexpeditions.com

Kingdom calling

Bhutan doesn’t disappoint when it comes to scenic drama, from its high-altitude monasteries and temples to its snow-kissed mountains.

The kingdom’s newest offering is Druk Neykor, a tourism experience linking 108 sites and monuments showcasing the history, culture and spirituality of the country. Highlights include Thimpu’s Wangditse Lhakhang (a dzong-like temple), Tshelung Ney and Talangkha Drugyel Goenpa, among others.

While these sites have always been open to visitors, Druk Neykor introduces a unique passport system, allowing travellers to collect stamps at each spiritual site visited – your passport also includes QR codes, allowing access to detailed information about each destination upon scanning.

bhutan.travel

Is there any better way to take the pulse of the planet than through food? COMO Hotels and Resorts recognises the allure of culinary travel and has introduced a series of experiences that allow guests to take a deep dive into the flavours of a region.

We love the truffle hunting experience now available at Castello Del Nero, a historic castle turned luxury hotel in the rolling hills of Tuscany.

Spend an hour with the hotel’s professional truffle hunter and his loyal Lagotto Romagnolo dogs, who will guide you through the region’s woods – home to three types of black truffles: winter, hooked and summer.

Afterwards, return to the hotel for a special four-course lunch with the property’s executive chef, who favours these prized mushrooms in both pasta and meat courses.

comohotels.com

The sky’s the limit

Purveyors of luxury travel Captain’s Choice has launched a series of extraordinary new tour experiences for 2025, taking you to remote frontiers to discover the world’s wonders with unmatched comfort and style.

Highlights include the ‘Rooftop of the World’ itinerary, a journey through the heart of Nepal, Bhutan and India. Soar above the world’s highest peaks aboard a helicopter, with Mount Everest and its neighbouring summits below; embark on a hike to the postcard-perfect Tiger’s Nest monastery, perched on the cliffs above Paro Valley; and unravel the secrets of Darjeeling’s renowned tea plantations, among many other adventures. This is an experience that takes you to new heights – in more ways than one.

captainschoice.com.au

A rail ride to remember

Enjoy travel in the slow lane aboard the Kanpachi Ichiroku, a new train exploring Japan’s island of Kyushu.

The scenic journey connects not only major cities but also smaller towns and rural regions, traversing all manner of breathtaking landscapes in serious style.

You’ll need around five hours to complete the entire journey, which offers a front-row seat to the cultural customs, cuisine and countryside of this dreamy part of the country.

The bento box lunch is a nice touch.

visit-kyushu.com

A fragrant affair

An intimate palazzo situated on the iconic Grand Canal, Aman Venice is a year-round escape, with a host of new experiences and cultural events providing even more reasons to visit.

Inspired by the city’s romantic essence, a bespoke two-hour ‘Perfume Olfactory Workshop’ with a local master nose is now exclusively available at the hotel. Journey through history and uncover the ancient process of perfume making before blending handpicked aromas to create a unique scent of your own.

Continuing the experience, Aman Venice’s skilled mixologist will craft a cocktail that reflects the nuanced bouquet of the tailored fragrance. For additional cultural immersion, the ‘Venice of the Artisans’ tour, provides access to some of the oldest and most established ateliers in town for a rare glimpse into the world of Venetian creatives, from Bevilacqua weavers as they masterfully create hand-hewn textiles and Orsoni artisans as they craft hand-cut mosaics in one of the last remaining glass factories in Venice.

aman.com