EXPLORER Spring Summer 2022. I edition.

EXPLORER

by EliteVoyage

Iceland Europe by Private Jet Jordan Montenegro Botswana Sicily Oman

Spring / Summer 22 / I. edition

tel

široká 15

| praha 1 +420 727 814 818 jack de boucheron and quatre collection

Kousek za Prahou, daleko od starostí. vysokyujezduprahy.cz by

www.elitemedical.eu e: contact@elitemedical.eu / t: +420 731 900 020 / EliteMedical s.r.o., Slovanský dům, Na Příkopě 859/22, 110 00 Praha 1

Belmond operates the only hotel at Machu Picchu. Sanctuary Lodge is next to the ancient Incan citadel, an extension of the Lost City, with just 31 Inca-inspired suites reflecting the natural surroundings. You enjoy famous views directly from your bed.

The Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu is also operated by Belmond, the company who relaunched the Venice Simplon-OrientExpress as well. Like trains? How about the Andean Explorer in Peru, or the Eastern & Oriental Express, a Belmond Train in Southeast Asia? When you explore exotic locales like Peru Belmond has the very best places to stay. Like Palacio Nazarenas and Monasterio in Cusco, Rio Sagrado in the Sacred Valley, or Las Casitas in Colca Canyon.

Belmond’s collection of hotels in Italy began with the legendary Cipriani in Venice.

It now comprises nine iconic retreats set in the country’s most beguiling destinations.

They range from the Splendido, keeping the dolce vita dream alive in Portofino, to the Renaissance Florentine masterpiece Villa San Michele, and timeless Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina. Deep in the Tuscan hills, Castello di Casole is an estate nestled among its own vineyards. Caruso casts a palatial spell from above the Amalfi Coast. These lifestyle focused properties are home to Italy’s finest suites, places where Italy can be yours, and yours alone.

EXPLORING T HE WORLD WI T H

&

EliteVoyage becomes the first Belmond Bellini Club Member in Central & Eastern Europe The best travel is about creating your own story. It comes from a pioneering spirit and passion for authenticity. A desire to uncover the world’s greatest adventures. To be intrepid and to travel in style.

This is an ethos shared by EliteVoyage and Belmond, leaders in creating one-of-a-kind travel experiences, in destinations all across the globe.

Belmond Bellini Club is one of the most prestigious and admired programs across the global hospitality industry, recognising the “best of the best.” In

February 2022, EliteVoyage was invited to be the first Bellini Club member in the entire Central and Eastern European region.

EliteVoyage extends all Billini Club benefits to its clients. These include: • • • • •

Complimentary upgrades upon availability Hotel and resort credits for each stay On board credits for trains and cruises Premium Bellini Club amenities Gift vouchers for large bookings

Come with us on a private plane to Champagne, an exclusive long weekend trip from Prague for just eight passengers. Enjoy a program of Champagne tasting at both famous houses and small boutique producers. Enjoy superb French gastronomy and two nights in a Royal Junior Suite at the 5 * Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa. Will you join?

To Champagne

by Private Jet 3 - 5 / 6 / 20 22

Editoral

Welcome Travel is more than just moving from a to b. Travelling is freedom.

It is the stories we live, the stories that shape our lives.

Travel inspires us, gives us opportunity to view the world from a better perspective, helps us realise and learn so many new things. Travel makes us better people.

In the first issue of our new magazine we celebrate travel in its entirety. We want to help you discover places you haven't heard of before, and find something new in places you might know. We’ll show you the possibilities and a journey on which to become an explorer for yourself.

Each place has its own story and you become part of that story.

As you explore, every new place becomes part of your own personal story.

Are you ready to start exploring?

Bon voyage, Petr Udavský Co-Owner & CEO EliteVoyage

EXPLORER

by EliteVoyage

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Into the Wild

An Okavango Delta safari in Botswana

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The HOT list

Into the Unknown?

New hotels to visit now

Exploring Jordan as a Family

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The Trend Maker Quentin Desurmont

Montenegro

Serandipians founder talks the travel of tomorrow

How to travel in Europe’s new jet set summer paradise

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Explore in Style

The Insider. Turkish Ambassador Egemen Bağış

Safari, expedition, island, city, desert

There’s so much more to explore in Turkey

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Travel & Wellness with Semiha Askin

JOALI BEING director takes us behind the scene

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The Driving Force Jakub Hanus

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Ricard & Bonette founder talks automotive travel design

Oman

Explore beaches, mountains, deserts & city

Freedom - The Possibility of Private Jets

Your guide to exploring Europe by charter this summer

EXPLORER

by EliteVoyage

IMPRESSUM: Elite Voyage s.r.o., Národní 135/14, Prague 11000 COVER PHOTO: Calm Morning by Petr Jan Juračka, Fjallsárlón Glacial Lagoon, Iceland www.elitevoyage.com MAIL: explorer@elitevoyage.com EDITOR IN CHIEF: Petr Udavsky ENGLISH EDITOR: Stephen Bailey CZECH EDITOR: Adéla Kozáková ART DIRECTOR: Martina Horka Kunc PARTNERSHIP & DISTRIBUTION: Tomas Safarik SPRING / SUMMER 22 / I. EDITION © 2022

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Iceland Photo Guide Explore Europe‘s wildest nature and picture yourself here

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Sicily - The Diverse Mediterranean Wonder

So many different holidays, even at the same time

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The Adventurer Petr Jan Juracka Czech Republic’s Nikon ambassador explores islands in the North Atlantic

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Zannier Bāi San HôVietnam

EXPLORER

by EliteVoyage

the

HOT list

New hotels to visit now

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the HOT list Asia

Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape Bali Indonesia

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EXPLORER

A concept of no walls and no doors means a very personal connection with nature in northern Ubud, Bali. Amid thick jungle, it’s an almost secretive hideaway with only 16 balés (villas), where the sounds and smells are as immersive as the sights. It’s striking, yet somehow also inconspicuous.

by EliteVoyage

the HOT list Asia

On a remote Vietnamese peninsula, Arnaud Zannier further showcases his ability to create something extraordinary and modern from indigenous architectural styles. The villas are inspired by local Cham fishermen huts and buildings of the Ede people. The entire property is surrounded by jungle-clad hills, rice paddies and a private white beach.

EXPLORER

Zannier Hotels Bai San Hô Vietnam

by EliteVoyage

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the HOT list Africa

LUX* Grand Baie Resort & Residences Mauritius

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EXPLORER

Kelly Hoppen designed the new flagship property from the LUX* brand, her playful and modern approach helping the suites and villas feel like holiday homes rather than part of a resort. Pool villas are the way to go at this reimagined property on the island’s most renowned beach.

by EliteVoyage

the HOT list Africa

Embodying an essence of simplicity, Singita’s latest safari camp finds a balance between romantic tented safari adventure and pared back contemporary design. All nine tented suites overlook a waterhole at a camp that flows into wide-open spaces. It’s very soothing, on the grassy Serengeti plains, with superb game viewing year around and a place on the great wildebeest migration route.

EXPLORER

Singita Sabora Tented Camp Tanzania

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the HOT list Americas

Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection Mexico

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EXPLORER

Art takes centrestage at this new beachfront property on Mexico’s Caribbean. Marcela Diaz, Hector Esrawe and abstract artist Manuel Felguerez are among those who have shaped the aesthetic. Mayan history is also prominent, as is white sand and mangrove forest. Opened in December 2021, it’s the first hotel in the Riviera Maya’s new Kanai region.

by EliteVoyage

St Barths was the vogue celebrity hangout of the 1990s, where the scene revolved around Hotel Guanahani. The iconic hotel was decimated by Hurricane Irma. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts took over and relaunched this tropical hideaway after a four-year rebuild. Laid-back and intimate it very much represents Rosewood’s Sense of Place philosophy, a journey experience connected to the spirit of the destination.

Rosewood Le Guanahani St. Barth St. Barth

“We built Cielo Lodge as a respite for people seeking to reconnect - with nature, with each other, and ultimately with themselves,” says owner Nicole Goldstein.

Off the grid on the Golfo Dulce in Southern Costa Rica, this minimalist eco-lodge allows the surrounding nature to provide a restorative experience.

Cielo Lodge Costa Rica

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the HOT list Americas

70 kilometres north of San Francisco, Sonoma Country is the hip alternative to California’s better-known Napa Valley. Located on its rolling vineyards, Montage Healdsburg is already turning a lot of heads with their bungalow style suites and guest house (photographed). Modern indulgence rooted in a real sense of place, with Meet the Maker events on Friday afternoons.

Montage Healdsburg California

Photo credit Christian Horan

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EXPLORER

by EliteVoyage

the HOT list Europe

This tenth-century castle was bought in 1994 by Count Antonio Bolza. In the 25 years since, his son Count Benedikt, and his wife, Donna Nencia Corsini, have restored the estate with meticulous detail, into one-of-a-kind private homes and a 36-bedroom hotel.

It’s a crumbling ruin turned modern-day masterpiece.

EXPLORER

Hotel Castello di Reschio Umbria-Tuscany

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the HOT list Europe

Completely reimagined in 2021, this charming guesthouse blends a nautical spirit with relaxed sophistication. Fourteen uniquely designed rooms and suites are discovered along its winding corridors. The Ava Gardner Suite stretches the entire length of the top floor and boasts an expansive terrace with the most privileged location in Portofino, overlooking the Piazzetta.

Splendido Mare, a Belmond Hotel Portofino

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EXPLORER

by EliteVoyage

the HOT list Europe

“Sardinia is a byword for extraordinary natural beauty” says Guido Polito, Balgioni Hotels & Resorts CEO. “Our new resort is an idyllic haven that blends with the natural setting.” As with all Baglioni properties, there’s the juxtaposition of grand and informal, bold and comforting. Opening for the season on May 12th.

EXPLORER

Baglioni Resort Sardinia San Teodoro

by EliteVoyage

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the HOT list Europe

The Bulgari Hotel Paris penthouse is the hottest place to stay in Europe right now. Two floors connected by a spiral staircase. Loads of marble and a private rooftop garden overlooking Avenue George V and Paris. Instantly eye-catching, the entire hotel is a real statement from the Italian jeweller turned hospitality collection.

Bulgari Hotel Paris Paris, France

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EXPLORER

by EliteVoyage

the HOT list Europe

Photo credit Renee Kemps

Set within the palace grounds of Versailles, Le Grand Controle was built by Louis XIV\s favourite architect. It played host to Europe’s political elite, two centuries ago. After a remarkable renovation, the 14 rooms and suites dive back into history once more, faithfully reinstating the splendid 18th-century world of Versailles.

EXPLORER

Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle Palace of Versailles

by EliteVoyage

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the HOT list Europe

A laid-back way of living on an island that’s become increasingly hectic. Kalesma means invitation and this property brings the charm of a traditional Mykonian village into 2022. Think whitewashed walls, private pool terraces, wooden ceilings, Greek light and the Aegean Sea. With just 25 one-bedroom suites and villas, plus two grand villas, it's a sensual, almost timeless space.

Kálesma Mykonos Greece

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EXPLORER

by EliteVoyage

the HOT list Europe & Middle East

Eight suites carved into the hillside of an ancient olive grove, on the wild Croatian island of Dugi Otok. Villa Nai 3.3 is striking yet also hidden, on an island with only 2000 inhabitants. The grotto, almost Star Wars-esque style, is fringed by terracotta soil, pink-tinged local stone and generous slabs of marble. It feels like a private island retreat, in Croatia.

Villa Nai 3.3 Croatia

In the lunar-like Arava Valley, in the south of Negev Desert, Six Senses Shaharut has 60 suites and villas across one of the world’s most dramatic places. Here, desert culture and traditions meet with the brand’s signature spa. Think stargazing, camel treks, spa pampering, privacy and respite.

Six Senses Shaharut Israel

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EXPLORER

by EliteVoyage

The Trend Maker - Quentin Desurmont

T h e Tr e n d Maker Quentin Desurmont

Quentin Desurmont is the founder and President of Serandipians

by Traveller Made, the world’s most important and influential luxury travel network. It’s highly likely that your travels have been directly shaped by his luxury travel design community. In this wide-ranging interview, from haute couture to the metaverse, Quentin shares the trends and stories that will change travel for the ultra wealthy.

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The Trend Maker - Quentin Desurmont

What type of explorer are you?

Wherever I go the biggest thing is to meet people, try to understand who they are, how different they are from me. We always find a way to get on well together. When I come home I’m not talking about travel. For me what’s important is that I have been through a story.

So you see your own travels as different stories?

Suddenly I see a leopard chasing a gazelle.

This is a story. I learn the story of a country, how the people live, how I can interact. You can live a story anywhere. If we travel just because we’re moving, why spend so much money? You have to want to come back with lifelong memories.

Travelling is a brain expander. More than that, it’s a story we can live together.

Did your passion for travel come from this desire to create a story. Or is this something you’ve learnt?

I think it’s both. Travel gave me a way to look at things differently. Our obsession today is logistics. Take the plane, have the fast track, get the transfer. That’s only the beginning. Movie makers are so good at creating emotions in a two-hour movie. Emotions should be our obsession.

We’re humans because we’re emotional and we live in a world that teaches us to be rational. If we keep calling it travel and thinking of logistics we’ll go nowhere. If what we put together is a story, like you have in a movie, wow.

Travel, art and emotions are all aligned together and they make us feel more inspired.

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EXPLORER

Is travel our opportunity to escape the rational world?

Travelling can be going to the museum or seeing a piano concerto. I’ve lived in Paris for 20 years and there are many places in Paris I’ve never been. People visit Kenya once and say they’ve done it, why should they go back. But it’s just 0.001% of Kenya! Travel, art and emotions are all aligned together and they make us feel more inspired. Once you find emotions there is a story being put together. And then your only quest is for stories, because you never forget the stories you lived before.

Do people need to learn the art of travel then?

I think so many people have no idea. It’s the art of travel yes, but it’s the art of story living.

People see this beautiful resort and they go there and spend two weeks in the resort, on the other side of the world. What a waste! They don’t live anything. They just wake up, have a big buffet breakfast, get fatter and fatter. They can go visit the culture. They can discover things. It’s all about story making, story living, story sharing.

What stories do you want to create?

Japan. I’ve never spent time in Japan, shame on me. Southern Korea as well. I need to go back to places I’ve been to before. And I also have a job. At Serandipians we’re going to launch Haute Villegiature. It will be the equivalent of the haute couture syndicate in France. We are playing on the field of billionaires. They have everything they want so do they desire something?

How can we offer them haute villegiature stories and adventures that match their needs? It’s outstanding creation, featuring the best of our industry in terms of quality and emotions. Something unique, exclusive, outrageously crazy and different from what we think of as travel.

by EliteVoyage

The Trend Maker - Quentin Desurmont

What are the important trends for ultra wealthy travellers?

We try to be on top of the trends. To be them.

During the pandemic we spent a lot of time talking to agents about this exact question. Our Serandipian members design travel for clients worth $30 million and more. Before the pandemic we did a big research with both our members and their clients. We identified six luxury travel trends that are not common, that are very special. All these trends were reinforced during the pandemic.

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Firstly, emotional travel. People are so emotional in COVID times they don’t want to travel like before. We’re talking private adventure, glamping, nature immersion, city experience, cultural heritage, local modernity. We’re not talking about ‘oh yeah I’ve done that.’ We’re not talking about bucketlist anymore. Bucketlist is for rich kids: “I want this toy, I haven’t had this toy yet.” Emotion is more genuine.

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Experimential travel. It’s the return of the pioneer, seeking adrenalin, luxury expedition, risk taking, danger with elegance and vertical feet. That’s very important because people have still made a lot of money during this time. They are aware that crises may become more frequent and they want to do exceptional stuff.

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Privacy and intimacy. This was also part of the pandemic. Like chill out in elegance, authenticity, five-star villa service. People moved away from hotels and airlines. They did a lot of private villas, private yachts, private jets. People need very strong privacy for sanitary reasons, but also for reasons linked to being together. So no more iPhones around the table. Instead, we are together, we talk.

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Slow travel. It’s quality time, stress detox, getting delectably bored, find me if you can. Have a pace, have a slow pace, that’s been reinforced by this pandemic. When you collect trips like bucketlists you don’t take your time, you just visit boom boom boom: “I’ve done that, I share with my friend and say you haven’t done that.” Well, not anymore.

Let’s spend time with the local people. I was in Africa last week with the Masai people, with the rangers, wanting to understand the people and learn from them.

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Last chance to see it travel. People are even more aware that many things can disappear. Like nature, people, tribes, glaciers, safari, rainforest, archaeology. People are understanding that once they have a window of opportunity they must go for it, go and see the real stuff, the stuff that we are destroying. Now it may be the last chance.

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Feel the universe travel. We are stressed. Crises stress the ultra wealthy.

If there’s a big war it will affect us all.

So feel what is here, feel what is there. Here we’re talking about spirituality, self development, smell, feel, touch, taste, view.

by EliteVoyage

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The Trend Maker - Quentin Desurmont

The global pandemic changed our own travels. What is your analysis of the global situation?

The second layer of travel trends is the direct impact of the pandemic. The entire adventure travel disappeared. Australia, New Zealand, Africa, India, South America - big destinations for adventure travel, all closed. So people went back to their local area. Local French hotels were packed. The US domestic market was booming. Marbella had its best ever performance.

Adventurous travel was more complicated. But in the coming years people will spend a lot of money on it.

People want it back and it will come back big.

When it comes back big is it going to be the same?

Do you worry about supply for luxury travellers?

There are new hotels growing everywhere.

There is money. Rich people want to have hotels, it’s like a trophy asset. There will be consolidation with the big brands and also a lot of small beautiful hotels from people who will never aggregate.

So I’m not worrying about that.

What opportunities do you see coming out of the pandemic?

Imagine that in addition to your travel adventure, you will also learn ten new habits thanks to your interactions in the destination.

Hotels and airlines have been shut down for a year and a half. So the quality is not back. That’s a big message travellers need to know. They will not get the same level of service as before because service staff are missing, everywhere. Hotels didn’t have the means to curate their properties. After 18 months without guests and staff you can see some damages, in design, cleanliness and service. People must accept this before they travel.

Does that mean travel should be cheaper then?

No, luxury travel suppliers must increase their price. Never forget that travel is 10% of worldwide GDP. In many countries, we as luxury travellers are bringing currencies, bringing jobs, helping villages to live again. We have a big role

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and we must go, we must pay, we must spend money. It’s so critical.

EXPLORER

Everyone has been focusing on hospitality. That’s wrong.

Hospitality is just one supplier of luxury travel. Corporate social responsibility is so important. For Serandipians we have created a CSR qualification program for the entire luxury travel supply chain.

Imagine that in addition to your travel adventure, you will also learn ten new habits thanks to your interactions in the destination. That’s so powerful for travellers.

Isn’t corporate social responsibility a bit boring, disconnected from the special travel trends?

Most CSR programs are just corporate marketing. It’s not exciting. The important thing is not to be too demanding from day one, because people will give up. But as travellers and suppliers we can all have an impact. When we have the mindset to have a positive impact, then together we can move to more complicated stuff.

by EliteVoyage

The Trend Maker - Quentin Desurmont

What will be the upcoming markets and destinations?

Today the trend is a new destination. Rwanda.

Saudi Arabia. Okay, fantastic, but it’s not luxury branding. It’s not what’s going to change our industry. What is really going to change things is the metaverse, it’s coming big time.

How can the metaverse be used in travel?

We can never replace travel. You can’t travel by the metaverse. Sure it’s fun, but come on, there’s nothing like real life. The metaverse will give us better knowledge and preparation for where we are going. Today you receive an itinerary and you read lines and have pictures. Ugh, that’s so poor. Can you imagine guides showing you around, showing you what they’ve been experiencing? If you can find yourself immersed electronically it will give you more desire to go and see it, to go and do it.

Some people think the metaverse will reduce travel. You’re confident it will help us to travel more?

Yes. It will be a big jump in terms of promoting the luxury travel industry. People will see the real thing, they will know what to expect. They will see the level of luxury, of comfort, of wild, of everything. It’s another way to show ideas, to create desire. The sky is the limit with what we can do.

With Serandipians you’re really changing how luxury travel is promoted and marketed. Tell us your thinking.

Our travellers love luxury brands. Everything our travel suppliers do is luxury but our brands are not luxury. It’s luxury travel, it’s different. That’s a problem. The level of profitability is low compared to the luxury goods industry. Really the hotel industry is just a real estate business. 80% of hospitality is a real estate business. That’s not luxury

EXPLORER

branding. One important thing in luxury branding is you follow the trend. Fashion week changes twice a year because people want new stuff. We launch a hotel and it’s only new for a year, then it’s a grand dame for 30 years. Where’s the new?

What about the trends? When you do emotional branding you do something people don’t expect, you destroy the classical codes. This is what we need to inject into our industry.

Is this part of your rebranding from Traveller Made to Serandipians?

Traveller Made was a great brand for our launch in 2013. It was rational, easy to understand and it did the job. We went really fast, conquering Europe, getting big in CIS, Asia, India, America.

Now we’re known we need a more luxurious brand. It has to have a strong rational base and top quality, but if there is no desirability created by emotions and dreams it’s not luxury. We are Serandipians because we believe in serendipity.

Serendipity is what the heroes do. We come with Serendipians because we are a family, a band, and we have these strong emotions and story behind the word.

So finally, what is the story behind the word, behind serendipity and Serandipians?

It’s what everybody has been trying to explain in other words. Transformative travel?

Transformation is very rational, there is no dream, no poetry, nothing behind the word. Would you see Dior or Chanel talking about transformation? Serendipity is a word created by Horace Walpole in 1754 after reading The Three Princes of Serendip, a 1304 work by a Persian poet. The heroes were always making discoveries by accidents, finding things they were not in quest for.

Serendipity and Serandipians is about travelling actively, to try and make encounters, to meet people. And these encounters are going to change the course of your life.

by EliteVoyage

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Explore in Style

Explore in Style

Choosing a holiday is easier than packing for a holiday.

To help you out, here are the latest trends and functional pieces to take with you, wherever you go.

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EXPLORER

by EliteVoyage

Explore in Style

Safari Khaki, beige…and khaki again. Why does everybody wear the same colours on safari? Don’t they know elephants and rhinos are colourblind! It’s not about the colours when packing. Concentrate on long sleeves and breathable, comfortable materials - linen, cotton and light silk. Pack just a few things. Smaller luggage is easier when travelling between camps and fly-in safaris usually limit total luggage to 15kg per person.

Lounge set WILDMOON 3.990 CZK This universal piece from Wildmoon capsule collection can be worn as a set or separately. Ultra soft muslin ensures ultra comfort. Made in Prague in a very limited quantity, ideal for African conditions.

Oversized Cotton-Poplin Shirt THE ROW €920 Trust The Row for wardrobe staples, like this 'Lukre' shirt. It's cut from lightweight cotton-poplin for an airy, oversized fit.

Silk Scarf ANDREA VYTLAČILOVÁ 3.500 CZK Andrea is a Czech illustrator who established her own fashion brand, producing silk scarves with her own prints. She's collaborated with Kenzo, Acne Studios, Versace and Marc Jacobs.

Leather-Trimmed Suede Backpack BRUNELLO CUCINELLI €2.750 Fine materials and functional details combine to make Brunello Cucinelli's backpack a perfect companion for taking comforts on safari.. Cut from a durable beige suede, it's detailed with brown leather trims. There's an internal slip pocket for your laptop and plenty of smaller compartments.

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Explore in Style

Reversible Fleece Gilet KAPITAL €800 Kapital's reversible gilet is ideal for soft adventures, as you switch from diamond patterned fleece to lightweight shell.

Adventure Expedition Experienced adventurers know that every wilderness expedition requires careful preparation. Don’t underestimate the importance of high quality basics, like warm and waterproof clothing, gloves and hat.

Don’t forget your powerbank. And hiking boots over sneakers every time.

Tech Easy Trousers THE NORTH FACE 2.650 CZK These simple North Face trousers are cut for a relaxed fit and suit anything from low-key outdoor activities to extreme adventures.

Wrist watch Antarctique Rattrapante CZAPEK €24.000 The brand new Antarctique Rattrapant is a split-second mono-pusher chronograph with a unique, dial-side mechanism.

The Czapek Genève brand is historically connected with the Czech Republic, because its founder, the watchmaker Franciszek Czapek, was born in 1811 in Jaroměř in East Bohemia.

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Hiking boots LOEWE €620 Waterproof hiking boots in recycled polyester canvas with a recycled polyester mesh and Missiongrip marbled rubber sole. Super lightweight and breathable, with a wind and waterproof membrane.

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Explore in Style

Plove X Preciosa ~ Yellow Corset PLOVE 6.900 CZK Special limited collection from a unique collaboration. Young Czech fashion brand Plove partnered with Preciosa, who create precision-cut crystal glass products in Jablonec nad Nisou.

The variation of stones in gold-yellow shades create the corset motif. Made in the Czech Republic

Tropical Island The most comfortable packaging of all. Swimsuit and sunglasses. What more do you need for the beach? The hotel will provide you with a towel. Of course, don't forget the accessories - a stylish straw bag, a coloured towel, oversized glasses and a leather case for your best friend named Kindle. Then all you need is a cocktail.

Sunglasses NASTASSIA ALEINIKAVA 20.000 CZK The glasses for Nastassia Aleinikava Eyewear are made by hand by Anastassia Kalhotsky with high-quality Italian cellulose acetate from Mazzucchelli. The Utopia, Memento Mori or IOKO-NA collections are made to order by the Nastassia Aleinikava studio.

Anagram basket bag LOEWE €725 This beige basket bag from LOEWE's Paula's Ibiza collection is an iconic summer piece, with its capacious design and two sets of practical straps.

Unisex full nutical drysuit HERMÉS €3.000 This drysuit's colours and motifs are inspired by Hermès sports sweaters from the 1930s and the '70s and '80s surf scene.

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Jumpsuit ZIMMERMANN €1.500 This short-sleeved jumpsuit from Zimmerman is crafted from a lightweight blend of linen and silk.

City Weekend

Bermuda Shorts UMIT BENAN B+ €830 Italian-tailored Bermuda shorts cut from lightweight canvas in a relaxed, straightleg silhouette. Perfect for exploring the city in summer.

The advantage of a city break is all the new fashion stores they have to explore. So the most important thing to pack is a credit card. Of course you need some basics: day and evening clothes, comfortable shoes and a shoulder bag. Then leave lots of space in your suitcase, so you can bring a city’s local fashion back home.

Leather Loafers LORO PIANA €725 Comfortable and versatile, Loro Piana's 'Summer Walk' loafers are the brand's most popular shoes. This brown pair is crafted in Italy from soft leather and on durable rubber soles. There's space on the heels to write your name - a detail inspired by deck styles.

The Albert Mustard bag DESTREE €680 The it bag of the season?

It’s made in Spain from calf leather, in the brand’s signature mustard tone.

DESTREE was founded by Géraldine Guyot, wife of Alexandre Arnault, heir of the LVMH Group.

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EXPLORER

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Explore in Style

Panama hat BORSALINO €1.085 Seen every season on VIPs, celebrities, runways and red carpets, the straw Panama hat looks good on everyone. Since 1857, Borsalino has been representing tradition with its unmistakable Made in Italy style.

Kaftan MAX MARA €325 This versitable kaftan is made from a breathable linen and cotton blend, it has wide short sleeves, a V-neckline and chevron striping throughout.

Azabache PIGMENTARIUM 5.960 CZK Bring ocean and flowers with you to the desert.

The light breeze of a cold salty ocean scent. Hot air permeating rose gardens.

Created by Czech brand Pigmentarium.

Leather bag and brushed steel bottle FENDI €750 Fendi's reusable brushed steel water bottle is made in collaboration with the design-led 24Bottles® and fits snugly into the leather holder. Printed with the recognizable monogram, it has gold hardware and a removable shoulder strap.

Desert You don't have to dress like a Bedouin, but you should take their lesson in desert dressing. Invest in oversized linen or cotton clothing and don’t forget a cool way to cover your head and sunglasses. Avoid dark colours as they retain heat. Note that light colours, like white and cream, will not stay pristinely bright with all the dust and sand. And the most important accessory? Always have your water bottle on hand.

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Travel & Wellness with Semiha Askin

Tr a v e l Wellness with Semiha Askin

We are now in an era of wellness travel. It’s already a €1 trillion industry and when American Express recently surveyed 3000 world travellers, 68% said they’re planning their next trip around their wellbeing.

But what exactly is wellness travel? JOALI BEING is a new wellbeing retreat in the Maldives. We quizzed their Global Director of Sales & Marketing Semiha Askin.

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Travel & Wellness with Semiha Askin

Both travellers and travel operators interpret wellness travel differently. What does it mean to you?

Many places in the world position themselves as wellness retreats and they do small elements of different things, like massage or yoga.

We live and breathe the wellbeing concept. Of course it is a benefit being based on a beautiful island in the Indian Ocean, but JOALI BEING is a scientific approach to wellbeing that incorporates absolutely everything we offer on the island. All our guests will meet our nutritionist and wellbeing coach, do lifestyle and 3D alignment assessments JOALI BEING brands itself as a nature-immersive wellbeing retreat. So what is the science behind your philosophy?

Our DNA is about four pillars coming together mind, skin, energy and microbiome. For example, you want to lose weight, but you can’t achieve lasting change without the mind, or your energy.

So everything we offer on the island, from customisable programs to the simplest massage includes these four pillars, because you cannot achieve what you want in life without these four things.

How long is a wellness retreat?

Scientifically, anything under five nights will not give lasting results. Our body needs that transformation time of at least five nights, to be able to restart. Our weight rebalance program is a minimum of ten nights, in order to have a long lasting impact.

Most important is your happiness and change.

We are JOALI BEING, we are ultra luxury although we try not to use the word luxury within the wellbeing sector. But that means we meet

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you where you are and we take you where you want to be. We will offer individual programs to get the results you are looking for. We’ve created customisable programs around energy, skin, mind and weight rebalance, with very specialised treatments and sessions.

Is wellness travel still a holiday? Or is it only a program, a means to an end?

You can have both. Don’t think you will be mind-washed or enrolled in a boot camp. JOALI stands for joy in weightlessness. We want you to feel re-energised , uplifted and renewed.

At some wellness retreats you get a headache because you’re detoxing.We don’t use the word detox and we’re not starving you or putting you on a juice diet. We are very excited to offer our food concept in line with the four pillars, to promote the microbiome: vegan/vegetarian, pescatarian and B’well. In addition we have 60 types of teas and tea sommeliers who can recommend the best choice to help with your goals.

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JOALI BEING opened in November 2021.

What type of guests have been staying?

Before opening we didn’t know what to expect.

It’s been surprisingly mixed. We’ve had guests who discovered wellbeing during the pandemic, then some who are completely into wellbeing and know from a to z about themselves. Then we have couples, with the wife coming for the full program and the husband doing only a bit of it, or else staying on our other island, JOALI Maldives.

JOALI Maldives is a completely different concept. It’s a beach holiday rather than wellness travel. So did you jump on the wellness trend with JOALI BEING?

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Our owners acquired both neighbouring islands at the same time six years ago. Esin Güral Argat knew straight away that the vision for this island was to be a nature immersive wellbeing retreat. This has been a very carefully planned project, starting with the biophilic design to let the energy flow uninterrupted, to have that healing aspect. Everything has been in the plan and we’ve used different experts to ensure the island has everything you need for wellbeing, not only a trend.

You can have a retreat and call it wellness but if you don’t follow a biophilic design it won’t give the energy you need. The educational part of the journey is so important too. We love our guests to learn as much on the island as possible, to give them the tool to find a new balance when they are back in their daily routine.

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Into the Wild: An Okavango Delta Safari in Botswana

words Adéla Kozáková

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Into the Wild: An Okavango Delta Safari

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igns at the airport warn of crossing elephants. Piles of fresh dung and bulldozed trees suggest this isn’t a tourist trick to excite me. My Cessna Citation pilot is more explicit: “Remember to keep your tent closed at night” he says, “hyenas can come and bite your face off.” Gulp. What is this place?

Lush waters and marsh lands stretch out beneath the wingtips. From the window I see herds of wading buffalo and elephants. Then far too many hippos to count. I spot the runway, a strip of red dirt fringed by papyrus and palm trees, the only land not blue or green. Hesitantly I ask the pilot for further advice. “When you open the tent and see a hippo…” he begins.

Gulp. Can I turn around and go home please?

At some point in the night a hippo’s thriving croak woke me. Where was he? Where was I? It silenced the choral bullfrogs. Closing my eyes I heard the exploratory thump, the portentous snort, then a second commanding croak.

Welcome to Botswana the hippo seemed to say, the country where people are outsiders and must play to the animal’s rules.

When I finally opened my tent there was a buffalo herd grazing, barely ten metres away.

Elephants were far in the distance, emerging from silhouette at dawn. “Let’s leave” my guide gestured excitedly, “we’ve just found leopard prints in the camp.” Now I wasn’t so sure. Leave?

I was starting to like it here. I still had my face.

In the animal kingdom the predators rule.

Skilled, evolved, accomplished in their natural surroundings, they had no intention of posing for my camera. I sensed the leopard, the stealthy hunter hidden in desert greenery. Three lionesses drank at the riverbank and pranced into the undergrowth. An hour into the game drive I better understood my guide. He meant “let’s leave and go explore.” Drinking coffee from a flash, as a cheetah cared for her two cubs in the nearby grass, my guide provided context to where we are.

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Into the Wild: An Okavango Delta Safari

The Okavango Delta is the world’s largest inland delta. Yet it’s located in the Kalahari Desert, where precipitation is rare. Rain falls in the Angolan Highlands and spends four months creeping southeastward into Botswana. Around June time, at the height of the dry season, the water becomes too much. Now the Okavango waterways burst their banks and spread life across the desert. Animals arrive from all around, to feast on the unseasonal bounty.

“You won’t see the big five here” my guide continued. “But we’re not going back to the camp until we find that leopard - look at those springbok!”

After tracking the behaviour and movements of the lone male springbok, my guide swung us around to a clearing. Finally the leopard emerged, then disappeared, then emerged once more, sitting camouflaged and elegant amid a drier section of grassland. Even without a leopard I could have sat there for the entire day, engrossed in all the small smells and sounds.

That evening we dined on t-bone steak, on a wooden deck peering over the marsh. Elephant herds queued patiently throughout the night.

They arrived, gnawed at the bark, rolled in some mud and let out loud blasts on their trumpet-like trunks. Big tuskers inched forward, suggesting time was up and a new herd wanted the spot.

Life was so playful. Babies teased warthogs, chasing them for thrills. Males with small tusks chatted up females from other herds. Some elephant flapped its ears and chased the outsiders away. I sucked the bone dry - those hyenas didn’t need encouragement.

My first camp was a “dry” camp, towards the heart of the Delta. The surrounding swamp was appetising and enticing to the elephants, yet sticky and useless for ourselves. Our game drives involved swerving and sinking in the mud, which all become part of the fun, emphasising my position as an outsider in these lands. This is the animal kingdom and there were hardly any buildings, nevermind roads.

In the animal kingdom the predators rule.

Skilled, evolved, accomplished in their natural surroundings.

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Into the Wild: An Okavango Delta Safari

While I‘m new here, local bushmen have survived on these lands for thousands of years. Scampering barefoot they track animals, following obscure footprints, instantly detecting an upturned stone. Under their laconic guidance I detected the diminutive markers left behind by animals. But I needed to stop, scour, analyse, deliberate and decide. The bushman’s proficient eyes and split second changes of direction help them keep pace with prey, but my amateuristic stumbles meant we never got close enough to use their traditional bow and arrow.

After three nights at the dry camp I flew over the Okavango Delta once more.

My new camp stood on an isolated island, surrounded by the seasonal waterways. Can hyenas swim? My suite was on stilts above the water and I began to feel confident about my face. The pilot had other ideas: “You may not think it” he winked, “but lions are exceptional swimmers.”

Just when I thought I understood this place I was an outsider once more. Immediately I inhaled new smells and sounds. Only three days without Wi-Fi and my senses were tuned into something else, something far more engaging.

Now my safari was on the water. A traditional mokoro canoe gliding silently down a warren of reed-dominated channels, serenely passing Africa’s great four-legged mammals.

A small and simple motorboat, remarkably effective at getting close to elephants, even big cats sunbathing on the banks.

As I lose track of time I realise I’m no longer the outsider. I’m immersed in the animal kingdom. So three more days in the Okavango Delta, each night wondering what will wake me. The croak of a hippo, a lion’s supreme distant roar, or the playful snorting of migratory elephants?

I went to the Okavango Delta for an African safari but as the days roll by I realise the experience is much more than looking for animals. Here I had space to breathe, space to think, time to absorb something far older than our own civilisation.

Opening my tent on the final morning I found two young bull elephants, ears flapping, heads meeting, trunks swinging. I wasn’t scared anymore. I had found my place. So I sipped on my coffee and watched the animal world unfold.

I had found my place.

So I sipped on my coffee and watched the animal world unfold.

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Iceland Destination Guide

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Iceland Photo Guide

ICELAND Photo Guide Escape other people, breathe the fresh air, and discover Europe’s wildest nature. Iceland makes exploring easy and accessible, for all ages. The incomparable landscapes and destinations are perfect for summer, when you have almost 24 hours of daylight. For families it’s safe, welcoming and so much fun. So picture yourself here.

Bólungarvík

A traditional fishing village amid staggering surroundings, Bólungarvík is the northernmost stop in the Westfjords. This corner of Iceland is among its least travelled.

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Landmannalaugar

Known as the People’s Pools, these soothing geothermal waters welcome hikers in the Southern Highlands, a land of vast lava fields and active volcanoes.

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Kvernufoss

The South Coast of Iceland has two famous waterfalls, Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss. Kvernufoss is their less-visited neighbour.

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Barnafossar

Barely an hour from Reykjavik in West Iceland, waterfalls tumble here among lava, hiking trails and old folk tales.

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Iceland Photo Guide

Icelandic Highlands

Away from crowds and noise and bustle, the Highlands offer silence and serenity. While Iceland’s most famous road skirts the coast, many of the most impressive natural attractions lie on highland paths between the glaciers.

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Iceland Photo Guide

Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland

Encompassing a subterranean spa, geothermal lagoon, restaurant and 62 suite hotel encircled by the Blue Lagoon‘s mineral rich waters, the Retreat is a rejuvenating place to leave the world behind.

Image courtesy of Blue Lagoon Iceland.

Expedition Camp

HL Adventure has challenged the boundaries of the glamping experience.

For one night only, they transport guests to a place far away from crowds, to their own private expedition camp.

Image courtesy of HL Adventure.

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Húsavíkurhöfðio

Geothermal infinity baths overlook the Arctic Circle and North-Atlantic Ocean in Húsavík. This is also the best place in Iceland to see whales.

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Iceland Photo Guide

A Krafla Shower

Bathing in the naturally heated waters of Krafla, a giant volcanic caldera. Krafla is reachable from the town of Akureyri in Iceland’s north.

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Iceland Photo Guide

Southern Highlands

Huge glaciers, sulphur vents, bubbling mud pots, hot springs and colourful mountains. A near-uninhabited volcanic desert to explore.

Þeistareykir

Fumaroles emit sulphurous gases besides a black lava road in Þeistareykir, a colourful geothermal area close to famous Mývatn.

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Fagradalsfjall

A tuya volcano erupts in the Geldingadalir valleys, close to the road connecting Reykjavik and Keflavik International Airport. The eruption has now paused and volcanologists believe it will restart in the coming years.

Staðarborg

Centuries old, this steep shelter stands on the lava fields of Reykjanes, where the Eurosian and North American tectonic plates are drifting apart.

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The Driving Force: Jakub Hanus

The Driving Fo r c e Jakub Hanus

Jakub Hanus founded Ricard & Bonette six years ago, to share his passion for automotive travel design. He speaks to Explorer about fast cars, great roads and lifestyle experiences.

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The Driving Force: Jakub Hanus

What’s your favourite ever place to drive?

I really love alpine countries because they provide the best driving conditions. Switzerland has great mountain passes. I recently discovered a beautiful loop in Catalunya, from Barcelona towards Andorra. My most favourite region is the Maritime Alps, above the Cote d’Azur. There’s this wonderful road, 280 kilometres of twisting road, curvy mountains, no villages and no cars. It’s literally an open road, but you have Michelin-starred restaurants on this road. Drive it for a day then the next day you can be at the coast, sailing to Monaco.

Have you always been a sports car enthusiast?

No. By lucky chance I changed industry. I was in marketing and changed jobs to work at a startup, a luxury car hire company. It was my first time driving a Porsche. I’d never driven a sports car before and I realised oh my god, this is so cool, this is not just a car that gets you from A to B, it’s a beautiful experience. Customers were coming to us and renting a Porsche or a Ferrari and asking, where can I go with the car to enjoy it. So I started creating packages for them.

Was it this that inspired you to start Ricard & Bonette?

I moved to Switzerland and my wife didn’t appreciate Switzerland. She moved back to the Czech Republic and I had these free weekends. I’d pick a car from our supersports car garage and drive on my own through Switzerland, France, Italy, staying in beautiful hotels, trying great restaurants. But I couldn’t share it with anyone. I moved back to the Czech Republic to join my family when my son was born and stopped working for the car hire company. I’d experienced so many

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beautiful places and cars and wanted to share it with others. So this is where the idea for Ricard & Bonette came up. The agency has been running six years now. We are still in the era of beautiful V8 and V12 engines, so we rent beautiful supersports cars - like McClaren, Ferrari, Porsche - and we organise driving tours throughout different regions.

You started by operating driving tours on Europe’s roads, so how did Formula 1 come up?

We have an exclusive partnership with a French company who can provide a true Formula 1 experience. It’s not just a test drive.

This really is Formula 1, driving the F1 cars that were racing in the time of Senna and Lauda, on Formula 1 circuits like Catalunya. It’s about the experience of trying something new. Of course you cannot push the car to the limits because your brain is not even accepting the limits.

Many people think they can drive better than they can. Have you ever had mishaps in these Formula 1 cars?

You cannot just sit behind the wheel of a F1 car and go on the racetrack. You need to learn how to even start the car, what to be careful of, what the speed should be, how to go on the brakes.

And each circuit is different. We start with two to three stints in a Formula Renault. Professional instructors monitor you and give you a debriefing.

When you meet their recommendations and progress, only then can you drive Formula 1. It feels fast to take a corner at 90 km/h, but F1 drivers will do the same corner at 180 km/h!

Formula 1 is really capturing people’s attention again. You must be a big fan?

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The Driving Force: Jakub Hanus

Yes, people have discovered the Formula 1 world and it will continue to grow in popularity over the next few years. We do VIP hospitality packages to the events and the most popular race is Monaco, because of course it’s Monaco, it’s different. When customers come with us, it’s not that much about the race, it’s about the party as well. We have a three-deck yacht in Port Hercule close to the racetrack. People can also walk to the racetrack and go to one of the grandstands, so there are three places to watch the race. There’s premium catering, unlimited Champagne, plus some celebrity appearances.

This year we will have Mark Webber joining us.

That’s not really the petrolhead experience people may associate with automotive travel design?

No, most of what we do is for people who are searching for extraordinary experience. It’s not for people who dream of buying a Ferrari, it’s for people who want the feeling of driving a Ferrari and then comparing it to a Lamborghini, a McClaren.

These people don’t have a need to buy a sports car. They like the whole package - great cars, great hotels, great company, amazing food.

It’s the entire lifestyle they love. We do have some clients with three or four supersports cars who want to drive them, so there is still the petrolhead thing in some of what we offer.

What’s the uber-petrolhead experience then?

We have events on a racetrack, like a training on the Red Bull Ring, called Toys4Boys. First you drive a KTM X-BOW, an ultralight open roadster without a windscreen. You go above 150kph and it feels very dramatic. Next it’s Formula 4. Then a professional driver gives them two crazy laps in a limited edition Porsche GT2 RS Clubsport.

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At the end we have an open pit lane and everyone gets to drive their own machines on the racetrack.

We just came back from a drifting experience in Austria, driving Subaru WRX STIs and real-wheel drive Toyota GT86s on the snow and ice. Another one is in Sweden. We go to a very small village with just 30 inhabitants and one hotel. Next to the hotel there is a huge icy lake and we drive Subarus, sliding the car at 130 or 140 km/h. It’s more than two full days of driving, we even have a night race.

What’s the future for automotive travel design?

Electrification is slowly coming. Still we are not there. Right now electric cars have a range of 500 kms but that’s just on paper, when you drive on a public road it’s less than half of that. When the range is 1000 kms we will do tours in electric cars and there will be demand for that.

In the past, people driving supersports cars were heroes for others. Nowadays these cars are becoming collectors‘ pieces. There will be more speed restrictions on the roads and more demand for eco friendly cars. So those supersports cars will move to the racing circuits and petrolheads will move to the racetracks.

What is driving you forward?

It sounds like a cliche but it’s customer smiles.

I’m trying to be present on most of the tours, so I can share my passion with customers. I see how people react when we drive a nice section.

During dinner we talk about what we experienced. It’s a ton of positive energy. I’m a person who wants to discover new stuff, so I want to go to Portugal and design something there. I want to do US trips, to do adventure trips in Asia, in Georgia.

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1. A multi-day Ricard & Bonette tour along Jakub‘s favourite place to drive The Maritime Alps 2. Participants on a Ricard & Bonette F1 experience behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car from the days of Prost, Senna and Lauda 3. EliteVoyage CEO Petr Udavsky goes drifting in Austria. “It was just pure adrenaline. Speed up, slow down, turn and cut a turnˮ says Petr. “The parking brake is for children! Sometimes it feels like you fly, but that‘s part of the whole experience.ˮ

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Into the Unknown? Exploring Jordan as a Family

Into the Unknown?

Exploring Jordan as a Family

words & photos Stephen Bailey

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Into the Unknown? Exploring Jordan as a Family

Children deserve to see world wonders.

They can learn more from them than we can, with our older, more established mindsets.

1. A camel waits on Petra's Street of Facades 2. The Oval Plaza in Jerash 3. Um Fruth rock bridge in Wadi Rum 4. Ad Deir, the Monastery of Petra 5. Hiking a back route in Petra

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amels walk past as sandstone mountains turn a deeper shade of red. Gusts of wind the only sound.

Lips slightly chapped and a layer of dust across all my exposed skin. Ah, a desert sunset. My most favourite of travel moments. To journey into a beautifully wild and uninhabited place. I watched the camels. My daughter Leia chewed on Sophie the Giraffe. Six months old she was on her first holiday. In Jordan. In the Wadi Rum. More than lightly covered in desert sand.

Could she see the camel caravan? Appreciate sandstone fingers shifting from scarlet to flaming cherry? View the desert stars at night? Or feel the freedom of bumping across dunes in the back of a jeep? She turned her head away from the wind and gnawed some more on her rubber giraffe.

Children deserve to see world wonders. They can learn more from them than we can, with our older, more established mindsets. Every year I was determined to take my firstborn to a new one. Petra was first. Why? Deep down it was because I had something to prove. I was determined that having children wouldn’t change my desire or ability to explore. Although, after a very messy nappy changing incident at 37,000 feet I was really wondering why.

When you’re young enough to still be thrilled by rolling over, maybe the complexities of a 2300-year-old Nabatean city are too much to grasp. But Jordan isn’t that strange, even if we kept seeing camels alongside the King’s Highway.

It’s just across the Mediterranean from Europe and has direct flights from Prague and dozens of other cities. Tourism is well established. There are genuine five-star hotels. In the space of 350 longitudinal kilometres Jordan has a Roman city, the Dead Sea, Red Sea, Wadi Rum and Petra.

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Into the Unknown? Exploring Jordan as a Family

Capital city Amman was the first surprise.

Four Seasons and W have shiny new hotel towers. Streets of colourful lamps and graffiti also show the city’s new, exuberant side.

Juxtaposed here was old Amman, like an ancient citadel, bustling bazaars and a Roman amphitheatre. It felt like the Middle East.

Sand-coloured buildings on sand-coloured hills. The call to prayer ringing harmoniously across rooftops. No bars but innumerable streetside cafes, for drinking sweet tea, strong coffee and smoking shisha pipes. We looked out of place but were warmly welcomed. I’d expected to be offered camels for my red-haired blue-eyed daughter. Instead the locals said Mashallah, asking god to protect her. Leia smiled and giggled in return.

North of Amman the city of Jerash stands like a phantom from a forgotten world.

At first there is a ruined chariot arena and a gate, not too impressive when compared to Rome, or almost anywhere old in Europe. But wandering on the city unfolded. Colonnaded streets run between temples and marketplaces. Goats grazed.

A Bedouin band played drums and bagpipes in a small amphitheatre. A child hawked water bottles and fridge magnets in Apollo’s temple. On and on it goes, kilometres of paved streets and columns and grand memoirs to the Roman era. Except this isn’t Rome, where the eras are now all jumbled together. Jerash is ancient Rome, a vast abandoned city rolling far across Jordanian hills. I was fascina-

ted. Leia, strapped into the baby carrier, slept through it all.

Next the Dead Sea, so called because nothing can live there. It’s actually a lake, shrinking rapidly. I wasn’t just floating in salt. I felt like an inflatable whale, too buoyant to control my movements. First bathe, then cover yourself in mud, let it bake dry in the sun, then bathe to remove it all. There is no beach at the Dead Sea, just muddy, salty slopes at the lowest point on earth. Yet this twice-daily natural spa ritual was as relaxing as any beach I knew. Life at the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea suited Leia as well. She chewed on hummus, mutabal and fluffy toy camels. Paddled in warm swimming pools. We slowed to a halt and over the three days I grasped the extra importance of prolonged downtime when you’re travelling with a child.

Storm clouds carpeted the sky as we travelled south towards Petra. Jordan’s north is all green, flourishing valleys.

The south is deep and deserted red valleys, where Bedouins move nomadically with their camels and sheep. It’s a surreal contrast, from a biblical Eden of flowering meadows to an inhospitable and untamed land. Leia grunted from beneath six layers of clothing. I hadn’t expected such wilderness. Nor prepared enough distractions for the journey. Inside this wilderness life thrived. It still thrives. Petra. The growling thunder finally set itself free and a torrential storm helped me make the sensible choice of postponing our exploration to the next morning.

Sand-coloured buildings on sand-coloured hills. The call to prayer ringing harmoniously across rooftops.

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Into the Unknown? Exploring Jordan as a Family

I love breakfast buffets. I don’t like mornings.

On holiday I spend my morning sleeping and eating, then explore in the afternoon. One advantage of travelling with a baby is visiting famous sights long before the usual daytime crowds. We wandered down the narrowing red canyon entrance, walls rising higher and higher, redder and redder, before the grand reveal of the Treasury, the pinnacle of Nabatean architecture carved into sandstone rock. Thanks to Leia's 5:45 alarm call we were the only tourists at Petra’s most famous site. Bedouins stood around smoking and chatting. Camels were chewing. Leia was on top pooping form as always. My wife changed her nappy inside a vast cavern, its entrance marked by sandstone columns and rose-cut sculptures.

We later discovered it was a raided rock-cut tomb - RIP King Malchus II, sorry about the smell.

Trying to see Petra in half a day with a baby is like trying to see modern-day Rome in half a day.

We walked for 20 kilometres and only scratched the surface. So we extended our stay at the Old Village Resort by two nights, a 2000-year-old stone village converted into hotel rooms and suites. It’s very charming and comfortable enough to excuse the outdated bathrooms. The other locally graded five-star category hotel here is a Movenpick and I would have rather camped than stay there. Even with three days, Petra still holds many secrets to us. At one side the Treasury. To the other the Monastery, where we hummed the Indiana Jones theme tune and Leia played along with our photo shooting. Beyond the Monastery the back road to Little Petra. All around us we admired great rock-cut edifices of changing sandstone colours. Then the suburbs, cave after cave, a surreal world where life goes on. Petra is not only an abandoned city or archaeological site. A young girl waved us over. Tea, tea, tea, she said. Then Mashallah. Following

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slowly we navigated steps down into her family’s cave. Her younger brother jumped off his donkey and played with Leia. Her mother served us hot sweet tea. We quenched our need for downtime and years from now I’ll claim that my daughter first crawled in the Petra cave of a semi-nomadic Bedouin family.

Another day, a new adventure in Petra.

A shopping street of columns built after the Nabateans by the Romans. A temple, reconstructed. A huge lion carved into rock, its mouth an eroded fountain spout. Walking to the Place of High Sacrifice we explored the back city, a divine walking path up and down the sandstone mountains that guard Petra. An old Bedouin woman played Leia a melancholic song on her flute. Alone again, silence reigned. There were no other tourists, no tourist shops. Later, descending to the famous Petra sights, I appreciated the Treasury for what it is, a meeting place in a city still alive. Donkeys running around. Stalls selling frankincense and caftans. Shishas being smoked. Horse carriages rumbling by. Leia used her full repertoire of four different sounds to try initiate a conversation with a camel.

Two days later, watching the sunset in Wadi Rum, Leia calls out to the camels again. When they don’t respond she chews Sophie. The desert here induces a transfixion. No roads. Just sand and sandstone mountains crumbling into sand. It’s paradoxical. In every direction the landscape seems to be the same, beautiful, unending desert. Yet with every vista there is some new combination, some subtle detail. Brighter, bolder, harsher than Petra, it’s not a landscape for babies. Leia’s cheeks are red, her baby skin slightly cracked. Our desert camp is comfortable for us, not for somebody who just learnt how to sit up. She covered her face from the wind as we drove around the desert.When we hiked she

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Into the Unknown? Exploring Jordan as a Family

sighed, closed her eyes, and slept in the baby carrier. Still, it’s never felt unsafe. While I can see Leia is struggling with the conditions, she also has a nascent life with bigger challenges than Wadi Rum - like teeth, sleep and learning to crawl. And desert dust? Most days she’s covered in milk and sick anyway.

On this trip I wanted to prove how a baby wouldn’t change me exploring. Jordan is teaching me how a baby can change my exploration for the better. Firstly, she’s helped us to slow down.

And by travelling slower we’ve travelled deeper, especially in Petra. Secondly, it’s felt like I’m exploring a destination through two different pairs of eyes. She’s noticed things I didn’t register, like the gaze of a benign stranger or a sound among the crowd. I’ve lived my own reactions, but also hers, something that makes my desire to explore even stronger.

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Leia has also helped me better appreciate the charms of a waterside resort. Leaving Wadi Rum we travel an hour south to Kempinski Hotel Aqaba Dead Sea. A private white-sand beach.

Heated pools. The tranquility of resort life. From our sixth floor Executive Deluxe Suite we watch the sunset over nearby Israel and Egypt. In the coming days I’ll go diving in the Red Sea. I’ll take Leia swimming. We’ll do nothing. How different to Wadi Rum and Petra! And perhaps here lies Jordan’s greatest appeal. The sights are truly wondrous, places unforgettable and completely different to anywhere else. The welcoming Middle Eastern culture is genuine and compelling, exotic despite being so close to Europe.

Then there’s the downtime, the resorts on the water. All this variety in a country that’s a similar size to the Czech Republic. I’ve no doubt that anybody travelling here will find the balance they need for their family.

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Petr Jan Juračka at Moher Cliffs, Ireland © Vojta Kosobud

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The Adventurer - Petr Jan Juračka

The Adventurer Petr Jan Jur ačk a

Petr Jan Juračka is the Nikon ambassador to the Czech Republic, whose explorations have taken him from uninhabited Indonesian islands to K2 and Cuba. His latest film, Malinká, involved free diving with a wild dolphin and premiered on 5th February. His latest book, Ostrovy Atlantiku, documents islands in the North Atlantic: the Azores, Ireland and Iceland. We asked Petr Jan about his experiences and inspiration.

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The Adventurer - Petr Jan Juracka

Tell us about your latest trip to Iceland.

In my way of living and taking photos Iceland is the paradise of the world. People told me I would be upset with Instagram crowds and girls in bikinis on glaciers. But if you skip the famous few places you are definitely alone. I fell in love with Iceland because it has the world’s most beautiful landscapes. In one day I took photos of glaciers, of ice flowing in streams, dark beaches, volcanoes erupting. You can see the ocean, climb the mountain, and be surrounded by volcanoes. It’s so heterogeneous and it’s hard to understand how the landscape can change every ten minutes.

What were your favourite destinations in Iceland?

Well, maybe it’s best to not tell you! You can easily find your own places and feel the freedom.

My highlight number one was the eruption of Fagradalsfjall volcano, although this is over now.

People are usually going to the south coast, to some famous waterfalls and places. My best photo of Iceland actually comes from a petrol station. I just put up my drone and found this waterfall - people were asking “where is this?

I thought I knew Iceland.” Iceland is completely different to Europe, where there is not really any nature left. In Iceland nature is everywhere and you can walk almost everywhere as well.

Your latest book has incredible photos from different Atlantic Ocean islands as well.

Iceland was my first Atlantic Ocean island and I thought I have to explore more. So last year I spent a month on the Azores with my family, with a week on each of four different islands. It was an absolutely great adventure! Almost all the islands are somehow remote from Europe and not overpopulated. I visited the Canary Islands for the first time as well.

Part of the book comes from Ireland where we were with dolphin and exploring the coast. This dolphins has been known to live without its pod and she accepts about seven people as her fri-

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ends. I was introduced to her in the ocean and she made some great poses for me. However, the oceans are not the most important part of my job or my life. That is the mountains! Last year I tried to summit Mount Manaslu in the Himalayas but I got high altitude sickness and was transported by helicopter from base camp to the hospital.

Wow, was this your first mountain?

No, my first mountain was K2! I was at camp one on K2 after only ever climbing one 3000-metre high peak in the Alps! I was filming Klára Kolouchová for her documentary film - she was the first Czech woman to summit the world’s three highest mountains. This year I want to try Manaslu again and also climb Ama Dablan.

On the same trip I also met Nims of Project Possible, who was breaking records for climbing the world’s 14 8000-metre mountains in just seven months. He’s so strong, he’s great. I met him on Manaslu at Camp One. My friend met him at the South Pole last week!

It takes a certain mindset to go in for such adventures. How do you have the confidence to do this?

There were some strong milestones in my life.

The most important was when I was four. It was my first time abroad and I was just walking through the forest. But I lost my family for the whole day. On the coast I found a woman who gave me a cola and contacted the police to find my parents. Since then I had this feeling that being trapped in nature is something I like.

When I was 25 I took the Trans-Siberian railway with some friends to Lake Baikal in Siberia. We spent a month there, just paddling on canoes. It was so strong and emotive and I knew that this is the life I want to have. Two years later we went trekking in Greenland for three weeks. I’m super lucky that exploring is now part of my work.

I’m travelling and working as a researcher and a science communicator for Charles University.

We publish some research, I teach students, I do a lot of things.

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The Adventurer - Petr Jan Juracka

Where do you get the inspiration for these adventurous ideas?

It’s all from my head haha. Last year I had Covid and on my first day after quarantine I stood on the River Elbe. And I thought, why not travel the length of the river. So I did it on a bicycle with my friend, from its source all the way to the sea past Hamburg. This year we will go to the Faroe Islands with full suspension bikes. They don’t have roads, it’s not a biking destination, so it’s a crazy project. I don’t know, I just pulled it out of my head. People saw the state of me after Manaslu and they asked why do you do it. And I usually say I don’t know, but I have to.

When did your love of photography begin?

Photos have been part of my life since I was 11. I’m the son of an artist who did very unique things with ceramic mosaics. He was sad that his two kids were useless at the arts. I had a feeling, I was feeling the light, I wanted to go into nature but I was not able to draw it, my hands couldn’t do it. One day I grabbed his camera and took some photos of a tree in the fog. Half a year later I had my first camera, a Zenit from the Soviet Union. Many years later I’m the Nikon ambassador to the Czech Republic.

What does photography mean to you now?

Photography is a way to express and illustrate different places. With the photos I can make you feel wow, that’s an amazing place, I want to be there. That’s my aim. But the photography is just one part of the story. I’m also making movies. With the movie I can show the feeling and emotion, what it’s like to be there. After I grab the attention of the viewer I can then transform them into a reader. So I write texts with facts as well.

Combine it all together and you can really make people listen. I feel like some of the stories can change the world and make it a better place for someone.

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What has been your most powerful story?

One example is making a documentary about sea turtle conservation. I was so lucky to take my family to an uninhabited island in Indonesia. My kids were four and six and we were living close to a two-month dead whale on the beach. We were on very remote beaches that were covered in plastic that came from Asia. We had no support.

We were making a documentary about sea turtles and it was so strong because when you take the kids you have a much more complex story. People are listening. If you just make a video about critical tips to stop plastic in Asia, nobody will turn it on. But we had the family, we had the adventure, then a place to get a message to people about plastic trash and turtle conservation.

What is it that makes exploring so addictive?

Once you try it’s a trap. Because it’s much stronger than drugs. I can be happy at home.

I can work and enjoy my family, but I’m much happier with my family when we are abroad, or at least in the car somewhere, or even just in the forest behind where we live.

Miroslav Zikmund, the most famous explorer of the Czech Republic Miroslav Zikmund recently died. He was 102 years old. My friend, Miroslav Náplava, who is the editor of my book Ostrovy Atlantiku, was with him at the hospital and he knew this was probably their last appointment.

Zikmund’s last words to him were “I see the world is changing, that’s good.” For me, exploring is a way to show people how beautiful the world is, to show how things are done and what we can do for the planet.

Ostrovy Atlantiku

by Petr Jan Juračka is published by First Class and is on sale now.

Malinká premier on 5th February and can be seen here.

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The Adventurer - Petr Jan Juračka in Iceland

Geldingadalsgos Eruption, Iceland Geldingadalsgos Eruption with the Aurora Borealis , Iceland

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The Adventurer - Petr Jan Juračka in Ireland

A basking shark at Keem Bay, Achill Island, Ireland

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The Adventurer - Petr Jan Juračka in Ireland

Petr Jan Juračka in neoprene piloting a FPV Drone in Keem Bay. Photo by Magdaléna Fukanová Malinka movie director Magdaléna Fukanová, swimming with Malinká dolphin during Petr’s last day of filming in Ireland.

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The Adventurer - Petr Jan Juračka in the Azores

Capelinhos, Faial, Azores, Europe’s westernmost spot Petr driving his 1987 Renault 5 GTR on the summit of Cabeço Verde (488 m) volcano, Faial, Azores.

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Ilheta Vila do Franco, São Miguel, Azores

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The Adventurer - Petr Jan Juračka in the Azores

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MONTE Europe’s Next

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Montenegro - Europe’s Next Summer Destination

NEGRO Summer Destination

Whisper it quietly - Montenegro is where Europe’s summer holidays trends are being made. New hotels, new destinations, new fashions - here’s a country transforming from beautiful backwater to jet-setters‘ paradise.

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Montenegro - Europe’s Next Summer Destination

Exploring the Bay of Kotor Most of Montenegro’s high-end fun takes place in the Bay of Kotor (known locally as Boka Bay), across historic towns and new waterside destinations.

Porto Montenegro

Kotor

Montenegro’s jet-set renaissance is best symbolised by Porto Montenegro, quickly established as one of Europe’s best superyacht marinas. Tucked into the fjord-like Bay of Kotor, surrounded by rugged mountains and medieval villages,this is where the cool kids hang out. There are restaurants and fashion stores galore, along with the 450-berth marina. You’ll find summertime buzz and also a luxury lacking from Europe’s older superyacht marinas - space.

Kotor is a living, breathing museum. Wander a medieval maze of cobblestone and intrigue.

Uncover crumbling churches and Venetian wonders. City walls snake up the surrounding mountains and cafe-strewn squares spill into the Adriatic Sea. There is romance along marble lanes and so much ambiance at every turn. Yet the old also sits comfortably with the new, from castletop clubbing to coastal restaurants and live music

Lustica Bay

Standing guard over the Bay of Kotor, just over the border from Croatia, this is a soul-stirring fortress town of medieval churches and vibrant street life. It’s the enchantment of yesteryear but also a symbol of Montenegro’s regeneration.

Montenegro‘s new resort town has a dreamy location on the Lustica peninsula, flanked by emerald seas, forested hills and olive groves.

The development is sympathetic to the style of traditional fishing villages that dot the entire coastline. It’s destined to grow significantly as Montenegro emerges into a premier European destination. Right now it’s blissfully quiet.

Herceg Novi

1. Lustica Bay

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Exploring Montenegro’s Landscapes Boka Bay is where you stay, relax and party.

The rest of Montenegro is a whole other adventure.

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Montenegro - Europe’s Next Summer Destination

The Adriatic Coast

Lake Skadar

Budva is Montenegro’s big beach resort town but the real charm can be found elsewhere on the coast. Montenegro is peppered with small bays, quiet coves, and beaches without names.

It’s a coastline that will excite every explorer.

Travel by yacht here as the accommodation options are weak.Or how about by kayak?

Southern Europe’s largest lake is a blissful and beautiful piece of protected nature. It’s famous now for bird lovers, but with island monasteries, steep mountains and meadows of water lilies, it will be world famous before long. Timeless villages are sprinkled along the shores, accompanying your adventure in nature.

Tara River Canyon The world’s biggest canyon? Everybody knows that. Europe’s biggest canyon? That will be this canyon in Montenegro you’ve probably never heard of. Montenegro can reveal many secrets where you explore its interior.

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2. Lake Skadar 3. Tara River Canyon

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Montenegro - Europe’s Next Summer Destination

How to Travel

Montenegro’s beauty has stayed under the radar partly because of travel logistics. It’s not the easiest country to get to. And the old winding roads can be hopelessly clogged during the summer months.

Tivat Airport is the best entry point when you travel with a private jet. From here there’s easy access to all the country’s best hotels. Various low-cost airlines are establishing routes to Tivat from European cities.

From June 14th Air Montenegro will fly Tuesdays and Saturdays between Prague and Tivat on Embraer ERJ-195 aircraft.

Podgorica Airport is an alternative option but note it’s a long transfer to the Bay of Kotor from here. By commercial flight it’s more viable to fly into Dubrovnik in neighbouring Croatia.

Fortunately, Montenegro isn’t overrun by big cruise ships. The harbours are exclusively for yachts and many travellers arrive by yacht. Combining Croatia and Montenegro into a single holiday cruise is increasingly popular.

There’s a new helicopter company providing charters and scheduled transfers around Montenegro and also to Dubrovnik. This is highly recommended for July and August travel. Getting around by yacht is still the favourite though, as there are so many surprises to explore along the coast.

4. Sailing in Boka Bay

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Montenegro - Europe’s Next Summer Destination

A Long Weekend in Montenegro If you don’t have the luxury of time, Montenegro can also be a long weekend destination.

Day 1 - Easy Introductions

Day 3 - Unique Montenegro

A sun-drenched winery converted from an 18th-century monastery. Old vines. Views onto the Adriatic. Touring the vineyard and wine production. No, we‘re not in Italy. Montenegro also does wine and the Savina winery is a beautiful introduction to a long weekend of indulgence.

Follow this with a lazy afternoon and evening at your resort, as you experience how Montegro has some of Europe’s best new five-star hotels.

A day of eating and drinking in Montenegro’s traditional places. Pass rocky villages, taste at genuine gastro villages, then meet a local family and their organic extra virgin olive oil production.

Be welcomed by the designated host of Klinci village, to visit churches and toast with rajika.

Dine on a typical Lustica lunch and relax into the past, among glorious mountain and peninsula scenery.

Day 2 - Adriatic Cruising

Day 4 - Departure

A charming day cruising the Adriatic in a Frauscher speed boat, past fishermen villages and rocky island outcrops. Admire mountain vistas as you cruise to Lady of the Rock island, Perast and the small hamlet of Rose. Detour by road to Kotor, drink Champagne, and dine on fresh seafood in an old fishing village. Montenegro faces west and there will be sunset views all the way back to the hotel.

Okay, time to leave. But what about rafting in the world’s second deepest canyon? How about the ancient caravan route across Ottoman bridges to medieval monasteries? Or a helicopter to the fairytale Skadar Lake? Or chartering a superyacht and dropping anchor on an uninhibited part of the coast? Hey, why not stay longer.

Or come back for a second trip. Most who visit Montenegro want to return.

5. Cruising the Adriatic 6. Kayaking the Adriatic

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One&Only has some legendary properties. Last year they finally opened their first property in Europe. Not in Italy or Greece or Croatia. In Montenegro. It’s chic, beachfront and highly contemporary, complete with its own superyacht harbour and helipad. With Michelinstarred chef Giorgio Locatelli in the kitchen and the brand’s signature Chenot spa, this new property is quickly establishing itself as the place to be.

Where to Stay

Resplendent at the entrance of Boka Bay, One&Only Portonovi is the jewel of Europe’s most fashionable new riviera. A rare nautical playground offering fresh air adventures through sapphire waters, dramatic forest, and medieval towns. Perfectly balanced with the chic, water-front relaxation, world-class dining, and pioneering wellness. Ultra-luxury One&Only Portonovi is a also perfect starting point for exploring the delightful Adriatic coastline.

One&Only Portonovi

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Also in 2021, Nikki Beach brought their unique vibe to Montenegro’s waterfront. Surrounded by mountain and water vistas, it’s a party hotel all about bikinis and bottles of Champagne. You’ll find better quality accommodation at Montenegro’s other five-star properties, but you definitely won’t find a better party.

Nikki Beach Montenegro

The flagship and statement property of Lustica Bay, the Chedi opened in summer 2018. Although sensitive to traditional architectural styles, this is a very fresh and youthful property. Higher category rooms have balconies and sea views, with two-bedroom grand deluxe corner suites the standout for families. Come for beach and pool time. But also use it as a base to explore the water and land.

The Chedi Lustica Bay

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Montenegro - Europe’s Next Summer Destination

Explorer’s Experiences Montenegro is more than just a summer beach destination. Sure, there’s yachting, beaches, swimming and lazing in the sun. Yet visitors to this newly trending destination have only really explored the coast.

There’s a whole other experience waiting inland. Rugged mountains hang high above the sea, so high they’re home to winter skiing. Rivers twist into caverns and caves. Montenegro is where explorers can visit places undocumented by Instagram. Yet these adventures are in Europe, close to home and easy to experience.

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Canyoning Pure adventure, as you abseil down waterfalls and jump off cliffs. This is for the adrenalin lovers in Europe’s largest canyon.

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Rafting Float serenely through nature and wonder why nobody knows about the Tara River Canyon.

Rafting in Montenegro is a relaxed adventure for the whole family.

Birdwatching on Skadar Lake 200,000 birds live around this lake in summer, including the Dalmatian pelican and pygmy cormorant. Skadar is rarely explored by tourists.

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Mountain Family Picnics Wander in the mountains and dine on local produce. Great for escaping the heat on a balmy summer day.

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Ride Through a Vineyard Montenegro makes surprisingly good wine, from some of the world’s oldest vines. Ride through on a horse and carriage then spend an afternoon tasting.

Sea Kayaking Paddle down a coastline of endless surprises. Even at the height of summer you’ll find privacy on the Adriatic and in the bays.

E-Biking Around Lustica Bay Another easy adventure to combine with a morning on the beach. The cliffs are steep so ebikes are definitely the way to go.

Scenic Helicopter Flight Montenegro’s roads are a little rough and rugged. Helicopters are a great way to get around and they are always scenic flights.

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Paragliding Paraglide in Montenegro and you have a view onto both mountains and sea.

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Mountain Biking & Quad Biking Mountain bike trails can cater for every ability and age. Serious downhills are complemented by rolling valleys ideal for younger kids.

7. E-biking at Lustica Bay 8. Horse and carriage through the vineyards 9. Mountain picnic

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The Insider - Turkish Ambassador Egemen Bağış

The Insider Tu r k i s h A m b a s s a d o r Egemen Bağış

His excellency Egemen Bağış is an explorer and has travelled to over 80 countries. He’s also the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Prague. So he’s well qualified to take us inside Turkey and its multitude of highlights.

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The Insider - Turkish Ambassador Egemen Bağış

How do you think Turkey is perceived as a destination by Czech people?

What are your favourite destinations to visit in Turkey?

Those who have been to Turkey love it. Those who haven’t visited Turkey have question marks.

There are some countries where a tourist goes once and never goes back. Turkey enjoys repeat visitors. Within two hours from Prague you can be in Istanbul and now we’re back up to three direct flights per day.

I’m encouraging Czech people to explore different regions. Many Czech people know about Antalya and Alanya. Turkey is a huge country. We have sun and sea. We have ancient ruins from many civilisations. There’s great food and geography. It can appeal to everyone’s holiday style.

It’s also very good value with the current currencies, especially for the high-end visitor. Here you can have really high level accommodation and service at a reasonable price.

Istanbul is my love. It is my city. I was honoured to represent Istanbul for three terms in the Turkish parliament. The majority of Czechs are going to Antalya, Alanya and Istanbul. There are other great destinations on the Turkish Riviera, like Marmaris and Bodrum. Not many people know that Turkey is also a popular winter destination.

For skiing I would recommend Sarıkamış, Kars, Kayseri and Bursa Uludag.

I’d recommend the biblical city of Antioch, where you can see a mosque, a church and a synagogue standing side by side, giving peace to humanity. It’s the only place where there is a mosque dedicated to, and named after, a Christian priest. I would also recommend Cappadocia - the early morning hot air balloon experience there is something everyone should try once in their lifetime.

Thanks to the regular flights, Istanbul can be a good layover destination for explorers.

What are your recommendations in the city?

Turkish Airlines is one of our prides. They fly to more countries than any other airline in the world. We have great connectivity, from Prague to Istanbul and then to Africa, Central Asia, the Far East, the other side of the Atlantic.

Istanbul is a great layover but you can spend more than just one or two days! It’s a city located on two continents. It has served as capital of three different empires - the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. It has historical and cultural richness, like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower. Or you can just blend with the city.

I like to walk along the Bosporus and stop for a Turkish coffee and tea. I like to walk the old historical sites, and enjoy the music and food.

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What is your favourite travel experience in Turkey?

My favourite is the Blue Voyage around the Turkish Riviera. My favourite town is Gocek, where I board a boat, a wooden gullet, with a few friends. There’s a captain, a chef, a skipper, and a few staff. You enjoy your privacy, eat and sleep on the boat, and swim in the most beautiful bays.

I love the water because its 26 to 27 degrees.

This area has a lot of bays you can only reach by boat, not by car. I also love falling asleep and watching the stars from the deck of the boat.

The Bodrum gullets are very unique and are still built in the traditional style. They are usually wooden but engineers are now using the same old technology to build them with fibreglass. So now the gullets are lighter and more comfortable.

You can use the wind and sail. Or use the engine and speed.

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The Insider - Turkish Ambassador Egemen Bağış

How will Turkey grow as a destination?

Currently Turkey is the fourth popular destination for Czechs. It’s my aim to make it number one. Turkey will grow as a popular destination because of its location. We are the most European country in Asia and the most Asian country in Europe. Within four hours of flying from Turkey you can reach more than 40 countries so it’s a great hub for doing business.

Mostly it will grow because it’s so diverse.

Every region is different. You can go to the Black Sea or go to the Mediterranean or the Aegean Sea and have a totally different experience.

What about your favourite destinations outside of Turkey?

I’ve been to more than 80 countries. I think Prague is a great city. Sydney is very unique.

Maldives is a great vacation spot. I like the Seychelles. A lot of people go to Phuket but my favourite in Thailand is Koh Samui and the Phi Phi islands. I have a special feeling for New York because that’s where I spent my youth. Rome is an open-air museum. In Istanbul I find a little of all these places - I see a little Rome, Sydney, Venice, Prague, New York, all combined in one city.

1. Gulet in Bodrum 2. Egemen in Beijing

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Oman Oman remains wonderfully untouched and under explored.

Indian Ocean beaches. Sand dune deserts. Towering mountains. Arabian waters. Traditional culture. A chic city.

A journey into the past. Plus a great selection of five-star hotels and a comfortable tourist infrastructure.

We love how you can have so many different types of holiday here. A long weekend. Travelling with kids. Getting romantic for two weeks. Exploring history. Or getting lost. And each of Oman’s diverse destinations has its own atmosphere and experience.

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The Beach

1700 kilometres of coastline, mostly rocky cliffs, dune-protected beaches and coral reefs, all part of the Indian Ocean. Salalah is located far in Oman’s south. It’s a colourful, subtropical city revealing a history totally different to the part of Oman next to Dubai. Camels graze alongside goats on desert escarpments. Coconut-fringed beaches are hidden from the world. From June to August this is the cool place for escaping the

Arabian summer heat. And all year round it’s a vibrant destination where lazy beach days meet exploration.

Alila Hinu Bay is one hour east of Salalah.

It’s a contemporary haven, a mix of artisanal living and poolside calm. Out here there’s the most important of luxuries, one that is so natural in Oman - space.

photos Alila Hinu Bay

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The Desert Most of Oman is desert, including big, remote sand dunes where it’s easy to be far away from civilisation, light pollution and other people. It’s possible to sleep in these landscapes without roads and electricity, potentially as a two-night desert layover between other Omani destinations.

Hud Hud Travels build private camps in the desert, complete with a camp manager, chef, wai-

ter and support staff. These are deep in the desert with the most famous location being Wahiba Sands. How about camping on white sands beaches at Barr al Hickman or in the mountains above Nizwa? To really get away from it all, consider the Empty Quarter in South Oman, where the desert scenery rolls on and on and on.

photos Hud Hud Travels

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The City

Muscat is a city of surprises. There’s the history, told in old forts and through arabesque windows. Markets provide an immersion in everyday culture, so colourful and welcoming. The pace is slow, despite it being a capital city. Perhaps that’s because of the sandy beaches or the sense of safety - Muscat means “safe anchorage.” Here you’ll encounter the same old-world

elegance that enchanted early travellers. And the Omani hospitality is further enhanced by contemporary hotels.

The Chedi Muscat is a standout example.

Elegantly designed, right on the coast, yet a window into a city and country’s rich heritage. This is a gentle city and such a gentle base for a few days of exploration.

photos The Chedi Muscat

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The Mountains Oman’s mountains are not like those in Europe.

They’re red and rugged, carving jagged scars across the landscape, a sharp serrated knife rather than a Toblerone. These are mountains for explorers, wild and remote and a whole different type of beauty. Silence is dominant in the Al Hajar Mountains. Vistas roll on and on. Guided walks involve climbing with ropes, abandoned Arabic

settlements, mountain caves and small villages.

Such a setting is liberating and also comfortable.

Alila Jabal Akhdar is 2200 metres above sea level at the end of a steep road only accessible by a 4WD. It’s stylish and spacious, with architecture inspired by nature and local Omani stone.

It’s a resort encouraging explorers to travel further and higher in Oman.

photos Alila Jabal Akhdar

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Sicily The Diverse Mediterranean Wonder

Beaches hide beneath a volcano’s shadow. Millennia of history breathe from the streets. Wild nature meets artistic towns and a fierce pride in local heritage. This sultry Italian island can create so many different holidays, even at the same time. And none of these have anything to do with The Godfather. Welcome to an island beyond stereotypes, where a leisure holiday meets an authentic way of being.

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Sicily - The Diverse Mediterranean Wonder

Family Fun on the Coast

Sicily’s eastern coast is perfect for families, with Catania the best airport.

You can spend easy days on the beach and around the resort. But you can also explore and find experiences to suit all ages. Three contrasting destinations are close to each other, easily connected for a two- or threecentre holiday. Or just pick one and do day trips.

Taormina Taormina is the chic beach resort town for high rollers seeking Sicilian dolce vita. It’s glitzy yet authentic, historic but always up with the trends. The vistas don’t lie. To one side is the Mediterranean Sea. Mount Etna rises in the other direction. Here you have good beaches and can charter a yacht to explore hidden parts of the island. There’s kayaking and snorkelling, but urban experiences as well. Like a Cannoli, Arancini or pizza cooking class.

Taormina is a dramatic and delightful place, where the past coexists with the present.

Illuminati have been holidaying here since the 19th century and Taormina has an unrivalled

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collection of five-star hotels. Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo is on a mountain, next to an ancient Greek theatre and Taormina town. It’s old-world, a true grand dame of European hotels. The San Domenico Hotel is also a scenic hideaway next to mazy streets. Once a 14th-century convent it’s been a famed hotel since 1896. After a superb renovation it reopened last year as San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel.

Villa Sant Andrea is the town’s second Belmond property, developed from an early 20th-century Sicilian villa. This one has a private beach. Villa Ducale and Villa Carlotta are on a smaller scale and offer boutique options. Both radiate charm and authenticity, although they cater better to couples or families with older children.

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Mount Etna

Syracuse

Mount Etna is still erupting, so no, your teenage son can’t take his mountain bike down into the crater. But you can explore lava fields as a family. Volcanic soils help to cultivate vineyards, beech forests and surreal black deserts. How about riding a trail on horseback? You can explore the crater by Jeep and cable car. Adventurous older children might love body rafting down a river in Alcantara Gorges. You might prefer a quiet afternoon tasting at a vineyard. Even just for one day, Mount Etna adds something different to your beach holiday.

Syracuse was the world’s largest city…2500 years ago. And while the Corinthian glory is somewhat faded, it’s been enhanced by dazzling baroque piazzas and golden medieval streets. You’ll find ancient Greece and modern Sicily, plus a coastline of golden bays and white beaches. The city’s beach is okay but you’ll have more fun exploring the coast, for there are plenty of surprises to find.

Greek colonists fortified the islet of Ortigia and built the temples to honour Athena and Apollo.

This is where Syracuse was born. Now Ortigia is perfect for a family cycle that includes gelato and archaeology. Sail and swim around the island as well. Visit a local market with a chef and then do a cooking class. Or just stroll at sunset and watch the Sicilian world unfold.

1. Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, Taormina 2. Belmond Villa Sant'Andrea, Taormina

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Sicily - The Diverse Mediterranean Wonder

A Romantic Adventure with Sicilian Baroque

It’s the southeast of Sicily that most captures the imagination of star crossed lovers. Upon mountainsides and hilltops you’ll find Sicily from the 17th and 18th centuries, alive in a series of charming towns seemingly frozen in time. This is baroque Sicily, where a slow pace of life and sense of tradition allow romance to thrive.

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Noto

Southeast Sicily

Noto is the heart and soul of Sicilian barocco.

This flamboyant and theatrical architectural style transformed southeast Sicily when it was rebuilt after a 1693 earthquake. In Noto you can trace the artistic evolution. Putti peer at you from ornamental balconies. Intricate staircases rise through the palazzos. Churches stand timeworn and glorious. Noto is generally considered a day trip destination. It’s actually an excellent overnight base for exploring a larger region. And it’s more enchanting when the daytripping visitors have gone home.

Slow into the Sicilian pace of life at famous Caffe Sicilia then lunch on fresh seafood in Marzamemi village. Visit an old tonnara and do some bottarga tasting - and if you don’t know what this means, remember, Sicily is for explorers looking for new experiences. You can sleep inside the baroque as well. Both Seven Rooms Villadorata and Q92 are located inside 18th-century baroque palazzos, owned and operated by local Sicilian families.

With two to three days you can explore different baroque towns, each seemingly from a fairytale, helping Sicily to be a romantic long weekend destination. Historic palazzos can be reserved for exclusive use, perfect when combined with the services of a Sicilian chef. Imagine dining amid frescoed halls and glorious testaments to another era.

The town of Ragusa is perched on a hill, a wonderful place to get lost hand in hand. And what food there is to experience here! Contemporary creations in a streetside setting at Cissio Sultano.

Dine on seasonal menus at Cenobio, inside a restored Capuchin Convent. Michelin-starred Locanda Don Serafino is in the lower reaches of church passageways - it also offers Relais & Chateaux accommodation.

Keep exploring. Modica is another great day trip, famous for its chocolate. Dine at Accursio, home of Michelin-starred Accurio Craparo, proudly nicknamed Cook of the Two Sicilies.

Spend an afternoon tasting wine at the divine Arianna Ochhipinti. Explore Donnafugata Castle.

Lounge around Cavesecca, a private countryside estate producing olive oil. And don’t forget Catania as it’s more than just an airport.

3. & 4. A baroque tour with Sicily Activities

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Classic Sicily

Classical Sicily. No, that’s not the Mafia or Lucky Luciano. The Godfather filming locations are the most touristic places in Sicily. And who wants to spend a holiday on a pilgrimage to bad guys. Classical Sicily has so much more and the welcome is a lot warmer outside Corleone. Here are three more options.

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Palermo Palermo tells a tale. Byzantine mosaics, frescoed ceilings, Gothic palaces, Moorish domes: here the edge of a continent crosses paths with the rest of the world. It’s big and noisy at first, but don’t be perturbed, because Palermo rewards the explorer. This is a city for people watching, for wandering, for wondering why and where exactly you are.

It’s not always relaxing. Your initial impressions may be a city of chaos, but the crooked streets hide many secrets, especially when you have a local guide. Stay at Villa Igiea for its unique and loud Sicilian style. Back in the early 20th century the Florio family turned a palazzo into the epicentre of Sicilian art nouveau. By 1914 it was a military hospital, later a bank, then the Hilton. Now it’s been exquisitely restored by Rocco Forte.

Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel Rocco Forte’s other Sicilian property is the best beachfront resort on the island. It’s a classic beach resort destination, where weeks can happily roll by without you travelling further than the sand. Sprawling across a huge area, Verdura has all the amenities, including a golf course and spa. With its remote location, this is not a place to stay if you want to explore. But it can be a great counterpoint to a more adventurous trip elsewhere in Sicily.

Aeolian Islands Sicily has its own archipelago. Yes, this isn’t just one island. There are seven more, all UNESCO protected, each with its own identity, each formed by a volcano. These Aeolian islands are small slices of Mediterranean paradise, just perfect for chartering a yacht. Swim, kayak, dive, climb volcanoes, dock at deserted coves and feast on sweet Malvasia wine. You’ll need two weeks to explore it all.

5. Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel, Palermo 6. A baroque tour with Sicily Activities

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Freedom - The Possibility of Private Jets

FREEDOM The Possibilit y of Private Jets

Destinations for a long weekend, made possible by a private jet charter. Most people have their holidays limited by limited flight connections. With a private jet you can fly anywhere, anytime. This opens up so many new European destinations that other people simply can’t reach. It also makes travel to known destinations easier and faster. The greatest luxuries of a private jet charter are the time you will save, and the new holiday possibility you will enjoy. Here are seven summer opportunities in Europe.

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B as que . C ountry of s e c rets .

Basque holds so many secrets. There’s the language, Euskera, unconnected to any other.

The culture, so shrouded in mystery. The best cuisine in all of Europe. The Basque Country feels like its own nation, from glamorous seaside towns to Middle Age cities, groundbreaking design to Middle Age villages. This region is the absolute opposite of the famous high-rise Spanish beach towns. A relative inaccessibility has kept its authenticity unbroken, and you won’t find tourist hordes like in Barcelona or the Spanish costas.

Straddling the western Pyrenees in northern Spain and southwestern France, Basque is only underexplored because of the poor commercial flight connections.

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Prague to San Sebastian - 2h10 by Cessna Citation Sovereign. Depart anytime 06:00 - 22:00.

Prague to San Sebastian - 5h05 commercial flight to Bilbao via Madrid. Plus an 80-minute road transfer.

Private jets can also use the airports of Bilbao, Biarritz, Vitoria, and Logrono in La Rioja.

Elite Voyage operates four-day private jet trips to Basque, with space in the plane for eight explorers.

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Freedom - The Possibility of Private Jets

S an S ebastian Elegant cafes perch above expansive beaches, decadent townhouses are flanked by sculpted figurines, and the compact old town shimmers golden in the evening light. This is not the typical Spanish beach town!Grand and glamorous, San Sebastian is the perfect combination of quiet beach days, immersive culture and foodie heaven.

Gastronomy Basque is probably Europe’s number one foodie destination. Asador Etxebarri is currently ranked number three restaurant in the world. San Sebastian has the second highest concentration of Michelin stars in the world. Contrast this with pintxos. They’re social and creative everyday food. These local specialties cram a dozen flavours into a single bite, with a hundred to try on a single street when you go pintxo hopping.

Bilbao Bilbao feels like three different destinations. Explore the mazy old town, where plazas and terraces hide along streets of cobblestone and intrigue. Explore Basque chic from the late-19th and early-20th centuries, especially Modernist architecture not overrun by tourists. Frank Gehry’s titanium-built Guggenheim gallery is at the heart of a Basque from the future.

Biarritz Part ritzy old-world coastal resort, part summer surf hang-out, part belle époque and art deco, but also partly 20th-century concrete, Biarritz is a city so original it could only be in the Basque. It’s in France, but very close to San Sebastian, with its own airport for private jet arrivals.

La Rioja Everything revolves around wine in La Rioja. The walled city of Laguardia is a giant underground cellar, where you can taste old vintages in rooms from the 16th century. The countryside is purely vineyards, some of which have five-star hotel estates, like Marques de Riscal. La Rioja is not in the Basque. It’s the neighbouring region and its capital Logrono has an airport for private jets.

B asque C oast From tiny and colourful fishing villages to towns perched on cliffs, Basque Country has a coastline for the explorer. Take walking trails to remote beaches. Taste molecular cuisine then compare it to fresh salted cod at a fishing shack. Explore the town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Walk out into the Atlantic at San Juan de Gaztelugatxe.

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M y k onos & Ibiz a. T he party is lands .

Mykonos and Ibiza, famous party islands that keep growing in popularity. Except nobody wants to spend ten hours flying home after a good party. Imagine how much harder you can party, without the worry of an airport layover the next day. These two islands are all about what’s fresh.

The hottest clubs. The newest five-star hotels.

The best parties. The romantic retreats when you need a break from it all. Arriving in style, so you feel fresh and have more time to enjoy yourself.

There are no direct flights between Prague to Ibiza and just one weekly direct flight between Prague and Mykonos. On Eurowings. And Mykonos is about status, so you want to go by private jet.

Prague to Ibiza and Prague to Mykonos are both 2h25 direct flights on a midsized private jet.

Ibiza's airport operates 24 hours a day for private jets, as does Mykonos airport during the summer season.

Landing slots and parking availability can be challenging at Mykonos during the peak summer season. EliteVoyage will advice you on private jet charters with the most suitable aircraft and times for your destination and needs.

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E x plore Ibiza

E x plore Mykonos

Ibiza has always had the clubs. Much of the world’s electronic music scene revolves around the summer on the white isle. Nostradamus famously said “Ibiza will be Earth’s final refuge.”

Not many people appreciate just how beautiful this island is. Away from the clubs, it’s a place to rest and reset, to ignite the free spirit from within yourself. This is an island of mystical light and a persuasive rhythm, as well as the hottest places to be seen.

The infamous Balearic island has a great collection of private villas, places in the hills to afterparty with a group of friends. Traditionally it lacked great hotels, although that’s changing, especially with the debut of Six Senses Ibiza. Located on the island’s northern tip, this five-star wellness resort reopened on 15th March. It’s 35 minutes from the airport.

Welcome to Mykonos, the sun-kissed island where hedonism meets Hellenism and only the most select few arrive by mega yacht or private jet. This is Greece’s glamorous beach playground, for the famous, young, rich and beautiful.

Like Ibiza there is dancing until long past sunrise and great shopping. And like Ibiza, it’s an island steeped in history and culture. Old whitewashed villages are yours to discover, as is a coastline of secrets and hidden bays.

For beachfront hotels stay at Psarou beach or Santa Marina. Cavo Tagoo Mykonos is a popular place to stay for celebrities while Grecotel Mykonos Blu is more understated. Santa Marina Mykonos is a calm alternative and it’s also worth considering Villa Iremia and the Myconian Villa Collection. The island’s hottest new property is Kálesma Mykonos, featured in the HOT list on page 23.

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B odrum. M ore than the beac h.

Bodrum can be a dozen different holidays in one. It’s sailing along the Turkish RIviera in a traditional gulet. It’s tranquil days with your family at the resort, looking out across the Mediterranean.

One day you’re exploring the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the original wonders of the world. The next day you’re soaking in the surreal waters of Pamukkale. Bodrum is a combination of beautiful coves, exclusive resorts, fishing villages, spa retreats and superyacht harbours.

With a cradle of Western civilisation just a short ride inland. So lie back and enjoy the balmy weather, then go out and explore.

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Private Jet Charter Prague to Bodrum 2h35 or Brno to Bodrum 2h20. Land in Bodrum anytime.

Fastest Commercial Flight Prague to Bodrum 7h00 via Istanbul on Pegasus Airlines.

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E x plore B odrum

S ix S enses K aplankaya

Turkey is the fourth most popular destination for Czech people, yet almost everybody sticks to just three destinations with direct flights: Antalya, Alanya and Istanbul. Bodrum is more authentic, has a lot more to offer and has some of Turkey’s very best hotels. For most people it’s just harder to reach. And that sense of exclusivity is part of the appeal.

Photographed overleaf. An ode to wellbeing with a Turkish twist, this serene hotel occupies a quiet stretch of the Aegean Sea. Perfect for couples seeking a rejuvenating escape and plenty of spa time. Think candlelit dinners on the beach and meditation beneath the stars.

The B odrum EDIT ION An escape that’s youthful in spirit and decor, its laidback energy accentuated by private plunge pools and hammocks. In northwest Bodrum, this modern hotel is the ultimate Turkish getaway for young adults.

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Mandarin Oriental B odrum An awesome beachfront hotel full of natural charm, this is one of the very best Mandarin Oriental hotels globally. Ideal for families, thanks to its private bay and two beaches, plus the full array of facilities. Those who don’t arrive by private jet may arrive by superyacht and dock in the private harbour.

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T he W ine R e gions .

C hampagne & P ie dmont.

Private Jet Charter to Piedmont

Fastest Commercial Flight to Piedmont

Arrive Václav Havel Airport Private Jet Terminal 09:50 Depart Václav Havel Airport 10:05 by private jet Arrive Cuneo Airport 11:25 Depart Cuneo Airport by road 11:30 Arrive Barolo 12:10

Arrive Václav Havel Airport Terminal 2 08:15 Depart Václav Havel AIrport 10:05 on LH1393 Arrive Frankfurt am Main 11:15 Depart Frankfurt am Main 12:10 on LH9522 Arrive Turin 13:25 Depart Turin 14:00 by road Arrive Barolo 15:15

All the great wine regions are rural. Vineyards tumble across rolling hills. Life so slow and quiet, dominated by languid afternoons in the sun, drinking the local produce. The best wine regions are not close to city airports. They are not easy to reach. And as such they retain both an exclusivity and tradition. So, ready for a wine tasting weekend? That’s the possibility of flying by private jet.

Getting there is fast and simple. Getting around requires local insider knowledge. Most of the best vineyards are not open to the public.

And you don’t charter a private jet to go taste the same wine you can buy in the supermarket.

A wine tasting weekend is all about meeting the winemakers, tasting unreleased vintages, exploring cellars closed to the public, and touring vineyards with people who shape the industry.

With an insider you can visit local producers and taste fine wines not usually for export.

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The Champagne region has no airports for commercial flights. Paris is the closest.

Fly Prague to Aerodrome d'Epernay by Pilatus PC-12. On larger private jets fly to Chalons Vatry, for example this is a 1h05 flight from Karlovy Vary.

Elite Voyage operates long weekend trips by private jet to Champagne for eight explorers, with an insider guide enabling access to the best local Champagne houses.

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Freedom - The Possibility of Private Jets

Piedmont Drink Barolo in Barolo. Drink Barbaresco in Barbaresco. Not just the current vintage. Taste the recent history of these famous wines, while gazing upon the vineyards they came from.

Stop in Alba for the world-famous white truffles.

Explore more than 20 medieval towns protected

by UNESCO. Drink more wine, like the wines you don’t even know exist, the wines of Piedmont yet to receive the fame of Barolo and Barbaresco.

Indulge on traditional Piedmont food, like Piedmontese beef, Castelmagno and Robiola di Roccaverano cheeses, risotto and Nutella (yes, it was invented here, they have fantastic hazelnuts). And at the end of the weekend, when you’re really full and more than a little bit drunk, step inside your private jet and be back home within two hours.

C hampagne Drink Champagne in Champagne. And of course you can drink a 2008 Dom Perignon Brut, Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial, or a Krug Clos du Mesmil. While exploring the vineyards that create these wines. But in Champagne you really don’t need to stick to the world’s biggest luxury goods company, LVMH. You can drink the Champagne that people from Champagne drink.

The really really good stuff, from local producers you’ve probably never heard of. The legendary Champagne that’s almost impossible to find outside Champagne. The cute town of Epernay is at the heart of Champagne production and has its glamorous Avenue de Champagne. But the entire Champagne region is packed with producers who celebrate the subtlety and variety of Champagne production. And with an insider you can explore so much more.

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B rittany.

O ld land of surpris e .

Sometimes the best destinations are not new, nor do they sound exotic. They can be old, their charms forgotten over the years. Brittany was a destination beloved by nineteenth-century aristocrats. For many centuries it was an independent realm, something still alive in the Breton language. Finally it is being rediscovered…if you know how to get there. And it can be explored with your stomach. Yep, eat your way around Brittany and you’ll explore why this forgotten French region is hip again.

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Prague to Dinard is a 1h155 flight by midsized private jet from Prague.

Prague to Dinard - 6h35 commercial flight to Rennes via Amsterdam. Plus a 60-minute road transfer.

Elite Voyage operates trips from Prague to Brittany by private jet, for eight explorers. On the next page you will see the 2022 itinerary.

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Day 1 11:00 am Arrive at Dinard Airport by private jet from Prague.

12:00 pm Take a culinary voyage around the Bay of Cancale aboard a traditional Breton sailing boat. Discover the spices of Épices Roellinger and dine on Emmanuel Tessier’s cooking amid the spectacular coastal backdrop.

5:00 pm Drop off at the historic Castelbrac Hotel & Spa in Dinard, with its serene views over Saint Malo and excellent spa.

7:30 pm A private gastronomic dinner party hosted by chef Antoine Gardien in a Saint Malo mansion.

Day 2 11:00 am Explore an oyster farm and taste your way from Cancale oysters to special gold oysters that are shipped with 22-karat gold flakes. Eat these exclusive oysters straight from the water, with lemon caviar.

1:00 pm The world’s best oysters come from Brittany. So do more oyster tasting, paired with a selection of grand crus, either in an old fort or in Cancale oyster market.

4:00 pm Back at the hotel. Time for the spa?

7:30 pm Explore Villa Bague, the eighteenth-century home of Malouins shipowners. As you’re immersed in the history of this Malouiniere, famous chef Emmanuel Tessier hosts a private dinner party.

Day 3 In the morning: So surreal at high tide, Mont Saint-Michel hovers above the water, a moody fortified village home to monks and nuns. Take a sightseeing helicopter flight above it and Brittany’s cliff-lined coastline.

In the afternoon: Who invented the crepe? That was the Bretons, And upstairs from a local creperie you’ll find a fusion restaurant, where the interior is Japanese and the views are of Mont St Michel. When Brittany meets Japan? That’s a wondrous taste combination.

In the evening: Arrive at the airport 15 minutes before departure. Fly direct back to Prague. Maximise your weekend time.

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Explore the World Carefree planning and realisation of all your trips.

Leisure Holidays

Long Weekends

Choosing the right place to relax is just the start, from a warm holiday for two by the sea, to winter in the mountains with the whole family. We’ll make sure you are absolutely satisfied, when you holiday in a place with everything you need.

Want to experience something new but only have a few days? Don’t have the time to think about exactly where and what? We will tailor a long weekend trip for you, so you make the most of your time and explore a fantastic place.

Adventure Expeditions

Unique Experiences

Do you share our passion to explore and discover new places? Our planet has so much to experience. Like a polar expedition, coming eye to eye with wild mountain gorillas, witnessing the great wildebeest migration or Amazon jungle.

Wherever you dream of exploring, we will plan and arrange every detail of your trip.

Do you know you can have dinner inside a volcano crater? Would you like to experience a place few people have even seen? Drive a Formula 1 car on a Formula 1 circuit? Eat a romantic picnic in the Tuscan countryside? We will turn unique experiences into memories that will stay with you forever.

Private Villas

Private Yachts

Tired of busy resorts. Want to enjoy privacy with friends and family? We will arrange a private villa exactly to your taste, in destinations all over the world: with its own vineyard, on top of a glacier or on a private island. We make sure you have everything necessary in your new home.

A holiday on a yacht or catamaran is a great idea but it’s hard to know where to start. We will advise you on yacht selection and routing, then take care of all the charter challenges and formalities.

So you will enjoy your holiday, cruising on the sea.

Holiday like a privileged few Contact us.

From Air Ticket to Private Jet Do you want to be the master of your time. We will provide you with the complete service, like VIP lounges, fast and convenient connections, and private jet charters to anywhere. We’ll advise on jet charter selection and take care of all the details, so you maximise your time and possibilities.

contact@elitevoyage.com +420 731 344 444

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A SUMMER OF SENSES

5 S TA R H O L I DAY IN THE T YROLEAN ALPS ——— Sharpen your senses, open your mind. Get back to nature and find your inner balance. A summer spa experience touches a place deep inside you and opens up new perspectives.