There is something definitely captivating about a world tour. Whether it lasts one month or a year, by Harley Davidson or aboard an Emirates Suite, most of us have one day dreamed about doing one. It is now time to stop procrastinating: grab your kids, fasten your seatbelt, we are taking you around the world, the Weisse way.
OMAN
Far from the tall towers of the not-so-far Dubai, the Sultanate of Oman is a multifaceted country attached to its cultural heritage. Here the turquoise water delicately contrasts with the pale orange of the dunes surrounding it, the canyons form a vertical desert where nomad Bedouins still breed camels and antelopes, while the souks of Muscat keep their old splendor.
Where to sleep: under the stars with Canvas Club, overhanging from a cliff at the Alila Jabal Akhdar, by the sea at the Chedi Muscat.
JAPAN
From Tokyo, the bullet trains efficiently link Hakone and Kyoto. Here, ancestral traditions elegantly cohabit with the ultra-modernity of the big cities. Faced with a pop culture that fascinates (have you heard about mangas?), the traditional savoir-faire subsists and enchants the visitor. We are speechless in front of the refinement of a geisha, the rigor of a samurai and the force of a sumo.
Where to sleep: downtown at the Andaz Tokyo, in the traditional ryokan Gôra Kadan, by the river at the sublime Hoshinoya.
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand is a green country with 6 sheep per inhabitants that has become the must destination for extreme adventures. However, if bungee jumping from a bridge is not your thing, you can also discover the lakes and fjords by bike or heli. Everything here can be done by heli: heli skiing, heli biking, heli hiking, heli kayaking… you name it!
Where to sleep: by yourself at Annandale, at the legendary Relais & Châteaux Huka Lodge or surrounded by extraordinary nature at Minaret Station.
FIDJI
Honeymoon destination par excellence, Fiji has yet much more than just idyllic beaches to offer. Of course the thin sand, the palm trees and the thousands of fishes that slalom between the coral reefs catch the eye, but the inland also offers a nice playground for the young (and the not-so-young) explorers looking for the exotic flora and fauna.
Where to sleep: on a private island, at Dolphin Island, Kokomo Island or Laucala Island.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Radical change here on Navajo land. Swap your palms for riding boots, hop on a horse and discover the Rockies. This golden triangle of the far west bursts with canyons, Indian archeological sites, hot springs and of course some of the most beautiful national parks of the US.
Where to sleep: in the luxury resort of the desert, the spectacular Amangiri, at a movie-like ranch, Dunton Hot Springs.
COSTA RICA
In the water, whales and dolphins watch us surfing. On dry land, half a million species share the vast tropical forest and the volcanic heights. From the Papagayo Peninsula, Costa Rica is to be crossed from North to South, aboard a 4×4, till the Osa Peninsula. Known for its farm to table restaurants and its ecolodges, the country is pioneer in the environmentally responsible tourism and offers an infusion of pura vida and relaxation. A beautiful lesson before heading back to our old Europe.
Where to sleep: at the newly renovated Four Seasons Papagayo, in the jungle at Pacuare Lodge or by the ocean at Lapa Rios, two Unique Lodges of the World, the selection ultra-green of the National Geographic.
