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CNA
04-07-2025
- CNA
Enjoy stunning landscapes or architectural wonders at these hotels in or near UNESCO World Heritage Sites
The UNESCO World Heritage List helps preserve vital cultural and natural heritage for future generations. There are now more than a thousand sites across 170 nations on the list. Ranging from historic buildings and archaeological sites to vast natural landscapes and cultural places, they are powerful reminders of nature's ingenuity and storytellers of mankind's quest for both survival, as well as spiritual, intellectual and artistic excellence. These destinations are often on travel bucket lists. But more than just a photo op, many travellers now wish to immerse themselves into the setting or community. Horseback riding on mountain ranges, picnicking amid wandering wildebeest or private art tours – here are some of the experiences that can be arranged by these hotels in or near UNESCO World Heritage sites. FOR THE HISTORY BUFF: SANCTUARY LODGE, A BELMOND HOTEL, MACHU PICCHU, PERU As the only hotel at the entrance of the famous Incan citadel, guests at the Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel, Machu Picchu can be ahead of the queue that typically starts forming at 6am during the peak season. But why queue when the hotel can secure entrance tickets for you, as well as arrange for a before-hours tour of the ancient Guard House and Sun Gate, and explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site lit by the rising sun sans crowd? This is one of the perks offered by the hotel, which is located inside a former research building for studying the Peruvian ruins after explorer Hiram Bingham discovered it in 1911. Other hotel experiences, such as coca leaf reading and tasting Peruvian-inspired dishes like Patarashca (fish covered with bijao leaves and roasted) served with palm heart and mishkina at Tampu Restaurant ensure a holistic cultural journey. With its picturesque rolling hills, castles and medieval villages, Val d'Orcia (or Valdorcia) in southern Tuscany has beckoned many filmmakers to this part of the world; movies like The English Patient, Stealing Beauty and Ridley Scott's Gladiator were filmed here. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is not only for nature lovers but also oenophiles, and the Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco is the perfect accommodation, set within a 5,000-acre, 900-year-old Italian estate founded by Massimo and Chiara Ferragamo from the family of famous fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo. The on-site winery is one of the producers of the famous Brunello di Montalcino wine. Guests can explore the winemaking process from grape to barrel with a special tour, or choose a wine-and-gourmet cuisine that includes a helicopter ride for a unique vantage of the landscapes developed in the Renaissance. Other activities to choose from include taking a scenery painting class or touring famous film locations in the vicinity. Luang Prabang was the ancient capital of Laos until 1975. Nestled in a valley at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, it is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges and is home to many historic Buddhist temples, traditional Laotian buildings and French colonial villas. One of them is luxury hotel La Residence Phou Vao, which is perched on a hill with amazing views. A former royal guesthouse, its white walls, chocolate-coloured tiled roofs and shuttered verandahs evoke a sense of the past. In May 2025, the hotel introduced a new Unlocking the Secrets of Luang Prabang experience that includes a morning market tour with a local chef, a night cap at an artisanal tea shop in the historic town and a private sunset cruise aboard the hotel's own luxury river boat, La Residence. A roughly three-hour flight takes one from Singapore to the Komodo National Park in Indonesia. This UNESCO World Heritage Site comprises three large islands – Komodo, Padar and Rinca, accessible from Labuan Bajo port. The area's diverse marine life means divers and snorkelling enthusiasts will have plenty of chances to spot sea turtles, reef sharks, kingfishers as well as colourful coral reefs. Fanning out into the glistening Flores Sea, TA'AKTANA, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa is a perfect base. Part of Marriott International's portfolio, it has 70 guestrooms, overwater sea villas, family villas as well as expansive three-bedroom mansions. A full-day excursion lets guests learn about the cultural heritage of the West Manggarai Regency through the hotel's design and handicrafts, explore the nearby famous pink beach and spot Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. With 18 peaks rising up to 3,000 metres, the Dolomites in the northern Italian Alps offer spectacular mountain scenery, unique landscapes and geological wonders. No wonder it has been protected as a Natural World Heritage Site. One of the most beautiful hotels in these ranges is COMO Alpina Dolomites, located on South Tyrol's Alpe di Siusi. A One Michelin Key hotel (2024), each room offers spectacular views of the Dolomites. Outdoor experiences are aplenty, such as horseback rides or mountain biking in the wider Val Gardena, ice climbing and paragliding, and of course, snowboarding in winter with ski-in, ski-out access directly from the hotel. Staying at Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain in Chengdu lets guests be close to not one, but two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Mount Qingcheng, considered as one of the birthplaces of Taoism, and the nearby 3rd century BC Dujiangyan irrigation system. One of the oldest irrigation works in the world, the latter was constructed to control water distribution of the Minjiang River to the Chengdu plains. The hotel references traditional Sichuan village architecture, with clay roof tiles, plaster walls, and bamboo and timber furnishings. On experiences, guests can trace Marco Polo's footsteps to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System via a night tour, play panda keeper for the day at the Wolong National Nature Reserve or visit the ancient village of the Da Qin minority in the mountains of the Tibetan Plateau where one can enjoy lunch with breathtakingly views of snow-capped mountains. FOR THE WELLNESS ENTHUSIAST: HOTEL INDIGO JABAL AKHDAR RESORT AND SPA, OMAN Opened on Sep 1, 2024, Hotel Indigo Jabal Akhdar Resort and Spa is a two-hour drive from Oman's capital, Muscat. The first property of IHG Hotels & Resorts in the Middle East sits 2,000 metres above sea level, and boasts an extensive wellness centre – the largest in the Middle East – that includes Himalayan salt rooms, thermal zone, and indoor and outdoor pools. Oman has five spots on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the hotel is located in one of them – the 80km-long Jabal Akhdar Mountains (meaning Green Mountain). The mostly limestone mountains are famous for its winding river valleys and Mediterranean produce that include pomegranates and some of the world's purest rose water. Hike through the mountains along terraced fields or stone houses, or tour a 400-year-old 'lost village'. The Sado Island Gold Mines was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2024 for its 400-year-old mining heritage. Located on Sado Island off the coast of Niigata Prefecture, surface deposits of native gold were found there since the Heian period. During the Edo period, gold from the island became a key revenue source for the Tokugawa shogunate. Accommodation on the island consists mainly small guesthouses and local brands. A new addition in 2024 is Nipponia Sado Aikawa Mining Town with only four guestrooms. It belongs to independently owned Nipponia Hotels that restores older buildings in less touristy areas. The hotel's owners can help arrange local activities like tub boat rides to explore bioluminescent coves, sake brewery tastings at Hokusetsu, founded by celebrity chef Matsuhisa 'Nobu' Nobuyuki and Robert De Niro (the island is also famed for sake brewing) and of course, a tour to the mines. Amsterdam is a haven for art and design lovers, having produced famous creatives such as Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, Iris van Herpen, Rem Koolhaas and Gerrit Rietveld. The 17th century canal ring inside the Dutch city was a model of large-scale town planning at that time and the Rosewood Amsterdam is located in the former Palace of Justice along the Dutch city's UNESCO World Heritage-listed canals. Designed by renowned Amsterdam-based Studio Piet Boon, its premium accommodations include special canal view suites and exclusive, butler-serviced houses that are perfect for larger groups. Enjoy curated experiences such as a canal tour in the Piet Boon-designed Salon Boat, an art walk around the city, a visit to a fishing village to take in countryside views sketched by Rembrandt or a private tour of the hotel's excellent art collection that is concluded with a glass of champagne. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Meliá Serengeti Lodge (@meliaserengetilodge) The Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania was established in 1940 and stretches over 1.5 million hectares of virgin savannah in northern Tanzania in East Africa. It is famous for the largest annual grazing migration in the world, with over 1.5 million blue wildebeest alone crossing the lands to chase the rains. Not surprisingly, it is on the bucket list of travellers around the globe who come here to spot and photograph the wild animals in their natural habitat. The Melia Serengeti Lodge is located within the park. Rooms with Maasai tradition-inspired decor frame the Serengeti plains. Guests can arrange for activities such as a picnic in the plains surrounded by grazing zebras and wildebeest, explore traditional house building, crafts and dances at a Maasai village, spot animals from a balloon safari as well as seek out the 'Big Five' – the lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros
Los Angeles Times
27-03-2025
- Los Angeles Times
A Luxurious Trip to the Clouds
In 1911, former U.S. senator and explorer Hiram Bingham rediscovered what would become one the 'Seven Wonders of the Modern World,' a legendary ancient Incan citadel: Machu Picchu. Perched high on a lookout-like terrace 50 miles outside of Cusco, Peru, the 15th-century ruins are believed to be an ancient Incan religious site. And, while there are multiple ways to arrive at this unreal destination, those looking for a luxe and unique experience can take advantage of travel brand Belmond's experiences, which include luxurious hotel stays coupled with exclusive and unique train trips. A true 'hotel-to-rail' style of travel, Belmond's train through the Andes to Machu Picchu creates a truly spectacular experience. This odyssey begins in Lima, the beating heart and capital of Peru, where the modernity meshes seamlessly with the region's history. Landing in this sprawling metropolis (LATAM Airlines offers a daily nonstop from LAX), find sanctuary in Belmond's Miraflores Park Hotel, nestled in one of Lima's most upscale neighborhoods. Its oceanside locale is a perfect jumping-off point to explore the city's rich tapestry. From the historic El Parque Reserve to the grandeur of Plaza Mayor and its Presidential Palace to the eerie allure of the San Francisco Basilica's catacombs, Lima offers a grand variety of diversion for the first leg of this journey. A brief flight gets you to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incan Empire. Here, amid the peaks of the Andes and sitting at an astounding 11,000 feet of elevation, the Monasterio and the Palacio Nazarenas Belmond hotels await. The former, a 16th-century monastery transformed into a 5-star hotel, offers Baroque splendor and serene courtyards, while the latter, created as a nunnery, offers oxygen-enhanced suites to ease your acclimation to the high altitude. Cusco itself is a gateway to the past, and as you amble down cobblestone lanes taking in the mix of ancient and Classical styles, the city prepares you for the wonders that lie ahead. The journey to Machu Picchu is a spectacle in itself, aboard the Belmond Hiram Bingham train, named in honor of the aforementioned explorer. This 1920's Pullman-style consist, featuring elegant vintage dining cars, bar car and outdoor observation deck as it transforms the journey into an event. The restored carriages allow travelers to 'time travel,' as riding these rails harkens to the most majestic era of train travel. The scenery helps as well – as you pass through the Peruvian countryside sipping on a Pisco Sour, unparalleled views create a full sensory feast. Having already been acclimated to the luxe experience, you'll find familiar Belmond luxury onboard, while the landscape's raw beauty serves as a prelude to the marvel that is Machu Picchu. Aguas Calientes, the nearest town to the Machu Picchu site, is mere moments away from the sanctuary you've journeyed so far to witness. To rest and prepare, stay at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel adjacent to the ruins. The hotel, featuring only 31 rooms, gives visitors exclusive pre- and after-hours access to the site, since other travelers must take a bus to the ruins. Imagine breakfast on your terrace with Machu Picchu as your backdrop, or a twilight champagne toast from the hot tub, as fellow travelers from across the globe share tales of adventure under the stars. The Sanctuary Lodge offers not just a place to rest, but an exclusive proximity to one of the world's most exceptional sites. Your journey doesn't have to end with Machu Picchu. You can extend your adventure to the Sacred Valley or explore other enchanting highlights within Peru. All the destinations (many of which can be organized as part of the trip) offer their own unique blend of luxury, history and breathtaking landscapes, ensuring that your Peruvian adventure matches your spirit of discovery.
National Geographic
24-02-2025
- National Geographic
Go on a luxury rail journey through Peruvian mountains
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Holding aloft pairs of dry coca leaves, the dancers pause, drums beating faster, before they burst into song. Over shouts of 'Heh! Heh! Heh!', they play melodies on a quena (an Andean flute) while passengers gather around, squinting through the smoke from offerings burning on the platform at Poroy Station. Coloured with vegetable dyes, the welcome troupe's skirts flare as they hop from one foot to the other, setting the tone for the next four hours: a journey filled with music, colour and Indigenous Quechua culture. I'm here to ride the luxury Hiram Bingham, run by Belmond Trains, from the district of Cusco in southeastern Peru to the town of Aguas Calientes in the foothills of the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Named after the US explorer who rediscovered the ruins in 1911, the train service launched along the route in 2003, making a 47-mile journey that's impossible to do by road. The costumes of Indigenous Quechuan dancers are traditionally dyed with vegetable-derived pigment. Photograph by Collin Hughes Find the traditional pisco sour on the board's menu, a brandy-based cocktail beloved in Peruvian and Chilean cuisine. Photograph by Collin Hughes As the smoke clears, I can see the polished body of the Hiram Bingham, blue and trimmed with gold, gleaming in the morning light. Tied-back cream curtains frame the windows and I can just make out art deco table lamps and crystal glasses laid out for lunch. Champagne in hand, I make my way on board. The sun floods the carriage, winking off satin-smooth wooden walls and brass fittings. A group of friends from Ecuador spread out their ponchos on upholstered armchairs, then make their way to the back of the train from where I can already hear the bang and shake of a tambourine. On the way through the bar carriage, I realise the train is already on the move, huge agave plants waving their spikes in farewell. Leaning over the railings in the open-air section of the observation car, I watch the line of carriages snake into the distance behind us and get chatting to a Peruvian writer named Hugo Flores. At almost 11,155ft above sea level in Cusco, I'm feeling the vice-like pressure against my temples from the altitude. Passengers have been advised to stay off alcohol, hydrate and drink infused coca leaves to lessen the symptoms. 'Coca tea is okay,' says Hugo, 'but muña tea is better. It's an Andean mint and it gives a slow feeling of wellness, not the sudden shock from coca tea, which can make you feel too…' He shakes his hands wildly, looking startled. It's not even 10am and there's a full-blown party in the observation car, with half the passengers dancing to La Bamba. The less extroverted stand in the open section, content to brace against the breeze, tapping one foot with a pisco sour in hand. Tart, frothy and dangerously drinkable, the Peruvian cocktail is one of the best I've tasted, but on Hugo's advice I grudgingly switch to muña tea and soon find that it works to clear the effects of altitude. En route to Machu Picchu, rolling hills and dry bushes line the way. Photograph by Collin Hughes Eucalyptus trees line the track, throwing slim shadows across furrowed fields, where cows flick their tails and farmers with scythes look up and wave as we pass. Squeezing through towns of half-built brick houses, the train brings us close enough to see butchers displaying chickens with feet in the air and painted mototaxis parked in alleys. Nearing the town of Ollantaytambo, the Urubamba River rushes towards us, flowing over boulders and fighting with fallen trees. Returning to my seat for lunch, I find the table covered with bowls of food to share: slivers of pork belly with tucupi (a sauce made from fermented cassava root); Andean potatoes flecked with ají chilli; and a purée of choclo (a type of large-kernel corn that grows in the surrounding Sacred Valley). In the final half hour, the anticipation peaks as we pass under canopies, the Urubamba roaring below. Pads of prickly pear rise up the slopes, creepers swing down from branches and invisible birds call from in between the leaves. It's quiet in the observation car. The party people have moved into the bar, slumped in their seats after lunch, leaving it empty for me and one other passenger who closes her eyes to the breeze. No sooner have we breathed in the surroundings than I spot three porters walking across the tracks behind us, bags on their backs. We're approaching our destination, pink cantuta flowers brushing past the railings. With a wail of brakes, we draw into the station, coming to a halt with a hiss. From £477, one way. National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click Published in the March 2025 issue of(UK).To subscribe to(UK) magazine click here . (Available in select countries only). Save $5 on a Nat Geo Digital Subscription Your interests, backed by facts and science—now only $19 SAVE NOW
