Press Archive

To fully appreciate the Aman Kyoto, which opened on November 1, it is worth considering what’s around it and what it has become. Formerly the home of the country’s emperors (hence its name: “Kyo” meaning capital and “to” meaning city), the once sacred city, with its moated castles and gold filled temples, orange-painted shrines and lander-lit streets, is one of Japan’s most popular destinations. …Read More

Svatma, Thanjavur, India: Few places are as spiritually nurturing as this oasis of birdsong, rippling water and shaded verandahs in Thanjavur, the capital of Tamil Nadu. Svatma’s eight-day Siddha programme is a powerful detox with plentiful offerings of spiritual practices such as hatha yoga, chanting with a Vedanta priest, Nadi astrology and access to the Navagraha astrological temples (international power players fly in to reap the ‘life-changing effects’ of a visit to all nine of the Hindu temples). …Read More

People often say that it was the Beatles who put Rishikesh on the map when they visited in 1968. This is not quite true. Even at its height, Beatlemania had nothing on Hinduism. Rishikesh’s location near the source of the Ganges has made it a pilgrimage destination for millennia. Countless billions of worshippers have travelled from all over India to its startingly white sandy shores to sprinkle themselves with holy water and perform Ganga aarti, a beautiful ritual involving prayers sung to a harmonium accompaniment and the launching of a flotilla of tea light candles on the river. …Read More

James Jayasundera - Raised in Rome by a Sri Lankan father and British mother, from an early age Jayasundera was the family travel planner – noting what his grandparents enjoyed and organizing logistics for a family of 12. Which is why, whether you’re looking for 10 parties over 10 days in 10 different palaces in India, with guests flown by private planes from around the world, or a tour of the Himalayas by helicopter to multiple summits in just seven days, he knows exactly how to make it happen. ...Read More

Nihi Sumba, Indonesia

If it’s peace and quiet you’re seeking, you’ll find it in Sumba, a remote Indonesian island twice the size of Bali but relatively undiscovered by tourists. Blessed with long sandy beaches and waves coveted by surfers across the globe, Nihi Sumba is barefoot luxury at its best. The intriguing ‘Spa Safari’ will take you on an early morning trek through jungle, village and rice paddies, ending atop a cliff where you’ll be greeted by a team of spa therapists bearing cool towels and fresh coconut water. After a delicious healthy breakfast overlooking the ocean, you’ll be ushered into your treatment room for some all-important me-time, with the sounds of the sea and nature to lull you into a deep sense of relaxation. ...Read More

Like many before him, James Jayasundera, the founder of Ampersand Travel, fell hard for South Africa’s Cape Winelands the first time he visited years ago; unlike most, he invested in 50 hectares of hillside at the mouth of the Franschhoek valley, and set about creating a dream home. This, fortunately for travellers, has since morphed into 7 Koppies, a two-suite, three-room guesthouse kitted out in vibrant Cape-contemporary style – think ebullient textiles, handmade rugs and tiles, gaily painted Malawi chairs and lashings of sisal. The open plan kitchen and living areas are perfect for mingling with other guests (not forgetting the 40-plus excellent restaurants within a 10-minute drive) – or for celebrating if you’re a group buying out the property in exclusivity, which is really the way to go. …Read More

Fancy exploring the farthest reaches of the Indian Subcontinent? Or the tropical paradises of South East Asia’s uncharted regions? James Jayasundera is your man. A seasoned traveller with an appetite for adventure and a penchant for luxury, Jayasundera has been travelling in style since birth. Spurred on by a desire to share his passion with the world, he founded Ampersand Travel in 2003. It’s a tailor-made travel agency specialising in luxe trips with a dose of adventure, and the no. 1 destination for those looking for travel experiences with a difference. Speaking your language? We got chatting to this stylish man of the world to find out more. …Read More

When Madonna sang ‘Holiday’, she wanted ‘just one day out of life’. Today, she’d be more demanding. A three-week cruise in the Antarctic, or a multigenerational break on a private land. Forget buckets and spades on Camber Sands: it would be heli-skiing on glaciers or jet-hopping over four continents. But it’s not just rock stars who are willing to spend north of £100,000 on a week’s holiday; it’s businessmen, tech entrepreneurs, bankers – anyone for whom time is a prized commodity. Which, these days, is everyone. …Read More

Elizabeth Taylor, who had form when it came to acquiring things, losing them, then reacquiring them – just ask Richard Burton – once lost a La Peregrina, an antique pearl of extreme beauty and historical significance, in the white shag-pile carpet of a Las Vegas hotel room. The joint was turned upside down but to no avail. Eventually the search was called off, the priceless knick-knack abandoned – only to be retrieved at the last minute from between the teeth of the actress’s trusty lapdog. …Read More