Beyond the Guidebook: Discover Ungoogleable Trips

Oman

Alila Jabal Akhdar by helicopter

Perched high on the dramatic cliffs of the Al Hajar Mountains, Alila Jabal Akhdar is breathtaking from every angle – but nothing compares to witnessing its raw beauty from the sky. Arrive in unforgettable style with a private helicopter, flying over the mountains, 2000 metres above sea level, viewing the stunning expanse of sunburnt deserts and striking wadis. Below, canyons carve deep through the rock, ancient villages cling to cliffs and Damask roses, which flower in March, colour the terraced slopes a delightful, yet surprising shade of pink.

Your destination, Alila Jabal Akhdar, is a beautiful eco-friendly luxury retreat, ideal for seclusion, and effortlessly sophisticated. The air here in the Omani mountains is uncharacteristically cool, similar to the Mediterranean climate, ideal for slow, purposeful exploration. Take advantage of the beautiful pool, hike in the mountains or explore the souks of Nizwa, and end your day with private dinners under a seemingly infinite blanket of stars.

USA

Behind the Magic: A Creative Disney Family Experience

Unleash your inner child with a one‑of‑a‑kind Disney experience: working side‑by‑side with Disney’s creative masterminds to design your own character, then see it come alive in a bespoke short film. Your day continues with a VIP park tour, a private screening of your film, and a celebration that captures the true spirit of Disney magic.

When it’s time to unwind, retreat to the Four Seasons Resort Orlando, where tranquility and just the right touch of enchantment make the perfect contrast to an extraordinary day of creativity. Of course, evenings at Walt Disney World Resort end with the wonderful finale of fireworks, famous all over the world over. But you can safely skip the park to eat dinner at their Michelin-starred rooftop steakhouse Capa, which has an unrestricted view of that fabulous nightly spectacle directly from the terrace.

Italy

Florence in Fifth Gear with Ferrari

Winding roads and rollercoaster undulations flanked by cypress trees and olive groves give way to centuries-old towers and pallazi. Vineyards seem to stitch hill to valley as the sunset paints rose and amber over all that iconic Florentine terracotta. Florence is one of our favourite spots for luxury travel in Italy, and it never fails to stir the senses, but at Collegio alla Querce, a former seminary reimagined by Auberge Resorts, the experience of Florence takes on a new cadence, where Renaissance elegance meets the distinctive thrill of a Ferrari engine. From your hilltop base above Firenze, choose your preferred model and drive (with an expert tutor) along winding roads, weaving through hills draped in sun-drenched Chianti and through villages lost in time, accompanied by the unmistakable roar of Italian engineering at your fingertips.

Return to Collegio alla Querce’s hilltop tranquillity for aperitivi in the cloisters and evenings under frescoed ceilings. Enjoy the atmosphere in the romantic rooftop pool or indulge in a private dinner in your view-laden suite, with Florence’s skyline, wrapped in a dreamlike haze, visible from every window.

Everywhere (Almost)

A World Cruise Across Three Oceans with Silversea

For all the beautiful words we could write to describe a cruise around the world, this is, perhaps, one of the few times when the cold facts will tell us everything we need to know: 149 days, 80 ports, 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 35 countries and 3 vast oceans. You’ll sail in opulence aboard the Silver Dawn with stylish suites complemented by thoroughly modern design and technology. You’ll have a choice of dining options, including Silversea’s excellent S.A.L.T kitchen, whose meticulously crafted menu changes with each new destination (and there’s a S.A.L.T bar and cooking classes too, for punctuating those languid days at sea).

But this world-spanning luxury cruise is, for want of a better word and in the most traditional sense, an epic. You’ll sail from the Americas, with stops in Hawaii, and enchanting Fiji, and cross the Pacific Ocean to Australia and the Great Barrier Reef. You’ll disembark in Southeast Asia to bathe in natural and spiritual beauty amongst the peak ringed beaches of Indonesia’s Padar Island, before whirlwind nights in dynamic Singapore. You’ll spend purposeful days watching Giant Turtles in the Seychelles and sail the Indian Ocean to Gambia and South Africa. You’ll witness the gasp-inducing cinema that is the pretty in pink Flamingos in Namibia’s Walvis Bay. Eventually, the ship journeys north to hear the stories of Casablanca before crossing the Atlantic Ocean with a route to the iconic Norwegian Fjords via historic Spanish cities and windswept Scottish villages. This is more than a cruise – it’s an epic journey.

Find out more about our exclusive access to luxury cruises with partners like Uniworld, AmaWaterways and Explora.

Bhutan

Buddhist Blessings in the Clouds

In the Kingdom of Bhutan, forested Himalayan mountains undulate in and out of the cloud line, punctuated by monasteries and sacred sites, hidden from most. One of those sites is Tango Monastery, the seat of the revered Buddhist Master Gyelse Tenzin Rabgay. To reach this incredibly spiritual place, you’ll hike north of Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu, over rugged paths and through lush woodlands with ancient trees thick with moss. When you reach the monastery, you’ll be offered a Longevity Blessing, dedicated to Amitayus (Amitabha), the Buddha of Longevity, in a ceremony that can only be performed by a high-level monk. The ceremony is deeply spiritual, personal and absorbing, as the Buddhist master recites prayers and makes symbolic offerings in the evocative setting of the monastery.

You’ll stay at the sublime Six Senses Thimphu, a refuge in the Bhutanese clouds, animated by prayer flags rippling in the mountain breeze. An impeccable sanctuary with unending Himalayan views, where service is offered by staff adorned in traditional dress, who are never anything less than exacting and attentive.

Learn more about 360’s off-the-beaten-path holidays.

United Kingdom

The Table Lumière at The Dorchester, London

Some private dining experiences are romantic: tables fringed by sea and sand, overlooking vibrant bays lit by candlelight. Others are tantalisingly experiential: blind tastings in vaulted cellars in French vineyards, and private chefs’ tables with the chef recounting stories as they craft ingredients into magical flavours.

This one, though, is pure, unadulterated spectacle. You will sit inside one of London’s most exclusive dining rooms: Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, on a table encircled by pure light. The light emanates from a curtain of 4,500 shimmering bulbs, forming a draped halo that cascades around the table and its diners. From outside, it appears as a shimmering veil of glitter cut from diamonds, and it offers, despite being seated in the main dining room, an incredible layer of privacy that draws the eye with its dramatic theatre. At the table, you’ll sit beneath a ring of lights and you’ll be offered an exquisite selection of tableware: vintage Hermès china, Puiforcat silverware and Saint-Louis crystal.

The experience includes a seven-course menu, and a wine pairing chosen for the table by the sommelier. The best way to indulge is with a suite at The Dorchester, available along with a choice of other Luxury London hotels in the 360 Hotel Collection.