Aman Jet Expedition: A Mindful and Cultural Journey
Images courtesy of Aman
We can't think of a better way to travel than by private plane, from Aman property to Aman property! As such, we are thrilled to announce the fall 2024 expedition: A Mindful & Cultural Journey: Nepal to Sri Lanka (October 14 - 28, 2024) 14 nights. Journey through iconic locations of Asia aboard an ACJ 319 (or similar) jet on these signature Aman Jet Expeditions, staying at Aman properties in different countries in a new, shorter format.
A MINDFUL AND CULTURAL JOURNEY
Aman Jet Expedition, October 14 - 28, 2024
NEPAL • BHUTAN • INDIA • SRI LANKA
Up to 18 guests can join this exclusive expedition across Asia, traveling west to Bhutan and India, then south to Sri Lanka by private jet, and staying exclusively in Aman properties. Breathe in the pristine air of the Himalayas' sole-remaining Buddhist Kingdom as you explore Bhutan's forested valleys, revered temples, and lofty mountain peaks; discover the exotic colors, famed cuisine, and tiger-inhabited wilds of Rajasthan; and stop time on Sri Lanka's south coast through the colonial grace of Galle Fort and Tangalle's balmy beaches.
Some of the highlights include:
Morning helicopter to Mt. Everest with champagne breakfast
Private blessing with Rimpoche in Paro Taktsang, a sacred Vajrayana Himalayan Buddhist site
Half-day hike to Tiger's Nest, Bhutan
Half-day touring the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
Fire Meditation in Alwar, India
Exotic Morning Game Drive in The Ranthambhore National Park
Full-day guided exploration of Galle Fort and other local forts on foot with a private butler in Galle, Sri Lanka
KATHMANDU, NEPAL
On October 14th, you will arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal, and check in to the beautiful Dwarika's Hotel. Standing at the "Roof of the World," Nepal is probably best known for being home to eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the incomparable Mount Everest, the loftiest of them all. This small Himalayan country, surrounded by China, India, and Bhutan, is stunningly beautiful, with some of the planet's most picturesque mountain scenery. Over 80 percent of Nepal's people practice the Hindu religion, making it, along with Bali, the only Hindu nation in the world outside of India (Buddhism also maintains a strong influence, however). Nepal's monarchy was dissolved in May of 2008 and replaced with a federalized, multi-party republic. Once the country's rebels, the Maoists now lead Nepal.
Sprawling among the foothills at the base of four major mountains (Shivapuri, Phulchoki, Nagarjun, and Chandragiri) and annexed by eight rivers, Kathmandu is not only the capital of Nepal, but also its largest, densest, most populated urban center, a city that constitutes the very heart of Nepal. The dominant culture in Kathmandu is Newari, known for its masked folk dances and colorful festivals. An intersection of diverse languages and religious beliefs, in Kathmandu, the ancient serenity of Buddhist and Hindu temples pervades, despite the encroaching conveniences of modernity.
Born out of Mr. Dwarika Das Shrestha's quest to preserve the Kathmandu Valley's heritage, Dwarika's Hotel is a sanctuary for the architectural grandeur of the Newari civilization. The intricately carved wooden treasures, with each artifact being an original, are the soul of the Dwarika's. Titled as an oasis in the middle of a bustling city, the peaceful courtyards display the grand architectural wooden masterpieces while being overlooked by the meticulously decorated spacious rooms, offering a sumptuous lifestyle deep-rooted in Nepalese culture. Close to several of the city's UNESCO World Heritage sites, Dwarika's is the recipient of a PATA Heritage Award for outstanding historical preservation.
THIMPHU, BHUTAN
Set in a steep valley at an altitude of 2,350 meters (7,709 feet), Thimphu is surrounded by richly forested mountains dotted with ancient monasteries and temples. The town, Bhutan's capital since 1961, is built up from the Thimphu Chhu (river) and is centered around the Clock Tower and its surrounding lanes of shops and vegetable and meat markets. Although Thimphu is home to some 104,000 people and is an architectural hybrid of past and present, with monasteries, palaces, and dzongs side by side with more modern additions, the town is still entirely free of traffic lights. Elsewhere in the valley, you can visit Pangri Zampa, two sixteenth-century buildings that now house a monastic astrologer training school, and, at the head of the valley, walk across one of the country's oldest cantilever bridges, which leads to Cheri Goemba, where the Kingdom's first monk community was based.
Its name combining the Sanskrit word for 'peace' with kora or 'circular pilgrimage' in Dzongkha, the Bhutanese language, Amankora is a series of lodges across the central and western valleys of Bhutan. The sole surviving Himalayan Buddhist kingdom, Bhutan, is located between the Tibetan Plateau and India, making it one of the most remote and pristine environments on earth. Descending from 7,000-metre-high peaks in the north to the low-lying plains of the south, Bhutan's rivers have forged deep valleys separated by high mountain passes. Historically isolated, each valley's scenic beauty and topography affords visitors an opportunity for unique journeys of discovery.
Situated in a blue pine forest in the upper reaches of the Motithang area of the Thimphu Valley, the 16-Suite Amankora Thimphu is close to the capital's sights and shopping while remaining a quiet retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the Kingdom's main commercial center. The resort's dzong-inspired architecture incorporates whitewashed stone buildings accessed through an enclosed arrival courtyard. Stairs lead from this entryway to a combined living and dining room with soaring ceilings and wood-paneled walls. An outdoor dining deck provides views of the nearby stream and surrounding forest. The Spa features three treatment rooms (two single and one double), a steam room, and changing areas.
PARO, BHUTAN
Nestled among the brush-covered hills of the Paro Valley, the village of Paro is home to some of Bhutan's most treasured historical sites. The surrounding valley's mixture of rolling hills and steep, mountainous inclines makes Paro an ideal location for both novice and expert hikers on their way to marvel at the Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) or simply ascending to appreciate the beauty of the sun sinking beneath the lip of the timberline.
Situated in Balakha village, the 24-Suite Amankora Paro contrasts rustic elements with contemporary design. Its architecture features natural rammed-earth walls, gently sloping roofs, and wood-paneled interiors. Centered around a large flagstone courtyard, a lime-washed stone pavilion houses the living and dining room facilities, library, and outdoor terrace, all warmed by fireplaces.
OPTION 1 FOR INDIA: AMANBAGH
Spend your three nights in India at Amanbagh in Alwar, Rajasthan. Alternatively, stay at nearby Aman-i-Khás in Ranthambore.
Amanbagh is a verdant oasis of mature palm, fruit, and eucalyptus trees lying within a walled compound once the staging area for royal hunts. Evoking the palatial elegance of the Moghul era, Amanbagh provides a tranquil base from which to explore the rich heritage of Rajasthan, India's dramatic frontier region. The topography of the surrounding Alwar region consists of sandy plains interspersed with craggy hills, a stark contrast to the verdant setting, which gives Amanbagh its name from aman, meaning 'peace' in Sanskrit, and bagh, meaning 'garden' in Hindi.
ALWAR, INDIA
Under the British Raj, Alwar was the capital of a 'princely state,' a semi-autonomous kingdom typically ruled by a Maharaja. In contrast to much of the rest of Rajasthan's desert and arid hills, Alwar is set in a picturesque valley and enclosed by the verdant Aravalli Hills. The city is home to a wealth of historical and natural attractions and serves as a center of agricultural production.
OPTION 2 FOR INDIA: AMAN-I-KHÁS
Alternatively, spend your three nights in India at Aman-i-Khás in Ranthambore if you wish (supplemental prices will apply). The expedition group will be staying at nearby Amanbagh in Alwar.
Open from October to May each year, the best season for wildlife spotting, Aman-i-Khás is a wilderness camp located in a brushwood forest on the fringes of Ranthambore National Park. Its name combining the Sanskrit word for 'peace,' aman, with the Hindi word for 'special,' khás; aman-i-khás offers accommodation in ten air-conditioned tents with soaring canopies draped in the Moghul style. There are also three separate tents for dining, spa treatments, and relaxing. Twice daily, guided wildlife viewing excursions take guests into the park to spot indigenous game, including tigers, leopards, hyenas, sloth bears, crocodiles, and chital deer.
RANTHAMBORE, INDIA
Set beside the starkly handsome Aravalli Hills, Ranthambore National Park is one of the world's premier tiger sanctuaries. Measuring 1,334 square kilometers, the park is home to an array of wildlife and takes its name from nearby Ranthambore Fort, one of the oldest forts in the subcontinent, with a history stretching back more than a millennium. More recently, the region was a hunting ground for the maharajas of Jaipur and was designated a nature preserve in 1955, one of the first in India.
GALLE, SRI LANKA
A charismatic UNESCO World Heritage site that combines native Sri Lankan traditions with Portuguese, Dutch, and British heritage, the cosmopolitan port city of Galle has been a center of trade for more than a millennium. Nowadays, eclectic architectural styles sit side by side, and the energetic city radiates out from seventeenth-century Galle Fort on the coast.
In the historic port of Galle, Amangalla sits within the ramparts of Galle Fort. Named after the Sanskrit word for 'peace' and Galla, the Sinhalese name for the town of Galle, the resort reveals the Fort's daily activities and rich legacy, its narrow streets lined with buildings from the Dutch and British colonial eras. Offering views of the resort's 200-year-old gardens and of the Fort and harbor beyond, Amangalla provides for the leisurely exploration of the port and the surrounding countryside.
Gentle strolls directly from the hotel unravel the unique history of this magnificent 36-hectare hexagonal stone fort, revealing colonial buildings still in use today, bustling narrow streets proffering the crafts of many generations, and the ramparts and seawall, where locals and visitors alike gather to fly kites, play cricket or simply inhale the wonders of the town's maritime legacy.
TANGALLE, SRI LANKA
Tangalle is one of the largest towns in southwestern Sri Lanka, a haven of sandy beaches, mild temperatures, and lush forests. The name of the town in Sinhalese means 'projected rock', referencing the rocks which form the coastline in the town area, and it remains a vital fishing port for the region.
Amanwella is situated just west of Tangalle in a mature coconut grove fronting a crescent-shaped beach. The resort's name derives from combining the words aman, or 'peace' in Sanskrit, and wella, the Sinhalese word for 'beach.' The modernist design, informed by Sri Lanka's most notable architect, Geoffrey Bawa, makes use of local materials, and Suites are linked by pathways, spread out along the hillside to the west of the public areas, providing views of the ocean and beach flanked by two rocky headlands.
Aman is currently offering an "early bird" discount of $10,000 per person, and $20,000 per couple (to be taken off the final total) for payments received by August 31st, 2023, while space is available on their 2024 Mindful & Cultural Journey. The current pricing is USD $108,888 per person for a total of $217,776 per couple - your new total after the early bird discount would be $197,776 total per couple (double occupancy).
Guests of Huffman Travel enjoy extra VIP amenities when staying at Aman properties, including:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily Continental breakfast for two guests per bedroom, served in restaurant
$100 USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi