Himalayas

Trekking in Bhutan in Style: The Amankora Resort

High in the hills of Bhutan, the Himalayan landscape is pristine and life is guided by simple Buddhist principles. When organizing a trek through this unspoiled swath of the world, look no farther than Amankora's network of lodges, a Luxist Awards' nominee in the Best Adventure Getaway category.

Amankora's name is derived from the Sanskrit word aman, meaning peace, and the Bhutanese Dzongha word kora, meaning circular pilgrimage. Appropriately, the tailor-made journeys-which vary from 7 to 12 nights-wend their way in a circle through each of Amankora's five lodges. A one-week trek starts in the bustling Bhutanese capital Thimpu, where you can visit attractions including the National Library and National Textile Museum. Head to Trashi Chhoe Dzong on your second day and view 16th Century buildings now home to an astrology school before hiking to Cheri Goemba monastery.

The next phase of your trip takes you on a drive through the treacherous alpine passes between Thimpu and Punakha. Continue along to the pine forests of Paro, where hikes take you across suspension bridges, lush forests and terraced farmland. On the last day, you'll hike to Taktshang Goemba, better known as "Tiger's Nest," a mountainside monastery perched nearly a kilometer above the valley floor.

Amankora's seven-night journeys start at $9,100 per person and include road permits, all meals, driver service and a 60-minute massage to be enjoyed at any of the five lodges. For folks who'd like a smaller dose of the trekking lifestyle, rooms at any of Amankora's lodges can be rented starting at $1,300 per night.

Vote for the Best Adventure Getaway that you think is the best of breed. The winner will be announced on September 1st.

Tags: Amankora, Amanresorts, Awards-Main, Bhutan, Himalayas, Luxist-Awards, Trekking

Playing Polo On Top of the World in Himalayan India

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Events, Sports

Polo isn't just for the cushy confines of Palm Beach and the Hamptons. In far-northern India they've been playing a more rough-and-tumble version of the sport, called "the ancestors' game", for hundreds of years. In September the annual Ladakh Festival Polo Cup will take place in the mountainous town of Leh, 11,500 feet above sea level. Against the majestic backdrop of the Himalayas, local civilian and Army teams "battle it out in a haphazard, no-rules display of sportsmanship," the Christian Science Monitor notes. Grueling games last for an hour, with one 10-minute break at halftime, and the condition of the players' horses often determines the outcome. The championship is sponsored by the State Tourism Office of the Indian government, and hundreds of villagers, city dwellers, and foreign tourists turn out to watch "at their own risk".

Tags: Asia, equestrian, Himalayas, horses, India, Polo, sports