Aman Highlights

Aman has announced a series of beguiling and enriching experiences for 2017, set to charm guests across the globe. With each experience comes insight and connection into the destination like no other – from saffron farming in Marrakech to pearl farming in the Philippines.

For those looking to achieve a sense of escapism and wellbeing that only Aman destinations can bring, crystal sonic healing and restorative yoga in the captivating canyons of Southern Utah, Zazen meditation in Japan, In Pursuit of Happiness in Bhutan, and the recently unveiled Spa Houses at Amanoi pave the way for the wellness offerings from Aman for the year.

Amankora, Bhutan

Combining the Sanskrit-derived word for ‘peace’ with kora or ‘circular pilgrimage’ in Dzongkha, Amankora comprises a series of five intimate lodges, each dotted amongst the soaring Himalayan peaks, glacial river valleys, and evergreen forests in the majestic Kingdom of Bhutan.

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The first lodge opened in 2004, making Amankora the first international hotel to be granted permission to operate in the Kingdom and has therefore over the years accumulated unrivalled experience and knowledge of the country, enabling it to curate and hone a journey of discovery for its guests like no other.

With every itinerary tailor-made to suit particular interests, whether they be spiritual, cultural, adventure or other, Amankora, using its expertise, offers a cultural safari which takes guests off the beaten track, giving them a profound understanding of this secluded mountain Kingdom and its remarkably preserved way of life.

New for Spring 2017, Amankora Punakha, housed in a traditional Bhutanese farmhouse deep in the Punakha Valley, will welcome an outdoor swimming pool. Heated for year-round use, the infinity-edged pool will appear to flow into the rice terraces that surround the eight-suite lodge, offering magnificent views of the snow-capped mountains to the north.

From 1^st March to 25^th May 2017, drawing inspiration from the country’s measure of prosperity and development through happiness, Amankora is launching the In Pursuit of Happiness programme to facilitate inner healing. This holistic experience will immerse guests in the true beauty and nature of Bhutan and take them on a journey of personal discovery.

Sessions will include a series of mindful consultations and spiritual healing treatments with visiting specialists at the hotel’s lodges in Thimphu and Paro. Oracle reading will restore the free flow of energy and encourage a deep sense of peace and rejuvenation; intuitive reading will help release negative attachments and create personal optimisation to achieve positive change; meditation; yoga and reconnective healing are all part of this very special and unique programme which will leave guests with a deep sense of calm, emotional positivity, and the ability to cultivate a happier stance on life.

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The programme can be tailor-made to fit within guests’ desired dates and duration.

Amanjiwo and Amankila, Indonesia

2017 will see Amanjiwo and Amankila celebrate their 20^th and 25^th anniversaries respectively. To mark their milestones, each resort has compiled a year-long calendar of cultural enrichment and show-stopping spectacles for guests.

At Amanjiwo a series of 20-themed events and activities include; a 20km cycling tour through Java’s breathtaking surroundings; a 20th-anniversary dinner held on the 20^th of each month in 2017 culminating with Borobudur itself being specially illuminated; 20-minute cooking classes of Javanese delicacies and a series of exhibitions to showcase the local thriving modern art scene.

At Amankila, celebrations entail 25-minute Kundalini yoga, sketching, painting, Kendang drumming, manuscript calligraphy lessons and other treats including 25-minute foot massages, temple blessings and nature trails with Amankila’s very talented staff, many of whom have been with the resort since its launch in 1992.

Further to this, hotel staff and local village performers will join forces to present a captivating stage show, The Story of Indrakila, which uses song, dance and the traditional art of shadow puppetry known as wayang kulit to retell one of the tales from the great Hindu epic Mahabharata and how Amankila got its name

Amanwella Sri Lanka

Amanwella, Aman’s tranquil hideaway resort surrounded by coconut palms and fringed by a golden sand beach, will close for two months on 1^st May and re-open in July following a two-month refurbishment which will see a number of light refreshments, both structural and aesthetic, made to the communal areas and all 30 suites, offering guests an enhanced and more comfortable stay.

The guest arrival experience will be improved with a reconfigured and expanded Arrival Pavilion, new fabrics and decorative elements inspired by local Sri Lankan culture will be implemented throughout the accommodation, and a new vegetable garden with fresh organic produce will be grown, be used in the vibrant Sri Lankan dishes served at the hotel’s restaurant and Beach Club.

Aman Tokyo, Japan

Black, the colour of sophistication, is a so the inspiration behind Aman Tokyo’s recently launched experience, the Black Bar which will complement the hotel’s ongoing Black Afternoon Tea.

Each evening, Head Barman Toshio Imai and his team serve 18 original and classic-with-a-twist black cocktails including the Aman Black Espresso Martini, the Black Monday and the Black Rum Mojito. Also available are premium black label whiskies, and six versions of black tea. Cocktails and champagne are accompanied by a selection of black-themed delicacies including black crab and black sesame seed grissini. An a la carte menu is a so available, with dishes such as a black tomato Caprese salad, braised veal shank with black polenta and dark chocolate mousse.

The Lounge at Aman Tokyo located on the 33 ^rd floor of the Otemachi building and with uninterrupted views of the vibrant glittering city below, provides an elegant setting for the Black Bar and is set in an intimate corner of the hotel’s magnificent reception, appearing to float above the capital; its floor-to-ceiling windows offer spellbinding views of the city’s lights.

Amanemu, Japan

Throughout 2017, guests of Amanemu, Aman’s hot spring resort located in Ise-Shima National Park on the shores of Ago Bay, will have exclusive access to the hydrangea swathed Daijiji temple in Shima where they will have the opportunity to learn Zazen’, an ancient form of meditation at the very heart of Zen practice.

Following the lesson, guests will participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony where they will be taught the ancient preparation and presentation methods of serving matcha tea, the powdered form of green tea. A private guided visit of Nakiri village ensues, and guests will have the opportunity to explore this rural picturesque fishing village, home to the Daiozaki lighthouse which, at 46-metres above sea level, affords completely unobstructed and calming views of the Pacific Ocean.

Aman Venice, Italy

Aman Venice recently welcomed Andrea Torre as Executive Chef. Andrea’s menu feature dishes using local ingredients, sourced through his relationships with the farming communities. Culinary delights from Andrea’s menu include Taglioni with Tartufo di Norcia, homemade pasta with black truffle sourced from Norcia, and Gnocchi di pane with Gamberi Rossi, a combination of traditional cooking methods and new, using Gamberi prawns also known as the ‘Prince of Prawns’ found in the depths of the Mediterranean sea.

A visit to the restaurants of Aman Venice is a must for any gastronome and both guests and non-residents of the hotel are warmly welcomed to experience the ever-changing seasonal menus of the Yellow and Red dining rooms, jointly overseen by Andrea and renowned Michelin-starred chef David Oldani, Aman Venice’s creative culinary consultant.

Amanpulo, Philippines

Amanpulo, a paradise retreat in Palawan on the island of Pamalican, introduces an insightful guest experience which will take them to the main Palawan archipelago to discover the history behind the Philippines’ national gem, the South Sea pearl.

Guests can now venture west to Taytay, to explore the birthplace of the South Sea Pearl. Treasured for their incredible lustre, these pearls are produced by the rare Pinctada Maxima oyster, which only thrives in the most pristine waters such as that of the Palawan Sulu Sea. Travelling to the Jewelmer pearl farm by seaplane or helicopter, guests will start their experience with a bird’s eye view of this extraordinary area.

Once at the farm which nurtures these gold-lipped oysters to produce pearls of the finest quality, guests wi gain an insight into the many different varieties of pearls, the best methods employed to determine their quality and explore the farm to view the different stages of pearl development from a hatchery to harvest. After observing just a glimpse of the intricate process involved in producing just a single South Sea pearl, guests wi meet the artisans who grade, match and strand pearls for some of the finest jewellery boutiques in the world.