"If
you're planning a truly unique destination
wedding, luxury travel specialists Urbane
Nomads can even arrange for you to exchange
your vows in the dramatic surrounds of the
Imperial Citadel, officiated by a descendant
of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last ruling
family of Vietnam."~
Jamie Nonis,
Inspire Magazine
What's your idea of
romance?
It could be a straightforward, luxurious getaway
to a luxury resort in Bali, Phuket or the Maldives. Or
private island luxe in Sri Lanka, the remote coasts
of Mozambique or a world-class beachside resort in Buzios or Zanzibar. Our suggestions for honeymoon
spots or destinations involve a careful selection of
lodges and pairings of luxury accommodation, routings and
activities to ensure as smooth a flow as possible
whilst allowing room for inspired options and
serendipitous encounters on the honeymoon.
Those looking for something different on their
honeymoon might find it
in a fertility ritual in Bhutan, or a courtship
ritual on horseback in Kyrgyzstan. Playing upon the
element of ritual in courtship, these activities add
an element of the adventurous or exotic- whether it
be through the spa treatments administered in
unlikely locales or the sacred folk rituals
you lay witness to or participate in- although the boundaries
between being a witness and participation, sometimes, are not quite so
clearly defined. The luxury here, is defined not by
luxurious commodes, but by the guides, the
on-the-ground connections and the access and
understanding of the area.
The spa treatments to supplement your honeymoon
might feature treatment
recipes handed down from courtly traditions
complemented by the most inspiring natural
settings. In one of the most ritual-based spa treatments, drawing upon both legend and
myths, indulge in an early morning mandi
bunga accompanied by a rousing kompang
procession. Draw upon the healing traditions
of the Straits Chinese in Malacca or channel your
inner courtly maiden in a Balinese spa. The twin elements
of spa treatments and honeymoons, or the function of
spa treatments as prep for newlyweds date back to
ancient times if the literature accompanying these
spa treatments are to be believed.
Or venture
to the middle east with its
much-romanticized history of hammams. Whilst
modern incarnations of the hammam has
appeared in places as diverse as the Faena
Hotel in Buenos Aires to the Mandarin
Oriental Spa in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the
authentic, much-less polished spas in Syria
are still a destination for those looking to
experience the hammam, not so much for its
treatments, but for the cultural, social and
historical place it has in the region's
social history.In Morocco, relax and detox
in the pristine surroundings of the Atlas
Mountains. A luxury honeymoon to these areas
facilitate the best available lodges, each evincing
a sound commitment to social responsibility and a
sense of context.
For a honeymoon along more ascetic lines, we offer ayurvedic retreats in Kerala to
destination spas with the most inspiring
settings in the Himalayas. Nowhere too, has a spa
treatment seemed so luxurious (or as welcomed), as after a grueling
few nights' trekking the Himalayan mountains in
Bhutan or a bone-jarring horseriding trek around
Mongolia ( not as bizarre a choice of activity for
honeymooning couples as we'd come to realize!)
. Back at your hotel or base camps respectively,
indulge in the luxury of traditional hot stone
baths overlooking pristine Himalayan forests or
treatments facilitating mare's milk in the privacy
of your Mongolian yurt.
Here too, we'd provided some suggestions for
destination weddings- a wedding in a 17th century
palace accessible through an hour-long trek (we
supply horses for the bride and groom) , with
blessing ceremonies and villagers from immediate
areas on attendance or a wedding in a Rajasthani
castle with a display game of elephant polo on the
lawn. There's also the comparatively simple
destination wedding on a private island resort off
Nha Trang, Vietnam, in a wedding chapel
overlooking the ocean and a glass walkway. Or a
magical, Maasai-inspired wedding overlooking the
crater rim in Northern Tanzania, quite the Harry
Potter-esque vision where luxury, ritual and
inspiration coincide.
Whatever your idea of romance is, we'd be happy to
work with you in putting together a luxury honeymoon
or plan a destination wedding that fits
your very own definition.
Main photo courtesy of Tanjong Jara Resort.
Others courtesy of Como Hotels, &beyond
An initiation itinerary for first timers to
Bhutan. Itinerary can be tweaked to suit
photographers, with trip being led by the
photographer behind the first coffee table book
on Bhutan.
Combining Marrakech with
the romance and luxury
of camping in the
Sahara- marrying
exoticism with isolation
whilst based in the most
seductive hotels in a
country known for its
high standards of
hospitality.
A rustic luxury safari-
combining nights in star
beds in Northern Kenya,
a retro-chic camp in the
Masai Mara and nights
under the stars on a
luxury dhow in Lamu.
