From heavenly peace in Italy to the harshest continent on earth

According to Harco van Uden, CEO of ExperienceTravel, besides protecting nature, culture and positively contributing to local employment and poverty alleviation, travel has another important pillar: travel connects. From heavenly peace in Umbria to a spot on the most rugged continent on earth; Harco highlights some bucket list-worthy destinations especially for MASTERS.

maandag 2 oktober 2023
11:31
By: Fleur De Jong

"Besides protecting nature, culture and the positive contribution to local employment and poverty alleviation, travel has another important pillar: travel connects. When I was young(er), I often read books by entrepreneurs who shared their success stories. I was a big fan of Richard Branson: his active lifestyle, positive way of thinking and energy to never shy away from a challenge appealed to me greatly. How cool would it be to meet him once to experience one-on-one what I read in his books. Now, twenty-five years later, our paths are finally going to cross. As an organizer of exclusive trips with an eye for climate, we have put together a special trip for entrepreneurs, where we will visit his private island and he will be present in person to share his vision of today's world with us. Live in his own environment! What makes this trip even more fun is that we will spend eight days on the road with a group of top entrepreneurs. Travel connects and traveling in good company makes the trip even more fun because the connection makes the trip unforgettable. You can still join us!"

-Harco van Uden, CEO ExperienceTravel

Embraced by nature

Here you don't sleep inside, but rather outside. Because: no walls, no doors. Feel embraced by nature. Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape is nestled in the highlands of Bali, amid the Buahan Valley, with uninterrupted panoramic views of jungle and rice fields. The air you breathe actually smells like jungle, too. The resort has just sixteen villas and a central pavilion from which an infinity pool seems to empty into the valley. From here you dive into nature and get a taste of Bali's local culture. Literally: the cuisine uses only ingredients from the immediate area. Bali at its purest, but with all the comforts you could wish for.

Escape.banyantree.com

Heavenly peace

Hidden in the green heart of Italy, Umbria, is this intimate hotel. Formerly a monastery, it is now a gathering place for locals who come there to sip cocktails or join the table for Sunday lunch. The atmosphere is relaxed, with a vegetable garden, plenty of greenery and a manicured lawn. The lounge feels more like a living room than a hotel bar. And in the yard restaurant, you can enjoy authentic Italian dishes with an oriental touch. Vocabolo Muscatelli has just 12 rooms, with contemporary art and design among the old stone monastery walls. For example, the beds, minimalist with bold colors, are a creation of fourteenth-generation ironworker Emanuele Lispi. Here you are back in time, but with all the comforts of today.

Vocabolomoscatelli.com

The roughest continent on earth

Antarctica has captured the imagination for years: a white world, a rugged world, an almost mythical world. Beyond all limits, beyond imagination, at the beginning of a new indelible memory, with Avila Travel as creator. This tour operator will take you aboard Le Boréal to Antarctica. This luxury ice-strengthened expedition ship from French shipping company Ponant features elegant design and innovative state-of-the-art maritime technology. Le Boréal embodies the subtle alliance between comfort, intimacy and well-being. With only 132 staterooms and suites, you are guaranteed an exclusive experience with personalized service. The ship features a gourmet restaurant, large terraces, a heated outdoor pool, a modern theater and a spa with steam room and gym. But when it enters one of the many bays of the Antarctic Peninsula, you will find yourself mostly on the deck. Open-mouthed among the more than 1,000-meter-high cliff walls, almost entirely overgrown by ice glaciers that range from snow-white to deep blue. Then to explore the surroundings in a kayak, sliding through the cracking ice, spotting leopard seals and bulrush whales. Of course, you'll set foot on the 7th continent yourself, sharing the snow cap with thousands of penguins. Memories to share that evening with a fine red wine or eclectic cocktail in the stylish grand salon.