Centurion Middle East Winter 2022

|Places| Beyond

|Places| Beyond Patagonia Explora’s portfolio also includes a number of lodges in fascinating sites across this corner of South America, from the desert plateau of Chile’s Atacama desert to the awe-inspiring Uyuni salt flats of Bolivia, from the mysterious Easter Island to Peru’s Sacred Valley. explora.com Above: a rustic-chic Explora Patagonia National Park suite; below: a huemul makes its way through Patagonia National Park elements across the entire park for the next 25 years, Explora entered the scene as steward in 2020. It was a natural fit for the now fully carbon-neutral B Corp with a longstanding commitment to the local environment. The menu of explorations on offer is as diverse as the landscape itself. Led by intrepid guides – all graduates of the Explora Guide School, a rigorous two- to threemonth boot camp – days are spent tracking pumas and guanacos on the steppe, spotting rare birds in dense lenga forests and alongside a glittering lagoon, or on a hike to Huemul Post, a basecamp for the protection of the endangered deer so emblematic of the region that it even appears on Chile’s coat of arms. But the Patagonia National Park outpost wasn’t Explora’s only mark on the region in the past years. Just one month after the former’s unveiling, it launched a new riverside lodge, El Chaltén, across the border in Argentinean Patagonia. Positioned at the heart of the 6,000ha Los Huemules Conservation Reserve, the remotely built chalet boasts 20 rooms and suites with jaw-dropping panoramas of Marconi Glacier and the Eléctrico river valley, giving guests a great overview of the adventures ahead – there are more than 30 excursions on offer here. It’s a finely tuned recipe for adventure Explora has been honing for nearly 30 years – since the debut of its first lodge in 1993, a 49-key chalet at the wild heart of Torres del Paine National Park, facing the placid shores of Lake Pehoé and the craggy snowcapped peaks of Paine Massif beyond. These days, many guests opt for the 12-day Explora Connect journey, which offers a rare, 360-degree view of Patagonia with stays in all three lodges (or an eight-day combination of any two). It’s a whirlwind snapshot of one of the world’s most beautiful, fierce and fragile corners – and one that may be your journey, like the Tompkinses’, of falling in love with the region. PHOTOS © EXPLORA 22 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM

RELAXED OCEANSIDE SECLUSION Stay in an idyllic tropical sanctuary on Koh Samui’s buzzing Chaweng Beach where luxury villas cluster around palm-fringed lagoon pools, reminiscent of the early Sino-Thai settlements. Refresh at the beachfront infinity pool, cruise out to sea, unwind in the spa and let the children run wild at the kids’ club or while exploring the resort on a treasure hunt. Let your dedicated Villa Host take care of your every need as you enjoy family time in your Two-Bedroom Lawana Seaview Villa or Four-Bedroom Private Pool Retreat complete with castle tent for the little ones. Ascend to the jungle canopy to enjoy the island’s only fine-dining restaurant using local and sustainably sourced ingredients — Tree Tops Signature Dining. Savour premium fresh seafood at the oceanside restaurant, Crab Shack. Achieve better wellness with signature Coconut Paradise experience, progressive healing therapies, martial art classes, reiki, Pilates, chakra balancing, and more. LIFE IS A JOURNEY. Visit anantara.com Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort 92/1 Moo 2, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84320, Thailand T +66 77 960 333 E lawanasamui@anantara.com