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THE 'SHAKTI VILLAGE WALK EXPERIENCE' WITH AMPERSAND TRAVEL

October 20thINDIA

The Shakti Walking Experience by Ampersand Travel is ideal for travellers seeking seclusion and a remedy to city minds frazzled by concrete and adrenaline. Situated in India’s far north and perched at over 3,500m (11,500ft), Ladakh is often referred to as ‘little Tibet’ and is home to one of the best preserved Tantric Buddhist societies in existence. Rugged snow-capped mountains and deep turquoise lakes dot this high-altitude desert making it one of the most otherworldly, picturesque places on earth. The Shakti Village Experience avoids the over now-crowded hub of Leh and takes adventurers off the beaten track to unspoiled, traditional villages in the Indus valley. Staying at Shakti, Ladakh, travelers can experience the ‘Head in the Clouds’ journey as the perfect antidote to the frenetic world that most of us live in, with highlights including silent walks led by mindfulness gurus and a 3km hike to mountain caves chaperoned by a monk, imparting a unique insight into the region’s spiritual life. Accompanied by local porters and guides, guests stay in traditional homestays – complete with private chef – that Shakti has spruced up to provide serious comfort without compromising on authenticity – pashmina blankets, fluffy duvets and cosy fireplaces are complemented by traditional artefacts and Indian artwork. For the more active guests, Shakti offers rafting, trekking and camping in remote but beautiful locations with the chance to spend the night in a tented camp set up exclusively to enjoy outstanding mountain views and some of the clearest night skies to be found in the world at altitudes of up to 6,000 – 14,000 ft. Throughout the journey, guests will dine on healthy meals from a menu of family recipes ranging from Parsi Apricot chicken and the delicious Burmese dish; Khowsuey, to Samosas made with the finest local produce and the freshest ingredients picked directly from the Houses’ own herb and vegetable gardens. These unique experiences bring Shakti guests closer to Ladakh’s people and their living cultures, whilst also allowing them time and space to recalibrate under spectacular mountain views and clear skies. T

HOW: Specialist India operator Ampersand Travel (+44 (0)20 7819 9770 // ampersandtravel.com) offers the 16-day Ladakh Village Walk Experience from £9,995 per person. This includes accommodation at the Trident Gurgaon, Delhi, Shakti, Ladakh and The Imperial Hotel, Delhi, international and domestic flights, private transfers and private guiding.

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SIBBJÄNS ARRIVES ON GOTLAND, SWEDEN

February 2nd

SIBBJÄNS ARRIVES ON GOTLAND, SWEDEN

SIBBJÄNS ARRIVES ON GOTLAND, SWEDEN

A REGENERATIVE FARM STAY SHAPED BY SEASONS, FRIENDSHIP AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

Sweden

Sibbjäns began quietly, the combined dream of Jonas Nordlander and Sanna Rönn, who with close friends and many meaningful couples Pontus and Kina Zeidler share a life between Stockholm and Gotland. Over the past four years, they have steadily transformed this former horse farm into a regenerative stay that feels singular to anywhere else in Scandinavia.

After a soft opening in 2025 for friends and family, the farm stay now enters 2026 as its first full season, opening more intentionally to a like-minded global community drawn to nature, food, and thoughtful design.

 

A PLACE TO REST

 

22 individually designed rooms sit across the Hotel and ‘The Bunkhouse,’ each named after important women in the family and among their friends. Adorned with classic Scandi touches of sheepskin throws, limewashed walls, soft palettes, and contemporary art, the spaces are designed for comfort.

Buildings are framed by wildflowers and constructed using traditional methods, much of the work completed by hand, with local craftsmanship central to the process. Architect Maja Berg has been a key contributor, working alongside Erik Larsson, a Master of Gotlandic Craft Heritage, who built some of the original buildings himself and continues to pass on traditional building knowledge to the next generation.

THE KITCHEN FOLLOWS THE FARM

At the heart of Sibbjäns is a working farm home to hens, Mangalitza pigs, horses, and sheep, with agriculture guiding both the kitchen and the guest experience.

In the gardens, lead gardener and local Karin Winarve brings a quiet hand to what thrives here across meadows, vegetable beds, and fruit-growing plots. Produce is grown on-site and harvested seasonally, forming the backbone of a true farm-to-table approach—one that pauses entirely during the winter months when the land rests.

 

EXPERIENCES & ‘VIKING WELLNESS’

New for the 2026 season, wellbeing at Sibbjäns is restorative rather than prescriptive. Inspired by Nordic traditions and the physicality of outdoor life, the evolving wellness offering includes:

  • A hand-built yoga barn

  • A wood-fired sauna

  • An outdoor gym

  • Recreational spaces

  • The beginnings of what will become one of the world’s most beautiful tennis courts.

The surrounding landscape invites guests to engage with nature on its own terms, from cycling or horse riding across open farmland to kitesurfing along Gotland’s windswept coastline (widely regarded as one of the finest spots in Europe for the sport). This is ‘Viking wellness’ in spirit—elemental, grounding, and quietly transformative.

 

SWEDEN’S ‘SUNSHINE ISLAND’

Gotland is Sweden’s sunniest destination, known for its distinctive light, limestone landscapes, and strong ‘right to roam’ ethos. Open from Easter through to Christmas and closed entirely during the dark winter months, Sibbjäns follows the natural calendar rather than resisting it.

Reaching it is part of the journey:

  • A short flight from Stockholm to the island’s capital of Visby, followed by a drive across the island.

  • A ferry crossing that reinforces the sense of arrival somewhere distinct and deliberately unhurried.

  • For those preferring a more direct approach, arrival by helicopter is also possible.

At its core, Sibbjäns remains a place for friends old and new built slowly, grounded in nature, and designed to endure.

BRENNERS PARK-HOTEL & SPA REOPENS AFTER LANDMARK RENOVATION

November 5th

BRENNERS PARK-HOTEL & SPA REOPENS AFTER LANDMARK RENOVATION

A New Chapter Begins as Europe’s Legendary Grand Hotel Returns

Alive with the Spirit of the Black Forest and the Cultural Pulse of Baden-Baden

Germany

Following a meticulous two-year transformation, Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, the original grande dame of the Oetker Hotels portfolio, proudly reopens its doors – ushering in a revitalised era of timeless hospitality and contemporary finesse.
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