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Aman’s Upcoming Global Private Jet Expedition will Span Asia and Europe

“This extraordinary voyage will incorporate nine unique destinations,” Roland Fasel says of 2018's exclusive Aman Global Private Jet Expedition – a journey that stretches from Tokyo to Venice.

WRITTEN BY
Tyler Roney

PUBLISHED ON
August 21, 2017

LOCATION
Japan, China, Vietnam,
Thailand, Bhutan, India,
Greece, Montenegro,
Venice

The Aman brand turns 30 in 2018, and they’ll be celebrating by stepping up their private jet game – announcing the 22-day Aman Global Private Jet Expedition that extends from Tokyo to Venice.

“This extraordinary voyage will incorporate nine unique destinations and Aman properties,” says Roland Fasel, Chief Operating Officer at Aman. “Following the success of our previous private jet expeditions for their ability to combine seamless journeys with exclusive cultural experiences and impeccable stays at our resorts, we are honored to have partnered again with Remote Lands to present our most encompassing expedition to date.”

Born in Phuket, the Aman brand may have begun with Asian mystique, but its 30 years have put more than 30 destinations on the map across three continents. Next year, Aman’s usually Asia-specific private jet journey goes west.

Tokyo to Shanghai

ABOVE: Guests will meet at Aman Tokyo in the center of Japan’s capital to begin the journey. Vistas of skyscrapers, the Imperial Palace Gardens, Mount Fuji on clear days are visible from The Restaurant by Aman.

Beginning on April 15, 16 travelers will spend three nights at Aman Tokyo in Japan before boarding a luxury Airbus ACJ 319 to their next destination.

Found at Otemachi Tower, Aman Tokyo is where guests can enjoy sushi-making classes, lessons in samurai sword-fighting, and tea ceremonies. Guests along for the Aman trip will have private transport and guides at each of their destinations, according to Remote Lands. Travelers will receive expert guided tours of Tokyo’s most popular attractions, including the Tsukiji Fish Market and the Imperial Palace Gardens.

Piling on the kaiseki meals and nightly cocktail parties, after three days the trip embarks for its first change of country.

The as-yet unfinished Amanyangyun.The as-yet unfinished Amanyangyun.
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The Airbus for the trip was initially meant to carry 126 passengers but has been refitted to for just 16.

The Airbus for the trip was initially meant to carry 126 passengers but has been refitted for just 16, complete with living rooms, plush leather seats that fold flat, bedrooms, and bathrooms with showers.

The first destination for the Airbus is Shanghai, one of the Middle Kingdom’s most fascinating, most dynamic cities. However, it’s Amanyangyun that might be the main draw: unique villas in a relocated forest at one of Aman’s newest properties. Main attractions in Shanghai include the Yu Gardens, The Bund, M50 Art District, and some of the finest shopping, dining, and nightlife in all of China.

Vietnam to Thailand

ABOVE: Aman’s Vinh Hy Bay destination in Vietnam, Amanoi, is found in the isolated Niu Chua National Park.

The jet then flies guests from the bustling cities of East Asia to the vast wilderness of Nui Chua National Park’s pristine seas and pearly white sand. Vinh Hy Bay, home to Amanoi and just a few small fishing villages, is a standalone destination.

With two new Spa Houses, according to Aman, Amanoi is famed for its holistic spa treatments. For more active travelers, cycling through the villages is a popular choice, as are snorkeling the coral reefs and hiking up Goga Peak.

ABOVE: The Aman in Phuket, Amanpuri, was the brand’s first property 30 years ago.

Amanpuri, Aman’s first resort in Phuket, is where Aman began 30 years previous, a treat for Aman enthusiasts. Found on a private peninsula on Thailand’s largest island, Amanpuri is Aman through and through, from its Ayutthaya-inspired rooflines to its UNESCO-recognized Washoku restaurant.

The Global Private Jet Expedition experience comes complete with the service of bespoke tour operator Remote Lands, which will take guests on excursions throughout the Andaman Sea – including the Similan Islands, Koh Phi Phi, and the limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay.

Bhutan to India

ABOVE: A service worker at Punakha Lodge Courtyard at Amankora in Bhutan.

At this point, the trip changes gears as guests head to Bhutan. Swapping palm trees and beaches for snow-capped peaks and prayer flags, travelers set out for an entirely different Asia travel experience.

Guests will explore the valleys of Thimpu and Paro over the course of four nights, staying in two of Amankora’s five lodges spread across the western valleys.

Found in a blue pine forest in the upper reaches of the Motithang area, the 16-suite Amankora Thimphu is close enough to hit up the capital for sights and shopping, but still relatively isolated. Amankora Paro in the Paro Valley, however, is near some of Bhutan’s most treasured historical sites, including the fabled Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Kyichu Llakhang, and Paro Dzong. On the final day, travelers will receive a blessing from his Eminence Neyphug Trulku Rinpoche.

ABOVE: The Haveli Suite in Amanbagh in India, a scenic drive from the Pink City of Jaipur.

Travelers will head for the palatial haveli estate of Amanbagh in Rajasthan’s Aravalli Hills, a scenic drive from Jaipur.

Jaipur, the Pink City, can be explored by private car – which includes both driver and guide – and travelers will want to visit the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds), Amber Fort, and Johri Bazaar. The most popular activity on this leg of the expedition is the Cowdust Tour, an evening drive in which dust is kicked up by the goats and cows returning home for the night, turning dusk golden. Other activities will include cruising Mansarover Lake in a Kashmiri-built Shikara boat and exploring the eerie ruins of the deserted Bhangarh, City of Ghosts.

Greece and Montenegro

ABOVE: The Greece Pavilion at Amanzoe, found conveniently near Aegean beaches and sites of historical interest.

Guests once again climb on the Airbus ACJ 319 for the first trip into the Western world – indeed, the cradle Western civilization itself.

Helicopters await at Athens for a short but scenic flight to Amanzoe in the hills of the Peloponnese. Amanzoe features 360-degree views of the coast and the Aegean Sea from its hilltop, complete with its own private amphitheater surrounded by olive groves and a private beach. The peninsula is home to archaeological sites such as ancient Olympia and the UNESCO-protected Epidaurus. But, for those who have had their cultural fill in Bhutan and India, the area is equally popular for its beaches and blue water.

As to activities, guests can check out the car-free streets of the cosmopolitan Spetses Island in the Argo-Saronic Gulf or go for Athens to check out the Acropolis and the Parthenon.

ABOVE: The indoor pool at the Aman in Montenegro. Aman Sveti Stefan is found on the eponymous island, connected to the mainland by a small isthmus.

The Airbus departs from the Aegean to the Adriatic for Montenegro’s famous Sveti Stefan, with Aman Sveti Stefan found near many of the country’s premier attractions.

The Skadar Lake and the the historic towns of Budva and Perast are particularly popular, as is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kotor – one of the best-preserved medieval towns on the Adriatic. Travelers can stroll its winding, cobbled streets and explore the medieval maze of museums, churches, and cafe-strewn squares, before returning to Aman Sveti Stefan for farewell cocktails and dinner.

Venice and the Expedition’s End

ABOVE: Aman Venice blends perfectly into the historic buildings of the Venetian canals.

Delivered for the final time by Airbus, the last destination on the Aman Global Private Jet Expedition is the romantic city of Venice.

Aman Venice is home to museum-quality treasures including Tiepolo frescoes, Sansovino fireplaces, and gilded ceilings. The palazzo offers a rare privilege of space in the center of the Floating City, one of the finest piano nobiles, and two private gardens.

Navigating the city can be tricky, but the hotel’s knowledgeable guides are on hand to take guests to St Mark’s Basilica, Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, or Rialto Market. Bespoke cultural tours of the city’s art galleries can also be arranged. And, of course, the gondola rides are a must. The expedition’s final dinner will be held in one of the palazzo’s opulent dining rooms, overlooking the Grand Canal.

Those interested in this expedition are encouraged to contact Remote Lands.