The By Georgie Round Up
Spotlight on… Exclusive Access
THE BEST WAY TO FLY AROUND AUSTRALIA
The Tailor, Australia
There’s only one way to book the new luxury Pilatus PC24 private jet and that’s through The Tailor. What’s special about it? Well, its short runway capability, extensive range and ability to operate on grass, gravel, dirt and snow gives guests a whole new level of comfort and convenience around Australia.
By landing on remote air strips, closer to the final destination, passengers will save far more time on ground transfers and potential airport delays. Onboard, there’s mega mobility with a spacious, modern cabin that’ll seat eight guests and just about all the luggage you can carry. Outback Australia suddenly feels a whole lot more accessible.
THE MOST EXCLUSIVE DESERT FUNDO
Enigma, Peru
How about a private estate, deep in the Peruvian desert, with a whopping 200 hectares of space to play with? The owner is a friend of Enigma founder Silvia and the place is only available to her clients. The property has four bedrooms, with interiors that blend a Spanish colonial and indigenous palette to create something entirely sympathetic to its surroundings.
But it’s the patios, pool, garden and private orchard that really sell the place – and where guests will no doubt be spending most of their time, pisco sour in hand. Activities on the surrounding dunes range from paso horse riding to active sports. Your guests are going to love it.
FRONT ROW AT A FASHION SHOW
Galavanta, Colombia
The Galavanta team are thinking outside the box – as usual – by partnering with the team behind the inaugural Vístete de Colombia (which translates to “Wear Colombia”) fashion summit, taking place from 29th November to 2nd December in Cartagena de Indias.
Your fashion-loving clients will have unique access to this three-day event, with the chance to meet big-name fashion designers and industry leaders, while attending the most exclusive parties – including the closing-night gala, which promises a secret list of renowned artists and entertainers! Hang on, is that envy I’m feeling?
CARVE WITH A MAORI MASTER
Ahipara, New Zealand
Ahipara’s guests are given the opportunity to spend time with Maori master carver Delani Brown. A lovely guy, a skilled warrior and a former Mr Universe contender, he has been pushing the boundaries of Maori carving for over a decade.
Guests can watch how Delani crafts pou totem poles that tell the story of his ancestors’ migrations to and from Polynesia along with the representation of the divine feminine in Maori culture. Honestly, they’re incredible.
THE HIDDEN ISTANBUL TOUR
ITEM, Türkiye
The story of Istanbul’s great civilisations is perhaps best told underground. ITEM’s Hidden Istanbul Tour guides guests through cellars, cisterns, dungeons and mysterious tunnels. This fascinating tour is done in cahoots with the help of a historian and Istanbul expert who’s previously conducted archaeological surveys throughout the region on behalf of Istanbul University. Safe to say, he knows his stuff.
Particularly exciting is the Khalke Gate, part of the great palace of Constantinople, which was only discovered very recently. Special permission must be obtained to visit this and many of the other sites on the tour. ITEM’s little black book has the contacts for all of them.
BANYAN’S LITTLE BLACK BOOK
Banyan, India
Having been in business since 1996, it’s Banyan’s relationships with a wide range of people and access to little-known places that set them apart.
A visit to a leading contemporary artist’s studio or a cooking lesson in the home kitchen of a cookery writer (who never usually invites guests into her home); access to a private haveli townhouse in Delhi’s old city, usually not open to the public, providing the setting for an exclusive Kathak performance; rarely seen textile collections; countless forts and palaces with before-and-after-hour private access. It’s all part of the Banyan difference.