Quiet Luxury

September 2026

Look around and you will see there is a quiet shift in travel. Privacy over accessibility, understated refinement instead of loud ostentation, ritual over rush.

It is what the discerning traveller is veering towards, and in our Cover Story section we have showcased luxury escapes that firmly put the power in pause.

In Botswana’s Okavango Delta, you can glide through the water on a mokoro (a dugout canoe) and get up close and personal with creatures of all kinds. It is the kind of ride you will never forget. Or do a road trip from Birmingham and discover exceptional food in unexpected places like a converted 18th-century warehouse on the water or eat at a restaurant in a field—some of them have Michelin stars too. Perhaps you would prefer to cycle on trails flanked by summer blooms in the Savoy region of the French Alps, which becomes a hyperlocal wine producing region once the snow melts. Or take a step back in time in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, set against the backdrop of Mount
Vesuvius. These trips feed into what luxury is really about—exclusivity and the ability to take in a place at your own pace.

Elsewhere, we take you to Haputale in Sri Lanka, where you can live on a historic tea estate, taking leisurely walks amid verdant tea bushes. We also show you Udaipur through the eyes of resident Olympian Maheshwari Chauhan.
The festival calendar is kick-starting, and to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, we share a day’s itinerary in Pune. In our well-received 8 Dishes to Try, we take you to Seoul to savour their iconic fare. In Body, discover some underrated natural spaces in and around Vancouver so you get your steps in and explore the city.

Travel is ultimately an expression of who you are and we encourage you to build your holidays unrestricted by bucket lists and fixed itineraries. Happy exploring and happy reading!