As the summer sun beckons, a new season of refined escapes awaits.
Whether you’re drawn to coastal elegance, artistic enclaves, or desert serenity, these destinations promise immersive beauty, world-class hospitality, and moments of stillness in the world’s most exquisite settings.
From Italy’s iconic shoreline to Saudi Arabia’s ethereal rock formations, here’s your curated guide to this summer’s most elevated getaways.
Where time stands still among ancient sandstone canyons and Nabatean tombs, AlUla is a living gallery of natural wonder and cultural legacy in the heart of Saudi Arabia. Towering rock formations rise like sculptures from the earth, etched by centuries of wind and silence, while the golden light of dusk paints the desert in ever-shifting hues. Here, history is not just observed — it’s felt, in every carved façade, every whisper of sand. Visitors are drawn into a world of immersive art installations, celestial stargazing, and sacred landscapes that invite reflection. In AlUla, the grandeur of the past meets the vision of the future — a destination where stillness, beauty, and meaning converge.
With its sun-drenched villas, lemon-scented air, and cliffside towns overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Amalfi Coast remains a timeless summer favourite. Here, every detail whispers refinement — from tiled courtyards dappled in afternoon light to sweeping sea views that turn even the simplest moment into something cinematic. Whether sailing from one pastel port to another or dining on fresh linguine alle vongole, every moment here is bathed in beauty.
The Turkish Riviera’s jewel, Bodrum, is fast becoming a haven for elevated summer living. Nestled between ancient ruins and azure bays, it offers a unique blend of Aegean soul and Mediterranean sophistication. Cobbled streets lead to whitewashed homes trimmed in bougainvillaea, while the sea glistens beyond olive groves and sailboats. Days unfold in a rhythm of artisan markets, heritage sites, and lingering seaside meals, where fresh meze, cool breezes, and sunset horizons capture the essence of Ottoman elegance reimagined for the modern traveller.
For a summer defined by stillness, ritual, and heritage, Kyoto offers a uniquely elevated experience. Far from the electric rhythm of Tokyo, this former imperial capital moves to its own quiet cadence — one shaped by centuries of tradition and an enduring reverence for beauty in simplicity. Winding lanes lead to hidden shrines, where incense curls into the air, and moss-covered gardens offer moments of quiet reflection beneath rustling maple leaves. The city invites immersion in delicate rituals, from the precision of a tea ceremony to the brushstroke of a calligrapher or the quiet grace of a geisha slipping through the twilight. In Kyoto, luxury is never loud — it lives in the details, the textures, the silences — a testament to a culture that finds richness in restraint and beauty in the present moment.
A quieter jewel of the Cyclades, Paros offers understated elegance wrapped in timeless charm. Whitewashed villages like Naoussa and Lefkes blend artisan boutiques with quaint tavernas, while golden beaches such as Kolymbithres invite peaceful seaside days. Paros is framed by wild landscapes and Cycladic light, where golden fields unfold toward quiet coves, and whitewashed chapels dot hillsides above the sea. Its charm lies in the harmony between nature and tradition — a place where time slows and every view feels like a painting in motion. Paros is Greece at its most poetic — calm, cultured, and effortlessly graceful.
Located on Sardinia’s glittering Costa Smeralda, Porto Cervo is one of the Mediterranean’s most prestigious summer enclaves — a destination synonymous with quiet glamour and cultivated elegance. Conceived by the Aga Khan in the 1960s as a vision of coastal refinement, it has since drawn a global circle of tastemakers, royals, and discreet jet-setters. The town’s soft pastel architecture curves around private marinas, where superyachts gleam under the Sardinian sun and the turquoise sea laps at sculptural granite shores. Days are spent yachting through emerald coves, savouring the sea’s bounty at open-air tables, and exploring curated boutiques that favour craftsmanship over show. In Porto Cervo, time unfolds slowly, guided by light, water, and a lifestyle where exclusivity is woven into every detail.
A perennial symbol of Riviera glamour, Saint-Tropez blends old-world charm with a vibrant summer spirit. Mornings begin with a stroll through the marché, where fresh blooms and local delicacies beckon, followed by afternoons spent along sunlit promenades or shaded beneath striped parasols on golden sands. The town’s cobblestone alleys lead to curated boutiques and quiet galleries, while the harbour shimmers with sailboats and soft conversation. As the sun dips, the air shifts — golden hour calls for a cold drink and a lingering view, where timeless elegance meets seaside ease.
A hidden gem along the Arabian Sea, Salalah offers one of the region’s most surprising summer escapes. Each year, the khareef season cloaks the landscape in mist and rain, transforming arid desert into a lush, emerald-green oasis. Rolling hills become carpeted with vegetation, waterfalls rush through quiet valleys, and coconut groves sway beside rain-kissed shores. This atmospheric shift brings a rare serenity — a chance to experience the Arabian Peninsula through a cooler, softer lens. Salalah is where nature takes the spotlight, offering tranquillity, beauty, and a sense of wonder unlike anywhere else in the Gulf.
