If you’re reading this, chances are, you’re dreaming of your moment in the sun. Perhaps a place with swaying palm trees and icing-sugar white sand, ancient temples where traditional rituals are still held today, or fast-talking vendors eager to make a sale. You want to discover something new, something different – and Southeast Asia, with its diversity of people, food, languages and cultures, ticks all the boxes.
Authenticity is the word on everybody’s lips when they travel to Southeast Asia. Travellers from outside the region desire a connection to the many destinations that comprise this part of the world – through food, arts and the natural world. At the same time, the demands of modern life mean that the creature comforts of a five-star resort are also high priority. Is it possible to have both?
Staying at a hotel rooted “in place” helps, as do knowledgable staff. Hilton’s Southeast Asia properties, with their commitment to supporting local communities, offer a range of carefully curated experiences that fit the bill – and you can enjoy them all at or close to your hotel. Here’s a taster …
Bali
Visit the saltmakers of Amed – with Conrad Bali
The shadow of Mount Agung, Bali’s highest peak, looms over the coastal village of Amed on the island’s east coast. Centuries of ash deposits from the still-active volcano have formed the shoreline’s black-sand beaches. Here, workers collect seawater in buckets attached to poles slung over their shoulders, as they have done for generations. They are the saltmakers of Amed, and their hand-harvested sea salt is prized in Indonesia and beyond. Conrad Bali’s Scenography Cooking Class takes you to learn the secrets of these artisans, before returning to the beachfront resort in Nusa Dua for a hands-on cooking class where a Balinese chef will show you how to make authentic local dishes using Amed sea salt.
Celebrate your birthday the Balinese way at Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts
You may think that birthdays are about presents and parties, but Bali has a version that involves prayers and offerings, and celebrates a person’s spiritual journey through life. Based on the Balinese calendar, the ritual known as otonan is held every 210 days from birth. At Umana Bali, a clifftop all-villa resort perched above the Indian Ocean on the island’s southernmost point, the ritual takes place at the dramatically set Batu Pageh temple. A sacred fire is used to mark renewal and new beginnings, and the spiritual purification ceremony also involves prayers, offerings and holy water. It ends with those taking part receiving white thread bracelets, called benengs.
Singapore
Discover Asian art at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay
In keeping with Conrad Singapore Marina Bay’s location within the city’s cultural heart, the hotel is a hotbed of art. To help guests discover its on-site collection of more than 3,400 works by established and emerging local and international artists, the hotel has produced a self-guided art tour focusing on 21 significant pieces unified by Asian themes. These include Rafael Barrios’s Turbulence sculpture, representing fire and sited in the feng shui-inspired lobby; Tan Kwang Liang’s triptych depicting a serene Balinese scene, also on the lobby level; and Phang Li’s cherry blossoms outside the Golden Peony restaurant. Guests can access a digital map using a QR code to explore the collection at their own pace. And when you’re ready for more, the hotel is within walking distance of the National Gallery Singapore and, for theatre, dance and music, the epic arts venue Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
Thailand
Learn the ancient practice of gua sha at Conrad Bangkok
Blame it on TikTok, but gua sha has surged in popularity as a beauty fix in recent years. This traditional Chinese medicine practice involves using smooth-edged tools, traditionally made from stones, crystals and animal horn, to scrape and massage your face and body. Proponents believe it can alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and rejuvenate skin. But it’s important to do it right. At Conrad Bangkok, located in the heart of the city’s retail, commercial and embassy district, skilled therapists lead a weekly workshop showing you how to use this treatment safely on your own face, leaving you feeling refreshed.
Cruise Thailand’s River of Kings – with Millennium Hilton Bangkok
Some of the best things in life are free, and that’s the case with Millennium Hilton Bangkok’s shuttle boat service, which runs half-hourly between the hotel’s private pier and Sathorn pier on the other side of the Chao Phraya River. Although the journey takes just 10 minutes and covers a fraction of the 227-mile River of Kings, it’s an essential immersion into the lifeblood not only of Bangkok, but of Thailand. For centuries, the river has been a critical transport route for goods and people and remains so today. Depending on the time of day, the river teems with passenger ferries, cargo barges, longtail boats and party cruises.
Explore the Gulf of Thailand on a longtail boat – with Conrad Koh Samui
Pig Island may not be the most appealing name, but it’s a highlight of Conrad Koh Samui’s half-day longtail boat excursion to discover the stunning Gulf of Thailand. Known as Koh Madsum, the island lies a short distance south of Koh Samui. It gets its nickname from the free-roaming pigs that inhabit the place. The people-friendly pigs love swimming in the sea and are a hit with kids and adults alike. Then there’s Koh Tan, a sparsely populated island ringed by coral reefs and great for snorkelling. Longtail boats are an iconic form of transportation in Thailand. The narrow, canoe-like vessels get their name from the elongated propeller shafts that allow them to easily navigate shallow waters with coral reefs and estuaries with dense vegetation. The engines can be noisy but Conrad Koh Samui shuttles you around in relative comfort and style.
Experiences to remember
When done thoughtfully, travel broadens the mind and enriches our lives. With that in mind, Hilton ensures activities and excursions, whether on or off-site, are considered, culturally sensitive and bring delight to travellers who wish to explore. Whatever your interests, you’re likely to find an experience to long remember.
