Getting Away:
12 Routes du Bonheur for 2023

January - At the dawn of time: Equator & the Galapagos Islands

For many travelers, Ecuador is a much-dreamed-of destination. From the Ecuadorian capital to the wilderness of the Galapagos Islands, a chance to explore fascinating and unspoiled sites. This land of adventure where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution by natural selection, is a return to origins. Mere photographs cannot capture the sensations and emotions experienced there in person. From the Andean summits to the Pacific Ocean, this trip is a thousand journeys in one.

CASA GANGOTENA, Quito
ZAZU, Quito
HOTEL DEL PARQUE, Guayaquil
ECOVENTURA - GALAPAGOS, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno - San Cristóbal, Galapagos 
PIKAIA LODGE, Galapagos
 

February - Morocco: Exploring Imperial Cities

Crossing Morocco from Casablanca to the sublime imperial cities of Fez, Meknes, and Marrakech means discovering the history of the first Idrisid sovereigns (8th century), experiencing the Middle Atlas mountain range, being amazed by craftsmanship born of age-old traditions, and getting lost – with confidence and a smile – in the maze-like medinas (historical city centers). This trip around northern Morocco is a subtle blend of history and culture, a concoction of bewitching flavors and scents, those that have drawn artists and adventurers here for centuries and which continue to cast the same captivating spell in 2023.

HÔTEL LE DOGE, Casablanca
CHÂTEAU ROSLANE, El Hajeb (Region of Meknès)
RIAD FÈS, Fès
VILLA DES ORANGERS, Marrakech
 

March - Japan: Fleeting, Fluttering Spring

For a brief time, from mid-March to late April, the blossoming of the cherry trees heralds spring in Japan. Across the country, for this fleeting period, all the people are abuzz. On the main island of Honshu, from Tokyo to Utsunomiya to Matsumoto, time seems to stand still as parks, onsens, temples and other traditional ryokans are enveloped in delicate blooms. Visitors, too, are swept up in a flurry of petals in this enchanted, ephemeral ambiance beautifully captured in the words of the poet Moritake: “A fallen blossom / returning to the bough, I thought -- / But no, a butterfly.”

GÔRA KADAN, Hakone
ASABA, Izu, Shizuoka
TOBIRA ONSEN MYOJINKAN, Matsumoto
HIKARIYA-NISHI, Matsumoto
BETTEI SENJUAN, Minakami
OTOWA RESTAURANT, Utsunomiya
 

April - The Road to Italy’s Great Lakes

Between the Alps and the Po Plain, Mother Nature has created seven glistening gems, seven lakes carved out by ancient glaciers. Whether you appreciate them from the shore or from aboard a sailboat or small motorboat, these lakes are encircled by landscapes of infinite beauty. In the foreground, splendid villas surrounded by centuries-old olive trees, cypresses, lemon trees, and fragrant bay-trees. In the background, the protective, nurturing mountain peaks. Every lake in northern Italy has a story of its own, yet all seem to be the true source of romanticism.

VILLA CRESPI, Orta San Giulio
DA VITTORIO, Brusaporto
L’ALBERETA, Erbusco
VILLA FIORDALISO, Gardone Riviera
 

May - Scotland: Land of Legends

Scotland seems to have traced its own horizon in a realm between heaven and earth. Traveling from Glasgow to Edinburgh means discovering legendary sites that some even consider mystical, along with mist-enveloped lochs, emerald-colored hills and windswept islands. It means driving through scenery straight from the silver screen and contemplating mansions and castles steeped in history. It means visiting venerable distilleries, rubbing elbows in friendly pubs, lingering in distinguished restaurants. And it means feeling the warm hospitality of its people.

GLENAPP CASTLE, Ballantrae
AIRDS HOTEL & RESTAURANT, Appin
KINLOCH HOUSE, Blairgowrie
 

June - Safaris and Lodges in Southern Africa

This is an extraordinary journey through southern Africa, well off the beaten track and far from Western civilization. Namibia, Zambia and Botswana form an idyllic triad for those who love wide-open spaces and wilderness. From the Namib Desert to the shores of the Okavango, from the Zambezi River to the breathtaking Victoria Falls, this journey sagaciously follows the footprints of The Big Five: lion, elephant, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo and leopard. See the real rulers of the savannah in landscapes and from lodges to be remembered for a lifetime.

EPAKO SAFARI LODGE & SPA, Omaruru, Namibia
ROYAL CHUNDU – LUXURY ZAMBEZI LODGES, Livingstone, Zambia
GREAT PLAINS SELINDA, Selinda Reserve, Botswana
DUBA PLAINS CAMP, Botswana
 

July - California: On the Road Again

The very name suggests getting away from it all: the open road, the wind in your hair and music in your ears, from folk to pop to rock. California is not just a state, it’s a state of mind, a land of liberty, home to a shimmering desert, giant sequoias and celebrated vineyards. Stop to gaze at the HOLLYWOOD sign, to gape at the daring surfers on the waves or rollerbladers on the palm-lined avenues. The ultimate California dreamin’ is done along the Pacific Coast Highway, the famed Route 1 running from San Francisco to San Diego via Los Angeles. An unforgettable road trip to the Mexican border. Just start your engine and choose your tunes.

CHÂTEAU DU SUREAU, Oakhurst, Yosemite Nat. Park
L’AUBERGE CARMEL, Carmel-By-The-Sea
RANCHO VALENCIA RESORT & SPA, Rancho Santa Fe
 

August - Engadin: Summer in the Swiss Alps

In southeastern Switzerland one of Europe’s highest-altitude and most mysterious inhabited valleys can be found. From the Engadin summits, you can admire Liechtenstein, Austria and Italy all at once. Between the villages of Pontresina and Samnaun, in the canton of Graubünden, discover fascinating natural treasures, from hidden mineral springs to shimmering mountain lakes. It is the ideal terrain for hikes as you search for the fabled edelweiss flower before boarding the Glacier Express for one of the most beautiful railway journeys in Europe.

HOTEL WALTHER, Pontresina
IN LAIN HOTEL CADONAU, Brail
SCHLOSSHOTEL CHASTÈ, Tarasp
CHASA MONTANA HOTEL & SPA, Samnaun
 

September - On the road to Santiago de Compostela, through northern Spain

This legendary itinerary taken by pilgrims for centuries unveils priceless treasures. After visiting Bilbao and its museum with its daring architecture, let yourself be won over by the emotion that embraces all those who discover the sublime landscapes of Cantabria. Wild beaches, monasteries, flower-filled villages, and Romanesque churches follow one another before giving way to the captivating panoramas of Asturias. Visit the capital of Galicia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With no less than 46 churches, 114 bell towers, and a majestic cathedral, the mystical atmosphere of the city invites contemplation.

ECHAURREN, Ezcaray
CASTILLO DE ARTEAGA, Gautegiz Arteaga
PALACIO DE LUCES, Luces - Colunga
A QUINTA DA AUGA HOTEL & SPA, Santiago De Compostela
 

October - Quebec: The Colors of Autumn

How can one truly know the beauty of autumn without having traveled to Quebec in the fall? Each year, between September and October, the landscapes of ‘La Belle Province’ are newly painted by Mother Nature. For a few weeks, trees everywhere become a blaze of colors: dazzling shades of orange, red, and yellow. From Montreal to Quebec and the Eastern Townships, the region completely redecorates its forests and towns. And, with the crisp air and deep-blue sky, it is also an ideal time for whale-watching at the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord.

STONEHAVEN LE MANOIR, Sainte-Agathe-Des-Monts
MANOIR HOVEY, North Hatley
AUBERGE SAINT-ANTOINE, Quebec
 

November - Rajasthan: Journey to the ‘Land of Kings’

Sovereigns have their own country and it is called Rajasthan. This itinerary takes travelers to an unfamiliar region of India: from the forts of Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore to the Thar Desert, the verdant forests of a national park and the colorful clamor of the cities of Jodhpur and Jaipur. The eye is spellbound at every turn: first the ancient splendor of the maharajahs, then the dazzling attire of the Rajputs, the architectural treasures of palaces and shrines. A dizzying journey through a little-known land of enchantment. 

SUJÁN THE SERAI, Jaisalmer
MIHIR GARH, Jodhpur
SUJÁN JAWAI, Bisalpur
SUJÁN SHER BAGH, Ranthambhore
 

December: Alsace: The Land of Christmas

Santa Claus might be from the North Pole, but Alsace is unquestionably the home of Christmas! You need only travel the region during the month of December to know. Between Strasbourg and Colmar, there are countless Christmas markets, wooden chalets beneath gigantic fir trees, and traditional winstubs – Alsatian taverns serving beer, sauerkraut and all the accoutrements. You should also visit the region’s wineries to sample the delightful Gewürztraminers and Rieslings. In wintertime, all of Alsace is twinkling with holiday lights, reflected in the sparkling eyes of children – and children at heart.

HOSTELLERIE LA CHENEAUDIERE & SPA, Colroy-La-Roche
LE CHAMBARD, Kaysersberg
LA MAISON DES TÊTES, Colmar
LES BAS RUPTS, Gérardmer