Annabelle Bond shares her favourite outdoor adventure-inspired winter destinations
As the summer heat draws to a close, I start thinking about winter and how I like to spend my time. There are two winter options – cold and warm. I adore both and try to get a good fill of each over the winter. After a dreary time in London, I long for the sun. My favorite hotspots are Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, Nihiwatu in Indonesia and Dubai.
Coming from hot Hong Kong, I can’t wait to hit the ski slopes of Zürs, Austria, Niseko, Japan and Aspen, USA. Niseko, an easy trip from Hong Kong, offers the world’s best powder snow. The skiing is on dormant volcanoes with views across the sea to the Siberian Peninsula. For those who don’t ski, Japan’s powder is the lightest in the world, and enthusiastic skiers flock from all over the world. In the States they call it Japow, and January is when most powder hounds run into Niseko. Great snow mixed with unforgettable Japanese cuisine is hard to beat.
Thousands of miles away in Aspen, Colorado, I eat western food and enjoy skiing in the Rocky Mountains. Aspen has four mountains to choose from for skiing. Ajax runs straight into town with a variety of skis of varying difficulty, amazing bumps and off-piste slides. I love to ski in Ajax as there is a 16 minute gondola ride for those of us who feel the chill and like to socialize. Aspen Highlands is a 10 minute drive away and features the famous Highland Bowl for rock climbing and skiing. Not for the faint of heart, you pack to the top of the bowl with 12,000. It takes a 30 minute climb before you come to a wildly steep ski run. I love doing the bowl when I ski in the Highlands. Aspen offers excellent dining ranging from premium vegan to Michelin-starred cuisine to local offerings with great BBQ ribs and steins of beer.
My family has been happily spending holidays together at the Hotel Zürserhof in Austria for several decades. It’s on the road from Lech in a sleepy town called Zurs. The European skiing experience spread over many small villages is unique. I enjoy the dramatic vistas dotted with family-owned alpine restaurants. I often hike from Zürs to Lech to fill my fill with fondue and raclette and to visit the great shops.
Skiing is not for everyone; we all need a place to thaw. One of my recent discoveries during the pandemic is the magical emirates of Dubai. While many countries have been shut down during the pandemic, Dubai has remained a vibrant oasis. The emirate has something for everyone, but my first love of this incredible place is galloping through the desert on Arabian horses. Dubai is safe, clean and has top quality restaurants. Light shows and water fountains can be seen everywhere, creating awe-inspiring images for both children and adults. Sheikh Mohammed is a true visionary who built this vibrant desert metropolis out of sand.
My favorite place in the Maldives is Soneva Fushi. The Maldives is dotted with too many 5-star resorts to count, but nothing quite compares to Soneva’s luxurious barefoot vibe. The food is second to none, whether Indian, Japanese or upscale island. Thomas Wälchli and his wife Elisabetta Benini’s diving is world class. I was constantly surrounded by manta rays, turtles and other tropical creatures. As an avid tennis player, this is one of the few resorts that offers top-notch tennis with a pro. I loved learning to kitesurf even when I was being dragged across the sand on my bum.
Heading back to Asia, my favorite luxury eco-resort is Nihiwatu on the island of Sumba, Indonesia. There is nothing comparable in the world. Known for its world-renowned left-hand surf break, the resort blends the ultimate in eco-luxury with a laid-back surfer vibe. Nothing beats an ice cold beer with the instructors and staff at the surf bar as the sun sets. My biggest takeaway from Nihiwatu was the experiences. Among the most memorable are the weekly local horse races on the beach, where we played on the ponies over cocktails, paddled down a local river and visited an authentic Sumba village where people live as their ancestors lived 400 years ago. The resort itself has an incredible local philanthropic aspect that is contagious – my daughter spent a day at one of the local schools and learned how to give back.
As the world finally opens up again, I can’t wait to revisit some of my favorite destinations this winter and reconnect with these unique places and people.
See also: Annabelle Bond on the physical and mental benefits of hiking