Now is definitely the time for some pre-Christmas sunshine and adventure before the long winter evenings set in and the seasonal social whirl begins.
Dubai is the perfect antidote to a grey northern hemisphere winter and surprisingly accessible. Head there for a short break or as a stopover en-route to Asia for opulent five-star hotels overlooking the Arabian Sea, and luxurious desert camps. Brand conscious fashionistas will enjoy low-rise Bulgari Resort Dubai, set on its own private island, while Al Maha - A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa - delivers a Bedouin-style desert experience amidst the dunes on the fringe of the city's buzzing metropolis.
This is also a great time to visit the Himalayas, where Bill Bensley recently launched his latest hotel - Shinta Mani Mustang - A Bensley Collection - in Nepal. The 29-suite lodge in Lower Mustang is a hub for wilderness adventures, fuelled by delicious Nepalese cuisine. Adventurers will also appreciate newly opened &Beyond Punakha River Lodge, a luxury eco-lodge in Bhutan’s Punakha valley. Combine Punakha with a few nights at Gantey Lodge in the Phobjikha Valley, where the Bhutanese celebrate the arrival of migrating Black Neck cranes every November.
