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Three archipelago adventures
From Norway to Mozambique, Alice Gråhns looks at the best places around the world to go island-hopping.
The Dunia Baru: a perfect way to explore Indonesia's beautiful and remote islands
Indonesia is God's gift to yachting: the 17,000 islands pulsate with wildlife above and below the waves, says Rory Ross in Spear's magazine. A perfect way to explore is onboard the 51-metre private yacht Dunia Baru, which is, for a superyacht at least, "simple, unpretentious and comfortable".
Ross boarded at Maumere, the largest town on Flores island, and it was "like stepping into the pages of National Geographic": the area is beyond the reach of tourism and public transport, and home to "whale sharks, giant manta rays, migrating orcas, dolphins, headhunters, pristine highland scenery, exploding volcanoes, obscure whaling villages where formal religions blend with mysticism, and seas where strange wave patterns emerge and then disappear". And that was just the start of a magical island-hopping adventure among some of the most remote and beautiful archipelagos on earth.
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The stretch of islands at the Quirimbas Archipelago, located off the northeastern shore of Mozambique, "is a castaway's dream", says Todd Plummer in Vogue. The archipelago is accessible only by helicopter from the mainland, and from the air they look less like islands and more like "one continuous natural wonder". It is a pristine and unspoilt part of the world, with lush mangrove forests, jagged coral and limestone outcrops.
The islands' remoteness means luxury is measured more in solitude and outdoor showers than in Michelin stars, but there are many private-island resorts, and the Azura Retreats located on Quilalea "sets the benchmark". The 86-acre island retreat accommodates just 18 guests, "meaning that if you don't want to see another soul from your waterfront villa, you don't have to". A dedicated staff is on hand to organise everything from a glass of wine to a snorkel. The truly special dinners, served by candlelight under the stars, are alone "worth flying halfway around the world for".
On a cruise from Troms down the Norwegian coast to Bergen, the main entertainment is the spectacular scenery, says Fred Mawer in The Daily Telegraph. With the route almost always in sight of land, travellers can take in "mesmerising views of spiky, snow-capped mountains above a glassy sea and, further south, of idyllic-looking shoreside settlements with ochre huts and little jets".
Tours include a trip on a RIB speedboat among the Lofoten archipelago, where guests zip along shorelines and dart in and out of rocky morasses, and go sea-eagle spotting. The coastal trips are "civilised rather than ritzy affairs, devoid of the shows and kids' clubs found on conventional, family-oriented cruises". When cruisers get tired of the scenery, there are open-air hot tubs and a "cosy Scandi-chic caf" to enjoy.
"An industrial cranedoesn't exactly screamluxury hotel', but that'sabout to change thanksto an exciting new projectin Copenhagen," saysJulie Delahaye in the DailyMirror.A former coal crane hasbeen "transformed intoan oasis of calm" closeto the city, on the docksof Nordhavn. Named TheKrane, the new hotel offerseverything you wouldexpect for a glamorousstay, from a concierge toa spa, and "spectacularpanoramic views of the city,sea and harbour".
The hotel sleeps only twopeople in the room sittingon the top floor, 50ft aboveground. There's also aseparate living space,bathroom and a terracefor making the most ofthe view. The second floorspa and sauna "make the perfect setting forpampering" the glass walland outdoor terrace giveyou unrivalled views.The Krane will be openingits doors later this year.See TheKrane.dk.
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Alice grew up in Stockholm and studied at the University of the Arts London, where she gained a first-class BA in Journalism. She has written for several publications in Stockholm and London, and joined MoneyWeek in 2017.
Alice is now Consumer Editor at The Sun and covers everything from energy bills to Social Security.
