Black Tomato

Eat, pray, and love your way to wellness at this palatial mountain estate in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. For those curious about yoga, meditation, Vedanta, or Ayurveda, it's a magical wonderland where you can experience a variety of disciplines and learn from a range of philosophies every day. You'll be present to the history and tradition that surrounds you with every view of the Ganges, each meal prepared in accordance to the Dosha, and every walk through the palace grounds. You can read more about this magical place, here.

Owned in part by Richard Branson's sister, Vanessa, El Fenn is a bright spot in a city that's already wildly colorful. Years ago, Vanessa and partner Howell James were walking through Marakkech looking for a home to buy when they came across a once stately riad that was desperately in need of a resuscitation. The pair restored it to its former glory, and transformed it into a gorgeously appointed hotel, which now has 41 guest rooms. It has a number of restaurants, bars, and pools, and it's within striking distance of most of Morocco's biggest hits (see our Marrakech guide).

This 84-room hotel spans over three timber houses and sits on the banks of a river in Wuzhen, China—a unique little water town steeped in history and charm. The Heal Town building is home to a spa which specializes in deep healing and relaxation, as well as a wellness-centric restaurant (each of the three houses has a unique eatery on premises). Once you’ve gotten your fill of traversing the picturesque bridges and windy canals of the city, take part in an on-site Tai Chi class or try your hand at traditional Chinese pottery, calligraphy, and silk painting.

Situated on the banks of the Kamogawa river and overlooking a cluster of mountains, the Ritz-Carlton in Kyoto provides all the swanky amenities (spa, fine dining, impeccable service) one might expect, plus a slew of unexpected extras. While it’s the perfect home base from which to venture out into downtown Kyoto and surrounding districts, the hotel’s roster of activities offers plenty of reasons to hang around the property. Here, you can try your hand at Japanese floral design, soap making, traditional origami, and more. Sake tastings, matcha tea ceremonies, and master sushi classes can also be arranged for anyone who’s interested.

First of all, this Belmond is on the Northwest coast of Mallorca. If that's not incentive enough to get on a plane, you can tour the coastline in one of the resident boats, hike, or ride Vespas around the island. Home to one of Spain's largest sculpture gardens, the arts are really the focal point of the resort. There are cooking classes for foodies, but the main draw are the workshops in sculpture, painting, and ceramics, taught by artists in residence.

Under the watchful eye of owners Lois and Bill Breckon, this Tuscan compound plays host to a bevy of creative retreats. Food prep and planning is completely taken care of and the picturesque property (including not one but two ancient mills and endless gardens) and surrounding hillsides serve as creative fodder for painting holidays. To keep the inspiration flowing, you and your easel will also be shuttled to neighboring towns for sightseeing and more painting. Fully immersive writing courses are held twice a year (the TV comedy and drama scriptwriting workshop is taught by veteran writer, Laurence Marks).

If you're into more of a vacation enclave with a farm-to-table bent then head to Baja California to check into one of the ten charming Culinary Cottages at Flora Farms: a twenty-five-acre organic working farm in the foothills of Sierra de la Laguna Mountains in San Jose del Cabo. Renters and owners can submerge themselves in harvesting the heirloom vegetables–and cooking meals in the fully equipped cottages. Although access to the private beach club, family pond, pool, and spas is exclusive to owners and renters, The Field Kitchen (where the ingredients are often picks minutes before they are served), Farm Bar, and Flora Grocery (which sells sustainably raised meats, handmade breads, and organic vegetables), are open to all, expanding its culinary experience beyond the cottages.

Buttermilk biscuits with a view. Equal parts luxury hotel, world-class kitchen, and working farm, this 4,200 acre foodie resort in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains is a slice of heaven for those hungry for rest, relaxation, good music, and, of course, incredible Southern cooking. Check their calendar before booking for events that may be of interest like truffle hunts, photography workshops, wellness weekends, and featured celeb chefs like Joanne Weir and Daniel Boulud.

For the better part of a decade owners Koos Bekker and Karen Roos lovingly worked on restoring a 300-year-old farm at the base of the Simonsberg mountains into a wine destination in its own right. There are only thirteen rooms (formerly farm-workers’ cottages) and each one is whitewashed and pristine with an open floor plan and modern furnishings from the likes of Kartell and Bourellec Bros. For those in need of something more generously sized, whether it’s for themselves or for a couples getaway, the five-bedroom Owner’s House is pretty special, and features checkerboard floors in the bathrooms, a soaking tub, and the farm kitchen with its own wood-burning stove. On property, an eight-acre walled garden informs much of the menu at its restaurant, Babel, which churns out deliciously fresh meals. (In the summer months, it's yellow tomatoes, apricots, and gooseberries, while a winter menu may feature, say, a slow-cooked lamb leg in a red wine sauce.) For a bit of pampering, spa treatments can be had in the bamboo pavilion, which also includes a Hammam. Guests can participate in the harvest, pruning, and picking (they provide trowels and gloves), and they also offer wine tastings, though Babylonstoren is also within easy striking distance of South Africa's other celebrated vineyards. If you’re in need of an expert to help you plan a longer Africa trip, consider Deborah Calmeyer, a trip-planning ace at ROAR Africa, who can set you up at Babylonstoren and beyond.

This stunning old-world spot in Oxfordshire is home to Raymond Blanc's two Michelin-star restaurant and an attached Cookery School. There, you can master macaroons and pistachio soufflés, or a fail-safe menu for a Spring dinner party. They also have tons of cooking classes for kids. Speaking of children: There are only thirty-two tastefully appointed guest rooms, and while this Belmond has the feel of a quiet English countryside manor, they go above and beyond to ensure that little ones are entertained too. There are bikes, bocce, buckets of toys, and video games on-site.

Experience firsthand what it’s like to live on a farm with the comfort of knowing you’re going home at the end of the weekend. Located in Gloucestershire, Daylesford is a real-deal working farm that focuses on organic, sustainable practices and passing on knowledge to anyone who’s interested. You get to stay at one of the adorably rustic cottages which are just steps from the Daylesford Farmshop (which you've probably seen scattered all over London) and ideally situated for classes at The Cookery School. You can also stay at their sister hotel, The Wild Rabbit —a modern inn, filled with country charm—located in the heart of the Cotswolds. Artisan bread making and quick and simple suppers are just a sampling of the inventive courses offered throughout the year. While there, stop by the on-site creamery, bakery, or market garden and load up on seasonal snacks for the trip back.

Spread across 400 bright green, undulating acres of farmland, this country house in rural East Cork looks straight out of central casting. Owned and run by the Allens–the reigning first family of the Irish food scene—Ballymaloe House itself is matriarch Myrtle Allen's former family-residence-turned-hotel. Staying here feels like coming home, the accommodations are supremely comfortable with Irish linen sheets, vintage wallpaper, and fresh vases of wildflowers delivered daily. The on-site restaurant features a menu inspired by the nearby world-renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School, and showcases the best of Irish produce, most of it sourced within a few miles of the house itself. The full Irish breakfast, including warm scones fresh from the oven and traditional delicacies like black pudding and kippers, washed down with several cups of strong tea, is a quintessential Irish experience not to be missed. We recommend booking in during the annual summer Litfest, a week-long food and drinks literary festival with industry speakers that have included Madhur Jaffrey, Alice Waters, and Francis Mallmann among others. Cooking enthusiasts will relish booking into the cookery school for workshops on everything from bread-baking to Asian cuisine, with all the ingredients foraged by the students themselves from the immaculate walled gardens and fields that surround the school and house.

This week-long Yucatán cooking workshop is a great alternative to the boozy ragers normally associated with Mexican getaways. The school is located in beautiful Mérida, inside the home of late expat chef, David Sterling. Sadly, David passed away last year, however, the workshop lives on under the direction of his right hand-man, Chef Mario Canul. This is a fully immersive, hands-on experience, so expect to accompany the chef to the market for ingredients, which you will then prepare in a private (and perfect) kitchen. In addition to time spent cooking, you’ll be taken on tours of Mérida, the surrounding Mayan archeological treasures, and colonial Izamál. Additional trips to local farms and rum distilleries (in case you're looking to booze it up a bit) can be arranged as well. We recommend shacking up at either Coqui Coqui, or Rosas & Xocolate.

Though it offers incredible views of the Tuscan countryside and an excellent spa, the 12th-century castle-turned-hotel is really about food. The owner, Aurora Baccheschi Berti, is a world-class chef who specializes in Northern Italian cuisine (check out her cookbook here). In addition to whipping up a daily breakfast spread she holds cooking classes (fresh pasta making, for example) using organic ingredients grown right on property. There’s also a working vineyard and an olive grove where you can witness the harvests firsthand.

Hovering somewhere between a bed and breakfast and organic co-op farm, LA-transplant Calvin Zara’s refurbished four-bedroom Thacher house and its four private cabins is where you want to be for a fully-immersive, get away from it all experience (it accommodates no more than 20 guests at a time). If you stay here, be prepared to share the lush grounds with chickens and a family of goats, in addition to citrus and pomegranate trees and a garden. Needless to say, all the food served at the beautifully appointed dining room is sourced locally or from the Thacher House farm itself. Also on offer: classes in cooking, baking, olive-oil pressing, wine-making, and so much more.

A stone’s throw from Vancouver, Salt Island is something of a creative enclave for the culinarily inclined. Think impossibly picturesque, rugged setting where you’ll find vintners, cheese makers, and other creative types in residence year-around. It’s just that spirit that inspired Michael Abelman and Jeanne-Marie Herman to open Foxglove Farm, a 121-acre organic farm which holds cooking and gardening classes, plus mushroom-foraging and cheese-making courses. Its location, 1,200 feet above sea level, means they regularly grow everything from peaches, plus, quince, figs, cherries, plus a nourishing mix of veggies and legumes. (As a result their veggies have graced the table at the likes of Chez Panisse and Zuni Cafe, too.)

Focusing on safaris in Africa and Asia, this eco-tourism pioneer is the steward of 33 luxury lodges located in some of the most pristine parts of the world. As part of their mission, they preserve the land, protect rural, indigenous cultures, and safeguard the wildlife—and as a guest, you get to participate. Their tented camps in the Masai Mara look particularly stunning.

This discovery-minded travel company prides itself on consistently attracting return travelers and we totally get why: Groups are never more than 16 people deep and are often tag-teamed by a designated trip leader and knowledgeable locals. Along the way, depending on destination, you’ll stay at fine hotels, quaint B&Bs, and luxe tented camps. Itineraries vary from classic Galapagos Island sailing excursions on small yachts, to once-in-a-lifetime tribal expeditions where you’ll get to stay in remote villages, spend quality time with a hunting-and-gathering community, and explore game reserves.

As the name suggests, Mountain Travel Sobek made its name in trekking adventures. In fact, they pioneered organized travel to the Himalaya mountains some 40-plus years ago. These days, their repertoire has expanded to include kayaking in Alaska, snorkeling in Fiji, and a slew of safari destinations. But climbing excursion are still well-represented with guided hikes to Machu Picchu and Kilimanjaro, among others. Their other claim to fame is the high caliber of people attracted to the unique itineraries—so much so that you’ll be more than happy to spend time with fellow travelers well beyond the scheduled activities.

Right now is the time to see Cuba in its most authentic state, mainly because the recently loosened travel restrictions mean that people will soon flock. Cuba Explorations’ people-to-people tours are designed to offer the most immersive experience with guided sightseeing expeditions to architectural gems, culturally significant sights, and plenty of opportunity for interacting with the locals. Groups are small, so you won't get lost in the crowd, though they'll also curate a private trip to fit your taste.

Cox & Kings organized the first ever expedition to Mt. Everest back in 1922 (in fact, they've been at this for 255 years...as they arranged trips to India in the 1700s). Within the massive trip catalog you’ll find journeys of the romantic, family-friendly, and adventure varieties, but it’s the Escorted Discover Tours that are designed specifically with solo travelers in mind. Group sizes are kept to a minimum and itineraries offer the ideal down time to activity ratio. Destinations like Reykjavik, Iceland (evenings are spent hunting for the aurora borealis), Mongolia (live like a nomad, sleep in gers, ride camels), and Peru (spend four full days exploring the ancient city of Cuzco) take travelers off the beaten path without sacrificing security.

You might know Indagare as a great online resource for vacation planning—but they also put together trips of like-minded people. While you can click around to check out recommendations for free, membership has its perks (guaranteed upgrades, spa credits, VIP treatment pretty much anywhere you go). There are three levels of memberships: The middle tier offers custom-curated itineraries.

Usually, the mention of a cruise conjures up images of tiny, windowless cabins, overcrowded pools, and really sad buffets. This company is a bit different. For one, this family owned, eight-fleet-deep operation is super luxe: Every room has ocean views, there’s butler service, and the dining options are impressive to say the least (it’s an all-inclusive affair, so you can opt for room-service too). While each suite has plenty of breathing room, the common areas play host to all manner of guest lecturers and activities (pilates, gyms, spa). And since the ships are small, they can fit in just about any harbor, allowing for infinite freedom when it comes to choosing destinations (and not endless lines to get on and off). This is a good option for families with multiple generations, too.

We love Butterfield & Robinson's relaxed approach to group travel, particularly because their trips are done by bike or foot (you get to go at your own pace). The trips are really nice, though, so you'll have luxe accommodations at the end of every day at which to rest your weary legs. For cycling enthusiasts, there’s the biking tour of Tuscany (with frequent stops at wineries). There's also a walking tour of Vietnam that includes historic sites, markets, and authentic Vietnamese cooking classes, along with a stay at the Six Senses.

Ampersand is a U.K.-based luxury travel agency which focuses on really insane itineraries within India and Southeast Asia that revolve around the area's best hotels and lodges—Amans, Tajs, and the like. On the "If Tarzan Went to Sri Lanka..." tour, for example, there's whale watching, an excursion into Sri Lanka’s last virgin rainforest, and an overnight stay in a tree house. Meanwhile, the 14-day Gastronomical Tour of China offers a mix of exploring and eating: Sample incredible street food while wandering the historic neighborhoods of Beijing, feast on dumplings in Shanghai, and sip on green tea at a plantation in Hangzhou.

This buttoned-up, award-winning adventure travel company is the brainchild of Royal Geographic Society Fellow Jeff Willner: His team of destination experts and private guides exhibit almost obsessive attention to detail when mapping out the truly unique small group itineraries. The six-day Polar Bear Safari, for example, includes two full days of traversing the tundra via a tricked-out wildlife viewing bus. You'll probably spot the native arctic fox, snowy owl, and of course, polar bears, plus they arrange dreamy coastline hikes, and a visit to the Cape Merry polar bear jail (where bears who come too close to human settlements are kept safe until they can be airlifted north). The Explorer-in-Residence series provides a rare opportunity to shadow real-life explorers and researchers on exotic journeys. Past examples include a George Kourounis-inspired trek through Turkmenistan—home to the “Door to Hell” gas reserve field—or a Tea Horse Road odyssey through China with renowned author Jeff Fuchs.