COMO Hotels and Resorts’ Iconic Experiences, which launched this week on September 10th 2024, inspires travelers to explore more deeply in the ten countries where the brand operates, from Fiji to Bhutan. Each is iconic because of the way COMO presents a unique combination of place, on-the-ground expertise, and end-to-end attention to high-quality detail. Of the over 50 evergreen experiences, some will appeal to adventure seekers, others to foodies and wine lovers, and still others to the spiritually depleted. What makes these experiences rare is the distinct mix of access and insight to places, people and culture.
‘How to shine a spotlight on local quality rather than globalized clichés? What is the value of privileged access in a world where ‘exclusive’ has been devalued by overuse? I ask myself these questions all the time,’ says COMO’s founder-owner, Mrs. Christina Ong: ‘These are also the questions which lie at the heart of our new Iconic Experiences campaign.’
‘COMO has a quirky portfolio of locations, from Bhutan to the South Pacific. For more than thirty years, our investment choices have been driven by a genuine desire to offer our customers something unique,’ says COMO’s CEO, Olivier Jolivet; ‘We’ve blazed trails ahead of other luxury brands, from the northern Caribbean to the Himalayas and Burgundy. We’re constantly striving to give more meaning to luxury, to exceed our guests’ expectations, by investing in the time it takes to get things right. Our new range of iconic experiences instills the essence of what drives us, to offer quality, uncommon access ahead of the curve.’
A sampling of the kind of access available is listed below:
A spiritual awakening: Kedara is a hidden water garden tucked inside a forest on the banks of the Ayung River about ten miles from Ubud in Bali. Each pool is rimmed with river rocks. The pools are fed by a waterfall descending from a holy spring. What makes it unique is its spiritual heritage: this water is historically sacred to the local Hindu community. The people come here to retrieve water for holy occasions, or conduct a spring blessing. The only outsiders granted access are guests of COMO Shambhala Estate, who can attend a private blessing ceremony overseen by a Balinese priest.
Riding the wave: At COMO Hotels and Resorts, we’ve been chasing waves for years, with access to some of the best surf breaks in the world at our resorts in Fiji, Indonesia and the Maldives. But what makes our offering iconic is more than proximity to world-class reefs. It’s our long-term collaboration with luxury surf guides, Tropicsurf, founded by Australian Ross Phillips. At COMO Uma Canggu, Philips has a team of instructors to give best-in-class tuition. Guests can build their confidence in the pool, advance their skills on the break out front, or enjoy an ‘Island Surfari’ — an extended road trip exploring Bali’s secluded breaks.
Swimming bareback: For horseback riders, swimming bareback in the Pacific Ocean offers a one- of-a-kind equestrian adventure. At COMO Laucala Island In Fiji, even novices can savor this unique experience, riding along a two-mile stretch of white sandy beach fringed with palms. Our horses are calm, well-trained, and energetic crossbreeds of Australian Thoroughbreds (originally bred for the Melbourne racetrack) and British Clydesdales (traditionally used on coconut plantations). The stables are managed by our island’s resident Fijian ‘Horse Whisperer,’ who also leads guests on scenic rides through the island’s lush, dappled forests.
