Embrace the end of autumn and slide into winter with this month’s host of indulgent travel experiences, which range from holistic pampering in Bali and prehistoric adventures in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney, to lofty encounters over Siem Reap and Alpine adventures in China.
From the sun-kissed Maldives to Morocco’s vibrant medinas and one of Europe’s cultural capitals, whether you’re travelling solo, with someone special or as a family, there’s something for everyone in this month’s Wunderlist round-up of our favourite travel experiences.
Mountain High
Families looking for a fun escape can keep the new Homm Wenzhou Nanxijiang in mind. Opening later this year as a sublime riverside retreat nestled in the lush Yandang Mountains of Wenzhou, China, this new family-friendly resort infuses a Song Dynasty garden aesthetic across its 100 rooms and suites, including 20 family-friendly layouts in a dedicated parent–child building.
After a day exploring the mountains, cycling the riverside or picking seasonal fruit, families can retreat to the resort’s hot spring complex, which is fed by two mineral-rich wells and features 26 indoor and outdoor pools ranging from grotto springs to petal pools set among stone forests, bamboo groves, and mist-covered hills.
You’ll also dine well at the Nan Xiang Restaurant, which showcases fresh local produce in Zhejiang-inspired dishes, at the Shanyin Bar, which serves coffee, handmade teas, and light desserts, and at the Star Bar, which serves cocktails and craft beers in a relaxed setting.
Reach New Heights in Siem Reap
As Cambodia’s peak hot-air ballooning season approaches, Anantara Angkor Resort has partnered with Cambodia Balloon Adventures to offer a rare perspective of the Angkor complex and its surrounding wonders.
Available only from November to March, hot-air ballooning in Cambodia is timed to coincide with the region’s dry season, when low humidity, minimal rainfall and clear skies create ideal flying conditions. Gentle, predictable winds and crisp morning air reveal long sightlines, allowing guests to fully appreciate the scale and symmetry of Angkor’s ancient temples.
From above, the temple complex unfolds like a giant mandala, its moats and towers framed by lush jungle and golden light. The balloon’s slow, silent drift offers 360-degree views of the Angkor Archaeological Park, including lesser-known sites, rice paddies, villages and the distant shimmer of Tonlé Sap Lake.
Depending on the wind, the balloon may pass over an ancient reservoir before landing gently where sparkling bubbles await to toast the adventure. Along the way, timeless scenes of rural life unfold, glimpsed only by birds and those suspended between earth and sky.
Viva Vienna
If one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals under a dusting of snow sounds like bliss, you’re in luck with the opening of Mandarin Oriental Vienna, located in the city’s prestigious First District on the peaceful Riemergasse.
Comprising just 138 elegantly designed rooms and suites, the hotel is housed in a heritage-listed former courthouse originally designed by Alfred Keller that’s been lovingly restored to honour its architectural legacy whilst integrating modern design elements.
The hotel’s 86 rooms and 52 suites (splurge on one of the indulgent Mandarin Signature Suites, which pay homage to Keller with elegant panelling, a semi-hexagonal profile and a headboard inspired by the building’s stone carvings) combine modern comfort with the timeless charm of Viennese Art Nouveau and incorporate original design elements, elegant lines, light-filled rooms dressed in a subtle colour palette and refined materials.
Also be on the lookout for the hotel’s four distinct culinary destinations, helmed by executive chef Thomas Seifried, that include fine-dining destination Le Sept, vibrant all-day dining destination Atelier 7 – Brasserie, which blends Art Nouveau elegance with international comfort food, Atelier 7 – The Café, a contemporary spin on Viennese coffeehouse tradition, and Chic Atelier 7 – Izakaya and Bar, where Art Nouveau meets Japonisme over expertly crafted cocktails made with premium Japanese and Asian ingredients.
You can burn off all that indulgence at the state-of-the-art fitness centre, or soak in the pampering of The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, where contemporary wellness therapies are conducted in seven stylish spa suites.
Wellness by the Waves
Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay in Bali has launched new transformative wellness retreats designed to explore the unseen energies within.
Central to the retreat concept is the interplay between two worlds: Sekala, the visible, seen and physical, and Niskala, the invisible, unseen and energetic. The three-night Sekala Wellness Retreat at The Healing Village Spa revolves around bringing awareness to the physical body to facilitate exploration of the inner self and aims to ground, connect and achieve balance.
After a warming Balinese massage or osteopathy-inspired Complete Body Alignment, guests will experience an innovative 3D VisBody scan, tailored Pilates classes and the dynamic “flying” experience of AntiGravity Yoga, all of which work to address body posture and composition, while contrast therapies – from nutrient-rich volcanic mud body masks to an infrared mat and an ice tub – conducted in the Longevity Garden, help ease inflammation, boost circulation and enhance overall health.
You’ll finish up with a choice of a balancing Gemstone Joy Massage or revolutionary Ultimate Venus Facial.
Family Fun on the Gold Coast
Image Credit: Justin Nicholas
Families headed Down Under will love the new Beach Houses that have launched at Mondrian Gold Coast.
These new Burleigh Heads hideaways, designed by LA’s Studio Carter, offer an elevated residential-style experience with the service and energy of a world-class hotel. Designed for those who value privacy, personalised service and immersive luxury, the two- and three-bedroom private residences, both spanning two levels, are more refined beachside homes than hotel suites and feature their own VIP entrance and can be combined to create an impressive five-bedroom coastal haven.
Both retreats – a 242 sqm two-bedroom Beach House and a 244 sqm three-bedroom Beach House – feature private magnesium plunge pools, full-sized kitchens, standalone bars, expansive entertainer’s terraces, laundry facilities and seamless indoor-outdoor living spaces that capture the breezy soul of the southern Gold Coast.
In addition, Beach House guests receive expedited in-suite check-in, a curated gourmet welcome basket, daily à la carte breakfast at LiTO, steam and press services and daily turndown, while tailored experiences can be arranged via the personal host, including a private chef, spa and beauty appointments, VIP restaurant and bar reservations, shopping services or local attraction bookings.
Medina Magic
One of Marrakech’s most beloved properties reopens this month after a quiet refurbishment.
Surrounded by palm and olive trees on the outskirts of Morocco’s UNESCO-protected city, Amanjena has served as a tranquil retreat since its opening in 2000. Now, 25 years later, the resort reopens with new enhancements focusing on both elevating the level of comfort offered and evolving the original, heritage-led design of this iconic resort.
Book ahead for one of the new Pool Pavilion South rooms, which offer 220 sqm of indoor and outdoor living space, interiors featuring Berber carpets and zellige tiles, views over the Amelkis golf course and private heated pools within secluded gardens. Alternatively, families will love the new Three-Bedroom Pool Villa, which, alongside two master suites, includes a third bedroom, expansive indoor living and dining areas, an outdoor shower, a 36 sqm heated swimming pool, and a second lounge with a working fireplace, daybed and desk, effortlessly balancing spaces to socialise and retreat.
The resort’s existing pavilions, inspired by the rose-hued buildings of old Marrakech, have also been given a refresh, and now feature new upholstery including plush headboards, carpets and daybeds, adding texture and softness, alongside updated lighting to further refine the atmosphere. In addition, Amanjena’s two-bedroom villas now feature refreshed fabrics, carpets and soft furnishings, adding a sense of warmth and comfort to each space.
Also look out for the newly designed fitness space featuring a state-of-the-art gym for cardio and weight training, a serene yoga studio, and a sumptuous new restaurant.
Wild Family Fun Down Under
Dinosaur Valley has returned for a new season at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney with a first-of-its-kind Dino Aquarium, promising Dinosaur Valley’s most spectacular addition yet.
In an all-new experience, visitors can step inside a prehistoric world where mighty marine reptiles ruled the ancient seas.
Visitors can peek into an ancient world in this immersive experience exclusive to Scenic World, and during the Dinosaur Valley Passport experience, kids will go on a globetrotting adventure to learn which species ruled which continent and become a certified Junior Ranger in the process.
In addition, there are even more dinosaurs now on display – over 60 dinosaurs and 33 different species across land and sea – including T-Rex, Kronosaurus, Plesiosaurus, Velociraptors, Spinosaurus, and Stegosaurus. The season also promises meet and greets with Dino Rangers, a sneak peek at this season’s dinosaur hatchlings, dino-sized feasts to satisfy post-adventure appetites at the Dino Diner, and Junior Ranger Kits, the perfect take-home for budding palaeontologists.
An Icon Returns
One of the Maldives’ most popular resorts is set to reopen after a six-month renovation.
NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort reopens on 18 December 2025, just in time for family escapes during the festive season. Offering guests a seamless blend of Maldivian tradition and contemporary comfort within the UNESCO-protected Baa Atoll, the renovation has revitalised the family-friendly resort’s villas, dining outlets and leisure facilities while preserving the lush island’s natural beauty.
A 35-minute seaplane flight from the international airport, NH Collection Reethi offers 105 beach and overwater villas, including 16 new villas with pools, giving guests the option of a private plunge pool at their doorstep. However, the resort’s Overwater Villas, which are perched above the turquoise lagoon, remain the most popular and offer direct lagoon access from their private decks.
Guests can try their hand at a range of water sports, including jet skiing, wakeboarding, flyboarding, kayaking, windsurfing, hydrobiking, and stand-up paddleboarding, or snorkel with manta rays, whale sharks and turtles at Hanifaru Bay, a 20-minute boat ride away. Afterwards, return to a range of dining experiences, including Alifaan, the beachfront grill, where wood flames take centre stage; Kaiyo, an overwater restaurant celebrating the harmony of sea, sky, and Asian culinary artistry; and Jumla, an all-day dining restaurant serving global flavours and island freshness.
Be sure to catch those mesmerising Maldivian sunsets, accompanied by tapas, cocktails, and DJ sets, at Atardecer, the sunset beach bar; visit Handhuvaru, a hidden rum bar; or, for special occasions, drop the kids off at the Kids Club and opt for the resort’s Adrift private dining experience.
Your Lord Howe Excuse
Capella Lodge on Australia’s World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island has reopened following a significant refurbishment.
The nine-suite luxury lodge, which offers views of the Tasman Sea and the island’s towering peaks, has spruced up its best-loved outdoor spaces, with Gowers Terrace fully refreshed and designed to make the most of the island’s perpetual spring climate with time spent lounging and dining al fresco.
The space now features expansive blackbutt decking with elegant banquettes for relaxed dining and lounging; a new drinks ledge, the perfect perch for morning coffee or sunset cocktails; stylish new outdoor furnishings by Tribu and Robert Plumb via the Cranbrook Workshop, complemented by the much-loved – now vintage – turquoise Gervasoni cubes; and a sparkling new Capella light installation, a tribute to the property’s namesake constellation.
Each guest suite verandah has also been updated with fresh outdoor furnishings to echo the new look of the main terrace, creating serene outdoor spaces in which to relax and unwind.
Meanwhile, adventure awaits those keen to explore Lord Howe Island’s diverse landscape, as a new fleet of 12 e-bikes has been introduced, along with an entire fleet of new mountain bikes.