Amala Destinations

Today, we celebrate the birthday of our founder, Ee Cheng Tseng.

She believed the best journeys weren’t measured by how far we travelled, but by how deeply a place could move us. From the spiritual landscapes of Bhutan to the temples of Kyoto, the rice terraces of Bali, the alpine village of L**h in Austria, and the cities she returned to time and again, she sought out destinations with soul - places that inspired curiosity, connection and wonder. These are just a few of the places that shaped her and, in turn, the spirit of Amala.

That spirit continues to guide us today, and in every journey we create.

Happy Birthday, Ee Cheng. Thank you for showing us the magic of travel.

At first glance, Bhutan and Puglia couldn’t be more different. One is a Himalayan kingdom, the other a sun-drenched region in Southern Italy.

Yet beyond geography, they share many of the same values that define the way we travel at Amala: strong traditions, deep connections to community, slow food cultures, craftsmanship, spirituality, and a way of life that remains closely tied to the land. Because sometimes the places that stay with us most are not connected by borders, but by the values they preserve and the stories they continue to tell. Some places speak the same language, even when they are worlds apart.

A small reflection on two destinations that continue to inspire the way we travel.

Enjoy exclusive privileges on select Belmond rail journeys.

This summer, discover Europe through some of its most iconic rail journeys. Watch landscapes unftravellers your window, linger over long lunches, and travel at a pace that invites you to savour every moment. Selected 2026 departures now include a range of special privileges, from added value for solo travellers and families to complimentary hotel stays on select journeys.

A direct flight, and suddenly a weekend in Munich feels remarkably close. Together with , we explore 48 hours in the Bavarian capital - from market mornings at Viktualienmarkt and strolls through the Englischer Garten to afternoons at Nymphenburg Palace and lively evenings at Hofbräuhaus.

A city of grand boulevards, beer gardens, riverside surfers, and old-world charm, best experienced slowly.
Direct flights with Lufthansa make Munich an easy long weekend from Singapore.

Long before Amala existed, Bhutan was already shaping the relationships and journeys that would eventually form its foundation.

This photograph, taken years ago during a trek captures our founder Mrs Tseng alongside our Bhutanese co-founder Dorji. What began as a shared love for Bhutan, its people, landscapes, and deeply rooted sense of community, slowly grew into years of returning, travelling, and creating journeys together.

Many of the experiences that define Amala today were born from those early moments spent walking through villages, sharing meals with local families, and building genuine friendships across the country.

More than 15 years later, Bhutan remains at the heart of Amala.

Two complimentary nights at Amankora this summer when booking a 7 night journey crafted by Amala.

From now until 15 September 2026, experience Bhutan through Aman’s Himalayan Summer Retreat: a slower journey through monasteries, mountain valleys, and the lodges of Thimphu, Bumthang, and Gangtey.

Days unfold through monastery visits, forested valleys, prayer ceremonies, and unhurried moments within Amankora’s understated world of calm and comfort.

DM to access this experience with Amala Destinations.

Through France: One Table at a Time.

At Benoît, time seems to slow beneath mirrored walls, red banquettes, and the soft glow of Belle Époque Paris.

Opened in 1912 near the former Les Halles market once known as “the belly of Paris”, Benoît became beloved for its generous bistro cooking and warm atmosphere, welcoming everyone from market workers and artists to locals gathering late into the evening. More than a century later, it remains one of the last historic Parisian bistros still preserving that spirit today.

There is a certain kind of romance in places like this. Not only in the dining room itself, but in the feeling that some rituals still endure. Cassoulet prepared with patience. Tables lingering over wine. Recipes passed down rather than reinvented.

In a city constantly evolving, Benoît remains deeply rooted in the Paris that so many still come searching for.

Experience Paris through the places that continue to shape its cultural memory with Amala Destinations.

Normandy untolds like an impressionist painting in motion. From wandering through Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny, to tracing the dramatic cliffs of Étretat that he returned to again and again with his canvas, this is a journey shaped by light, landscape, and the quiet beauty that inspired some of France’s greatest artists.

Along the way, linger in seaside towns like Honfleur, where Monet once stayed for over a year, endlessly captivated by the changing skies and harbour scenes that would later appear in his works.

Experience Normandy through an impressionist lens with Amala.