A new generation of tourists is turning upward—both literally and spiritually—for more rooted and significant options to conventional holidays.
This new trend isn’t so much about arriving at picturesque peaks; it’s about seeing travel anew. Modern travelers are looking for brands that transcend providing lovely locations to lay one’s head, offering immersive, experience-driven journeys that are strongly connected to the spirit of place. Such places emphasize cultural connection, environmental stewardship, and the sort of storytelling that stays with you long after you’ve emptied your luggage.
From the isolated valleys of the Himalayas to the windswept steppes of Patagonia and the placid waters of Lake Titicaca, three standout hospitality brands—Shakti, Awasi, and Andean—are reimagining what high-altitude travel can be.
Shakti Himalaya – Intentional Adventures in the Indian Himalayas
For visitors who long to experience the understated beauty of the Indian Himalayas, Shakti is more than a vista—it’s a way of life. Shakti was established in 2006 by Jamshyd Sethna, and Shakti’s privately guided Village Walks take visitors between restored village houses, run in intimate collaboration with locals.
Each activity is undertaken with intention, be it meditating with monks, discovering Himalayan cuisine with local chefs, or trekking cloud forests with Lepcha, Nepali, and Bhutia hosts.
In Uttarakhand, 2025 sees the launch of Prana, a seven-suite lodge powered by the sun and sitting at 7,000 feet, and Panchachuli, a cozy three-bedroom hideaway with panoramic mountain vistas. Shakti Sikkim provides monastery excursions and misty hikes from October to April, and Shakti Ladakh welcomes travelers to explore glacier-fed rivers and desert plateaus from May to September.
Fully inclusive visits include private chefs, knowledgeable English-speaking guides, and customized itineraries so that visitors can attend to what’s most important: connection with substance.
Awasi – Private Tours of the Mythical Wildlife of South America
For travelers attracted to nature’s extremes, Awasi designs expeditions into South America’s most remarkable landscapes—always completely private, always intensely personal.
Visitors can explore Chile’s Atacama Desert’s lunar landscape from round suites inspired by pre-Inca designs, roam the puma-tracked steppes of Patagonia from stilted villas with views over Torres del Paine, or escape to elevated rainforest villas at Iguazú where plunge pools give out onto the sounds of the jungle.
Each guest enjoys their own guide and 4WD vehicle, allowing them the liberty to break free from rigid timetables and group tours. Awasi’s commitment to low-impact design, local culture, and personalized exploration means that no two trips are ever identical.
The brand’s horizons keep broadening with the addition of Cavas Wine Lodge in Mendoza, Argentina—where lofty vineyards embrace the Andean skyline—and Ponta dos Ganchos in Brazil, a coastal haven nestled between the rainforest and the ocean.
Andean – A Spiritual Journey Along the Southern Travesía of Peru
Andean is less an experience of merely passing through and more an immersion into a place—listening to the silence, feeling the altitude, and grasping how the landscape shapes life.
Its six defining characteristics offer an unparalleled entrance to the most remote regions of Southern Peru. Titilaka sits at 4,000 meters above sea level on the shores of Lake Titicaca, where water, sky, and mountain converge in a stunning, unbroken horizon. At the recently opened Tinajani, tented suites are tucked into great sandstone formations, the ideal location for stargazing and introspection.
The Colca Valley provides PUQIO with condor-studded skies and pre-Inca terracing, while Arequipa’s CIRQA turns a 16th-century monastery into a minimalist stone haven. Lima’s Atemporal and Fausto bookend the trip with flashes of creativity and urban sophistication. Throughout all destinations, Andean’s philosophy is one of deep respect for each location, making every sojourn an invitation to slow down, listen, and genuinely connect.
The future of travel is high—in every sense. Shakti, Awasi, and Andean are evidence that high-end travel doesn’t have to equal excess—it can equal intimacy, authenticity, and respect for the natural world. For the visitor who wants not only to see but to feel, not only to visit but to belong, these high-altitude retreats offer experiences that transform as much as they inspire. For sometimes, the most effective path to discovering oneself begins at the summit of the world.
