The events of the past year have compelled a newfound sense of appreciation for the great outdoors, with many of us finding solace in the beauty of nature. At Amanzoe, this period of downtime has brought new life into the fragrant gardens and rolling olive groves that surround the resort, where the verdant landscapes of the Peloponnese peninsula are now ready and waiting to welcome guests once again. With a host of new experiences for 2021, the resort’s Pavilions and Villas offer an ideal escape to reconnect with one another and the earth, in space, seclusion and serenity, from 21 April.
Villas to call home
Ideal for families, Amanzoe’s collection of one- to nine-bedroom standalone villas are sea-view sanctuaries with facilities for guests of all ages. Children are enthralled with junior yoga sessions; menus are prepared by the villa’s personal chefs, and trained staff offer age-tailored activities ranging from tennis lessons to Watsu therapy or even boat trips to the Aegean islands.
Designed by renowned architect Ed Tuttle, the villas bring together the colonial grandeur of classical Greek architecture where modern amenities and the feeling of consummate privacy are found in abundance.
Well-suited to those seeking togetherness, Amanzoe’s four-, five- and six- bedroom villas are perfect for families with private pools, landscaped gardens and expansive terraces to encourage an outdoor lifestyle. Each bedroom affords its own en suite to ensure each guest some time alone, while for entertaining, the airy and open plan living- and dining-rooms are lively social hubs.
New for this season, Amanzoe also welcomes a two-bedroomed villa to its collection, allowing smaller groups of friends or families their very own private slice of the peninsula. Close to the resort’s Beach Club and serviced by a chef and housekeeper, guests can choose to make use of the resort’s amenities, or alternatively spend time together in peaceful tranquility.
Other villa developments for 2021 include upgrades to Villas 2 and 14, which now benefit from private gyms within their Pool Pavilion areas. Brand new state-of-the-art equipment includes Peloton Bikes, Life Fitness G7 Cable Motion Gym Systems, Eleiko Vertical Dumbbells and TRX Pro Belts, ideal for guests seeking to maintain their wellness routine while travelling.
The masterpiece of Amanzoe’s villas is the Acropolis inspired Villa 20. Created in harmony with the surrounding landscape, the villa cascades down a hillside in six tiers of sculpture-dotted fragrant gardens.
It features nine bedrooms and six private pools, a 650 square-metre spa, combining elegant indoor-outdoor living and space to sleep up to 18 guests. Ideal for events and celebrations, or simply an escape with room enough for the whole family, Villa 20 even has its very own Greek taverna serviced by the villa’s chef and host, who bring Aman’s intuitive service into what feels like one’s very own private home.
Room to reset
Those looking to switch off and connect with Amanzoe’s breathtaking location will enjoy the new exceptional wellness offerings available this season. New for 2021, the resort has introduced visiting wellness practitioners, a tennis camp and three exclusive Wellness Retreats which run for four-nights or more.
The first, the Restore & Rebalance Retreat, sees the focus placed on achieving a deep sense of inner balance, peace and relaxation while developing the skills for managing a stressful lifestyle.
Through a range of wellness treatments and nurturing activities, such as an Aroma Balancing Massage, Aquatic Bodywork, Movement and Mindfulness sessions and Sound Therapy, stillness is created in the mind and body leaving guests feeling lighter, more empowered, and with a deeper sense of clarity, self-awareness and focus. Alternatively, the Sleep Enhancement Retreat works on balancing the energy system through the combination of Sound Therapy, Thai Massage and Aromatherapy Massage to promote deep relaxation.
Yoga & Yoga Nidra Meditation sessions – also known as dynamic sleep – help to align the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems by gently guiding guests through four main stages of brain wave activity to help them unwind. The third retreat focuses on Fitness in Nature with activities including hiking, cross-training, and ocean kayaking to increase fitness levels in the great outdoors. Each retreat includes a pre- and post-stay wellness consultation.
The resort will also host visiting wellbeing specialists throughout the upcoming season. In August, Andrea Hurst – nicknamed the ‘Reflexology Guru’ – will offer her unique approach to healing and wellbeing through reflexology. Her treatments work by stimulating specific reflex points to restore balance in the body, addressing specific issues such as back pain, while simultaneously working on tension levels to restore emotional balance.
Cranial Sacral Therapist and Body Dynamics specialist Robert Hyrsky will also be visiting Amanzoe from 15 September throughout October. With 24 years of experience, Hyrsky’s signature treatment, Body Dynamics addresses the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies, resulting in greater overall wellbeing. Focusing on relieving tension and imbalance in muscles through a multi-faceted approach including chakras and meditations, the treatment is ideal for treating a wide range of illness, pain and dysfunction such as neck, shoulder and back pain, headaches, respiratory difficulties, poor circulation and stress.
For those seeking to boost their sporting skills, the resort will also be partnering with the LUX Tennis Academy from 15 May to 10 November, to provide guests with personalised private tennis lessons and clinics run by high-profile ATP and WTA level coaches.
Lessons will be available to guests of any age and at any level, allowing families to play together, or experts to hone their talents, while tournaments will be arranged on site, enabling healthy competition in a social environment. As part of the collaboration, a Kids Tennis Camp will also be arranged, with dates yet to be confirmed.
Guests will also be able to explore the region on two-wheels, with new e-bikes now available on property, allowing riders of mixed ability and families with children to discover Amanzoe’s surroundings and effortlessly expand their cycle touring possibilities together.
Time to indulge
For those seeking indulgence after a year spent indoors, from May onwards Amanzoe will introduce a Garden to Table dining experience, for those wanting to sample local ingredients from the resort’s newly extended organic gardens. Guests can choose to assist in the meal prep should they wish but are encouraged to simply sit back and satiate the appetite with a freshly cooked meal by Amanzoe’s chefs in a beautiful private setting.
The garden extension is also part of a wider initiative across the resort to increase efforts in sustainability by sourcing as many ingredients as possible on property and from producers within the local vicinity.
Further celebrating the flavours of Greece, the tranquil setting of Amanzoe’s Library will be used to host guest chefs throughout the 2021 season, offering a unique culinary experience. Joining Amanzoe’s Executive Chef, acclaimed celebrity chefs who have shaped Greek gastronomy will guide guests through a special dinner, built around the traditions and the produce of the Argolida and Peloponnese.
Presenting a progressive, creative and flavourful experience based on the heritage of Greek cuisine, the chefs will mix traditional and modern techniques, discussing the conception of each dish with the guests for an interactive experience. Known as the ‘Four Hands Menu’, guests will enjoy four courses, accompanied by Greek wines, while enjoying the elegant atmosphere of the library setting. The dinners will take place throughout June, July and September with exact dates yet to be confirmed.
Also new for this season, the resort will host a weekly From the Sea evening every Saturday at the Beach Club, where the catch-of-the-day is served in a relaxing setting as day turns to dusk. This unique dining experience offers a taste of the Mediterranean and joins the weekly culinary calendar of events which includes an Asian evening each Thursday at Nama, and a Land & Sea Barbecue every Tuesday on the beach.
Website: aman.com/resorts/amanzoe
