Elite Traveler March-April 2017

INSPIRE ADVENTURES TOP 50 ADVENTURES

Grappling Tokyo TOKYO, JAPAN

Zip lining ST LUCIA

Japan’s cherished sport is steeped in ancient traditions, many of which are still practiced to this day (including salt purification). Sumo wrestlers’ lives are tightly disciplined, with many required to reside in communal sumo training stables where every aspect of their daily routine is decreed by strict rules. Palace Hotel Tokyo’s Grappling Tokyo package offers an exclusive opportunity to go behind the scenes of this traditional sport. Your personal guide, a sumo sports broadcaster, will show you the sacred Ryōgoku Kokugikan arena and the sumo wrestlers’ stable (depending on season) before witnessing the mighty warriors in action at a sumo-wrestling tournament. Stay in the hotel’s crowning Palace suite, with a spacious living area and sumptuous furnishings. Price $17,947 for two during low season Contact Fumi Yanagihara, concierge manager, yanagiharaf@palacehotel.jp, +81 3 3211 5211, en.palacehoteltokyo.com

The immense beauty of St Lucia is best seen from above. Gaze below at the treetops, lush vegetation and flowing rivers as you glide through the open air on a zip line. The Ladera resort offers two zip-line adventures: one flying through the rainforest, and the other a high-adrenaline zip under the Petit Piton. Both offer outstanding views. If you want to admire the island’s astonishing scenery while on solid ground, the Ladera resort is perched 1,100ft above the Caribbean Sea and offers dramatic views of the Piton Mountains. The unique resort fully utilizes its natural surroundings – each of its 32 suites has an open wall, meaning that the west side of each is left open to expose the awe-inspiring scenery while preserving complete privacy. The Heritage Suite offers views of the Pitons, situated within a World Heritage Site, and the open-air master bedroom lets you wake up to the same breathtaking views. Price from $1,674 per night Contact Shay Renee, reservations manager, shay@ladera.com, +1 758 459 6618, ladera.com