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Curating Escapes of a Lifetime: How LushEscapes is Redefining Luxury Travel for the Soul

Sonali Tandon

30-Jun-2025

Curating Escapes of a Lifetime: How LushEscapes is Redefining Luxury Travel for the Soul

In conversation with Abhishek Dadlani, Founder, LushEscapes

In an era where travel transcends itineraries and taps into personal transformation, LushEscapes has carved a niche for those who seek not just luxury, but meaning in their journeys. Helmed by a visionary who left the predictable path of banking to chart new adventures in bespoke travel, the brand is now a trusted curator for discerning global nomads and ultra-high-net-worth explorers. In this candid conversation with GlobalSpa Middle East, the founder of LushEscapes opens up about chasing purpose, redefining wellness on the move, and what true luxury means in today’s connected-yet-craving-solitude world.

In an exclusive interaction with GlobalSpa Middle East, the founder of LushEscapes opens up about purposeful transitions, redefining wellness on the go, and what it truly means to feel luxury in 2025.

1. From corporate banking to curating bespoke journeys—what inner calling or pivotal moment led to this leap into the luxury travel space?

“I’ve always believed that the most powerful journeys are the ones that shift your perspective,” the founder shares. LushEscapes wasn’t born out of impulse but intention. Having tasted professional success in corporate banking, the yearning for meaning eventually won over. Travel became the medium, and the mission was clear—design experiences that don’t just impress but transform.

2. Can you take us back to the first ever LushEscapes itinerary you personally curated? What made it special, and what did you learn from that experience?

The first itinerary I curated under Lushescapes was for a group of close-knit business leaders seeking solitude and inspiration. It was in Ladakh, remote, spiritual, raw. What made it special was that it wasn’t about ticking boxes; it was about reconnecting with the self in a setting that demanded presence. That journey taught me that travel at its finest is not about movement—it’s about meaning.

3. The definition of luxury travel is constantly evolving. How would LushEscapes define “luxury” in 2025—and how is that reflected in your travel philosophy?

In 2025, luxury is about intentionality. It’s less about opulence and more about nuance, privacy, time, authenticity, and access. At Lushescapes, we define luxury as the feeling of being seen, understood, and transformed. That belief shapes every experience we build, whether it’s a curated escape for a family or a leadership retreat in the Arctic Circle.

4. In an age where travel is as much about restoration as recreation, how does LushEscapes incorporate wellness touchpoints like spa immersions, nutrition, digital detox, and spiritual wellness into your itineraries?

Wellness, to us, is a way of travel, not an activity within it. From silent forest walks in Finland to plant-based culinary journeys in Sri Lanka, our itineraries are designed to restore. We've collaborated with mindfulness practitioners, yoga guides, nutritionists, even breathwork therapists across destinations. The idea is to help people return home lighter, mentally and emotionally.

5. LushEscapes caters to a niche yet global clientele. How do you maintain a sense of personalization and cultural relevance across diverse geographies?

While our clientele spans continents, our approach remains profoundly personal. Every journey begins with a meaningful conversation, not just about where a guest wants to go, but why. We seek to understand the traveler’s pace, their rhythms, what they long to feel, and what they wish to leave behind.

That depth of insight, paired with our on-ground relationships across the world, allows us to craft experiences that feel both globally sophisticated and deeply human. Whether it’s a private temple dinner in Cambodia, a foraging hike through the Dolomites, a curated art immersion in Cape Town, a soul-stirring lodge stay in Patagonia, or a spiritual reset in Sedona, we show up with relevance, respect, and emotional fluency.

From Southeast Asia to Europe, from Africa to the Americas and Latin America, we operate with the same compass: intimate, intentional, and inspired travel, no matter the continent.

6. How do you balance high-end indulgence with sustainability, especially when catering to clients who demand the best without compromising ethical travel standards?

Our belief is simple: you don’t have to choose between sustainability and luxury. You just have to design better. We partner with properties and experiences that respect ecosystems and communities. We often redirect demand toward lesser-known but equally profound places, creating economic value in quieter regions, while offering clients something rare. Our clients trust that their choices with us have a ripple effect that’s positive.

7. What are your top five destinations right now for someone looking to disconnect, reset, and rediscover themselves?

Right now, I would say:

  • Bhutan – for its unmatched sense of purpose

  • Faroe Islands – for complete digital detachment

  • South Luangwa, Zambia – for pure, wild humility

  • Arctic Norway – where silence becomes a teacher

  • Sacred Valley, Peru – to reconnect with time and ancestry

8. Do you believe luxury travel can play a role in personal transformation? Can you share a client story or itinerary where the journey went far beyond the itinerary?

Yes, absolutely. One of our most memorable projects was curating a sabbatical for a founder recovering from burnout. It was a three-month journey across Japan, Costa Rica, and South Africa, each location chosen for a specific emotional purpose. What started as a luxury getaway became a structured path to healing and personal renewal. That’s what travel can do when done with intention.

9. Among the many boutique travel curators, what makes LushEscapes stand out? Is it a signature element, a philosophy, or an emotion you seek to evoke?

What makes us different isn’t a destination, it’s our depth. We’re not a travel company. We’re curators of emotion, memory, and momentum. Whether we’re planning for a family, a CEO, or a school community, our process is rooted in empathy, precision, and storytelling. Our travelers don’t just return—they evolve.

10. What does the next chapter look like? Any exciting verticals—like private wellness islands, medical retreats, or experiential wellness festivals—in your blueprint for growth?

The next chapter for Lushescapes is expansive, but deeply rooted in intention. We’re exploring new verticals within wellness hospitality—private island takeovers, intergenerational wellness residencies, and co-hosted retreats with thought leaders, artists, and even clinical wellness experts. Our vision is to evolve into an ecosystem—one that harmonizes travel, transformation, and legacy.

One initiative particularly close to my heart is our upcoming Gen Alpha project—a pioneering movement that introduces conscious travel to children and young adults from an early age. It’s built to nurture empathy, global fluency, and environmental consciousness through immersive, age-intelligent journeys that spark curiosity and character. It’s about creating future-ready citizens of the world—compassionate, curious, and connected.

Ultimately, we see Lushescapes becoming more than a curator of luxury—it’s a platform for meaningful evolution. The goal is to leave a softer footprint, but a deeper mark.

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