Destinations: Africa & The Middle East

Sometimes you need a month away in a destination halfway around the globe. Other times, a couple of days are enough to relax with friends and family or find a fresh perspective. Four Seasons can help fill out even a short time: See San Francisco through a new lens, play fetch in Palm Beach, soak in a hammam in Marrakech. Here, we share some of the best ways to make the most of your destination.

Enhance your vacation snaps, whether you’re capturing images with the latest DSLR or using your smartphone. Set out from Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero with award-winning photographer Adam Jacobs – whose subjects have included Nelson Mandela, former President Barack Obama and rock star Mick Jagger – for a private photography class with the city’s iconic landmarks as your muses. Shutterbugs of all skill levels will learn how to perfectly frame shots of the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square, or pick up tips on food photography or family portraits. After your photo tour of the city, return to the Hotel and review your photos with Jacobs, learning how to fine-tune and edit your own set of images.

Prefer to see the city on your own? The Through the Lens experience gives you the option of taking a self-guided tour at your own pace after an online session with Jacobs to discuss photography dos and don’ts. Then reconnect with Jacobs online to review your images in the comfort of the Hotel.

One of the best ways to get a sense of place is by taste. In Tokyo, that means a trip to Tsukiji Outer Market, known as Japan’s “Food Town.” Rise early at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi and meet your guide – a local fourth-generation Edomae sushi chef – for an insider’s visit to the market, where you’ll browse the day’s freshest catches and local produce. Afterwards, enjoy a private meal at the chef’s century-old, family-owned restaurant to savour the flavours you discovered during your shopping trip.

For another taste of Tokyo, end your day with a traditional onsen bath in the Hotel’s Spa. Relax in the hot spring water as you sip herbal tea – and treat yourself with the addition of a massage, facial or body treatment.

What could be better than a day at the beach? A day at the beach paired with a welcoming nuzzle or the adoring gaze of puppy eyes. The newest team member at Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach is Fort, an Australian Labradoodle puppy. As the Resort’s therapy dog, he’ll help you settle into your home away from home, greeting you at check-in or stopping at your cabana during his walk around the pool to have his ears scratched. Pulling double duty, he also visits local organizations like schools and hospitals to provide affection and comfort to humans in need.

After a day spent sailing the Intracoastal Waterway, browsing Palm Beach’s world-class boutiques or exploring the tropical landscape by bike, a cuddle session with your new furry friend is an ideal way to relax with loved ones.

Find inspiration in Bangkok’s creative district, home to galleries, boutiques and the new Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River. Thanks to a partnership between the Hotel and the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art, you’ll enjoy a unique opportunity to experience Bangkok’s creative landscape, right at your front door: The innovative new ART Space gallery-style showcase extends from the Hotel’s tranquil arrival lobby to the riverfront promenade and features a rotating selection of Thai artists. Gather with friends, sip bespoke cocktails and wander through garden courtyards taking in the display.

There’s more to discover without going too far: Just steps from the Hotel lies historic Charoen Krung Road – the oldest thoroughfare in Bangkok. Dotted with historic landmarks like Buddhist and Chinese temples and 19th-century neoclassical buildings, the road leads to an abundance of spots to explore. Let the Hotel’s Concierge lead you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the small streets and alleys that make up the neighbourhood, from after-hours gallery tours to street food favourites.

You don’t need a full-blown safari experience to reap the benefits of spending time with nature. Escape from the bustle of the city with a short stay at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, deep in the heart of the world’s most celebrated wildlife reserves. Our favourite way to spend the day? Lounging on a sun bed by the free-form infinity pool, where you’re perfectly positioned to spot elephants when they gather at a nearby watering hole. For something a little more active, set off with a Maasai guide or a park ranger for a 90-minute walk and the chance to catch a glimpse of the Big Five – lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants and rhinoceros – and other wildlife at home in the Serengeti. Help install a “camera trap” to digitally record these fascinating animals on the move.

End your day with an uphill nature hike with a Maasai guide and a yogi to the Lodge’s sunset kopje, where captivating views help clear your mind during a meditation session that will leave you re-energized and ready to return to your daily life.

Your wine-country getaway can begin and end at the new Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley, surrounded by acres of vineyards and framed by green forests and majestic mountains.

Nestled in the Calistoga American Viticultural Area, the Resort’s 7.4-acre organic vineyard specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon and has been carefully designed and planted to intensify the grapes’ flavour. Get hands-on experience in winemaking – help harvest the grapes, learn how to sort them and try your hand at blending wine – during a session with Resort winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, or join him for a tasting session, where he’ll describe Calistoga’s unique terroir and talk about the differences between floral and woody, balanced and rounded, and fruit-driven and terroir-driven wines. End your day with a meal at TRUSS Restaurant + Bar, featuring the best of Napa Valley cuisine, and or gather in your private villa with friends and loved ones and raise a glass to your time together.

Hammam rituals have long been a part of Moroccan culture, adopted from Roman civilization in the seventh century and considered an important step in cleansing both body and mind. Steam away your stress with an authentic hammam experience at Four Seasons Resort Marrakech. After a deep steam in the Resort’s mosaic-tiled hammam, enjoy a full body exfoliation using traditional Moroccan black soap and a kessa glove, and a soothing body mask made from Atlas Mountains clay.

Refreshed and replenished, join a Resort specialist in the Spa garden to harvest herbs for a custom tisane. Sip your tea as you wander through the Resort’s 16 hectares of Moorish gardens and pools, or enjoy the mountain views from your private terrace. This private oasis is yours to explore.

What better way to spend a few days away than to focus on self-care? At Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles, the entire fourth floor is dedicated to wellness, including new specialized guest rooms and suites with air purification systems, sound machines and hypoallergenic materials. A Wellness Office, designed to keep you engaged and energized during the workday, features a conference table with adjustable height, a standing desk and a variety of healthy snacks. These calming spaces minimize the impact of travel on the body and optimize your physical and emotional well-being.

Short on time? Amplify your wellness benefits with a two-hour session in the Private Fitness Suite. You and a couple of friends get exclusive access to the room’s features, including a treadmill, Hydrow rowing machine, Peloton bike, yoga equipment, weights and SoulCycle bike. End your workout with a guided meditation session narrated by Deepak Chopra to restore mental clarity, or a soak in the suite’s private shower.

Perched high above the Ionian Sea, San Domenico Palace traces its origins to the 14th century, when it was established as a convent for Dominican nuns. Today, it’s home to the new San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel. With magnificent views of Mount Etna and the ancient Greek theatre, the Hotel is an iconic Sicilian landmark. Explore its rich history with an expert Four Seasons guide, who will point out original architectural details like traditional cloisters, choir stalls and restored frescos, plus an extensive array of paintings, sculptures, restored artefacts and relics on display in the Galleria.

Continue your historical journey beyond the Hotel: A guide will lead you to sites like the medieval village of Castiglione di Sicilia, Palazzo Corvaja and Piazza IX Aprile, where you’ll learn about the many cultures that have occupied Sicily over the centuries. Or make the Hotel’s Italian gardens, shaded by jasmine and hibiscus trees, yours for an afternoon of quiet contemplation or a romantic stroll.