Anantara Hotels & Resorts is turning 25 this year, and it is marking the moment around a simple premise: that a destination reveals more of itself when you stop rushing through it. That there is an art to slowing down. Across its properties, from Rome to Ras Al Khaimah, the brand has curated a set of experiences that trade the postcard version of travel for something closer to the ground, and closer to the people who actually live there.

Cities, at a Slower Pace

Rome, of course, needs no introduction. But Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel offers one anyway, ferrying guests down the Tiber River by private boat rather than through the usual crowded piazzas. The city passes by at its own pace, façades and centuries drifting past the water’s edge, before the evening closes on a rooftop terrace with an aperitivo and a skyline that doesn’t need any further commentary.

In Budapest, Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel steps outside its own considerable grandeur and toward the village of Tard, where Matyó embroidery is still taught the way it has been for generations. Guests sit with local artisans, visit the village church, and share a home-cooked bowl of gulyas, the kind of afternoon that says more about a place than any guidebook could.

Nature, Seen Up Close

Bali is known for its beaches. But Anantara Ubud Bali Resort points guests inland instead, toward rice terraces and the ancient village of Taro, one of the island’s oldest Hindu communities. A resident naturalist leads the way past sacred white buffalo and into a firefly conservation area, a more grounded side of the island that most visitors never see.

In Malaysia, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas waits until nightfall to begin. A naturalist-led boat glides through the mangroves as fireflies gather along the banks, a gourmet picnic served on board. It is an experience built entirely around stillness, a rare commodity in most itineraries.

Then there’s Victoria Falls. The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara turns a single viewpoint into a full day out. It starts in the air with a 22-minute helicopter ride over the falls and the gorge below. From there, guests take a private boat down the Zambezi River to a quiet island, where the day ends in a peaceful setting that lets the size and power of the falls really sink in.

Culture, Learned by Hand

Near Jaipur, Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur Hotel leads guests to the village of Manpura, where hand-knotted carpets, pottery and lacquer bangles are still crafted the traditional way. A walk through old Rajput lanes and a meal cooked by local families round out a day built on real connection with the artisans.

At Anantara Angkor Resort in Siem Reap, the lotus becomes a throughline for the day, beginning at the stone carvings of Angkor Wat and continuing at a lotus farm at sunset, where guests harvest and weave lotus silk by hand. The day ends with a multi-course dinner inspired by royal Khmer tradition, with each dish linked back to the flower.

And in Ras Al Khaimah, Anantara Mina Ras Al Khaimah Resort turns to the region’s pearl-diving heritage at Suwaidi Pearl Farm, guiding guests through the process from oyster to finished pearl, a craft that once defined the emirate’s identity along its coastline.

A Milestone Worth Slowing Down For

All nine experiences share one idea. The best way to mark 25 years isn’t to look back. It’s to give guests a new way to see the world right in front of them. These anniversary experiences are available across Anantara’s hotels throughout 2026, with each property putting its own spin on the celebration.

If you’d rather wander than rush through a checklist, this is the kind of birthday you’ll want an invite to.

See the full collection here.