Traveller Awards: Hall of Fame – the legends of travel

Traveller Awards: Hall of Fame

We salute our travel icons, those consistently excellent places or brands that deliver time and time again. Read on for our Traveller Awards 2024 winners in the Hall of Fame category.

Journey Beyond

Indian Pacific

For a nation notorious for being slow on the fast train uptake, there’s at least the consolation that nostalgic slow long-distance train travel has been preserved Down Under. But don’t thank the politicians, per se, for saving from extinction two of the world’s truly great rail journeys, namely The Ghan (Adelaide-Darwin-Adelaide) and the Indian Pacific (Sydney-Perth-Sydney). Credit Journey Beyond, a private, Adelaide-based tourism outfit. The company has transformed the iconic two trains, along with the spinoff Great Southern (Brisbane-Adelaide-Brisbane), into world-class, multi-day rail cruises that, in the true tradition of luxury rail, are more concerned with the wonders of the journey, including some inspired off-train excursions and experiences, than the final destination. See journeybeyond.com

Intrepid Travel

It’s about giving back ... Intrepid Travel tree-planting sessions in Costa Rica.

Responsible travel. You hear it bandied about all the time, but for Intrepid Travel it’s the driving force behind everything it does. From humble beginnings in 1989 to the world’s largest travel B corporation, Intrepid continues to create positive change through the joy of travel. Whether staying with a local family in Azerbaijan or looking for toucans in Costa Rica it’s all about giving back, getting off the beaten path and being immersed in the places visited. If that’s not enough, since 2002 the Intrepid Foundation has raised $15.5 million and supported more than 160 communities around the world. Travel as a force for good has never looked brighter. See intrepidtravel.com

Mandarin Oriental

Still one of the world’s most glamorous hotel brands … Mandarin Oriental Singapore.

In 1985, the marriage of two venerable hotels, Hong Kong’s The Mandarin, which opened in 1963, and Bangkok’s The Oriental, dating to 1876, created one of the world’s most glamorous hotel brands. MO is known for its flawless service, Michelin-starred restaurants, opulent spas and elegance of design. From its base in Asia, the group has expanded to Europe, the Middle East and the Americas, with hotels in New York, London Mayfair, Muscat, Marrakech, Bodrum and Barcelona part of the portfolio. Despite a strong sense of place, the hotels and resorts are unified by their sense of Oriental calm with a golden fan as the group’s symbol. See mandarinoriental.com

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons

The warm welcome and the attention to detail lift Le Manoir above its rivals.

Talk about starting with a bang. Raymond Blanc scored two Michelin stars straight out of the gate 40 years ago when he opened his Oxfordshire restaurant, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. Even as he held on to those stars, Blanc developed Le Manoir into much more than a restaurant: it now has 32 rooms as well as a cooking and a gardening school. The warm welcome and the attention to detail lift Le Manoir above its rivals, from the freshly baked lemon cake waiting for you in your room to the rose-petal martini made with crimson petals plucked fresh from the majestic gardens. See belmond.com

The Rocky Mountaineer, Canada

A Rocky Mountaineer train pictured traversing picturesque Mule Shoe Lake in Alberta.Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Consistently voted one of the world’s best train journeys, the Rocky Mountaineer has been a rollicking success since its maiden journey in 1990 through the Canadian Rockies. It continues to upgrade and expand its fleet including the luxurious GoldLeaf cars with glass dome ceilings, outdoor viewing platform and chef-prepared meals on board, while an additional three routes have been added, including to Utah. Offering unbeatable scenery, incredible service and entertaining commentary, it’s little wonder Rocky Mountaineer has grown to become the world’s largest privately owned luxury train company and tops the bucket list for countless Aussie travellers. See rockymountaineer.com

Palace Hotel Tokyo

The Palace Hotel overlooks Tokyo’s Imperial Palace and its gardens.

Think of the Palace Hotel Tokyo as your home away from home – and this home commands views of Tokyo’s Imperial Palace, its walls are lined with more than 700 pieces of original art, its foyer has a huge glass frontage framing a single, perfect maple tree, it has several of Tokyo’s best restaurants and its best cocktail bar on site, and its rooms have balconies overlooking the Imperial Gardens. The Palace Hotel really does feel like home because it’s so friendly, so warm and so comfortable, which might just be the ultimate achievement for somewhere so curated, luxurious and historic. It’s a phenomenal property. See en.placehoteltokyo.com

Lake House Daylesford

An icon of regional Australian hospitality … Lake House Daylesford turns 40.

The Lake House might have just celebrated its 40th birthday, but this is a property that is still constantly evolving, still changing to meet the times while retaining its rich sense of self. On the original property, on the shores of Lake Daylesford, sits Alla Wolf-Tasker’s fine-dining restaurant and boutique hotel, an icon of regional Australian hospitality. In recent years, however, the Lake House has expanded into Dairy Flat Farm, a luxury self-contained property next to the Lake House’s bakery, and Wombat Hill House, which sells those bakery goods from the Botanic Gardens. Here’s hoping we see another 40 years. See lakehouse.com.au

Resplendent Ceylon

Wild Coast Tented Lodge, Yala, part of the Resplendent Ceylon portfolio.

When Tea Trails opened in the Central Highlands in 2005, it was a game-changer for Sri Lanka, which was emerging from a 26-year civil war. The collection of restored colonial-era bungalows scattered among the Dilmah tea company’s hilly plantations brought the concept of luxury to a country that had been considered a backpacker’s destination. Tea Trails is the brainchild of Dilmah tea heir Malik Fernando, a passionate advocate for his country who has been crucial in supporting Sri Lankan tourism through its troubled history, including the recent financial crisis. The Resplendent Ceylon portfolio has recently added younger lifestyle brand Reverie to its collection of Relais and Chateaux partnered hotels. See resplendentceylon.com

Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail, New Zealand

A New Zealand “great ride” ... the route’s Waitaki Valley will become Australasia’s first Global Geopark.Credit: New Zealand Tourism Office

This iconic “great ride” from the peaks of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to the port of Oamaru celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. During a six-day trip with outdoor specialist Adventure South, riders get to sample the South Island’s hearty regional fare, stay in delightful boutique accommodation and meet some of the hospitality pioneers that make the trail possible. Adding to its appeal, UNESCO has declared the route’s Waitaki Valley will become Australasia’s first Global Geopark, recognising its Maori heritage, fossil record and unique geology, which includes limestone cliffs and glacial valleys. See adventuresouth.co.nz

Flam Railway, Norway

The 20-kilometre trip is still one of the world’s steepest standard-gauge railway lines.Credit: Getty Images

For most people, the main reason to visit Flam, the village at the end of the 29-kilometre-long Aurlandsfjord in western Norway, is the Flam Railway. And it’s a compelling one. Despite opening in 1940, the 20-kilometre trip is still one of the world’s steepest standard-gauge railway lines – an engineering marvel that snakes through a spectacular montage of plunging valleys, raging rivers and thundering waterfalls. Everyone from National Geographic to Lonely Planet has declared it one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys. Even if you’re not a train buff, you should see what all the fuss is about. See norwaysbest.com/the-flam-railway

Traveller Awards contributors: Kate Armstrong, John Borthwick, Jim Darby, Anthony Dennis, Ben Groundwater, Julietta Jameson, Trudi Jenkins, Brian Johnston, Ute Junker, Katrina Lobley, Catherine Marshall, Rob McFarland, Justin Meneguzzi, Craig Platt, Jane Reddy, Jane Richards, Tim Richards, Craig Tansley, Lee Tulloch, Kerry van der Jagt, Penny Watson, Sue Williams