Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma Series 4

1  Hungary

Varun Shaman arrives at the Castle Hertelendy, 50kms south of Lake Balaton, where he quickly changes for a trip to the riding school. A little"sore" from riding, Varun then heads to the spa where he finds out how the water is heated by natural thermal pools underground. After heading to the town of Pecs, world famous for glove-making, Varun drops into a local winery. Just before leaving the Castle, Varun takes advantage of an offer to learn Olympic Skeet. Back in Budapest, Varun explores the city with his guide, stopping off to visit the Szechenyi Baths; part of what makes Budapest the "Spa Capital of Europe".
Duration: 60'

 

2  Seychelles

Varun Sharma is delighted by his 2-Bedroom Hill Top Ocean View Suite which offers two floors set 60 meters above the ground with a private terrace and pool! And who wouldn't be. Heading out to the Capital of Victoria Varun head to Jardin du Roi, a botanical garden telling the history of the islands through plants and wildlife. Varun pops in to see well known artist Michael Adams before taking a flight north to Denis Island for a spot of diving with Ted Charles. Later a trip to Cousin Islands brings Varun face-to-face with the Giant Tortoise before visiting the ancient forests to learn about the Coco de Mer tree.
Duration: 60'

 

3  Napa Valley (California)

Varun Shaman arrives at the Hotel Yountille, where his journey begins at The French Laundry, a world renowned restaurant owned by Thomas Keller. Varun gets a tour of the Culinary Garden where he selects ingredients to cook with Chef Tim Hollingsworth. Varun then takes a lesson in Bocce before indulging in a unique spa treatment at The Solage, which uses a custom blend of California clay, ash and personally selected essential oils before soaking in the Mud Lounge. Revived and ready for action Varun heads up into the skies for a glider trip before putting feet back on the ground for a "Sip'n'Cycle" tour in Jericho Canyon.
Duration: 60'

 

4  Malaysia

Varun Sharma takes a helicopter from Kuala Lumpur to Tioman Island followed by a boat trip to the Eco Resort of Japamala. Varun immediately sets off to explore the local wildlife with Mike the jungle guide. Varun moves on then to the Tanjong Jara Resort where he is given a fabulous Traditional Malay welcome, before the next morning being invited to be "King of the Day". Varun also heads to Bukit Besi Golf Club which is surrounded by Jungle with wild boar and monkeys likely to run across the fairways interrupting that hole-in-one opportunity.
Duration: 60'

 

5  Switzerland

Varun visits Clinique La Prairie located near the town of Montreux, a luxury spa retreat but also a highly acclaimed medical facility offering medicinal, beauty and dental services. Varun then heads to Confiserie Poyet and learns about the art of Swiss chocolate before heading off the side of the mountain on tandem Paraglide. Back in Geneva, Varun is heading off to the Patek Philippe factory where he learns about the trade from the Master Watchmaker. Unsurprisingly, Varun just cannot resist a visit to Davidoff, home to some beautiful cigars. The trip is rounded off style as Varun takes a yacht trip with the Royal Leman Yacht Club including a lesson in wakeboarding on Lac Leman.
Duration: 60'

 

6  Antigua

In the capital city of St. John's Varun Shama visit The Old Courthouse Building which houses the national museum. Later at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket ground, Varun meets up with Curtly Ambrose the world famous cricket player, before playing a few holes of golf with another sporting legend Sir Vivian Richards himself! Varun then heads off to Barbuda and visits the famous Martello Tower, views the Arawak Indian cave paintings and goes out on a boat to the Frigate Bird Sanctuary. At the Shirley Heights Varun joins in the "jump up" and to learn how to make a classic rum punch cocktail. A trip to Antigua would not be complete without a boat trip, and Varun head out on Mystery an impressive sailing yacht to learn more about sailing in Antigua.
Duration: 60'

 

7  Central Coast (California)

Shortly after arrival at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, Varun Sharma heads off to play golf on a course with amazing views of the ocean. More outdoor exercise follows when Varun meets up with Rennet, his riding teacher, and they head off for a trail ride through the beautiful countryside. Heading out Big Sur, Varun meets Gregg Hawthorne and learns about this truly productive artist. A visit to the Henry Miller Library gives Varun a chance to learn more about the building and the literary man. Varun squeezes in a final excursion to Monterey Bay Aquarium where he meets some Sea Otters and learns about the rescue programme that is being run for them.
Duration: 60'

 

8  Sweden

Varun begins his trip at the Treehotel in Swedish Lapland where he finds himself accommodated in modern luxury but "up a tree", 6 meters up a tree to be precise. Guide Love Rynback takes Varun off to a local farm where he takes a lesson in horsemanship - using a horse to move logs instead of trucks. Later he visits Svantes Vilt & Bar, a production house where they process bear, moose and reindeer meat. At The Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Varun gets a chance to cook lobster poached in butter with Executive Chef Mathias Dahlgren, who has Michelin stars for both of his restaurants. Varun then visits the amazing Vasa Museum before finally heading to the National Museum and taking a tour of Swedish Art.
Duration: 60'

 

9  Botswana

Immediately on arrival in Botswana, Varun Sharma has sight of lion, zebra, giraffe, baboon, elephant, impala and hippo! Varun gets even closer to nature with a Mekoro canoe trip and a fire-lighting lesson (the old-fashioned way). A successful fishing trip catches a bream for dinner and the evening rounds up in the Boma around the camp-fire. Varun also visits one of the &Beyond local social projects where 52 orphans are supported with education and food to give them a better chance in life. Overall a show of huge mixed-emotions and that brings Varun closer to the Botwana people and its wildlife alike.
Duration: 60'

 

10  Bahamas

Varun Sharma arrives on Harbour Island at the Pink Sands Hotel which is located on a beach and, yes, a beach with Pink Sand! Just a five minute buggy ride from the hotel is Briland Art, home to Ersley Wilson who scours the beaches for driftwood and creates pieces of art from them. Varun then heads to a famous dive spot "Devil's Backbone", a site with history dating back to 1648 and with a more recent ferry wreck from 1841 for adventurous divers to explore. Varun learns how to make a local cocktail, the Goombay Smash, after a few of which Varun decides that's all for the day. Visiting Chanella Percentie of the Queen Conch food shack, Varun learns how to get the meat out of a conch and "cook" without heat. Varun tries and fails to catch a bone fish before heading off for a beautiful snorkel excursion.
Duration: 60'

 

11  Mumbai (India)

Varun Sharma gives us an insight into the colourful city of Mumbai where his first "home" is a suite at the Four Seasons Hotel, before visiting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya - a Museum dating back to 1906 which houses over 60,000 artefacts. Varun then moves to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel which overlooks the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India. Later the resident astrologer does a personal astrological reading for Varun and predicts his lifetime path as "written in the stars". Varun finally heads to Mani Bhavan, a memorial museum to Mahatma Gandhi. At a local Hindu Temple Varun meets with the Head Priest where he discovers some symbols of Hinduism.
Duration: 60'

 

12  Madhya Pradesh (India)

Varun Sharma begins his journey at Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh State with a safari where he is amazed by a range of beautiful wild animals and learn more about the region. From the back of an elephant the view is that much better and this increases Varun's availability to get close to the animals. He then moves on to Pench National Park and goes to a local village where they make pottery to sell to Tourists visiting the jungle lodges before finally taking a vehicle safari trip and observing wild dogs, jackal, deer and some playful macaque monkeys!
Duration: 60'

 

13  Look Back

Varun Sharma looks back on another great year of travel from the luxurious surroundings of the Bel-Air Hotel in Los Angeles: from the vast and luxurious 15-bedroom Presidential Suite at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, to the Treehotel in Swedish Lapland, from a Michelin star French Laundry Restaurant in the Napa Valley of California, to a spot of golf in Antigua and Varun's game with Viv Richards the world famous cricketer. Varun revisits one of his dive experiences and then head to Geneva at The Davidoff cigar store. The show would not be complete without another tiger viewing as Varun re-lives the safari in the Indian Jungle of Madhya Pradesh.
Duration: 60'

 

14  Culinary Travels with Varun Sharma Ep 5

Varun Sharma takes us on a world tour to tickle the taste-buds, from the Bar at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel and its cocktails to the Four Seasons Sultanahmet in Istanbul and its traditional lamb pie. Also on the taste trail is a visit to Thorpe Farm on the island of Tasmania for a lesson in cheese making. Back to India and to the San-Qi Restaurant where Vikram Arora shows Varun how to make an authentic chicken curry. In Czech Republic, Varun visits a winery dating back to the 1600's in Roundnicka. In Abu Dhabi, chef shows Varun how to create a local speciality dish. Further West and to Hawaii where Varun visits the Honolulu Coffee Company for a lesson in coffee tasting. Back to Denis Island and the show ends with a creole fish dish cooked on the beach.
Duration: 60'