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These are the restaurants to book for your next trip. 

The 2027 New Zealand Michelin Guide has officially launched, marking the tyre-company-cum-restaurant-directory’s first presence in Oceania. 

For its New Zealand edition, Michelin concentrated on four key culinary destinations: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown. «We are thrilled to bring the Michelin Guide to Aotearoa New Zealand for the very first time,” said Gwendal Poullennec, international director of the Michelin Guide, when the guide was first announced. “The country offers a rich and diverse culinary landscape, shaped by its indigenous Māori heritage, Pacific influences, and a new generation of chefs who champion local produce with creativity and passion.”

Prior to the awards, onlookers questioned how Michelin would handle New Zealand’s restaurant scene, which errs more heavily on the casual side than ‘fine’ dining. Its dining landscape is heavily shaped by the principle of ‘Manaakitanga’ – a Māori tradition that prioritizes warm, generous, and respectful hospitality. It is potentially in light of this rejection of formality that means New Zealand is still without a three Michelin-starred restaurant. Just one restaurant, Queenstown’s Essence, received two stars, and 14 were awarded one.

Among the new one stars is Tala in Auckland, which serves a Samoan-inspired tasting menu. “Michelin coming to New Zealand is great for the hospitality scene and the focus it will bring on NZ cuisine at an international level,” said owner and executive chef Henry Onesemo. “I have always thought New Zealand cuisine was of a world-class standard, and with Michelin it will finally be recognized as such.”

See also: Michelin-Star Recipes You Can Make at Home

A fellow Auckland one-star recipient was Paris Butter. “While the restaurant scene in NZ is relatively young compared to the rest of the world, it is definitely punching above its weight,” said chef and co-owner Zennon Wijlens. The arrival of Michelin is “super exciting not only for the hospitality industry but for NZ as a whole,” he added.

Stars were also awarded to Tussock Hill in Christchurch, Kika in Wānaka, and The Estate on Waiheke Island. There was speculation surrounding the fate of Amisfield, a restaurant within a winery in Queenstown that has routinely been named as one of the country’s best but was marred by controversy surrounding former chef Vaughan Mabee. Michelin was happy to overlook this, and Amisfield was awarded one star.

The ceremony also saw 35 restaurants awarded a Bib Gourmand – Michelin’s recognition for destinations that serve ‘good food at moderate prices.’ 

It may come as a surprise to hear that New Zealand is getting its first Michelin guide ranking before Australia. The latter has more international flights and over double the number of international visitors per year, and, to many, a more influential dining scene.

So, how did New Zealand get the inspectors in first? Simply, money talks – or rather, money grants stars. Individual restaurants cannot pay to get a Michelin star, nor can they pay for inspectors to visit, but tourism boards and government bodies can fund the guide’s presence in a country; Michelin still holds ultimate discretion over how many stars go out and who gets them. The practice has become standard for new Michelin locations (Australia is following the same tact, and will get its own guide this fall).

The launch of the nation’s first Michelin Guide follows hot on the heels of the launch of its inaugural Michelin Keys award, which highlighted 19 leading hotels across New Zealand, including Rosewood Cape Kidnappers, Blanket Bay, and The Lindis.

New Zealand’s Michelin-starred restaurants

Two stars

Essence, Queenstown

One star

Ahi., Auckland

Amisfield, Queenstown

Inati, Christchurch

Logan Brown, Wellington

Jano Bistro, Wellington

Kika, Wānaka

Mudbrick, Waiheke Island

Ortega, Wellington

Paris Butter, Auckland

Rātā, Queenstown

Sherwood, Queenstown

Tala, Auckland

The Estate, Waiheke Island

Tussock Hill, Christchurch

Players, partners, and guests gathered at Pavilion Club in Knightsbridge to kick off a week of grass-court tennis. 

On Monday, June 22, Elite Traveler hosted the official welcome party for the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic at the Pavilion Club in Knightsbridge. The evening brought together tournament players, including Mansour Bahrami and Flavia Pennetta, alongside partners and guests for a relaxed start to five days of tennis at The Hurlingham Club.

Elite Traveler is now in its second year as an official sponsor of the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic, a grass-court tournament that has become a fixture of London‘s summer sporting calendar. Held in the week before Wimbledon, it gives fans the chance to watch many of the game’s biggest names before they head to SW19. Beyond the exhibition matches, the week has become as much a social occasion as a sporting one, with guests moving between player Q&As, VIP hospitality spaces, champagne receptions, and Michelin-starred dining tents throughout the day.

See more: Game, Set, Paradise: The World’s Most Breathtaking Tennis Courts

This year’s lineup included Jannik Sinner, Casper Ruud, Ben Shelton, Cameron Norrie, and Tommy Paul, alongside fan-favorite legends Mansour Bahrami, Michael Chang, and Monica Puig. The tournament has become one of the final opportunities to see them compete on grass before the Championships begin, with many players using the week as part of their Wimbledon preparations.

The official welcome party made the most of one of London’s warmest evenings of the summer, with guests gathering on the Pavilion terrace for drinks and conversation before play got underway the following morning. Glasses of Whispering Angel rosé were served throughout the evening alongside cocktails from The Macallan, Warner’s gin and tonics, Estrella beers, and Fever-Tree soft drinks.

See more: Everything You Want to Know About Padel but Are Too Afraid to Ask

Elite Traveler editor-in-chief Paul Croughton welcomed guests to the evening, reflecting on the publication’s continued partnership with the tournament. As the sun set over Knightsbridge, the terrace remained busy with music, conversation, and familiar faces from across the worlds of travel, sport, and luxury.

The evening also showcased the brands behind this year’s tournament, sponsored by Somabay with hospitality provided by Whispering Angel, The Macallan, Warner’s, Estrella, and Fever-Tree, and the Pavilion Club.

See more: The Best Padel, Tennis, and Pickleball Accessories to Buy This Summer

Centre Court is for serves – but the stands are for style. 

What do you wear for one of the British season’s most fashionable occasions when it doesn’t specify a dress code? 

Despite what a scroll through Instagram might have you thinking, the all-white attire is only reserved and reinforced for players, not spectators. 

For everyone else, beyond a few very obvious no-gos – torn jeans, running vests, muddy trainers, or sport shorts (but it’s safe to assume you weren’t planning on wearing those anyway) – Wimbledon asks for something far more ambiguous: “smart casual.”

So where do you start, and how do you prepare for the famously unpredictable British weather? We asked womenswear stylists Annabel Hodin and Karen Williams, along with menswear expert Gareth Scourfield on how to get it right.

The expert stylists’ guide on what to wear for Wimbledon 

What should I wear to Wimbledon?

Unless you’ve got tickets for the Royal Box – in which case, be sure to arrive in a formal jacket and tie – there is virtually no rulebook on what to wear to Wimbledon. While events like Royal Ascot come with a rigid dress code that can feel intimidating, at Wimbledon, the blank slate can be just as daunting. 

All the experts agree that the best starting point is reassuringly unfussy. As stylist Karen Williams puts it: “Wimbledon is all about looking polished, elegant, and completely effortless, never overdone.”

For women, that often means tailored separates, softened suiting or summer tea dresses that feel put together without tipping into occasionwear territory. “Look as if you’re wearing your clothes, rather than your clothes wearing you,” Annabel Hodin advises. “Ladylike but fashion-forward is the look. Clean, smart silhouettes.” And when in doubt: “Think French.”

Men, meanwhile, should be nudged away from rigid formality. “I’d start with a lightweight, unlined blazer,” says expert Gareth Scourfield. “Double-breasted is always a winner. It breaks up the formality of a full suit.”

From there, it’s about ease: light-colored tailored trousers, crisp cotton shirts in white or fine navy pinstripes, and soft loafers. 

“If you are going for a suit,” Scourfield adds, “I’d keep to a solid navy, a soft cream, dark brown or even an olive color.”

What are the style clichés (and are they still relevant)?

Wimbledon dressing typically ushers up images of crowds of Panama hats, linen suits, and immaculate whites. They’re clichés for a reason, but they’re not always the starting point anymore.

Rather than head-to-toe white, Hodin prefers pattern and color, like “stripes (especially green and white),” she says, noting that they feel like a subtle nod to the occasion without spilling into costume. She also points to softer summer tones – icy blues, pinks, mint, and pale yellow – as the real language of modern Wimbledon dressing.

Scourfield, meanwhile, suggests stepping away from trend-led dressing. “This annual event is not always best suited to showing off the season’s obvious trends,” he says, “but is better placed to showcase timeless outfits.”

Instead, he recommends taking cues from the tournament’s official dresser, Ralph Lauren: “Lots of navy, tan, and cream double-breasted suits, pale blue shirts, pinstripe shirts, solid color or striped ties and suede loafers.”

Williams similarly recommends avoiding trends and thinking timeless when it comes to outfit planning: “Wimbledon has always celebrated classic British style […] While we’re seeing more relaxed co-ords, flowing silhouettes, and quiet luxury influences this season, it’s one of those occasions where timeless dressing will always feel the most stylish.”

See also: What to Wear to the F1, According to Charles Leclerc’s Stylist

What shoes should you wear to Wimbledon?

There is a surprising amount of ground to cover between Centre Court and that inevitable second punnet of strawberries and cream. “You’ll be doing plenty of walking around the grounds,” says Williams, “So leave sky-high stilettos at home; they’re not ideal on the grass.” 

For Hodin, ease is non-negotiable: “Wedge shoes are comfortable and a good look,” she says. “Or ballet flats also work well.” 

Scourfield takes a similarly practical approach for men. He suggests a “good, soft suede loafer” as the safest option, though he adds that “solid white leather tennis sneakers can also look sharp but more dressed down, with comfort in mind.”

How should you dress for the British weather at Wimbledon?

If there is one constant at Wimbledon, it is that the weather will do exactly what it wants. “The biggest mistake is dressing for blazing sunshine and forgetting you’re in Britain!” warns Williams. 

Her solution is simple: “Choose breathable fabrics like linen and cotton that keep you cool, then layer with a lightweight blazer, trench or fine knit that you can easily slip on if the temperature drops.”

While Centre Court and Court One are both covered, Hodins adds that it is always sensible to be prepared for a classic British summer downpour, suggesting packing a lightweight raincoat tucked into a bag as insurance.

What should you avoid wearing to Wimbledon?

For Hodin, anything overly loud or overly complicated misses the point. “Avoid fussy and frilly,” she says. “It looks more like a garden party than tennis.”

She is equally clear on silhouette. “Tight is a no-no. Too much flesh is a no-no.”

Scourfield is just as direct on the menswear side. Anything too tight, too short, or too casual risks pulling the look away from the occasion entirely.

Short shorts, sportswear, most denim, untucked shirts, and overly laid-back sneakers should also be avoided. “It’s not a day out at the beach,” he concludes.

The collaboration between Superformance and Safir Engineering comprises just 66 examples available in eight original race liveries. The collaboration between Superformance and Safir Engineering comprises just 66 examples available in eight original race liveries.

“Nixie” also features a glass-bottom infinity pool and a gym with a cryotherapy chamber.  “Nixie” also features a glass-bottom infinity pool and a gym with a cryotherapy chamber. 

Health, our leading wellness expert argues, is not a number or a score, it’s a skill. 

Health is something you build proactively, intentionally, and continuously. Historically, it has meant the absence of illness – a passive state, measured once a year at your medical checkup. But longevity science shows us that this definition is incomplete and outdated.

Health is dynamic. It is the body’s ability to function, recover and adapt over time. It is not just how long we live, but how well.

At its core, health is our ability to adapt to life. We age not simply because time passes, but because we gradually lose adaptive capacity. In youth, the body is flexible and responsive.

Over time it becomes more rigid, slower to recover, less resilient. The goal of longevity is not perfection but preserving this adaptability – across metabolism, immunity, cognition, and emotional response.

One of the challenges I see is that we have all become obsessed with data. We measure everything – biological age, epigenetics, biomarkers, inflammatory load – and we’re looking for perfection. This just creates anxiety. I don’t believe we should be ‘datadriven.’ Our focus should be on being ‘data informed.’ We don’t need to track our lives 24/7. You know if you slept well from the amount of energy you have.

Health is not a number or a score, it’s a skill. Many aspects of aging are modifiable; things like strength, mindset, resilience are trainable. But there are other problems. First of all, we have no idea how to measure healthy life. What’s normal, and what’s pathological?

See more: The Swiss Clinic That Made Me Rethink My Pursuit of Wellness

We still struggle to define what a healthy life truly is. Many conditions develop silently over decades and only appear when they cross a clinical threshold. So, were we healthy before that point – or simply undiagnosed? It’s possible to live with a condition and still experience energy, joy, and purpose. And equally, it’s possible to be disease-free and feel unwell.

When we’re younger we need to build strength – capacity – in our systems: physical, mental, and emotional. The greater this reserve, the more resilient we are later on. The journey evolves across life stages – from building foundational capacity to adapting to biological transitions to protecting independence and preserving function in later years. Ultimately, the aim is not simply to extend life, but to reach later decades with enough capacity and flexibility to remain fully engaged.

Energy is a real currency. We live always-on lives with little time for recovery, which, without support, creates chronic stress, poor sleep, and emotional overload. So maybe health is the process of stress and recovery.

We have to remember that health is not about controlling life, it’s about building strength to meet life. In clinical practice, this becomes visible again and again: when recovery is restored and adaptive systems are supported, the body has an extraordinary ability to recalibrate itself.

I think of a healthy life in five stages. I call the age up to 25 the Pathfinder. You’re growing, trying to find your path. You need to strengthen all your systems to build a reserve, both mentally and physiologically, so your body is capable of doing more.

See more: The Best Luxury Gym Equipment for a Better-Looking Workout

Then, until the age of 40, you’re a Founder, building your foundation for life. This is where you have responsibilities away from home; you’re independent.

We know we have two major drops in biological age at the ages of 40-45 and 60-65. So during this time, 45-65, you become an Optimizer. You understand the change, you accept it and embrace it – and you adapt.

From 65, you’re a Defender. Maybe you start feeling the years but you’re protecting your functionality. When you’re 85, you’re a Master, because if you have full capacity and flexibility in the system, you’ll be able to do all kinds of things. You’re full of wisdom and have mastered life. That’s something to aim for, isn’t it?

If you’re in that period from your 40s to your 60s, one of the key things is to live with joy. We measure life and health in terms of biomarkers, cholesterol, and glucose etc. But we have no measures for joy, purpose, or meaning. We have no markers for happiness. And yet isn’t this what life is all about: joy, resilience, and capacity?

What we need is for politicians, academics, educators, financiers, and health-system providers to sit around a table and talk about longevity. Because if you have people living to 120 years old, we’re going to have five generations residing in the same city.

See more: The Best Spas in London for Utter Relaxation

So how do you design a city with all those people living together? How do you ensure that technology works for all those generations, and not just the younger ones?

We know from evolution that our genes and biological systems take huge periods of time to adapt, because 20,000 years ago we had exactly the same genetic profile as we do now. But technology is advancing at a hugely fast rate, and society cannot cope with it. We’re creating disease ourselves.

Our modern environment is increasingly misaligned with our biology. We no longer move enough, for example. We do all our work from home, or we drive to our office and drive home again. When we are hungry, we open the fridge. But genetically speaking, what we should be doing is exercising, because we evolved to hunt food. And everything changes in your metabolism when you do that. But we open the fridge, we take out the food, and then we don’t move afterwards. So our digestion, our emotions, and appetite are affected.

Creating health is not about avoiding disease, it is about pursuing a life of meaning, engagement, and fulfillment. Longevity is not simply about adding years to life, but about building the capacity to live those years with energy and resilience.

Before the crowds descend on SW19, the world’s biggest tennis stars gather at The Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic for one of London’s most exclusive sporting events. 

Sure, there is another tennis tournament that dominates London at this time of year. But those in the know understand they don’t need to cross the river to see some of the week’s most compelling courtside action.

Setting up its nets, marquees, and marking lines across the perfectly manicured lawns of the Hullingham Club, the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic is the last stop that some of the sport’s biggest stars take to the court before Wimbledon begins the following week. Over the five-day tournament, Jannik Sinner, Casper Ruud, Ben Shelton, Cameron Norrie, Tommy Paul, and more took to the grass. They were joined in Fulham by crowd-favorite legends including Mansour Bahrami, Michael Chang, and Monica Puig.

It’s billed as an exclusive Wimbledon warm-up, but there’s little sense that anyone treats it as just an exhibition game. «There’s nothing quite like playing at home, and competing at The Hurlingham Club is a true honor,» said Norrie ahead of the event. «It’s one of Britain’s most iconic tennis venues, steeped in history, and the atmosphere is always incredible.»

For some players, it also marked their first outing on grass this season. Including, most notably, Sinner, who, off the back of his French Open triumph, described the week at Hullingham as the ideal opportunity to fine-tune both his game and preparation. 

Speaking on Wednesday after his win over the British number one, Norrie, he described the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic as “one of the best preparations I’ve had since a long time before a Grand Slam.” Playing amid London’s record-breaking June heatwave, which saw temperatures climb to around 95°F during his match, the Italian even welcomed the challenge. «That’s exactly what I need before starting the tournament,» he said. «In the future, we’ll always try to practise in warmer conditions.»

See also: Inside Goffs London Sale, Royal Ascot’s Exclusive Pre-Race Event

For the well-dressed spectators lining the court, meanwhile, Hurlingham offers an unusually up-close look at the players who will dominate the headlines at SW19 just days later, all while sipping glasses of rosé and soaking up the intimate atmosphere. Sinner’s straight-sets victory over Norrie underlined why he will arrive at Wimbledon as the man to beat, while Ben Shelton continued his impressive grass-court form with a confident win over Casper Ruud. Elsewhere, Jiri Lehecka overcame Norrie in three sets, and rising American Martin Damm got the better of Karen Khachanov, offering plenty of clues as to who could carry momentum into the Championships.

Despite the stakes for the players, the atmosphere for the crowd remained relaxed. Conversations from the players’ boxes drifted into the stands, while the evening Legend Matches brought a lighthearted energy to conclude the day. Bahrami, still one of tennis’ great entertainers, had the crowd laughing as much as applauding with his trademark trick shots, while Chang, Puig, and Baghdatis reminded everyone that class doesn’t disappear after retirement. 

Between matches, guests moved between hospitality suites, champagne receptions, and player Q&As, glasses of Whispering Angel in hand. Elite Traveler was the event’s official media partner and followed the action throughout the week, while Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth oversaw the culinary program, bringing his acclaimed No. 6 restaurant to West London, with Cornish ingredients and dishes such as Cornish crab vol-au-vent served with caviar and Padstow turbot chop.

It’s no secret that Kohler, Wisconsin, offers some of the best championship golf in the world, but lesser known are the enticing lifestyle experiences to be found here. 

For golfers, teeing off on the links at Whistling Straits, with its rugged terrain and panoramic Lake Michigan views, is a legendary moment. Similarly, the courses at Blackwolf Run, trace the magical Sheboygan River Valley, and brings a mystical quality to any golfer’s game. Tucked away near Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the four iconic courses have made the destination of Kohler famous when it comes to impressive golf experiences. Host of six majors and the 43^rd Ryder Cup, the Pete Dye-designed courses are not only captivating in their beauty, but they are also the world-renowned home of champions.

While championship golf might have put Kohler on the map, making it one of North America’s most premier sporting destinations, its allure extends far beyond the game itself. From immersive wellness rituals to field-to-fork dining, outdoor escapades to design experiences, Kohler is more akin to a sprawling luxury resort. Here, visitors can tap into its rich heritage, nature, and culture, not to mention a line-up of activities that span all interests.

Kohler’s roots stretch back to the early 1900s, when it was built by the Olmsted brothers as a factory town and garden community for the Kohler Company, a brand known for its groundbreaking kitchen and bathroom design. As one of the USA’s first planned communities, it has a fascinating history and, today, visitors can have a deep dive into the past by booking a tour at the Kohler Factory or staying at The American Club hotel. Built as housing for factory employees, the latter was reimagined as a five-star hotel in the 1980s (guests can check out the Kohler products found throughout).

The Kohler Company rose to become a brand known for its innovation and craftsmanship and a visit to the Kohler Design Centre celebrates this legacy, with the three-story building showcasing the trailblazing product design that has shaped the company for generations.

For outdoor adventures, however, a visit to Kohler also places you in the midst of nature. River Wildlife is Kohler’s private, members-only recreational and dining club, giving guests access to 500 acres of protected wilderness, including seven miles of the Sheboygan river and more than 18 miles of meandering woodland trails. Hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and cross-country skiing are just a few of the exhilarating outdoor experiences to be enjoyed under never-ending Midwestern skies.

Whether it’s the adrenalin rush after a demanding round of golf or the thrill of being lost in bucolic nature, wellbeing is threaded through every Kohler experience. A visit to the celebrated Kohler Waters Spa, however, offers a true immersion into personalized wellness experiences that are attuned to your own needs. As Wisconsin’s only Forbes five-star spa, treatments are inspired by the healing powers of water, with hydrotherapy, nourishing rituals, and thermal facilities at the heart of the offering. A must is the Lavender Rain signature treatment, which includes a special lavender and eucalyptus exfoliating ritual followed by a Vichy shower, custom made by Kohler, of course. It goes without saying that there’s a bulging menu of therapies to choose from, including the Ammortal Chamber, which offers the latest in resorative tech treatments, such as red light and vibroacoustic therapies.  Hydrotherapy rooms, steam rooms ,and quiet spaces, meanwhile,offer water-inspired treatments that draw on the Kohler’s long-standing expertise in innovation.

Dining at Kohler, Wisconsin could be called a destination in itself, with restaurants across the resort offering up culinary experiences that have been thoughtfully crafted. Whether you’re after a Sunday brunch or fresh-baked treats, the line-up of eateries caters to every taste. For fine-dining, head to The Immigrant Restaurant, inspired by Wisconsin’s early settlers and driven by local, sustainable ingredients, with techniques and flavors shaped by generations of culinary influence. Meanwhile, for something classic, The Wisconsin Room, found in the American Club’s original dining room, is a modern steakhouse serving crowd-pleasing cuts – from filet mignon to wagyu beef.

For those in search of unsurpassed golf experiences, there’s no doubt that Kohler delivers. Yet, visitors will also discover a destination where fairways coexist with a breadth of immersive luxury experiences long after the last shot has been hit.

For more information on what’s on offer at Kohler, Wisconsin, visit here.

These hardcore endurance challenges are as beautiful as they are brutal . Good luck – and send us a postcard. 

If all your friends have ticked the marathon box, and you’ve got an Ironman or two under your belt, what’s next? An ultramarathon – typically defined as anything over the 26.2-mile marathon distance – is impressive enough, but for real bragging rights, chase something bigger: races set in the wildest of landscapes. Think: splashing through Botswana’s Okavango Delta (mind the crocs), running through a primordial jungle in Malaysia, or pacing across Antarctica’s endless white plains.

Okavango to Tsodilo Ulta-trail, Botswana

A 62.1-mile, four-day ultra-trail from Desert & Delta Safaris links two Unesco World Heritage Sites – the lush waterways of the Okavango Delta and the ancient Tsodilo Hills. The route, which took more than a year to map and test out, is designed to be more of a guided expedition than a traditional race (but, ahem, someone’s still got to come first, right?). It begins in the Okavango Panhandle, where runners follow trails along the Nxamaseri Channel, passing through island forests, fishing villages, and seasonal floodplains. Depending on water levels, the route may include a mokoro (traditional canoe) crossing. The first night is spent at Nxamaseri Island Lodge, which is set on a private island surrounded by the panhandle’s waterways.

Day two brings a change of landscape – wetlands are left behind as you’re onto the Kalahari’s vast sandy savanna, where you’ll cover the longest distance of the trip before reaching the Tsodilo Hills. This site, sacred to the San people, contains one of the largest concentrations of ancient rock art in southern Africa. That night is spent at a simple sleep-out expedition camp beneath the hills. Day three is shorter and focuses on exploring the Tsodilo area itself, with the option to summit Male Hill, one of the highest points in Botswana, before returning to Nxamaseri Island Lodge. The final day is set aside for recovery: yoga, mokoro excursions, and a celebratory dinner before departure. Safety precautions have been considered to avoid areas with high predator activity, but some of the wildlife can still be encountered – hippos, crocodiles, and elephants, to name a few. Each group travels with professional guides, a medic, and support staff. The next dates are April 1–5, 2027, but private small groups can be arranged anytime.

See also: The World’s Most Scenic Marathons – From London’s Landmarks to the Gold Coast

Chapman’s Challenge, Malaysia

An endurance test with a remarkable backstory, Chapman’s Challenge is named for British World War II commando Freddie Spencer Chapman. In 1942, Chapman found himself stranded behind enemy lines in Japanese-occupied Malaysia. Completely cut off from supplies and presumed dead, he was faced with an impossible decision: surrender and become a prisoner of war, or disappear into the dense jungle. He chose the latter. For more than three years he evaded enemy forces and survived in incredibly difficult conditions before his eventual rescue.

Chapman’s legacy is honored by this race (his grandson, Stephen Chapman, is a regular participant and a previous winner) and, while this is not an ultra by distance, it is no less challenging. Short and brutal, the route begins with a very hilly four-mile run around the island, followed by a 1.5-mile trek through a thick, two-million-year-old jungle, and concludes with a tough, 0.62-mile, open-water swim in Emerald Bay — leading racers into the same waters where Chapman was eventually extracted by submarine.

As Alex Martin, Elite Traveler alumnus who ran the course in 2019, summarizes: “It took me one hour and one second to finish it. I was utterly exhausted – and that’s just a sliver of what Chapman endured.”

The current fastest time is held by Australian Matt Pole, who completed the race in 45 minutes and four seconds in 2019 – he’s yet to be pipped. This May, Chapman’s Challenge added a relay option alongside the traditional race, where one runner handles the land, the other the swim, as well as a junior edition for ages 11 to 17. Dates for 2027 are yet to be released.

Antarctica Ice Ultra

Quite possibly the coolest race in the world (in every way), the Antarctic Ice Ultra takes place on November 9, deep within the frozen ice sheet of Queen Maud Land in East Antarctica. It’s one of the most remote endurance races – very few have set foot here, and even fewer have dared to do it quickly.

You’ll fly in from Cape Town, landing on the blue-ice runway at Ultima Base Camp, well within the continent’s interior – only a small fraction of visitors to the continent venture this far inland. The event has a number of distances: a half marathon, full marathon, 50km, 50 miles, 100km, and a 24- hour team relay. The course unfolds across the ice sheet and racers undertake extremely challenging conditions – freezing temperatures, biting wind exposure, and a constantly shifting, unstable surface. A test of endurance and then some, it’s not for the faint of heart.

Despite that (or maybe because of it), a few records have been set: The women’s 100-km record is held by Australian Julianne Young, at 15 hours, 31 minutes, and 10 seconds in 2012. The men’s prize for the same distance is held by Yusheng Ni from China who ran it in nine hours, 20 minutes, and 28 seconds (Ni also has the best men’s 100-mile time, at 22 hours, 40 minutes, and 47 seconds). Currently, there’s no record for the women’s 100 mile, the 24- hour solo race, or the 24-hour relay.

Most participants spend around five days, based near the Schirmacher Oasis. Experiences beyond the race include guided hikes, exploring towering ice walls and cobalt-blue ice caves, and visiting newly discovered emperor-penguin colonies. Postrace recovery is naturally polar-style, too – saunas followed by a bracing ice plunge.

See also: Why Runners Are Falling in Love with Wine, Beer, and Whisky Regions

Beachcomber Trail, Mauritius

In a place more often associated with sunbathing honeymooners, Mauritius’s Beachcomber Trail draws a different crowd – more than 1,000 participants come to the island each year to take part in this challenge. After a brief hiatus last year, the event returns in 2026 on Saturday July 25, with a few new additions.

The route leads you along the island’s rugged southern coast and ranges across technical forest trails, sandy beach stretches, and panoramic vantage points. The course has been mapped out by guides to encompass paths your average visitor won’t ever see. There are three distances: The 10-km Trail du Souffleur follows rolling terrain leading to the cliffs through filaos groves. The 25- km Trail du Nautile (which is International Trail Running Association-registered), has a cumulative elevation gain of around 908 ft and weaves through sugarcane fields. The big one, the 65-km course, starts at the coastal village of Case Noyale and has an elevation gain of about 7,200 ft. It begins with an ascent to the summit of Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire, the highest mountain in Mauritius, followed by a descent into the Black River Gorges National Park. Then, a demanding climb up the Parakeet and Paille-en-Queue trails leading to Alexandra Falls, before a final push to the summit of Piton Savanne. The home stretch is through the village of Souillac, along the southern cliffs. All races cross the finish line at Shandrani Beachcomber Resort’s shoreline.

New for this year, the 40-mile course can also be undertaken as a relay. Teams of three can split the distance across three legs: 17 km from Case Noyale to Alexandra Falls, 15 km to Rochester Falls, and the final 33 km to Shandrani’s shoreline.

Rosemaund’s Lorna Chase is producing spirits rooted in real farming, patient aging, and a vivid sense of place. Rosemaund’s Lorna Chase is producing spirits rooted in real farming, patient aging, and a vivid sense of place.