Anna Nash: "The Best Is Yet to Come" 

As a youngster, you dream big, but you do not always imagine those dreams will become your life. I always thought I would work in travel, I have always loved travelling, but I never pictured myself running a business. That felt completely out of reach. I have worked incredibly hard to get here and made plenty of personal sacrifices along the way, but I enjoy every moment. I have never really seen my roles as 'jobs'.  Travel has always been part of who I am, and I feel incredibly fortunate that it has also become my career.

 Leaving Aman after ten years and moving abroad to join Explora Journeys. Aman had been such an important part of my life and career, and London had been home for many years. I had always travelled extensively for work, but I had never actually lived abroad. So, leaving behind a company I knew so well, along with family, friends and my life in London, was a big decision.

But I was also drawn to the opportunity to join a family-owned business and found the Aponte-Vago family’s vision for Explora Journeys incredibly compelling. The ambition to create something new in luxury travel, and the opportunity to help shape a relatively young brand, made it a risk I wanted to take.

The truth is it all happened very quickly. I finished at Aman on a Friday and started at Explora Journeys on the Monday. Looking back, I sometimes think if I had stopped and overanalysed it, I might have hesitated. Instead, I just went for it.

I have always believed in looking forward, not back. Two years on, I have never looked back. In many ways, I feel as though this role was made for me. 

Yes, and relatively recently. It was a wellness retreat in Thailand. I'd never done anything like it before, never given back to myself in that sense. It was five days entirely focused on me and, if I'm honest, I probably needed it more than I realised. The programme combined fitness, treatments, assessments and time to simply pause. I arrived exhausted and running on empty. I left with a renewed sense of energy and a much better understanding of what I need to feel at my best. It reminded me that while we are all capable of pushing ourselves harder and harder, you also have to recognise when your body and mind are telling you to stop and reset. I am much more conscious of that now.  It has also made the importance we place on wellbeing at Explora Journeys feel even more relevant to me personally. Giving yourself the space and time to reconnect with yourself really does matter.

Japan, without question, I absolutely love it. I have probably visited 15 to 20 times, if not more, and I still find it endlessly fascinating. My husband and I go almost every year. The food, the culture, the hospitality, the attention to detail, it is all extraordinary. The Japanese concept of omotenashi, that genuine and intuitive spirit of hospitality, is something I have always found inspiring. Every time I visit, I discover something new. Whether it's a hidden restaurant, a new region, a temple I have never seen before, or simply observing how people care for one another with kindness, the destination keeps revealing itself in different ways. And every time I leave, I'm already thinking about when I'll come back and bathe in an onsen, surrounded by snow. 

Time. It's the luxury of having nowhere to be, no meetings or calls to join, no schedule dictating your day. For me, luxury is putting on my hiking shoes, heading into the mountains and simply walking. Not checking the time. Not thinking about what's next. In a world where we are all constantly switched 'on', having a day that's entirely my own feels incredibly indulgent. 

Well, that has to be my husband, Farhad! We met at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok before boarding the Eastern & Oriental Express. We were both travelling for work and nineteen years later, it's still the most memorable conversation I have ever had!  I suppose it is a wonderful reminder that travel is not only about the places you discover, but the people you meet along the way — and the unexpected encounters that can change your life.

Back home in Devon, in the UK. I grew up by the water and crossed a river every day in a small passenger ferry to get to school. Whenever I go home now, the first thing I do is head out for a coastal walk. The sea air, the open horizon, the sound of the waves and the cobalt blue water, it instantly grounds me. It is where everything feels familiar. 

Switzerland, where Explora Journeys was founded and has it's corporate headquarters. When I moved here, I assumed I would spend most weekends back in London. But surprisingly quickly, Geneva began to feel like home. The quality of life, the lake, the mountains, the sense of safety and the access to nature all contribute to that feeling of being at 'home'. I often say to my husband that weekends here feel like being on holiday. There's still so much to explore, and that sense of discovery keeps the city exciting. 

Food! I'm endlessly curious about local cuisines and traditions. I'll try almost anything at least once. For me, one of the best ways to understand a culture is through its food. Every destination has a story to tell through what people cook, share and celebrate around the table. 

Health is real wealth. Your own health and that of the people you truly care about can never be taken for granted. Beyond that, I would say peace of mind, genuine contentment and having the time to spend with the people who matter most

I would anchor off Portofino, looking out across that beautiful Italian coastline, with a delicious bellini in hand. From there, I would head north to the dramatic Norwegian fjords and then on to Alaska, which I have yet to experience. I would sail into New York, a city that will always hold a special place in my heart because it's where I got married, before continuing to Singapore and Japan – two destinations that never fail to inspire me. It's completely impractical geographically, but that's the beauty of a dream itinerary! 

‘The Best Is Yet to Come’. Because no matter how many places I've been to, experiences I've had, or milestones I've reached, I still believe the most exciting adventures are the ones waiting on the horizon.