bhuti salon: The Art of Transformative Travel
Tuesday 21st July | 6:30pm - 7:30pm
With Stories Travel and Gangtey Lodge
What if the most important journey you ever take is the one that changes how you see yourself?
We live in an age of endless destinations and experiences at a click of button, yet few of us have experienced travel that truly moves us. This talk is an invitation to explore what it means to journey with intention, and why the most extraordinary places on earth have the power to reshape the way we live.
Shana Sexton, founder of Stories Travel, has spent over a decade designing deeply immersive journeys for discerning travellers across all seven continents. In this talk, Shana delves into the art of transformative travel: how genuine connection to others, to ourselves, and to the natural world can permanently alter our perspective.
Joining her are Brett Melzer and Khin Omar Win, the founders of Gangtey Lodge - one of Bhutan's most celebrated retreats, recently featured on Amazing Hotels of the World: Life Beyond the Lobby. Brett and Omar will share the remarkable story of how a chance encounter with a remote Himalayan valley led them to build a sanctuary that honours the living heritage of Bhutan. Theirs is a story of deep belonging to a place they were not born into - and of travel as a lifelong act of respect and discovery. Together, they open up a space to reflect on the experiences that have shaped our own understanding of the world, and on what it truly means to travel well.
Members complimentary | Non-members £15
Shana SextonFounder, Stories Travel | Private Travel | Designer | Endorsed by Forbes Travel Guide With over a decade spent designing extraordinary journeys for discerning travellers around the world, Shana blends creativity, precision, and global expertise in every journey she creates for clients. Having explored all seven continents herself, her perspective goes far beyond the guidebook. She specialises in remote adventures and authentic experiences that create deep connection - always paired with exceptional lodges and hotels, expert local guides, and insider access. Her philosophy is simple: understand you first. How you like to travel. What excites you. What moves you. Then craft a journey that stays with you for years to come. |
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Khin Omar Win & Brett MelzerFounders, Gangtey Lodge, Bhutan Gangtey Lodge is the culmination of an adventure that began in 2003. Already founders of the iconic Balloons over Bagan and the remote Malikha Lodge in Northern Myanmar, Brett and Omar arrived in Bhutan to explore the possibility of hot air ballooning, and found something far more lasting. When they came across the spectacular, unspoilt Gangtey valley, the seed was planted to create a luxury escape that would help to preserve Bhutanese rural life while bringing genuine opportunity, training, and skills to this remote community. Taking their project management team from Myanmar, they embarked on a three-year journey to build a boutique Bhutanese farmhouse lodge that respectfully reflected Bhutan's rich cultural heritage, enabling guests to connect with the natural surroundings and deep spirituality of the kingdom. "They say that happiness is a place, and it is called Bhutan." |