PURE-ly Experiential: Yvonne's Highlights from PURE Marrakech 2025
“PURE isn’t just about discovering incredible suppliers, it’s a transformative journey in itself. Every conversation sparks new possibilities and reminds me why I fell in love with this industry in the first place.”
Yvonne Verstandig
In Marrakech, a city alive with colour, scent, and sound, PURE Life Experiences has become the world’s premier gathering for experiential travel. Each September, visionaries, curators, and adventurers unite to celebrate travel that moves you, challenges you, and leaves a lasting impact.
For Yvonne Verstandig, founder of Y Travel, PURE embodies everything the agency stands for, the Y Factors, eight portals of passion that guide every transformative journey. “It’s not just a trade show” Yvonne says, “it’s where ideas are born, and partnerships are forged that shape the way we help our clients experience the world.”
After connecting with hundreds of inspiring partners, Yvonne selected a handful who truly redefine deep, authentic, purposeful travel.
MOUNTAIN LODGES OF NEPAL / SHINTA MANI MUSTANG
Yvonne’s Y
Perched high in Nepal’s remote Mustang Valley, Shinta Mani Mustang, designed by hotel icon Bill Bensley, redefines Himalayan exploration. “When I first saw Shinta Mani Mustang, I immediately thought, I absolutely have to experience this,” Yvonne reflects.
Part expedition lodge, part cultural immersion, it operates like a safari with structured morning and evening experiences and uninterrupted mountain views. Its sister collection, Mountain Lodges of Nepal, offers curated treks through Annapurna, Everest, and Manang, founded nearly forty years ago by Lhakpa Sonam Sherpa.
“It’s luxury with heart, adventurous yet profoundly authentic” Yvonne adds, admiring how the family-run lodges elevate Nepal’s trekking heritage with genuine hospitality and comfort.
DAR ALHAM - Morocco
Yvonne’s Y
Just outside Ouarzazate, Dar Ahlam, the House of Dreams, is a 14-suite riad that defies convention. “There are no keys, no reception, no set dining times. Every day is a surprise, and that’s what I love most” Yvonne says.
Here, imagination guides every experience. Mornings might bring a desert picnic or cycling into local villages, while evenings unfold as candlelit feasts in hidden courtyards or beneath a canopy of stars. The house transforms with the seasons, blending Moroccan artistry with soulful, cinematic hospitality that feels entirely bespoke.
BAWAH RESERVE - Indonesia
Yvonne’s Y
Scattered across six untouched islands in Indonesia’s Anambas Archipelago, Bawah Reserve is a private sanctuary where sustainability meets barefoot luxury. “Bawah represents the perfect fusion of the Maldives and Tahiti, yet feels beautifully undiscovered” Yvonne says.
Accessible only by seaplane from Singapore, the Reserve’s remoteness preserves its crystal lagoons, coral reefs, and emerald hills. Guests can kayak, snorkel, or hike between islands before retreating to eco-luxurious villas crafted from bamboo and recycled teak. Every element of design, dining, and service reflects the Reserve’s eco-conscious philosophy. “It’s private, purposeful, and profoundly beautiful” Yvonne adds.
THE WHITE DESERT - Antarctica
Yvonne’s Y
Touching down on Wolf’s Fang Runway aboard White Desert’s private Airbus A340 from Cape Town is just the beginning of an experience unlike any other. As Yvonne explains, “White Desert is hands down my favourite experiential operator, they’re the only company offering the opportunity to sleep on Antarctica, not just visit it by ship.”
Across three extraordinary camps, Whichaway, the flagship luxury pods beside a frozen lake, Echo, a space-inspired retreat for modern explorers, and Wolf’s Fang, an expedition basecamp set on a dramatic glacier, travellers experience the continent’s extremes in comfort and style.
Six exclusive itineraries lead guests to shimmering blue ice caves and emperor penguin colonies at Atka Bay in the early season, and the rare golden-pink sunsets of late January. “Yes, it’s a significant investment” Yvonne adds, “but this is genuinely life-changing travel.”
NUSFJORD VILLAGE & RESORT - Norway
Yvonne’s Y - Michelin-Starred Modernist
In Norway’s Lofoten archipelago, Nusfjord is a living Arctic village reborn. “Nusfjord captivated me, it’s a living, breathing Arctic community that feels intimate and authentic” Yvonne shares.
Locals have restored this historic fishing village, transforming it into an immersive heritage experience without losing its soul. Guests stay in cosy harbour-front cabins, including The Isolated Fisherman, accessible only by boat. In summer, kayaking and fishing fill the fjords; in winter, the Northern Lights dance above ski trails and sauna rituals. “It’s not a resort, it’s a way of life” Yvonne adds.
ECOCAMP PATAGONIA - Chile
Yvonne’s Y
In Chile’s Torres del Paine, EcoCamp Patagonia pioneers sustainable adventure in one of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes. “EcoCamp Patagonia fills a distinct niche for serious trekkers who want adventure without sacrificing comfort” Yvonne notes.
As the world’s first geodesic dome hotel, it offers immersive W Circuit trekking, puma tracking, and wilderness expeditions paired with award-winning eco-luxury. After a day on the trail, travellers gather in the Community Domes to share local cuisine, Chilean wine, and laughter beneath the southern stars. “It’s authentic, conscious, and incredibly special” Yvonne says.
KAMBA AFRICA RAINFOREST EXPERIENCES - Republic of Congo
Yvonne’s Y
In the heart of the Republic of Congo, Kamba Africa opens the door to one of the planet’s last great untouched wildernesses. “This is one journey I genuinely would love to experience,” Yvonne says.
With three exquisite lodges in Odzala-Kokoua National Park and exclusive access to the pristine Nouabalé-Ndoki, guests explore ancient rainforests where no roads exist and gorillas roam freely. Light aircraft and river journeys link each camp, combining raw adventure with refined comfort. “It’s transformational travel in its purest form” Yvonne adds.
TERANKA FORMENTERA - Balearic Islands, Spain
Yvonne’s Y
On Formentera, Ibiza’s serene sister, Teranka captures the essence of Balearic bohemia. “Teranka embodies everything I love about discovering properties that elevate a destination beyond the expected” Yvonne says.
Surrounded by pine forests, sand dunes, and turquoise waters, this intimate retreat blends barefoot ease with artistic refinement. Contemporary art and antique pieces tell a story of place and time, while its design philosophy, terre d’ancrage, creates harmony between land, sea, and sky. “It’s soulful, chic, and effortlessly serene” Yvonne adds.
Travel, for us, is more than movement - it’s meaning. Every PURE encounter deepens our commitment to journeys that transform both traveller and place. At Y Travel, we craft experiences that take you beyond the ordinary, guided by partners who believe luxury and purpose can coexist beautifully. Because when travel is done with intention, it doesn’t just change your perspective, it has the power to change your world, and the world itself.