20
SUMMER
AA.COM CELEBRATEDLIVING
FromResidencetoRetreat
Recommends
ISLANDHIDEAWAYS
VALLEY TRUNK ESTATE
Asmydriver rounded thecurveand
madehiswayup theentry,myeyes
widened.What stretchedbeforeme
seemedevenmore lushandexotic
than theVirginGorda I knew. Impec-
cably trimmed, deep-green lawnswel-
comed; toweringvines andbushes
burstwithvibrant pinkand red
blooms; severalmysterious structures
dotted the landscape.
There’s good reason I hadnever
laid eyes on this hideaway in theBrit-
ishVirgin Islands. For 35 years, the 19-
acrewonderlandof ValleyTrunk
Estatehas been aprivate residence,
and theowners are just nowmaking it
— and 70-ft. yacht
Xanadu
— available
for exclusive rentals bynomore than
16guests traveling together. The en-
chantingpropertywas painstakingly
built over several years and is a rare
treat to experience indeed.
Eight individual bedroom suites
sprawl overmultiplevillas, oering the
utmost in luxuriousprivacywith a re-
fined, but unpretentious, feel of a fam-
ily retreat. Multilevel paths, hidden
boardwalks, and small bridges sur-
prise at every turn andmake for great
exploratorywalks. Hugegraniteboul-
ders on the compound confirmyou
arenear thegeologically stunning
Baths of VirginGorda.
Named after the indigenous trunk-
back turtles, ValleyTrunkEstate
boasts oneof thebest beaches in the
BVIs, andoverlooking it is theBali
House, whichwasdeconstructed
piecebypiece inBali, then relocated
and rebuilt on its currentmajestic
perch. Here, guests enjoygourmet
meals, from an islandbarbeque feast
tofine seafood anddelicatepastries.
Paddleboards andglass-bottom kay-
aks are rigged and ready, or summon
Xanadu
for an afternoondive, snorkel,
or island tour (did Imentionwhat an
incredible amenity a70-ft. yacht is?).
Indulge inprivate tennis lessons, have
oneof thebestmassages on theplan-
et right inyour suite, or enjoy aprivate
outdoor yoga sessionwhilegazingout
over theCaribbeanSea.
It’s obvious theowners of Valley
Trunk adore it andhave thought of ev-
erydetail for its publicdebut. Evening
bonfires after dinner entertainon the
beach, completewith all-weather rugs
andupscalebeanbag chairs, no less.
Hermès bathproducts grace your
suite, gifting itwith a light, intoxicat-
ing fragrance impossible to forget. If
you are fortunate enough toget abit
of the toiletries home, itwill transport
you time and time againback to
dreamyValleyTrunk. That’swhat I call
theperfect souvenir.
Rate is $15,000per night, inclusive,
for one to sixguests. Eachadditional
person, up to 16guests total, is$1,800
inclusive. Email
formore informationand reservations.
Takeapeek inside theseonce-privateenclaves, available to theprivilegedpublic.
JANETTHOMAS
