The new Amanzoe resort is putting a little known part of Greece on the map

CHARMING AND QUIET, the Peloponnese region of Greece does not register on many tourist maps. But that's likely to change with a new opening from one of Asia's most luxurious hotel groups, Aman Resorts.

The group, founded by Adrian Zecha in 1988 with the Amanpuri in Phuket, has grown to 25 resorts in 15 countries. The Mediterranean is their new hot spot, with Aman Sveti Stefan opening in Montenegro, Amanruya in Bodrum, Turkey, last year and more are planned for Portugal and Italy.

Amanzoe opened in August on a site along the eastern coast of the Peloponnese, a boat ride away from the jet-set islands of Spetses and Hydra. When Zecha visited the area in 2006 he said, "This is an Aman site", and began buying up 50 plots of land. It's an ambitious project, costing more than €100 million (HK$1 billion), with 38 pavilions.

Once again, Aman Resorts turned to renowned American architect Ed Tuttle who studied the site for two years and created a dramatic concept; a resort which recalls an ancient Greek mansion, with grandiose décor, high ceilings, colonnades and lots of marble and stone. Yet it's given a modern interpretation with sleek furniture and accents - like a 21st-century version of the Acropolis.

Despite the size of the project it's not easy to find. There are no road signs showing the way to Amanzoe. When I ask a friendly local at a petrol station if he knows where it is, he smiles. "Sure, it's just over that hill. I will show you." We follow his motorcycle along a winding road, through centuries-old olive groves with the shimmering Argosaronic Gulf in the distance.

On arrival I get a warm welcome from Char Gray, who, together with her Scottish husband Henry Gray, has been managing Aman Resorts' properties for more than a decade.

Occupancy is high although the resort has just opened. Athenians like to spend weekends here, and Europeans combine Amanzoe with another Greek destination. The remoteness and beauty have already attracted luminaries, with the Dutch royal family dropping in while cruising the area on their yacht.

The appeal is self-evident. All rooms have a courtyard entrance and spacious living area opening onto a private pool and pergola-shaded terrace. Glass doors slide away into recesses for comfortable indoor-outdoor living and the contemporary furniture is custom-built locally. The six-metre long pool is made of soothing dark green marble and there's sufficient terrace space to throw a small party.

Many guests spend their time in the privacy of their own pavilion, but it's worth hitting the main swimming pool, too, which is surrounded by a large terrace, a kid's pool, an enormous gym and panoramic yoga pavilion next door.