If you can imagine it and can afford it, you can make it happen. What was once reserved for a tiny circle of elite travelers — private jets and helicopters, sumptuous accommodations and a personal concierge anticipating every need — is now available through a variety of tour operators, luxury hotels and cruise lines offering exclusive, high-end packages.
Abercrombie & Kent raises the standard with its privately chartered Boeing 757, featuring 50 handmade, first-class leather seats as part of A&K’s Private Jet Journeys. Their Around the World by Private Jet: Islands, Savannas & the Amazon is a 26-day itinerary (from $117,000 per person) that visits remote and iconic locations such as the Amazon River, Easter Island, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Bali, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Kenya and Monaco.
The private jet makes long-haul travel comfortable and productive, with flights of eight to ten hours between some stops. Seats recline a full 180 degrees into flat 6.5-foot beds, and the aircraft includes an onboard executive chef, a fully stocked bar and individual iPads filled with entertainment.
A&K’s The Tropics to the Arctic itinerary combines stargazing in Mongolia with a private concert and fashion show in Uzbekistan, and stops in Colombia, Easter Island, French Polynesia, the Solomon Islands, the Philippines, Russia and Iceland. That 26-day expedition starts at $129,000. The Cuba & South America by Private Jet tour departs from Miami on a 23-day journey through six countries, beginning at $99,500 per person.
The Wings Over the World series features smaller privately chartered aircraft, like a Gulfstream G450, carrying groups of 14 to 16 to destinations unreachable by major carriers. Wings Over India begins at $28,995, while Wings Over China starts at $27,995.
National Geographic Expeditions offers Around the World by Private Jet, a 24-day exploration (from $79,950 per person) on a Boeing 757 configured for 75 guests. Highlights include Machu Picchu, Easter Island, Samoa, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Angkor Wat, Lhasa, the Taj Mahal, the Serengeti, Petra and Wadi Rum, and Marrakech. A team of National Geographic experts accompanies the trip, and guests meet researchers and grantees in the field.
Easter Island © PETER WATSON | DREAMSTIME.COM
If you’ve already visited one of the scheduled stops, operators frequently arrange an alternative activity so your trip still feels fresh and tailored to your interests.
IfOnly packages unique experiences that often support charitable causes, potentially offering tax benefits. The Ultimate Golf Getaway at Sea Island, Georgia, costs $100,000 for three players and includes four nights at the Lodge at Sea Island, rounds on three championship courses with a special round alongside PGA legend Davis Love III, lessons at the Sea Island Golf Learning Center, custom club fitting, Nike and Peter Millar outfits, in-room massages, private bourbon tasting and cigar-rolling sessions, shooting or fishing activities, an airfare stipend and private ground transportation for the group.
For travelers who prefer to unpack only once, Cunard’s Full World 2017 voyage on Queen Mary 2 circumnavigates the globe in a 132-night roundtrip from New York, covering more than 37,000 nautical miles, 40 ports in 23 countries, 33 UNESCO World Heritage sites and several overnight stays. The ship’s duplex apartments include private exercise areas, marble baths with whirlpool tubs and private libraries, with dedicated butler service and exclusive dining access. Duplex fares start at $84,198 per person, double occupancy, while the 2,250-square-foot Grand Duplex Suite is priced at $270,799 per person.
Golden Eagle Luxury Trains offers a 22-day Silk Road private train tour that evokes the journeys of Alexander the Great and Marco Polo. Crossing Russia, China and remote former Soviet republics like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, the trip covers 6,800 miles and six time zones aboard the Golden Eagle and the Shangri-La Express. MIR Corp. can book this experience from $24,595 per person.
Hotels are creating their own ultra-luxury packages. AKA Times Square’s Ultimate Broadway package includes a seven-night stay in a one-bedroom suite, VIP Broadway tickets, curated dinners and preferred seating, a fashion stylist, a backstage tour and tailored LiveIt! experiences such as dance classes or trapeze lessons — an approximately $10,000 itinerary for two.
The Quintessential Collection Vietnam — five luxury hotels — offers a comprehensive travel package with Bentley and Rolls-Royce transfers. Priced around $19,358, the journey begins in a Panorama Suite at The Reverie Saigon, includes a portrait session and painting at Nam Hai, guided tours of imperial sites in Hue while staying at La Residence Hotel & Spa, and nights at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hotel in Hanoi with private BMW 7 Series transfers.
Artisans of Leisure’s Exclusive Emirates nine-day itinerary includes stays at One&Only The Palm, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah and Emirates Palace, plus two nights in a private tented bungalow at Al Maha in the Arabian Desert. Private guides, drivers and curated activities such as Burj Khalifa access or falconry and archery experiences start at $13,090 per person.
© REMOTE LANDS
Remote Lands collaborates with Aman, which operates resorts, hotels and private residences worldwide, for a Pan-Asia private jet itinerary through Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines and Japan. Priced at $58,888 per person for up to 16 guests across two Gulfstream jets, the trip includes helicopter flights over Angkor Wat, exclusive access to remote temples with gourmet picnic lunches, participation in traditional Lao baci ceremonies, visits to Tokyo’s contemporary art galleries and private cars, drivers and guides for each couple. Evenings feature cocktail parties and dinners, where guests compare experiences and plan future bespoke adventures.