Tropics to the Arctic: Around the World by Private Jet

Boston, Massachussetts

Overview

Your Journey Begins

Arrive in Boston and transfer to The Ritz-Carlton, Boston, where you meet your tour leadership team and fellow guests over cocktails and dinner.

Cartagena, Colombia

Overview

Colonial Charm

Your Cartagena experience starts with a walking tour of colonial Cartagena accompanied by expert architectural guides. Wander the streets of the Badillo neighborhood, along Cartagena’s walled city, and past the church of San Pedro Claver. This evening, traverse the city’s historic center by horse and carriage, arriving at an exclusive street market experience to see local life up close. Shop for handmade crafts, taste traditional candies, find yourself entertained by a folkloric dance performance and perhaps try the local dances yourself. A special, private dinner features entertainment in one of the city’s iconic squares, reserved exclusively for your group. Explore the rich world of Colombian coffees, enhancing your appreciation for their distinct flavors and aromas. Learn about the coffee’s journey from its origin to the roasting process while savoring premium brews, and learn about the cultural significance coffee has on its many farm communities from a guest speaker.

Then, enjoy the Design Your Day activity of your choice.

Visit San Felipe Fort and the 17th-century Convent of La Popa to learn more about Cartagena’s history and enjoy beautiful views of the city

Enjoy a Rum and Chocolate Tasting, sampling a variety of locally produced items and learning what makes them unique

Indulge in a Spa Treatment and take time to relax and unwind

This evening, dinner at the restaurant of your choice from our Dine Around selections caps off your visit to Cartagena.

Easter Island, Chile

Overview

The Lost World

Fly from Cartagena to Easter Island, one of the most remote — and enticing — destinations on earth. The island’s stone effigies, called moai by the Rapa Nui, are thought to be representations for the builders’ ancestors. Nearly all of the 900 moai spread throughout the island face inland, in order to watch over and protect the island’s living inhabitants.

On arrival, pause for a welcome cocktail and traditional dance at Tahai en route to explora Rapa Nui, your sanctuary for the night.

The following morning before breakfast, you may opt to enjoy a memorable sunrise at Ahu Tongariki, the largest ahu on Easter Island and home to 15 moai, including the heaviest ever erected on the island. Visit Rano Raraku where most of the moai were made between the 12th and 15th centuries before transferring to the airport for your flight to Papeete.

Tetiaroa, French Polynesia

Overview

The Conservationist's Dream

Today, your private jet takes off for Papeete, French Polynesia, where you board local charter flights for the short air transfers to the private atoll of Tetiaroa and The Brando. With no neighboring resorts, noisy taxi-boats or racing jet skis to disrupt the quiet and tranquility, this exquisite resort is your personal island paradise for the next three nights, with a plethora of activities to choose from.

Enjoy snorkeling and a host of other water sports such as stand-up paddleboards, kayaks or outrigger canoes. You can explore the island on an archaeological tour or a birding tour, and learn about Polynesian arts and culture through dance, pareu dying and tying, weaving coconut fronds and ukulele lessons. Or take part in educational activities, such as a visit to the Tetiaroa Society Ecostation & Research Center or an exploration of The Brando’s sustainable technologies on a behind-the-scenes tour. You may prefer to simply relax at the pool or on the beach, or treat yourself to a pampering spa treatment.

Honiara, Solomon Islands

Overview

Tropical Traditions

Cross the International Date Line en route to the Solomon Islands. On arrival in Honiara, take a short drive to the Heritage Park Hotel and enjoy a light poolside dinner overlooking the ocean with traditional local entertainment.

After breakfast the next morning, you may choose to relax at the hotel or join a historical tour that includes both an introduction to the traditional arts and crafts of the region and a visit to the Guadalcanal sites that were integral to the turning point of World War II in the Pacific.

Rejoin your private jet for your continued journey to South Korea.

Seoul, South Korea

Overview

Palaces & Temples

A warm welcome awaits you at Incheon International Airport, where you are met and transferred to the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, the setting for tonight’s delightful reception.

Enjoy a culturally enriching visit to the historical Gyeongbokgung Palace after breakfast the next morning. Immerse yourself in traditional Korean culture with a tea ceremony and captivating entertainment in the tranquility of a private courtyard. An early lunch of authentic Korean cuisine is served before a visit to the Jingkwansa Temple. Reflect and connect with the tranquil surroundings as you are led on a calming walking meditation session by a resident nun. A visit to the Broadcasting Exhibition Hall provides fascinating insights into K-drama production and the world of TV broadcasting (subject to change). A Dine Around dinner this evening offers a choice of local restaurants that showcase Seoul's vibrant food scene.

The following day is yours to participate in the Design Your Day activity of your choosing:

Explore the City of Seoul on a comprehensive tour including Naksan Park, Cheonggyecheon Stream and the Korea Furniture Museum.

Visit the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a border barrier that divides the peninsula roughly in half (subject to change).

Discover The Bustling Shopping Districts Of Seoul to find a range of local and international brands

Spend the Day at Leisure, including a Four Seasons Spa treatment.

A farewell dinner features Korean dishes and a variety of entertainment highlighting the vibrant Korean culture.

Gobi Desert, Mongolia

Overview

Land of Nomads

Your private jet today takes you to Mongolia, where families of nomads still roam the plains on horseback just as their ancestors did centuries ago. Upon landing at Ulaanbaatar, board a local charter flight for the Gobi Desert, which lies between the Siberian wilderness to the north and the Tibetan Plateau to the south and features Bactrian camels, mountain sheep, golden eagles and many endemic reptiles. Four-wheel-drive vehicles take you through the desert to the exclusively booked Three Camel Lodge, where you are welcomed with traditional blue prayer scarves. Enjoy a mountaintop sundowner this evening before dinner with a traditional performance.

Your next morning begins with your selected Design Your Day activity:

Attend a Mongolian Calligraphy Class to learn the techniques behind this ancient art and meditation method famed across the Asian continent

Try Your Hand at Archery in a lesson led by an expert tutor and using replicas of the bows used hundreds of years ago

Take a Nature Walk around Bulagtai Mountain, enjoying the serene beauty of the desert

This afternoon, visit the aptly named red sandstone Flaming Cliffs, accompanied by a local paleontologist who teaches you about the extraordinary dinosaur finds (including the first dinosaur eggs) in this area. Enjoy cocktails and dinner, followed by a stargazing session with an astronomer.

The following morning brings another selection of Design Your Day activities, with leisure time this afternoon before an exclusive reenactment of the Naadam Festival — complete with traditional contests of archery, wrestling and horsemanship that speak to Mongolia’s deep military history.

Ride by Camel to Meet a Nomadic Family for a lively discussion on modern nomadic life and a glimpse into their daily rituals

Hike the Yol Valley, a valley oasis in the middle of the Gobi Desert, to see its abundant vegetation, mammals and birdlife

Join a Shaman Ceremony to learn about their ancient rituals and receive a blessing of good luck on your travels.

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Overview

On the Silk Road

Return to Ulaanbaatar by charter flight this morning and fly by private jet to Almaty, Kazakhstan, the gateway to the Trans-Ili Alatau Mountains and the central trading and cultural hub of this Central Asian nation.

The next morning begins with a visit to the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan to view its gold collection. The morning continues with a visit to Republic Square, home to national festivities, parades, sporting events and the Monument of Independence, which symbolizes modern Kazakhstan. Continue on to 28 Panfilov Guardsman Park and the Zenkov Cathedral, where an eternal flame burns for the fallen of World War II’s Eastern Front. Your morning concludes with a private visit to the unique Museum of Musical Instruments, which is normally closed to the public on Mondays.

After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to Big Almaty Gorge to visit a falconry for a private presentation on the traditional art of training falcons for national hunts. Explore Almaty’s culinary scene this evening with your choice of Dine Around restaurants for dinner.

Choose to pursue your own personal interests on your final morning in Kazakhstan with selections from our Design Your Day options before a special farewell dinner.

Experience Traditional Kazakh Life with a shashu (welcome ceremony), followed by demonstrations of local traditions

Visit the Green Bazaar, the oldest still-operating trading point in Almaty, opened in 1875

Spend the Morning at Leisure and relax with a spa treatment.

Yerevan, Armenia

Overview

Majestic Mountains and Age-Old Traditions

Fly this morning to Yerevan, the radiant heart of Armenia, nestled against the backdrop of majestic Mount Ararat.

The next morning, you may wish to travel to the foothills of Mount Ararat, the Biblical resting place of Noah’s Ark, and visit the Khor Virap Monastery, where you greet the sunrise over snow-capped peaks and receive a blessing from one of the local priests. After rejoining your fellow guests, learn the stories of the Armenian Genocide during a guided tour of the Armenian Genocide Memorial and lay flowers in memory of the victims before returning to the hotel for lunch. Pursue your own interests this afternoon with your choice of Design Your Day options:

Visit the Matenadaran Museum of Ancient Manuscripts, with manuscripts dating back to the ninth century

Visit the Treasury Museum at Etchmiadzin Cathedral, home to significant Christian relics

Tour the Yerevan Ararat Brandy Company for a tour and tasting of legendary Armenian brandies

Spend the Afternoon at Leisure, including a spa treatment

Your last day in Armenia takes you to the cave monastery of Geghard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in the fourth century and expanded in the 13th century, which features two hand-carved churches and royal sepulchers in the cliffs of the Azat Gorge. Enjoy a live performance of medieval Armenian chants before continuing to Garni, where you visit the only surviving Greco-Roman colonnaded building in the region. Built in the first century, the temple was dedicated to Mithra, the deity of light and justice. Lunch is served in a local restaurant, with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, where you may take part in the baking ritual of lavash, a traditional Armenian bread.

Your explorations of Armenia continue tonight with a private cocktail reception and exclusive performance at the State Philharmonic Hall named after Aram Khachaturyan, delving deeper into the rich and vibrant tapestry of Armenian culture. Dine Around selections this evening allow you to enjoy dinner at some of Armenia’s best restaurants before departing the next morning for your adventure in Iceland.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Overview

Land of The Midnight Sun

Enjoy lunch en route to Reykjavik today, landing early in the afternoon with time for a leisurely stroll around the heart of this historic city. Journey through Viking history this evening during dinner as traditional storytellers share folk songs and Icelandic tales and answer questions about this unique land, its people and culture.

The next morning, a scenic drive takes you to the first national park of Iceland. Lying in the rift valley, Thingvellir National Park is one of the very few places where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge comes to the surface, making the boundary between the tectonic plates visible. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is also the place where the Althing (the world’s oldest surviving parliament) was established.

Continue on to Gullfoss to see its iconic waterfall, fed with water from the glacier Langjokull, the second-largest glacier in Europe. Then explore the geothermal pools surrounding Geyser, the “geyser” that gave its name to all other erupting hot springs, and view Strokkur, famous for spouting up to 90 feet into the air — one of the most active geysers in the area. You also meet the five-gaited Icelandic horse this morning and witness Icelandic strongmen showcasing traditional feats of strength in authentic Viking gear. After lunch, return to the hotel with time to relax or explore before your final Dine Around dinner of the trip.

Design Your Day options fill your final full day in Iceland before a memorable farewell cocktail and dinner.

Embark on a Whale Watching Cruise through the Icelandic waters frequented by nearly 20 different species of whale, each with its own unique behaviors and characteristics

A Walking Food and Culture Tour of Reykjavik lets you sample local delicacies in between museum visits

Hike to Thrihnukagigur Volcano at Blafjoll Mountain and descend into one of the enormous craters to admire its beautiful coloration

Visit the Blue Lagoon to bask in the frosty blue waters loaded with minerals and salts believed to have therapeutic powers

After breakfast the following morning, reboard your private jet for the final flight of this adventure. Enjoy lunch before landing in Boston this afternoon and bid farewell to your tour staff and fellow guests before connecting with your onward flights.