Four Seasons, The Peninsula, Belmond and Ritz-Carlton offer once-in-a-lifetime experience tours

Sep 23 , 2018

The Belmond Andean Explorer passes through La Raya, Peru, during its journey between Arequipa, Lake Titicaca and Cusco. The train cuts through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Peru. Photo: Matt Crossick

Jet tour to Galápagos Islands, luxury Andes train ride, or cookery class in Michelin-star kitchen can be yours

Imagine these experiences: Latin Escape – a 16-day private jet experiences adventure in Central and South America.

Andean Explorer – a ride along one of the highest rail routes in the world and through the Peruvian Andes to over 4,000 metres above sea level.

Dim Sum Making Journey – once-in-a-lifetime experience to learn how to make dim sum with our gifted chef from our Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant, Spring Moon.

At first scrutiny, these may sound like bespoke experiences offered by a luxury travel agency. Instead, these are offered by high-end hotel chains, aimed at the discerning wealthy traveller, who can afford to enjoy a jet-setting itinerary above Costa Rica, Buenos Aires, Bogotá and Galápagos Islands, or a hands-on cooking session with a celebrated chef in a Michelin-starred restaurant’s kitchen. Increasingly, a growing number of boutique hotel chains are pushing the proverbial envelope on luxury travel by offering experience-led packages. Although the global experiential luxury trend has been in the making for a few years, Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Belmond and Peninsula Hotels are joining the fray to keep their clients happy.

Mango picking, one of the diverse activities organised by the Peninsula Academy, Peninsula Hotels’ curated experiences wing

These luxury packages are selling out fast. Though Ritz-Carlton’s luxury cruise liners will only start sailing in 2020, there has been an enthusiastic response; Four Seasons’ Private Jet journeys sold out quickly; Peninsula Academy, Peninsula Hotels’ curated experiences wing, is adding more curated experiences; and Belmond’s Andean Explorer luxury train that offers exclusive access to guests along one of the highest rail routes in the world and through the Peruvian Andes to over 4,000 metres above sea level, has been flooded with inquiries.

While these packages are targeted at the wealthy few, the demand for them offers some insight into why there is plenty of room for such niche offerings in the market.

“We began with two Four Seasons Private Jet journeys a year, and in 2017, due to popular demand, added a third itinerary to operate in 2018. Due to the quick sale of our 2018 journeys, we added a third World of Adventures itinerary, which has been the quickest sell-out since the launch announcement in 2015,” says Vivian Koh, director, public relations and content, Asia-Pacific at Four Seasons.