NINE WORLD WONDERS AROUND THE WORLD BY PRIVATE JET ITINERARY:
(2008 itinerary) - 2009: please inquire
Day 1: Miami, Florida
Transfer to your hotel by private car arranged by
Abercrombie & Kent. After settling in to your room, meet your
fellow passengers this evening at a cocktail reception followed
by a welcome dinner at your hotel on shimmering Biscayne Bay.
Four Seasons Hotel D
Day 2: Miami - Lima, Peru
(Flight time : 5 hours , 20 minutes)
Board your private jet for Lima, gateway to the wonders of the
ancient Inca civilization. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel
where there is time to relax before this evening's events.
Tonight the doors of the Larco Herrera Museum open for a private
guided tour of the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian
ceramics. Your hosts, the museum curators, invite you for a rare
look at more artifacts hidden away in private storage rooms
normally closed to the public. Afterward, attend a special
dinner as guests of a descendant of the museum's founder.
Swissotel B L D
If you have visited Cusco and Machu Picchu before or prefer
not to travel to high altitudes, a sea-level alternate itinerary
can be arranged for Days 2 to 5. Please ask for details.
Day 3: Lima - Cusco
(Local flight : 1 hour , 20 minutes )
Take a short commercial flight to Cusco, high in the Andes,
where the rest of the morning is free to relax and adjust to the
altitude. Later this afternoon, visit some of the city's
highlights, beginning at the 16th-century Cathedral, its first
stone supposedly set in place by Francisco Pizarro himself.
North of the city proper lies the Incan fortification of
Sacsayhuaman, one of the most skillful stone constructions in
the world. This evening gather for cocktails in the candlelit
courtyard of La Merced Church, then dine in the church's
beautiful Capitular lounge. Hotel Monasterio B L D
Day 4: Cusco - Machu Picchu
Forgotten for centuries by the outside world, Machu Picchu
is one of the bestpreserved remains of the Inca civilization.
Board the Hiram Bingham Orient-Express, a luxury train that
delivers you to Machu Picchu after the morning crowds have left.
Explore this magnificent site in peace and quiet, with guidance
by local experts and time to wander the terraced walkways by
yourself. Following afternoon tea at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary
Lodge, descend by road and board the train to return to Cusco.
Dinner is served on board. Hotel Monasterio B L D
Day 5: Cusco - Lima - Easter Island
(Local flight : 1 hour 20 minutes )
(Flight time : 4 hours 55 minutes )
Return to Lima on a commercial flight to reunite with your
private jet and crew for the journey to Easter Island. Perhaps
the most isolated place on earth, this tiny island is an
open-air museum of a unique Polynesian culture. After a
traditional greeting on arrival, transfer to your hotel. Travel
to Ahu Tahai, one of the oldest sites on Easter Island, with
three burial platforms guarded by moai. Pause for a twilight
cocktail in this extraordinary setting overlooking the sea. Dine
this evening at the home of Maria Hake Rapahango, a native
Rapanui, and Julio Lagos, her Chilean husband, who prepare a
feast of traditional foods cooked over hot stones; dinner is
accompanied by local dance and song. Otai Hotel B L D
Day 6: Easter Island
After a leisurely breakfast, a full day of island
exploration begins. Your first stop is Rano Kau volcano. Gaze at
the fresh water lake of the volcano and visit its archaeological
site. Then visit mountaintop Orongo, once the center of the
island's mysterious Birdman Cult. At Akahanga, a large ahu
(platform) with four fallen moai is said to mark the burial site
of the first island king. Rano Raraku is an evocative stop, a
quarry and moai "factory" with statues abandoned in all stages
of completion. Drive along the northern coast to the
archaeological zone at Anakena, the site of an elegantly
presented, sumptuous barbecue lunch. There is time to swim or
stroll along one of the island's best beaches. Later this
afternoon stop at Vinapu, whose stone walls bear carvings
similar to those found at Machu Picchu. The day ends with dinner
at your hotel. Otai Hotel B L D
Day 7: Design Your DaySM on Easter Island
Easter Island - Apia, Samoa
(Flight time : 5 hours 45 minutes ; possible tech stop at
Papeete )
(Flight time : 3 hours 45 minutes )
This morning continue exploring Easter Island on the Design Your
Day excursion of your choice. Then transfer to Mataveri
International Airport and board your private jet for Apia,
Samoa, the heart of Polynesia. Lunch and a late snack are served
on the flight. Arrive at Samoa in the afternoon, local time.
This evening you are treated to a Samoan fia fia (feast) and a
performance of traditional Polynesian dances. Aggie Grey's
Lagoon, Beach Resort & Spa B L D
Design Your Day
Day 7
Ana Kai Cave Walk
Go for a guided walk along the coast to meet the
fishermen at Hango Piko, see archaeological sites and explore
the Ana Kai Cave, site of the only cave paintings on the island
associated with the Birdman Cult.
Archaeology via Horseback or Vehicle
Continue your Easter Island explorations at the ancient
ruins of Vaihu and Puna Pau on horseback or by car, and then
ride further along the coast to Ahu Akivi. Built in 1460, this
site was one of the latest constructions built.
Moai Hike
Explore the length and breadth of Easter Island on foot
with a scenic walking tour. Circle the lip of Rano Kau or cross
locally owned fields to visit natural bathing pools and
spectacular archaeological sites.
Hanga Roa Exploration
An exploration of the town Hanga Roa includes a visit to
the local museum. Museo Antropologica P. Sebastian Englert
houses the only known moai fragment that retains its original
white eyes. Also visit the local church, where Christian and
local symbolism are curiously combined. Hanga Roa market is a
favorite stop for craft items.
Day 8: Apia
Spend this day your way in glorious Polynesia: enjoy beach
and water activities, a Samoan Fofo massage at your hotel's
world-renowned spa or a round of golf. For those with the desire
for exploration, join a trip around the island including a visit
to Vailima, Robert Louis Stevenson's home in the his later
years. Lunch is a picnic on the island's pristine sand beach.
Aggie Grey's Lagoon, Beach Resort & Spa B L D
Day 9: Apia - Depart for Sydney
Cross the International Dateline
(Flight time : 6 hours 50 minutes )
After breakfast at your hotel, return to the airport to board
your private jet. Enjoy lunch and then congregate in the lounge,
enjoy a DVD, or use the time in flight to nap or read. The day
is lost crossing the International Dateline. B L D
Day 10: Arrive Sydney, Australia
Arrive in Sydney in the early afternoon and check into your
beautiful hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to
enjoy your room with a full view of the magnificent Sydney
Harbor or stroll along nearby Circular Quay. This evening gather
for drinks with art historian Judy Friend, who recounts stories
of First Settlement life in Sydney and the effects of
colonization on the indigenous Aborigines. Dine at your leisure
in your hotel. Four Seasons B L D
Day 11: Sydney
Explore this vibrant city today on a drive that takes you
through the historic Rocks District, into Paddington and its
celebrated open-air market, and down to Bondi Beach. Later an
"insider's" private harbor cruise takes you to a nearby island
for a barbecue lunch Aussie style, including a
boomerang-throwing lesson. This afternoon visit Sydney on your
own (we can suggest a variety of independent activities) or
continue your exploration with a visit to renowned Taronga Park
Zoo where an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour shows you
Australia's unique wildlife: koala, kangaroo, emu, wallaby,
platypus, wombat and echindna. Dine as you please this evening;
Sydney's restaurants are spectacular and we can suggest a
favorite. Four Seasons B L D
Day 12: Design Your Day In and Around Sydney
After the Design Your Day option of your choice (see left),
enjoy a private, behind-thescenes tour of the magnificent Sydney
Opera House, modern wonder and icon. Afterwards attend a
performance in one of the Opera House's five performance halls.
Have dinner at the hotel before or after the performance, as you
prefer. Four Seasons B L D
Design Your Day
Day 12
Aboriginal Art with Judy Friend
Explore one of the world's oldest continuous living
cultures beginning with a private-access tour in the Art Gallery
of New South Wales, led by a museum expert. Then join art
historian Judy Friend and view or purchase Aboriginal works at
three private galleries.
A Bird's-Eye View of Sydney
Start the day weaving through catwalks, up ladders and
along the upper Arch to the top of Sydney's Harbour Bridge - a
climb that ends with an exhilarating full-circle view of one of
the world's most beautiful harbors.
Blue Mountains
Travel to Blue Mountains National Park, 90 minutes
outside Sydney by road, to walk in a lush setting of sandstone
outcroppings and hazy blue forests and gaze out over Wentworth
Falls, Weeping Rock or Mount Solitary.
Flightseeing to Palm Beach
The beaches north of Sydney are spectacular and Palm
Beach - a narrow finger of land ending at Barrenjoey Head - is
one of the most beautiful. A breathtaking seaplane flight takes
you over the city, landing for a seafood lunch at Palm Beach.
Golf in Sydney
Bonnie Doon, Long Reef, St. Michael's, Mona Vale, The
Lakes: make your choice and enjoy 18 holes at one of the
charming, and challenging, courses that ring Sydney.
Wine Tasting in the Hunter Valley
Australia's oldest wine-producing region, Hunter Valley,
is famous for its Chardonnay, Semillon and Shiraz varietals. A
two-hour drive brings you to some of the valley's most
interesting wineries for tasting.
Wellness Spa at The Four Seasons
If you are weary or want some "alone time," we'll treat
you to a rejuvinating massage or treatment at Sydney's most
famous spa, conveniently located at your hotel.
Day 13: Sydney - Siem Reap, Cambodia
(Flight time : 4 hours 55 minutes )
(tech stop at Darwin )
(Flight time : 5 hours 35 minutes )
Your private jet re-crosses the equator, whisking you
northwestward to Siem Reap, Cambodia (gateway to Angkor) where a
landmark room is reserved for you at your historic hotel. Dine à
la carte at the hotel tonight. Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor B L
D
Day 14: Siem Reap
Built between the 9th and 15th centuries AD, the Angkor
complex of temples, palaces and terraces is an architectural
masterpiece of the first order. This morning you explore its
most significant sites, including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, the
Bayon, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephant Terrace and the Terrace
of the Leper King, accompanied all the while by an expert local
guide. Glimpse the everyday life of a local family with a stop
at a nearby village, where a translator is on hand for questions
and answers.
After returning to the hotel for lunch, a late afternoon visit
brings you to Ta Prohm, wildly overgrown with strangler figs and
silk-cotton trees, untouched since its "discovery" in 1860.
Another stop shows you Preah Khan, where a preservation
specialist provides fascinating commentary on the struggle to
protect Angkor amidst two decades of civil unrest. An optional
stop at a rehabilitation center for the victims of land mines
illuminates another wartime legacy. Dine tonight at your hotel
or at a restaurant in another of Siem Reap's luxury hostelries;
suggestions and transportation are provided. Raffles Grand Hotel
d'Angkor B L D
Day 15: Design Your Day in Siem Reap
Design Your Day options fill the morning hours (see left)
before you rejoin the group for cocktails this evening. Meet
Nhean Samban for a personal account Cambodia's recent history,
an enthralling story of hiding from American bombs and surviving
depredations of the Khmer Rouge. Later, an elaborate poolside
dinner is followed by graceful Apsara dancing. Raffles Grand
Hotel d'Angkor B L D
Design Your Day
Day 15
Cambodian Countryside
Drive out into rural Cambodia to visit a local
agricultural community, meeting farmers in their fields. This
region is also home to the Khmer temples of Banteay Srei and
Sulous, renowned for their pink sandstone carvings.
Helicopter to Beng Mealea
Fly out over the lush Cambodian countryside to Beng
Mealea Temple, abandoned for more than 800 years. Land in a
field nearby and walk to the temple, perhaps accompanied by
local villagers who rarely see western visitors. The scene is
magical - a priceless opportunity for photographers.
Phnom Penh
Fly to Cambodia's capital by scheduled air, accompanied
by a guide-historian, to explore a city with a rich but violent
past. Tour the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum and
Tuol Sleng, a Khmer Rouge detention center outside the city.
Shop with the locals at the colorful Russian Market.
Spa at the Grand
Take time off from sightseeing for a rejuvenating morning
at the hotel's Amrita Spa. Choose the Angkor Escape package, a
perfect restorative for the weary explorer that combines a
powerful hydrotherapy bath with full-body massage and skin care
treatment.
Day 16: Siem Reap - Yangon, Myanmar - Jodhpur, India
(Flight time : 1 hour 30 minutes )
(Flight time : 3 hours 25 minutes )
On a day made possible only by private jet, make a true "flying
visit" to Myanmar to see Yangon's dazzling Shwedagon Pagoda.
This world landmark, gilded with more than eight tons of gold,
has dominated the skyline for 2,500 years. After lunch at the
elegant Strand Hotel, return to the airport to fly on to
Jodhpur, a jewel of a city in northern India whose ancient walls
still enclose an exotic jumble of narrow streets and lively
bazaars. Check in to your palace hotel (which remains the home
of the Jodhpur royal family) with time to freshen up before
cocktails. Tonight you dine à la carte at your hotel. Taj Umaid
Bhawan Palace B L D
Day 17: Jodhpur
The Bishnoi people, who live on the fringes of the great
desert outside the city, are famous as "the world's first
ecologists". This morning's jeep safari takes you to a series of
Bishnoi villages for an up-close look at their unique culture,
with stops at shepherds', potters' and weavers' communities.
Then travel on to Rohat, once a fort and now an elegant hotel,
where the local ruling family welcomes you for lunch. End your
day with an optional guided walk around your palace hotel and
its museum. This evening, adjourn to the city's Mehrangarh Fort
for a celebration of traditional dance and music, followed by
dinner on the ramparts. Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace B L D
Day 18: Jodhpur - Agra - Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
(Flight time : 45 minutes )
(Flight time : 3 hours 15 minutes )
Board your private jet for a short postbreakfast flight to Agra
and the timeless Taj Mahal. Built 350 years ago by Emperor Shah
Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, this "monument to
love" is a filigreed dream in white marble, a spectacle to which
no photograph can ever do justice. Reboard your private jet and
enjoy a DVD, nap or sip afternoon cocktails en route to Muscat,
capital of the Sultanate of Oman. Arrive in the late afternoon
and transfer to your luxury hotel on the pristine beach of the
Gulf of Oman. Dinner tonight is à la carte at any of the hotel's
restaurants. Al Bustan Palace B L D
Day 19: Muscat
This morning's tour of Muscat begins with a drive through
the beautiful embassy quarter en route to Sultan Qaboos Grand
Mosque, a massive complex that can hold up to 20,000
worshippers. Not many westerners visit the Mosque and Islamic
dress standards must be observed. After a visit at the Omani
Museum, it's on to Muttrah, a charming seaside quarter of
Muscat, complete with traditional bazaar and fish market. In
Muscat Old Town you proceed on foot, strolling around the palace
of Sultan Qaboos and the 16th-century Portuguese Jalali and
Mirani Forts. This evening, step into a Bedouin tent - and a
desert feast straight out of Arabian Nights. Savor traditional
Omani-Arabian dishes to the accompaniment of folk entertainment,
camels and henna painters. Al Bustan Palace B L D
Day 20: Muscat - Aqaba - Wadi Rum- Petra, Jordan
(Flight time : 4 hours )
Enjoy lunch aloft while your globespanning journey continues
west. Arrive in Aqaba, Jordan's southernmost city, then travel
north on the King's Highway to Wadi Rum - the "Valley of the
Moon." In this otherworldly landscape of shifting colors,
sweeping dunes and vast horizons, T.E. Lawrence ("of Arabia")
camped with his Bedouin allies during WWI, and the Wadi is still
home to Bedouin families who welcome visitors with legendary
generosity. Later drive to Petra, arriving in time for dinner
and an early night in preparation for tomorrow's exciting
journey to the Lost City. Petra Movenpick Resort B L D
Day 21: Petra
Just a few steps from the hotel lies the entrance to Petra,
the city "half as old as time" that was abandoned almost 1,500
years ago and forgotten by the outside world for centuries. Step
into the brilliant light bathing the city, and experience for
yourself something of the surprise that Petra's first western
"discoverers" felt when they stumbled across this spectacular
site in the early 19th century. There is time for leisurely
exploration of the Treasury, Temple of the Winged Lions, baths,
markets and tombs … all hewn from mauve, rose, ochre and blue
sandstone. Return to your hotel for a lunch, or eat lunch amid
the ruins. This evening, gather at nearby "Little Petra" for
torch-lit cocktails accompanied by oriental music; from there
your "Nabataean" hosts lead you to the 2,000-year-old site where
dinner and entertainment await. Petra Movenpick Resort B L D
Day 22: Petra - Aqaba - Cairo, Egypt
(Flight time : 1 hour 30 minutes )
After breakfast return to Aqaba airport to board your private
jet bound for Egypt. On arrival, transfer to the renowned Mena
House at the edge of the Giza Plateau, where you meet Dr. Zahi
Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Dr. Hawass's insights into ancient Egypt are a prelude to your
visit to the Pyramids and the Sphinx. The Great Pyramid is the
only survivor of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, and it
remains just as awe-inspiring today. Take an insider's tour of
the recently discovered Workmen's Tomb (not yet open to the
public) as well as a tour of the Solar Boat Museum. Proceed to
Cairo to check into your hotel - or, if you wish, stay for the
evening Sound and Light Show at the Sphinx. Dine tonight at any
of the restaurants in your hotel. Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at
The First Residence B L D
Day 23: Design Your Day in Cairo
Explore another facet of ancient Egyptian culture, chosen
from the full-day excursions available today (see right). On
your return to Cairo, dine where you please, at your hotel or a
city restaurant - we'd be happy to suggest some favorites. Four
Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence B L D
Design Your Day
Day 23
A Day at the Spa
Abercrombie & Kent is pleased to treat you to a
restorative body treatment, facial treament or massage at your
hotel's Spa and Wellness Center. Relax with a glass of cool
mineral water, fresh fruits and an array of magazines while
specialists restore your zest for life.
Memphis and Sakkara
Travel back in time to Memphis, capital of Egypt's Old
Kingdom. Its legendary splendors are no more but the 18th
Dynasty's Alabaster Sphinx remains, as does a beautifully carved
statue of Ramses II - enough to evoke the days when this was one
of the great temple cities of Egypt. Nearby Sakkara was
Memphis's necropolis, its many pyramids including the fabled
Step Pyramid built by Zoser I in 2686 BC.
Valleys of the Kings
Travel south to Luxor aboard a commercial flight for a
morning's tour of the East Bank temple of Karnak. Then cross the
Nile to explore some of the 64 richly-decorated tombs discovered
to date in the Valley of the Kings. Other sightseeing highlights
include the fabled Colossi of Memnon. Return to Cairo by air in
the evening.
Wadi al-Hittan, Fayoum
A day-long four-wheel-drive expedition, accompanied by a
private Egyptologist is to the country's largest desert oasis.
Explore the "Garden of Egypt" with its citrus, nut and olive
groves. You also see fossilized skeletons - more than 40 million
years old - that illustrate the evolution of whales from
land-based to marine mammals.
Day 24: Cairo
Spend the morning in the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities,
filled with art and artifacts that evoke the gilded splendors,
and the poignant everyday activities, of the ancient kingdom.
Highlights include the treasures found in the tomb of
Tutankhamun and the Mummy Room, which houses the remains of 27
of his New Kingdom relations. Lunch is aboard a boat while
cruising the Nile before spending the afternoon pursuing
independent activities or exploring Cairo's Islamic heritage.
Begin at the medieval Citadel of Salah El Din high above the
city, then walk down from Bab El Fotouh into the heart of old
walled Cairo and the Khan El Khalili Bazaar. This evening marks
the end of your journey with an extraordinary event: a romantic
Thousand and One Nights-style dinner. Ride a camel caravan out
onto the Giza plateau, in sight of the Pyramids, where flaming
torches lead you to a tented banquet of meze appetizers, grilled
meats and honeysoaked pastries. It is a memorable ending to an
unforgettable trip. Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First
Residence B L D
Day 25: Cairo - Keflavik - New York, NY
(Flight time : 7 hours 45 minutes )
(Flight time : 6 hours )
Board your private jet for the last time to cross the Atlantic
westbound en route to the U.S. Following a fuel stop and crew
change in Iceland, you arrive in New York City in the late
afternoon. After clearing U.S. arrival procedures, connect to an
evening commercial flight to your home city. B L D
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