CULTURAL TREASURES - AROUND THE WORLD
BY PRIVATE JET
ITINERARY:
Friday, October 10
Arrive Los Angeles, California
Arrive in Los Angeles and meet your fellow travelers at a
welcome cocktail party and dinner. Beverly Wilshire, A Four
Seasons Hotel D
Saturday, October 11
Los Angeles - Papeete, Tahiti
(Flight time : 6 hours , 5 minutes . Fuel stop in Honolulu)
(Flight time: 5 hours, 55 minutes)
After breakfast at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, transfer to Los
Angeles Airport and then board your private jet for the flight
to Papeete, Tahiti's capital. Transfer to your hotel for a
relaxed dinner and restful evening after the day's long journey.
InterContinental Resort B L D
Sunday, October 12
Papeete - Bora Bora
(Local flight time: 50 minutes)
This morning, begin your Tahiti sightseeing on the west coast
with a stop at the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands. This museum
displays not only a number of archaeological finds, but also the
history, geology and customs of ancient Tahiti. Continue to the
restored Marae Arahurahu, a sacred religious site dedicated to
the early gods and used for important ceremonies. After lunch,
board a local flight to Bora Bora, where you cruise by yacht to
your accommodations at the new St. Regis Bora Bora. Enjoy your
hotel's many amenities before a cocktail party on the beach,
followed by a black pearl fashion show. Dinner this evening is
at any one of the hotel's restaurants or in your private
over-water bungalow. St. Regis Resort Bora Bora B L D
Monday, October 13
Design Your Day in Bora Bora
Spend Monday as you like, with a range of wonderful Design
Your Day activities from which to choose. This evening's private
beach festivities include a traditional Fire Dance and
Polynesian feast under the stars. Later, watch the movie South
Pacific on the beach over after-dinner drinks. St. Regis Resort
Bora Bora B L D
Design Your Day
Monday, October 13
● Catamaran
Lagoon Cruise
Cruise the island's lagoon with stops for ray feeding, shark
watching and snorkeling, followed by a barbecue lunch. Learn to
tie a pareo (sarong), the basics of Polynesian tamure dancing,
and how to weave palm-leaf plates.
●
Four-Wheel Drive Safari Adventure
Discover the island of Bora Bora, with its outstanding
panoramas over the valleys, its barrier reef, and the lagoon
with its incredible colors. End your excursion at Pahau Point,
where American troops installed cannons during World War II.
●
Lagoon or Deep Sea Fishing
You will find many species of large game fish in the deep
waters outside the reef, such as swordfish, bonito, yellow fin
tuna, barracuda, mahimahi, wahoo and sometimes marlin. Catch
smaller fish with a rod and reel in the calmer waters inside the
lagoon.
●
Miri Miri Spa
Relax and indulge yourself in Miri Miri Spa's 13,000
square foot facility and fitness center, located on its own
private island in the lagoon. Choose from a variety of exotic
treatments such as Polynesian Taurumi Massage, Hibiscus Milk
Facial, or Tamanu Green Balm Sunburn Relief Wrap.
Tuesday, October 14
Bora Bora - Papeete - Depart for Sydney
Cross the International Dateline
(Local flight time: 50 minutes)
(Flight time: 4 hours, 15 minutes. Fuel stop in Tongatapu)
(Flight time: 5 hours, 40 minutes)
After breakfast, return via boat and local aircraft to Papeete,
where you rejoin your private jet and crew. Today's journey
carries you across the broad expanse of the South Pacific.
Tuesday is lost crossing the International Dateline.
Wednesday, October 15
Arrive Sydney, Australia
Arrive in Sydney late Wednesday afternoon and check into The
Observatory Hotel, a member of the exclusive Orient-Express
Hotels collection. Dinner tonight is à la carte at The
Observatory.
The Observatory Hotel B L D
Thursday, October 16
Sydney
At Circular Quay, board a private skippered motor yacht and
cruise through the harbor and along the coast into picturesque
Rose Bay. After lunch, join a tour of the city including The
Rocks, Paddington, and Bondi Beach, or explore Sydney on your
own. This evening, dine outside the hotel at one of Sydney's
spectacular restaurants. We will be happy to provide you with a
list of favorites.
The Observatory Hotel B L D
Friday, October 17
Design Your Day
in and around Sydney
After participating in the Design Your Day option of your
choice (see below), enjoy a late-afternoon, private
behind-the-scenes tour of the magnificent Sydney Opera House,
and attend a performance in one of its five halls. Have dinner
at the hotel before or after the performance, as you prefer.
The Observatory Hotel B L D
Design Your Day
Friday, October 17
●
Aboriginal Art with Judy Friend
Explore one of the world's oldest continuous living
cultures, beginning with a private-access tour of the Art
Gallery of New South Wales, led by a museum expert. Then join
art historian Judy Friend to 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.
●
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.
●
Wine Tasting in the Hunter Valley
Australia's oldest wine-producing region, Hunter Valley
is famous for its Chardonnay, Semilion and Shiraz varietals. A
two-hour drive brings you to some of the valley's most renowned
wineries for tasting.
●
The Observatory Day Spa
Looking to unwind and recharge? We'll treat you to a
rejuvenating massage or pampering treatment at the Day Spa,
conveniently located in your hotel.
Saturday, October 18
Sydney - Mandalay, Myanmar* - Bagan
(Flight time: 4 hours, 40 minutes. Fuel stop in Darwin,
Australia)
(Flight time: 7 hours)
(Local flight time: 1 hour)
Your Around the World voyage continues today as you depart
Sydney on the journey to Mandalay, with a refueling stop en
route. After a private local charter to Bagan, transfer to 'Road
to Mandalay,' the deluxe Orient-Express river cruiser chartered
for your exclusive use for the next four nights. MV 'Road to
Mandalay' B L D
*If Myanmar and the "Road to Mandalay" cruise cannot be included
in the program, the deluxe Eastern & Oriental Express train from
Bangkok to Singapore will be substituted.
Sunday - Tuesday, October 19 -21
Cruise on the Irrawady River from Bagan to Mandalay
Over 13,000 shrines and temples once stood on the vast plain
of Bagan. Seven centuries later, a scant 2,000 remain. Explore
this treasure trove of Buddhist art history on a guided tour.
Later, arrive in the quaint village of Shwe Kyet Yet. From
there, cruise north towards Mandalay while enjoying a delectable
dinner of Eastern and Western cuisine prepared by awardwinning
chefs. Travel by boat to Mingun, home of the massive Mingun
Pagoda and its 90-ton bell, the largest in the world. Also visit
Sagaing Hills, dotted with monasteries and nunneries and
considered to be the living center of the Buddhist faith in
Myanmar.
MV 'Road to Mandalay' B L D
Wednesday, October 22
Mandalay - Agra, India - Dubai, UAE
(Flight time: 3 hours, 20 minutes)
(Flight time: 4 hours)
After breakfast, leave your river cruiser and reunite with your
private jet and crew. Enjoy brunch en route to Agra, where you
stop to explore the timeless Taj Mahal. A UNESCO World Heritage
site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Taj
Mahal is remarkable for its perfect proportions and minute,
skillful details. Following your visit, return to your jet and
enjoy a DVD or short nap en route to Dubai. In Dubai, ride a
boat or buggy (your choice) past richly landscaped gardens to
your own luxurious room, whose design was inspired by the
traditional courtyard summerhouses of old Arabia. Tonight's
dinner is à la carte in any one of the resort's many
restaurants. Madinat Jumeirah, The Arabian Resort - Dubai B L D
Thursday, October 23
Design Your Day in Dubai
Dubai is a city of startling contrasts, a place where the
traditional and the modern blend to produce a unique and
fascinating destination. Today begins with an introduction to
the city: visit the Old Quarter, straight out of Arabian legend,
and the Spice and Gold souks. Continue to the private Dubai Polo
Club, where a host explains the intricacies of a match while you
sip champagne in the shade of the surrounding palm trees;
afterward, chat with some of the players over a buffet lunch.
Later, make your Dubai visit unique with the Design Your Day
activity of your choice, then enjoy dinner at one of the
resort's restaurants - suggestions are provided.
Madinat Jumeirah, The Arabian Resort - Dubai B L D
Design Your Day
Thursday, October 23
● Afternoon Tea at the Burj Al Arab
The Burj Al Arab, with its unmistakable sail-like design,
is Dubai's most recognizable landmark. Watch the 105-foot water
column leap upwards towards the atrium's peak while you linger
over a traditional afternoon tea.
●
Shopper's Paradise
Home to over 450 retailers, the Mall of the Emirates
boasts over 2.4 million square feet of shops inside the 6.5
million square foot "resort." Along with shopping, enjoy leisure
and entertainment or partake of various cuisines from over 70
restaurants and coffeehouses.
●
Ski Dubai
Experience the Middle East's first indoor ski resort,
containing five runs that vary in difficulty, height and
incline. Skiers and snowboarders alike will enjoy these varied
slopes. Clothing and equipment are provided.
●
Talise Spa
Take time off from sightseeing for a rejuvenating
treatment at the resort's Talise Spa. Stroll in the tranquil
gardens, relax in the sauna or steam room, energize in the hot
and cold plunge pools, and then choose from an assortment of
pampering services.
Friday, October 24
Dubai - Amman, Jordan
(Flight time: 3 hours, 30 minutes)
Your journey continues west across the Arabian Peninsula to
Jordan. After a relaxing on-board lunch, arrive in Amman, one of
the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Travel
back in time on an afternoon visit to Jerash, site of the most
complete ruins of any provincial Roman city in the world.
Alternatively, you may choose to visit Amman's most noteworthy
historic sites: stop at the ancient Citadel and the Great Temple
of Amman, then continue to the Jordan Archeological Museum,
whose collection includes the Dead Sea Scrolls. Tonight, enjoy
an unforgettable dinner in the middle of the Roman temple ruins
overlooking the old city.
Four Seasons Amman B L D
Saturday, October 25
Design Your Day in Jordan
After breakfast, you have a choice of several Design Your
Day excursions. This evening, you may dine à la carte at any
restaurant at your hotel.
Four Seasons Amman B L D
Design Your Day
Saturday, October 25
● The Lost City of Petra
Travel through countryside rich in Biblical history to
Petra, the city of the Nabateans. Once a rich merchant city,
Petra was lost to Westerners for 1,000 years and rediscovered by
European explorers in 1812. Enter on foot, walking through a
narrow siq (stone passageway) that leads to the hidden city's
entrance.
●
Bethany and the Dead Sea
Explore the excavations at Bethany, where John the
Baptist is said to have started his mission and baptized Jesus,
and then continue your sightseeing with a visit to the Dead Sea.
Spend time at leisure swimming and partaking of the spa
facilities at the Jordan Valley Marriott Resort and Spa.
●
Excursion to Jerash or Amman City Tour
Friday's sightseeing choices - the Roman remains at
Jerash and the historic highlights of Amman - are offered again
today.
●
Four Seasons Spa
Indulge yourself in the restorative spa treatment of your
choice at Four Seasons' luxurious spa. Choose from a range of
unique rejuvenating treatments, including a detoxifying body
wrap in Dead Sea minerals followed by a relaxing aromatherapy
massage.
Sunday, October 26
Amman - Pisa, Italy - Fiesole
(Flight time: 4 hours, 25 minutes)
This morning, rejoin your private jet crew for your flight to
Pisa. On arrival, enjoy a short city tour that includes the
famous Leaning Tower. Continue eastwards to Fiesole and check
into Villa San Michele, a charming Orient-Express hotel that was
originally a 15th-century monastery designed by Michelangelo.
Enjoy a cocktail reception followed by dinner at the hotel.
Villa San Michele B L D
Monday, October 27
Fiesole - Florence - Fiesole
Transfer this morning to La Certosa de Galluzzo, originally
home to Carthusian monks. Explore the monastery, and then
continue to the center of Florence, birthplace of the
Renaissance. Visit the mighty Florence Cathedral, renowned for
Brunelleschi's dome, a masterpiece of innovative engineering,
before strolling with your local guide to admire the lovely
piazzas, palaces and churches. Lunch is at a restaurant in
Florence and includes wine tasting. This evening, you may dine à
la carte inside the hotel or at your choice of restaurants in
Fiesole or Florence.
Villa San Michele B L D
Tuesday, October 28
Design Your Day in Italy
Today, select from an array of Design Your Day options. This
evening dine à la carte either inside the hotel or at your
choice of restaurants in Fiesole or Florence.
Villa San Michele B L D
Design Your Day
Tuesday, October 28
● Florentine Crafts and Boutiques
This memorable day includes visits to the vast and
colorful Mercato Centrale, which specializes in all manners of
edible treats; the church of Santa Croce, which contains the
tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli; and one of the
best known gelateria in the city.
●
Museums of Florence
Explore the city's finest museums, beginning with the
Gallerie dell'Accademia, noted for its sculptures by
Michelangelo, particularly his David. Next, visit the Bargello
and its Museo Nazionale with its fine collection of Renaissance
sculpture, and the famous Uffizi Gallery, housing Botticelli's
Birth of Venus, Titian's Venus of Urbino and Michelangelo's Holy
Family.
●
Excursion to San Gimignano and Siena
Today, journey south from Florence to the delightful
walled town of San Gimignano, famous for its 15 remaining
medieval towers (the Torre Grossa is the tallest at 177 feet).
In Siena you visit the Piazza del Campo, where the world-famous
palio horse race is held twice a year.
●
Wine Tasting at Il Poggione
Located in the small Tuscan town of Sant' Angelo in
Colle, near Montalcino, Il Poggione is the landmark estate or
tenuta owned by the Franceschi family for four generations. On
this excursion, you will taste current vintages and enjoy a
rustic lunch paired with Estate wines.
Wednesday, October 29
Fiesole - Pisa - Prague, Czech Republic
(Flight time : 1 hour , 50 minutes)
This morning, return to Pisa (and your private jet) and fly
north to the "Golden City" of Prague. Join a walking tour that
includes the Old Town Square, with its famous astronomical clock
on the Old Town Hall, and ascend the 200-foot tower for
excellent views over the city. This evening, meet a fascinating
guest speaker who discusses the dramatic events in recent Czech
history. Dine tonight at a fashionable restaurant in the city.
Four Seasons Prague B L D
Thursday, October 30 Prague
This morning take an in-depth walking tour beginning in
Josefov, the city's Jewish Quarter, and concluding with lunch in
the Municipal House, Prague's finest Art Deco building. Pay a
private visit to the Estates Theatre (subject to rehearsal
schedules), where Mozart conducted the debut of Don Giovanni in
October 1787. There is time to explore Prague independently
before returning to the hotel. Later, cross the river on a
specially arranged after-hours outing to Prague Castle, visiting
the mighty St. Vitus Cathedral and the cavernous Vladislav Hall
(subject to availability) within the Royal Palace. Concluding
your tour, enjoy cocktails and canapés in the castle's White
Corridor, followed by a grand gala dinner in the Rudolf Gallery.
Four Seasons Prague B L D
Friday, October 31
Prague - St. Petersburg, Russia
(Flight time: 2 hours, 30 minutes)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to St.
Petersburg, where you check into the elegant Grand Hotel Europe,
an Orient-Express hotel. In true Russian tradition, this evening
you are invited to taste a fine selection of caviars accompanied
by some of the best domestic and imported vodkas. Dinner
afterwards is à la carte at your hotel. Grand Hotel Europe B L D
Saturday, November 1
St. Petersburg
Designed in the mid-18th century as the Winter Palace of
Catherine the Great, the Hermitage Museum contains memorabilia
from the lavish Imperial Court up to the Revolution. Enter
before official opening hours and appreciate this magnificent
collection privately. Cross the Neva River for lunch in one of
the city's finest restaurants, and later visit the cathedral
that contains the tombs of nearly all the rulers of Russia since
Peter the Great (including the last Czar, Nicholas II, and his
family). Conclude your sightseeing with a visit to the Church of
Spilled Blood, built on the site on which Alexander II was
assassinated in 1881. This evening in the hotel, meet a survivor
of the 900-day siege of Leningrad in WWII. Afterward, you may
choose to dine à la carte either at the hotel or at your choice
of restaurants in the city. Grand Hotel Europe B L D
Sunday, November 2
Design Your Day in St. Petersburg
Make your St. Petersburg visit uniquely yours with the
Design Your Day activity of your choice. Tonight, depart for a
gala evening at the opulent Yusupov Palace. Enjoy cocktails and
a short ballet performance, followed by dinner.
Grand Hotel Europe B L D
Design Your Day
Sunday, November 2
● Antiques, Workshops and Galleries
Visit a range of shops and galleries where local artists
create objects of striking beauty. Begin at the Ananov jewelry
shop where Andrei Ananov, Russia's most famous contemporary
jeweler, produces exquisite pieces in Art Nouveau style. Later,
visit the jewelry factory's new museum and the internationally
renowned Lomonosov porcelain factory.
●
Catherine Palace and Pavlovsk
Visit magnificent Catherine Palace, taking advantage of priority
access to this rococo treasure. Later, enjoy a lunch and lively
folklore performance before driving a few miles south to the
Great Palace at Pavlovsk, a gift from Catherine the Great to her
son, Paul.
●
Peterhof and Lomonosov
Visit the spectacular imperial estate of Peterhof.
Nestled on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, the palace was
built by Peter the Great to rival Versailles; you enjoy priority
access to the magnificent Grand Palace on your visit today.
After lunch, drive a few miles further along the coast to the
park and palace at Lomonosov, whose former residents include
Prince Menshikov, Czar Peter III, and Czarina Catherine II.
●
City Tour of St. Petersburg
Explore more of the city's principal sights, beginning
with the Smolny Cathedral, one of the most beautiful churches in
St. Petersburg. Finish your tour with a private visit to the
glamorous palace of Grand Duke Vladimir Aleksandrovich, and
enjoy a glass of champagne or tea from a samovar before a
concert in the music room.
Monday, November 3
St. Petersburg - Boston, Massachusetts
(Flight time : 4 hours . Fuel stop in Iceland)
(Flight time: 6 hours)
Board your private jet for the last time to cross the Atlantic
en route to the U.S. Arrive in Boston in the afternoon. Then,
connect to an evening commercial flight home or stay in Boston
for a few post tour nights; reservations are available on
request.
B L D
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