BlackBook lofty aspirations FLights of fancy Inventive itineraries, consummate savoir-faire and an elite roster of aircraft combine to make private jet tours truly elevated travel experiences. By Sue Bryant Anyone who’s ever contemplated a round-theworld itinerary knows that planning can be more than just a headache. From air and ground transport to hotels and meals, not to mention expert guides in a host of countries, the hassles may start to outweigh the benefits. So, it’s easy to see why some clued-up travellers with either ambitious programmes or a specific must-do bucket list of experiences are increasingly turning to “aircruising”: small-group excursions aboard private jets or chartered VIP aircraft by a select few purveyors who handle all the details, logistics, formalities, minutiae and arrangements, leaving guests to simply enjoy the journeys – be they a 20-day round the world sortie or a seamless single day that could start with a morning walk on the Great Wall of China and end with dinner under the stars at Ayers Rock – and, naturally, the destinations. Bill Peach Journeys 1 USP An Australia-based private jet tour company for 30 years, it whisks groups of no more than 30 between bigticket destinations like Angkor Wat, the Taj Mahal, ancient Petra, the Palace of Knossos and the Uffizi Gallery, all in one odyssey on an all-business class Embraer. WHERE? In-depth tours of Australia and New Zealand; eastern Europe; two weeks exploring some of Asia’s remotest islands; and three lavish “cruises” between London and Sydney. HOW MUCH? ,000 for a 20-day Sydney to London air-cruise. billpeachjourneys.com.au illustrations anje jager 54 CENTURION-Magazine.COM CONTACT CENTURION SERVICE FOR BOOKINGS
Jeffersons 2 USP The UK-based jet charter specialist focuses on tailored short breaks rather than world tours; think golf at Gleneagles or the K Club, a weekend in Courchevel or a Citation CJ2 for six to the Monaco Grand Prix. WHERE? Trips can be arranged from most European airports. Suggestions include a flight to Kiruna in Swedish Lapland and dog-sled on to the Icehotel; or fly to Venice, two nights at the timeless Gritti Palace and Orient-Express back to London. HOW MUCH? Excursions from ,275 per person for a day trip for lunch in Paris. jeffersons.com TMR 3 USP Founder Jean- Maurice Ravon was the original charterer of the Concorde for private flights, and he has been running this French-speaking service since 1989. An enhanced economy-class Boeing 767 is used in combination with Hilton and Hyatt Regency hotels, a step down from the others reflected in the more accessible price. WHERE? The 20-day world tour in November 2014 takes in Cuba, Colombia, Chile, Tahiti, Sydney, Yogyakarta, Singapore, Nepal and Samarkand. HOW MUCH? ,000 tmrfrance.com Abercrombie & 4 Kent USP In 2014, Africa: Across a Continent by Private Jet will be hosted by A&K founder Geoffrey Kent, using a 40-seater Boeing 737. Exuding luxe, each tour is packed with unique experiences accumulated by Kent over a long and distinguished career. WHERE? The 18-night tour of Africa includes dinner at the aquarium in Cape Town, supper under the stars in Namibia, helicoptering over Victoria Falls, a close-up encounter with cheetah conservationists, and a mountain gorilla trek in Uganda. HOW MUCH? ,000 abercrombiekent.com Lakani World Tours 5 USP The truly first-class aircraft, a 24-seat Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ), boasts two cocktail lounges and an on-board chef. Lakani opts for fewer stops on the long tours, but more time in each place, with tailor-made experiences from a behindthe-scenes immersion at the Beijing Opera to a private performance at the Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez. WHERE? Round the world from Seattle to Boston, visiting Beijing, Singapore, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Qatar, Crete and Seville. HOW MUCH? £60,400 lakani.com 6 TCS & Starquest Expeditions USP Itineraries don’t get much more creative, with explorations such as “Cape to Cape”, which takes in both Africa and South America in a combination of locations virtually impossible to re-create on scheduled flights. WHERE? Tours circling Australia; skimming the Atlantic and Pacific; circumnavigating the globe; and a bucket list trip to London, Petra, the Maldives, India, Rwanda and Marrakech. Golfers will relish the chance to play six top New Zealand courses, personally hosted by PGA Tour champion Gabriel Hjertstedt, travelling in an executive 24-seater Saab 340B. HOW MUCH? From £14,000 for the 16-day New Zealand golf air-cruise. tcsandstarquestexpeditions.com Hapag-Lloyd 7 USP Catering to German speakers, the jet tours from Hamburg use a pair of sleek, 48-seat Boeing 737s and guarantee accommodation in top hotels, from the Four Seasons in New York to The Residence in Zanzibar. WHERE? Four tours for 2014: Southeast Asia, Africa, USA (including Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Yosemite National Park) and a world tour from Stuttgart, taking in New York, Quebec, Alaska, Osaka, Kyoto, Palau, Hanoi and Zanzibar. HOW MUCH? 1,000 for the world tour. hl-kreuzfahrten.de/ kreuzfluege Windrose Finest 8 Travel USP The Berlin-based operator offers imaginative journeys, as in the 2013 air tour of Africa in a vintage DC3. For 2014, a private jet tour around South America includes swimming with sea lions in the Galapagos, helicopter sightseeing over Iguazú Falls and tango lessons in Buenos Aires. WHERE? A 20-day South America odyssey takes in Cartagena, the Galapagos (with five days on a yacht), Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Buenos Aires, Rio, Iguazú Falls, Manaus and Havana. How much? ,000 windrose.de Captain’s Choice 39 USP The firm’s allbusiness-class Boeing 757 and Airbus A319 aircraft offer global exploration with supreme attention to detail, including top local guides at each of the stops. WHERE? To India, Nepal and Bhutan; China; 16 days along the Silk Road; and, for 2015, round the world in 21 days from London via Mexico, Rio, Tahiti, Australia, Cambodia, India and Tanzania. HOW MUCH? ,000 for the Silk Road trip. captainschoice.co.uk Get the bird’s-eye view on CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM CENTURION-Magazine.COM 55
