Many people would rather have an 'experience' as a gift than a physical present. But for most of us this will likely mean something like a day out on the race-track, a hot air balloon trip or a cookery class, but if you've got the money you can opt for something a bit more scarce...
I've been doing a bit of idle surfing to find some of the most egregious examples of luxury lifestyle experience you could indulge in you're super rich, and it's pretty grim....
From space tourism to deep-sea diving, such high-end experiences do make one wonder about what the hell we are doing with our scarce resources when there is so much poverty and misery in the world...
1. Orbital Spaceflight – $450,000+ (Virgin Galactic)
Space tourism is an existing reality of the near future. Companies like Virgin Galactic (source) are offering suborbital spaceflights for $450,000 per person with weightlessness and a glimpse of the Earth from the border of space. While considerably cheaper than past space flights, this is still among the most exclusive travel experiences available. SpaceX also has its eyes on the moon travel with prices expected to run in tens of millions.
2. Mount Everest Climb – Up to $160,000
Climbing the Earth's highest point is a feat reserved for the most ambitious—and wealthiest—explorers. While a standard guided climb will set some $40,000, for those who pay more for top-of-the-line packages, such as private Sherpas, oxygen equipment, and first-class base camp accommodations, the cost is as high as $160,000.
3. Private North Pole Expedition – $100,000
Reach to the North Pole is an extreme expedition, and for personal expeditions, one needs to pay the best. Organisations like Quark Expeditions (source) have conducted icebreaker cruises at a minimum of $20,000, and personal trips with helicopter transportation and customized activities can cost anything from $100,000 and more.
4. Antarctic Private Jet Tour – $80,000 – $150,000
For those who like their extreme cold served with a side of opulence, Antarctic private jet tours are the epitome of luxury travel. Companies such as White Desert (source) provide luxury eco-camps where one can see penguin colonies, venture into ice caves, and enjoy gourmet cuisine—all for the substantial fee of $80,000 – $150,000 per person.
5. Diving to the Titanic Wreck – $250,000
Before its operations were suspended, OceanGate Expeditions (source) offered the chance to dive nearly 13,000 feet into the sea to view the Titanic wreck. The cost? A staggering $250,000 per person. While no longer on offer, deep-sea travel is one of the most expensive and elite adventure pursuits.
6. Round-the-World Private Jet Tour – $100,000 – $150,000
High-end travel companies such as Four Seasons (source) offer luxurious private jet vacations that fly tourists through a number of countries in first-class luxury. These vacations include staying at upscale resorts, fine dining, and cultural excursions, and range from $100,000 to $150,000 per person.
7. Deep-Sea Submarine Exploration – $50,000 – $100,000
Deep-sea tourism is a recently emerged industry, and companies like EYOS Expeditions (source) offer submarine tours into the furthest-out trenches of the ocean. For a price tag between $50,000 and $100,000, such tours allow tourists to experience the deep sea in a way previously reserved for scientists and researchers.
8. Luxury African Safari – $50,000 – $100,000+
Safari costs are extremely wide-ranging, but for the ultra-rich, Singita and &Beyond (source, source) offer private safaris with high-end lodges, personal guides, and aerial wildlife tours. With add-ons like hot air balloon rides and customized wildlife photography lessons, such safaris could cost upwards of $100,000 per person.
9. Luxury Amazon Rainforest Expedition – $30,000 – $80,000
For those who want to visit one of the most biologically rich areas on earth in high style, luxury tour companies provide Amazon expeditions complete with private riverboats, expert naturalist guides, and five-star jungle lodges. Completely personalized and privately chartered, the cost is from $30,000 to $80,000 per person.
A few thoughts....
I know 'experiences' are in at the moment, they've been in for years now, many people prefer them over physical gifts, and I guess it's no surprise that at the top-end the market excludes all but the wealthiest...
There's a range of ways the relatively well-off can spunk $50K on a one-off experience that lasts for a few days or even less.
I mean I guess there's no other solution to this question of who gets to do these amazing trips other than to leave it to the market.
There's nothing wrong with it per-se, it's just the old beach-front scenario at the next level up.
And I guess it's a means of employment for thousands... I mean it's gonna be more than a 2:! ratio rich person to expert I guess.
However, what I can ask is this: if you do go on one of these experiences, spare me the experience of having to fucking listen to you talk about it, I fundamentally don't want to know!
If you need several people around you to enable you to do something, it's really not that interesting, if it's achieved simply by throwing money at it, I'd find the people doing the work for you much more interesting!