Luxury tour operator Kensington is launching Kensington Expeditions, a collection of tours designed for travelers to have more hands-on scientific and conservation experiences not available to the public.
Destinations include Antarctica, Oman and even space.
Head of expeditions Neal Bateman said the new collection “was born out of conversations with our clients who were seeking more meaningful, hands-on experiences.” Guests can participate in field-based research, including marine biodiversity monitoring and ecological studies.
Travelers will receive personalized gear and have access to a 24/7 concierge service, Kensington said.
The itineraries are fully customizable, but Kensington shared sample itineraries. An Antarctica itinerary, for example, includes a 12-day journey on a superyacht that begins in Patagonia; guests can explore Antarctica alongside polar experts and go kayaking, partake in sub dives and visit research stations.
A 14-day Oman itinerary would visit both Northern and Southern Oman with a focus on cultural and outdoor activities. Travelers can visit Unesco World Heritage sites along the Frankincense Trail and spend time with conservation teams in Dhofar.
A sample 34-day private jet journey follows the equator to places like Borneo, Rwanda and Brazil. On this itinerary, guests would observe two gorilla species, snorkel with whale sharks and explore the Amazon.
Kensington’s itineraries to space are perhaps most intriguing: The company says it was partnering with “the world’s leading space innovators to take passengers on out-of-this-world journeys” as soon as May, but it did not share information on partners or price.
It would offer short suborbital trips, a stay at the International Space Station or up to 10 days at the forthcoming commercial station, spokeswoman Debra Loew said; passengers also would be required to undergo months of training.
