Ultra-luxury travel means something different to everyone, from lavish island getaways and jungle spas to epic mountain adventures. But exclusivity, privacy and customization are constants. That’s especially true in the post-pandemic era as high-end travelers seek more profound, transformative escapes to unique and remote locations. Private villas, yachts and jets are more desirable than ever, and over-the-top pampering is a given. But the biggest bragging rights belong to bespoke, one-of-a-kind journeys that connect you with nature, immerse you in local cultures and enrich your physical and mental well-being.

Wild Swimming

There’s nothing high-tech or revolutionary about wild swimming, just a sublime engagement of the senses that can nourish calm and creativity — and maybe even spark spiritual inspiration.

Wild swimming refers to outdoor, open-water swimming in far-flung lakes, rivers and the sea. Swimmers often, but not always, dive into cold or even sub-zero waters. More about enjoyment than exercise, wild swimming is part of the booming wellness trend in travel along with forest bathing, meditative hiking and yoga. Many wellness-focused resorts offer all the above, especially in Great Britain, a hotbed of wild swimming with its countless lakes and lochs. Secluded and serene Heckfield Place in Hampshire (two hours west of London) is a five-star country manor with multiple deep, clear lakes and a mindfulness teacher available for guided meditation in the water. Want even wilder? Luxurious Lundies House clings to the edge of a sea loch in Scotland’s Highland coastline, where swimmers have miles of pristine sandy beaches all to themselves plus a natural pool in a stream that flows through the garden grounds. 

Scientific Expeditions

Much more than just a vacation, a science-focused excursion educates you and makes a positive impact on the world by contributing to research and conservation.

Scientific expeditions venture to remote, unspoiled destinations that are inaccessible to most, connecting you with nature in the company of serious scientists. You might help collect data on marine life in the Galápagos Islands, monitor the movement of polar bears in the Arctic or study the geological impact of climate change in Antarctica … all while enjoying sumptuous spa treatments and personal butlers at your service with boot warmers. For sea-based expeditions, Ponant sets the gold standard with its luxury vessel Le Commandant Charcot. Twenty scientists live and work on the ship, which has an onboard laboratory and research helicopter. With the ability to cut through ice up to 7 feet thick, it’s the only passenger vessel that gives you the chance to stand on the Geographic North Pole. If you prefer solid ground to sea ice, consider tracking snow leopards in the mountains of Central Asia with Voygr Expeditions, assisting field experts and aiding a ranger training mission.

Culinary Immersion

Go beyond winery tastings and walking tours of foodie neighborhoods: Experience authentic cultural immersion in a destination’s unique gastronomic heritage.

Reserve an entire restaurant kitchen in Naples and learn how to throw dough from a fourth-generation pizza chef, then sit down with his family to enjoy your fresh-cooked pies (paired with the finest champagne). Discover the secret of baking croissants in Paris or embark on a private hunt for the elusive white truffle in Italy’s Piedmont region. Perhaps you’re more interested in exploring tea plantations in Sri Lanka — or maybe you just want to city-hop between Shanghai, Sydney and Seville and eat at the buzziest five-star restaurants in each. Travel concierge services like Sienna Charles and Artisans of Leisure put together personalized, exclusive experiences that appeal to your palate. From tiny Mediterranean villages to organic orchards and family homes, going behind the scenes and embracing local culinary life fills your stomach as well as your soul.

Astrotourism

Where do you go when you’ve already been everywhere? The final frontier, of course: space. Luxury travel company SpaceVIP is booking six-hour forays into the stratosphere on a high-tech space balloon starting in 2025.

Passengers will soar 12 miles above the planet and watch the sunrise over the earth’s curvature, livestreaming their adventure to (envious) friends and family back home via onboard Wi-Fi. Also included: tailored space suits by the fashion house Ogier and breakfast prepared by a Michelin-starred chef. The French company Zephalto also plans to offer balloon flights to the edge of space next year. Want to go higher? Three billionaires are locked in a new space race to provide regular flights into the cosmos that travel five times higher than the balloons. Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX are going head-to-head to develop tourist spacecraft and rocket systems. Passenger trips have already launched; now it’s just a matter of time until a regular cadence of space traffic is established. In the meantime, you can take in the northern lights (now at the peak of their 11-year solar cycle) from your warm bed or hot tub at far-north resorts like the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel in Finland or Borealis Basecamp in Alaska.