Around the World with Geoffrey Kent: An Inspiring Expedition by Private Jet (26 days)

Arrive in Portland and transfer to your accommodations at the new Ritz-Carlton Portland, where you meet your tour leadership team and fellow guests over cocktails and dinner.

Savor a sumptuous welcome dinner at Kanazawa Castle, generally only available for visiting dignitaries but tonight reserved exclusively for you. The next day, your morning begins with a sushi experience in the Omicho Market followed by a visit to the Kenroku-en Garden, led by the chief garden designer. Finish with a private tea ceremony in the garden — a privilege never before offered to visitors. Pursue the activity of your choice in the afternoon, whether a relaxing walk through the former samurai district of Nagamachi, an exclusive visit to the Ohi Ware pottery studio or a behind-the-scenes look at sake production at the oldest sake brewery in Kanazawa. The next day, set off on your selected Design Your Day option:

Learn the Art of Making Temari, or sushi balls, and visit the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.

Try Your Hand at Crafting with Gold Leaf, followed by a visit to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.

Visit a Silk-Dyeing Workshop with a master craftsman, and explore a museum dedicated to Buddhist philosophy.

Explore the Old Samurai Village of Shirakawago, with the chance to enter select structures closed to the public.

Bid farewell to Kanazawa with a lavish dinner at the sacred Ketataisha Shrine, accompanied by a performance of sacred Shinto dance, an opportunity available nowhere else in Japan.

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See day 2 description

See day 2 description

Rejoin your private jet for the flight to Delhi, where you overnight before continuing by charter air to Leh, gateway to your explorations of the former Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh. A short drive takes you to your hotel, where you receive a traditional Ladakhi welcome. Take some time to soak in the serenity of the surroundings and rest as you acclimatize to the rarefied oxygen levels at this high altitude (11,715 feet).

Experience the cultural heritage of Ladakh during a walk through the old town. Visit the magnificent 17th-century Leh Palace; the Ladakh Art and Media Organization, showcasing Ladakhi art and architecture; and the Central Asian Museum, displaying a rich collection of historic artifacts. At Stok Palace, a beautiful medieval fortress serving as the residence of the Queen Mother and Prince of Ladakh, enjoy an audience with the King of Ladakh, who hosts your gala dinner.

The next day, drive to Thiksey Monastery to witness a ritual masked dance followed by a tour of the monastery. Later, drive to the village of Chuchot to attend a Central Asian polo match put on specially for you — a particularly challenging sport at this altitude. Later, enjoy a lecture by a renowned expert on the history of traditional Ladakhi textiles, handwoven with local Ladakhi motifs and crafted by local artisans.

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See day 6 description

See day 6 description

Return by private charter to Delhi to rejoin your private jet for the flight to Malta. Built by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century, Valletta is a fortified city with a fascinating mixture of history and lively present-day culture within its walls. Begin your exploration at the Saluting Battery overlooking the Grand Harbor, and then proceed to the Lascaris War Rooms, an underground complex of tunnels and chambers that proved crucial during the Second World War. The National Library preserves the nation’s heritage with collections stretching back to medieval times. Explore this national treasure guided by one of the librarians, and then enjoy a private after-hours visit to St. John’s Co-Cathedral, whose austere exterior stands in drastic contrast to its sumptuous high Baroque interior. In the evening, dine with some of the vested Knights and Dames of Malta, a religious order dating back to the 11th century. Enjoy your chosen Design Your Day the next morning:

Visit Medieval Mdina, with its range of Norman, Arabic and Baroque features — as well as gates that Game of Thrones fans will recognize instantly as the entry to King’s Landing.

Explore Verdala Palace, the official summer residence of Malta’s president, with a third-generation caretaker guiding your visit.

Learn the Art of Falconry from a local expert who demonstrates the skillful handling of a variety of hunting birds.

Visit Two Temple Excavations that predate the pyramids and Stonehenge, learning about the site from its curator.

Gather for lunch at the Malta Polo Club, and take in an exhibition match or try your hand at playing if you wish. Experience one of Malta’s oldest traditions, the village feast, where you are led by a marching band through the streets to experience a specially curated farewell “festa” and dinner at a traditional band club.

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See day 10 description

Your private jet takes you to the capital of Senegal, Dakar, where you enjoy an introductory tour as you pass through Independence Square with its historical colonial buildings and by the President’s Palace and the House of Parliament. Head out the following morning to the phenomenal Pink Lake. Track the last lap of the famous Dakar Rally by 4x4 buggy and stop to meet some of the men and women mining the salt from the rose-colored water. Then take an exhilarating 4x4 ride on the sand dunes. Continue to a Fulani village to experience firsthand their traditional lifestyle. Pause for a beach lunch under a Bedouin tent, and then explore the city, stopping at the monument of African Renaissance, the Plateau District and the residential area of Fann, with its uniquely African architecture. End the afternoon with visits of the Kermel Market and the Black Civilization Museum. The next day, board your private ferry to Goree Island. Visit the Slave House with its infamous “Door of No Return,” the point from which enslaved peoples were transported to the New World. Also visit the Historical Museum and the Saint Charles Church (one of the first Roman Catholic Churches on the West African Coast). Return to Dakar by private ferry in time for lunch. Later, you may wish to take part in an optional sand painting activity. Bid farewell to Senegal while accompanied by a typical folklore ballet performance and Senegalese music.

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See day 13 description

Saint Helena Island is one of the most remote islands on earth, located 1,300 miles west of the coast of Namibia. It boasts a population of less than 4,500 people, who have been slow to embrace modern technology — cellular service was only introduced in 2015. The island’s strict conservation efforts protect its unspoiled natural beauty. It has served as a place of exile for prisoners ranging from Bahraini princes to Napoleon himself.

Wander the streets of charming colonial Jamestown, the island’s capital, where many buildings date to the 18th century and are still used today. Follow in Napoleon’s footsteps, visiting the house where he lived in exile for the last five years of his life, as well as his original tomb. Explore the rugged volcanic landscape on foot or take in the sites on a scenic tour, either by coach or by a 1929 open-top charabanc. End the day with a tour and tasting at St Helena Distillery, the most remote distillery in the world.

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Board your private jet this morning for the journey to Punta del Este in Uruguay, a land of beautiful beaches, woodlands and clear waters. On arrival, transfer to the estate of Narbona for lunch, a wine tasting and a folkloric music performance. Then check in at the Hotel Fasano, your home for the next three nights. Stretch your legs during a tango class in the afternoon. Privately visit the museum and workshop of noted artist Carlos Páez Vilaró, known for his murals and sculptures that incorporate the colorful aesthetics of Afro-Uruguayan culture. Enjoy sunset cocktails on the terrace of his home overlooking the domes of Casapueblo on the rocky cliffs of Punta Ballena. At Bodega Garzón, enjoy authentic Uruguayan cuisine designed by the world-famous chef Francis Mallman. Visit the Pablo Atchugarry MACA (Contemporary Art Museum), a 100- acre sculpture park featuring striking works by many national and international artists. Pause for refreshments in the museum gardens. After lunch and a wine tasting at Estancia VIK, take part in a mate class and tasting in Fasano.

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See day 18 description

Board your private jet and fly nearly 3,000 miles over the Pacific to one of the most remote — and enticing — destinations on earth: Easter Island.

The island’s iconic stone effigies, called moai by the Rapa Nui, are thought to be representations of the builders’ ancestors. There are nearly 900 moai spread throughout the island; almost all of them face inland in order to watch over and protect the island’s living inhabitants. The grandeur of these figures is rivaled by the island’s intense natural beauty, with a postcard-worthy view seemingly in every direction. Arrive to a greeting of flowers and warm smiles from your Rapa Nui hosts, followed by a sunset cocktail atop Ranu Kau, a spectacular dormant volcano and an opportunity to witness a Hotumatua ritual, a celebration of the island’s mythic founding.

You then continue to your hotel. Built on 23 acres and featuring a beautiful ocean view, Explora Rapa Nui combines island tradition with modern, eco-friendly design in one resort, with 30 rooms and welcoming public spaces.

Today, your private jet takes off for Papeete, French Polynesia, where you board local charter flights for the short air transfers to the private atoll of Tetiaora and The Brando. With no neighboring resorts, noisy taxi-boats or racing jet-skis to disrupt the quiet and tranquility, this exquisite resort is your personal island paradise for the next three nights, with a plethora of activities to choose from.

Enjoy diving, snorkeling and a host of other water sports such as stand-up paddleboards, kayaks or outrigger canoes. You can explore the island on an archaeological tour or a birding tour, and learn about Polynesian arts and culture through dance, pareu dying and tying, weaving coconut fronds and ukulele lessons. Or take part in some educational activities, such as a visit to the Tetiaroa Society Ecostation & Research Center or an exploration of The Brando’s sustainable technologies on a behind-the-scenes tour. And you may just prefer to relax at the pool or on the beach, or treat yourself to a pampering spa treatment.

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See day 22 description

Depart the island on the afternoon of November 6 and fly overnight to Los Angeles International Airport, arriving the next morning.

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