What to do when you’ve already tried everything? The question is, of course, framed by every possible privilege. But for extremely rich people, it comes up regularly. When they want to travel, to embark on new adventures, they must ask themselves what they have never done. But more than that: the ultra-rich want experiences that no one else on Earth has yet tested. Bloomberg presents companies specializing in these adventures to meet almost any demand (or almost).
Whimsical requests are multiplying among the wealthiest individuals. The London-based company Cookson Adventures has already helped clients surf on a lake in Iceland, release leopard sharks into Indonesian waters, or be dropped onto the flank of a volcano by helicopter to camp there. “The ultra-rich and highly successful people have become numb to some of the luxuries that exist in the world”, notes Nick Davies, the director of Cookson Adventures. It is therefore necessary to find them unique experiences.
What are the places on the planet that have never been visited?
Finding something that has never been done isn’t that hard. There are still dozens of places in the world that humans have never explored, notably in the oceans. This includes shipwrecks lost at the bottom of the seas or little-known ocean trenches. Some wealthy adventurers also want to break records by visiting the most unusual locations, such as all the points of inaccessibility — the eight places farthest from the sea or a coastline according to World Atlas — for example.
But having a remarkable place in mind is not enough to go there. You need money – the ultra-rich have it – and expert contacts to guide you – they can obtain them. That’s what luxury-experience-producing companies are for. Eyos Expeditions, an American company, has already led clients to the depths of the five oceans, offered heliskiing – a helicopter drops clients outside marked pistes so they can ski there – in Antarctica or traversed the Northwest Passage by yacht.
Expeditions that can also contribute to advancing science
Of course, none of these experiences would be complete if they were not accompanied by a Michelin-starred chef on board and staff attending to guests around the clock. But in these extreme expeditions there are also people tasked with ensuring the safety, even survival, of the vacationers. And the companies organizing these trips sometimes reject certain ideas due to danger. Eyos declined to partner with OceanGate in 2023 for its voyage aboard the Titan submarine to the Titanic wreck. The submarine had imploded, killing all the passengers, including OceanGate’s CEO.
To organize these incredible expeditions, luxury clients must shell out between $500,000 and $2.5 million. To make the voyage profitable and add a useful dimension, some agree to allow scientists to join them on board. A way to fund, by proxy, essential research projects that enhance our understanding of our planet.
