Ever dream about what you'd do if you hit a million-dollar jackpot? For many, the answer is simple: "Travel the world." But travel is a different ballgame when you have money to burn, and it turns out the sky isn't even the limit. Curious what kinds of travel experiences deep pockets can buy you? Here's an eye-popping roundup.
Yep, we're talking about that Necker Island, Sir Richard Branson's private playground in the British Virgin Islands. For a princely sum, you can actually have the entire thing to yourself. Included in your stay: gorgeous accommodations, sugar-sand beaches, tennis courts, an infinity pool with a swim-up bar, a gym, kids' activities, a fully staffed gourmet kitchen, all drinks and meals, water sports, and even your very own DJ for one night.
What you'll pay: From $77,500 per night for up to 30 guests
For Mickey fanatics with money to burn, there's no better way to see the happiest place on earth than on a private VIP tour. You'll get perks like your own private transportation between parks; special viewing areas for parades, shows and other special events; and shorter wait times on rides. Themed options including a food tour of the Magic Kingdom are available, but itineraries are customizable. Not exclusive enough? There's also an unadvertised $12,000-per-day World of Dreams Tour that includes all meals, behind-the-scenes access, and even a visit to the exclusive Cinderella Castle suite.
What you'll pay: $2,975 to $4,375 for a seven-hour tour for up to 10 guests, not including admission
Related: Disney Bucket List: 16 Things You Don't Want to Miss
Follow in the footsteps of Sir Edmund Hillary even if you aren't an expert mountain climber with this cushy 12-day tour of the Himalayas. You'll get to see Mount Everest and other breathtaking peaks via helicopter, hike to monasteries, visit remote villages and markets, indulge in some monk-led meditation or guided yoga, and explore the ancient city of Kathmandu. The icing on the cake: You'll stay at the historic, Sherpa-run "Happy House," favored by Hillary on his trips to the region.
What you'll pay: From $11,375 per person
This eight-day private tour offers the ultimate mix of relaxation and activity, with days spent cycling the scenic islands off Croatia's southern coast, and evenings spent relaxing on an intimate eight-cabin yacht. You'll discover the medieval city of Split and charming villages, sample local cuisine and wine, and have plenty of time for swimming (and copious post-swimming cocktails) in the azure waters.
What you'll pay: From $11,995 per person
The Land of the Midnight Sun has never seemed more accessible than on this 10-day private tour. You'll divide the bulk of your time between two of the state's most stunning national parks, Denali and Kenai Fjords, and enjoy activities like floatplane rides, helicopter tours, glacier trekking, sea kayaking, fishing and wildlife spotting. At your wilderness lodges, down time means wood-burning saunas, gourmet meals, hot tubs, yoga, wine tasting, and more.
What you'll pay: From $14,187 per person
If you're yearning for the elegance of a time gone by, let the elegant Venice Simplon-Orient Express seduce you. For this six-day itinerary, you get three nights aboard the 1920s-era train with its Art Deco cabins, plus two nights in first-class hotels. Multi-course meals in the eye-popping dining cars are included, as are extras like a castle tour in Romania, a river cruise on the Danube and a tour of Budapest.
What you'll pay: From $18,955 per person
Foodies, here's a delicious splurge: This private, 16-day tour winds through Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand, leaving no market unvisited and no cuisine untasted. Highlights include a Vespa street food tour in Saigon, private cooking classes and plenty of other diversions like an excursion to an elephant sanctuary or a water puppet show. You'll bunk at some of the most legendary accommodations in the world, including Raffles Singapore and the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok.
What you'll pay: From $20,220 per person
Related: Bucket List Destinations for Foodies
The mystique of several former Soviet republics awaits on this luxury 16-day train trip. The first-class Golden Eagle rumbles along through Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan by night, allowing travelers to hop off the train during the day to explore monasteries, Silk Road cities, natural scenery and more. Occasional nights at first-class hotels, walking tours, a personal cabin attendant and chef-prepared meals in the opulent dining cars are included, too.
What you'll pay: From $22,595 per person
Related: 20 Retro Luxury Travel Experiences
This intimate 16-day tour for a group of around 10 people allows you to explore two of South America's marquee attractions in style. Start in Peru's Sacred Valley while based at a private estate with eye-popping mountain views, then travel on an opulent historic train to explore the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu with a private guide. You'll have time to enjoy both Cusco, Peru, and Quito, Ecuador, before boarding a luxury yacht for a weeklong cruise in the Galapagos to see its unmatched array of wildlife, including the iconic giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies.
What you'll pay: From $23,233 per person
A trip to the Maldives is bucket-list material for most of us, but a stay at the Muraka, part of the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, is the stuff fantasies are made of. Who needs an over-the-water bungalow when you can have a three-bedroom residence that's partially submerged in the Indian Ocean? From the master bedroom and bathroom, enjoy unobstructed views of all the ocean life surrounding you; above water, there's an infinity pool and deck with sweeping views. Included with your stay: a private butler and chef, on-call trainer and spa treatments, your own jet skis, and a private speedboat.
What you'll pay: Prospective guests are asked to inquire about pricing, but reports say the Muraka costs at least $50,000 a night.
This 10-day itinerary puts you front and center at the opening ceremonies of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, adds tickets to three sporting events of your choice, then layers on other activities. Want to take in a sumo match? Done. Make some sushi during a private class? You've got it. Participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony? You bet. Also included: Tours of Tokyo and Kyoto, plus top-notch accommodations at hotels including the Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton.
What you'll pay: From $58,888 per person
Considering the sheer scope of this Silversea cruise — it takes 150 days and visits 54 ports in 34 countries — the five-figure price tag for the most basic suite may not seem all that steep. Highlights include exploring isolated Easter Island and its mysterious Moai statues, flying in a helicopter over Bora Bora, taking cooking lessons in Tokyo, exploring Jordan's ancient city of Petra, and discovering the romantic canals of Venice. The ship also boasts a spa, casino, theater, and several restaurants.
What you'll pay: From $65,000 per person
Related: Is Cruising a Cheaper Way to Retire?
National Geographic goes all out with this trip of a lifetime. You'll get 24 solid days of globe-trotting between some of the world's most sought-after attractions, including Machu Picchu, Easter Island, the Great Barrier Reef, the Taj Mahal and Petra. As if that's not enough, you'll stay in some of the world's finest hotels, travel by private jet in comfy leather seats, and be accompanied by a fleet of experts including anthropologists, historians and photographers. Meals, drinks, daily activities, gratuity, and even the services of an on-trip physician are included, too.
What you'll pay: From $86,945 per person
Jet from Cape Town to Antarctica on a private jet for the beginning of an eight-day adventure on the most remote continent in the world. Get ready to explore ice tunnels, go rock climbing, abseil from Antarctic cliffs, zip-line across an ice lake, visit the South Pole, and explore a massive colony of emperor penguins. Best of all, your base at the modern, igloo-like Whichaway Camp has all the comforts of home, including its own award-winning chef.
What you'll pay: From $92,500 per person
Sure, you could just fly to Rio for Carnival and overpay for a hotel like any mere mortal, but what fun would that be when you can do it as a VIP? On this weeklong trip, you can watch the festivities from a private box, enjoy unlimited access to the exclusive Copacabana Palace Magic Ball, nab a private practice session with a professional Brazilian soccer player, soar over Christ the Redeemer in a helicopter, and more. End the holiday by heading to a beachside resort a private yacht.
What you'll pay: From $105,000 per person
What sets this 21-day journey apart from other cushy private-jet experiences? The fact that you'll get to visit some truly off-the-beaten-path destinations, including Mongolia's Gobi Desert and Australia's Kangaroo Island. Accommodations include still-luxurious quarters at some of the world's most remote hotels, like Mongolia's Three Camel Lodge, where you'll stay in a traditional felt tent called a ger. Activities include wildlife safaris, tours of ancient temples and stargazing in the outback.
What you'll pay: From $114,950 per person
A safari may conjure images of the African savannah, but why limit yourself? On this 26-day trip, you can spy not only gorillas in Rwanda and lions and elephants in Kenya, but snow monkeys in Japan, pandas in China, tarsiers in the Philippines, and tigers in India. You'll travel by private jet with first-class seating and an executive chef, stay in top-tier hotels, and even have access to a private physician and "photo enrichment coach" for the ultimate Instagram fodder.
What you'll pay: From $139,500 per person
The 24-day, nine-destination itinerary of this ultra-luxury tour reads like a world travel highlight reel. You'll take a helicopter tour of the Hawaiian coast, marvel at the Taj Mahal, experience the ultimate in "glamping" in Thailand's bamboo forests, go dune bashing near Dubai, and dine at a palace in Prague. With you on your jet: A 24/7 travel concierge, luggage concierge, executive chef, and physician. A wellness therapist even joins part of the journey for in-flight spa treatments. Coach has never felt further away.
What you'll pay: From $163,000 per person
When private jets are just too passé, spending some serious coin can buy you the opportunity to explore little-traveled parts of this massive African nation during a unique 10-day tour. You'll fly between destinations aboard private helicopters, with plenty of action-packed adventures in between. Meet remote tribes; explore the salt pans and volcanic features of the otherworldly Danakil Depression; discover mountaintop churches carved out of rock; and more. Perks include an on-trip physician and photographer, plus stays at comfortable lodges and camps.
What you'll pay: From $185,000 per person
Our most expensive, extravagant travel experience is also the most out of this world. Virgin Galactic projects that its much-anticipated tourism spaceflights will begin within a year, giving the truly adventurous (and truly loaded) a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience weightlessness in suborbital space during a 90-minute flight. There are already about 600 people on the waiting list, but don't despair: Virgin Galactic will soon have competition from the Jeff Bezos-backed Blue Origin.
What you'll pay: From $250,000 per person
