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, and water sports.
What you'll pay: From $140,000 per night for up to 48 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: $3,150 to $6,300for 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 7-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, and indulge in some monk-led meditation or guided yoga. The icing on the cake: You can stay at the historic, Sherpa-run "Happy House," favored by Hillary on his trips to the region.
What you'll pay: From $5,980 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 $15,070 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 five-day itinerary, you get three nights aboard the 1920s-era train with its Art Deco cabins, plus one night in a first-class hotel. 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 $21,987 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 $26,795 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 $28,243 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.
Considering the sheer scope of this Silversea cruise — it takes 132 days in 2024 — the five-figure price tag for the most basic suite may not seem all that steep. Highlights include visiting the Depung Monastery, a '40s-themed evening on the U.S.S. Missouri in Pearl Harbor while visiting Hawaii, and flying in a specially chartered aircraft over the memorable Uluru (previously known as Ayers Rock) in Australia. The ship also boasts a spa, casino, theater, and several restaurants.
What you'll pay: From $78,400 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 $96,995 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 $98,500 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 Argentina's Iguazu Falls. Accommodations include still-luxurious quarters at Columbia's Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogota and Four Seasons New Orleans in Louisiana. Activities include tours of ancient temples and stargazing in the outback.
What you'll pay: From $205,000 per person
A safari may conjure images of the African savannah, but why limit yourself? On this 25-day trip, you can spy not only gorillas in Uganda, but lemurs in Madagascar, pandas in China, proboscis monkeys in Borneo, and honey bears in Malaysia. 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 $164,950 per person
The 21-day, seven-destination itinerary of this ultra-luxury tour reads like a world travel highlight reel. You'll take travel through the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Peru, get a private concert from the Bogata Philharmonic, take a four-night cruise in the Antarctic Peninsula, and gaze at stars in the southern sky with a GPS-guided telescope. 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 $205,000 per person
Our most expensive, extravagant travel experience is also the most out of this world. Virgin Galactic offers space flights for up to three guests who get s custom spacesuit, astronaut wings, and a five-day readiness program. The truly adventurous (and truly loaded) get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience weightlessness in suborbital space during a 90-minute flight. It isn't clear when the next flight is happening, 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