EXPLORA IV

Think of our Enchanting Explorations like traveling through the pages of a little black book of secrets that belongs to the fashionable and elite.

Meticulously designed to usher in next-level exclusivity for small, agile groups seeking peerless experiences, and to witness moments that are off limits to most.

You may find yourself in a silent Sistine Chapel after it closes to the public. Perhaps you will sail along the coastline of enchanting Mykonos on a relaxing and captivating catamaran cruise of the south coast, home to some of the island’s best beaches.

Or indulge in top-line dinner reservations to a restaurant with a 2-year wait list.

The Enchanting Explorations are the definition of distinction for bespoke groups seeking peerless experiences.

What to expect:

• Intimate and small groups
• Tailor-made boutique adventures
• Explorers with expertise in their field of study to enhance the experience
• 5-star accommodations if required
• High-end culinary experiences
• VIP access to landmark sites and special events
• Meticulously vetted hosts to coordinate all logistics
• Luxury transportation

Exclusive Access to the Royal Swedish Opera

Stockholm, Sweden

Since its first curtain call in 1773, the Royal Swedish Opera has taken centre stage in the world of arts. It was even immortalised in an opera by Giuseppe Verdi about the tragic assignation of King Gustav III whilst attending his masquerade ball 1782.

Your docent will guide you on an after-hours exploration through the classical building of red velvet, painted ceilings and a grand staircase that leads to the four-tiered auditorium that’s gloriously crowned with chandelier weighing two tonnes. Go behind-the-scenes into the royal apartments, the costume department, a blacksmith’s shop, and insights into props and the Prompter.

A mindful walk in the woods

The ultimate exploration is to experience a new destination in its purest and most natural form. So, with a nod to the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing”, we have prepared a collection of experiences designed to enhance your health with intimate connections to the natural world.

From the most far-flung forests to misty mountains to peaceful flower-filled fields, our eco-therapy experiences promise to support every aspect of your well-being.

Normandy from behind the wheel of a Citroën 2CV

Honfleur, France

Fun-loving auto aficionados who seek something truly unique can hop behind the wheel of Citroën 2CVs to explore the charming back roads of Normandy. Prized by locals for its personality and vintage style, the 2CV is one of the most desirable cult cars and perfectly suits the setting on a planned route through a picturesque countryside.

From the port of Honfleur, visit off-the-beaten-path villages and seaside cafés. Crown your perfect day with cider tasting and a behind-the-scenes tour of a Pays d'Auge farm known for its delicious Pont-l'Évêque cheeses.

The travel equivalent of haute couture, our Tailored Experiences are tailor-made for those who seek truly customised arrangements that are both personal and without compromise.

We are pleased to curate your requests for singular, customised arrangements that can be as off-the-beaten-path or utterly indulgent as you wish. Whether yours is an intimate group of two or a larger gathering of family and friends, we can help you adapt a featured destination experience or totally tailor an arrangement that delivers exactly where and what you prefer.

We also extend our private car and driver programme for guests wishing to design their own itinerary. This programme provides the utmost in privacy and flexibility with an appropriately sized luxury vehicle to accommodate your group for either half- or full-day schedules.

Adrift on your dream of a private yacht

Let tropical tides carry you alongside breath-taking shores, anchor off deserted islands where yours are the only footprints, or dive into crystal clear lagoons known only to the most seasoned sailors.

When your dream of distant shores includes a private boat or yacht tour, Explora Journeys can connect you with a captain and crew able to deliver all your desires.

From plush towels and snorkel gear, chef-driven meals, and perfectly chilled champagne with corks popped precisely at sunset, we can help you navigate an adventure for just you or with only those you prefer onboard.

The sky is the limit

Our private helicopter experiences let you feel like James Bond on a secret mission to swoop low over vast sand dunes, hover over jagged mountain peaks, set down on glaciers, backcountry bike trails and ski slopes, or amid the most romantic vistas.

When only a helicopter can get you where you wish to go, we can help you take to the air for moments that are especially spectacular no matter how logistically remote. The only pre-requisite is having a dream that you wished to be fulfilled.

Plan your escape to the outdoors

Whether you wish to hike in the footsteps of Vikings, kayak through narrow river gorges in Southern France, or bike through verdant vineyards in Argentina, we can help you plan your great escape into the outdoors.

No matter the mode of your outdoor adventure, we can help you get out there where nature shows off how colossal forces created her magnificent beauty.

From delicate ecosystems to underground passages to the top of mighty precipices, our outdoor private excursions will let you touch the soul of Mother Nature.

Traversing beyond the bounds of the ocean, we take you deeper into the culture of the countries we visit with immersive all-inclusive excursions.

Our In-Country Immersions whisk you sunward via private jets or hot-air balloons, nimble ATVs or sure-footed horses to chase nearby marvels, events and wilderness treks both famously celebrated or deeply shrouded in mystery.

Designed as three- or more- day overland experiences, our In-Country Immersions are all-inclusive and available to intimately sized groups starting before or after your sailing. All you have to do is let go-and let us immerse you in the extraordinary that lies further afield.

What to expect:

• Luxury transportation such as private jet, flights, vehicles, boats etc.
• 5-star accommodations
• Culinary experiences, including all meals, beverages, and selected spirits
• VIP access to landmark sites and special events
• Ultra-exclusive evening experiences
• Meticulously vetted hosts to coordinate all logistics
• Luxury transportation and luggage handling

Lochs, highlands, and epic history to match

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland is a destination of epic proportions. Green glens and rugged coastlines dotted with charming villages where a millennium of fascinating history and traditions are still relevant in a modern world. Helicopters whisk us to remote mountain ridges crowned with rarely seen lochs and staggering vertical drops.

Astronomers take us into the “darkest” dark sky park in the UK to study an infinite number of blazing stars. 900 years of tradition call us to a Highland “gathering and games”. And hikes into national parks lead us to picturesque reindeer herds. With accommodations in opulent castles and sumptuous dining experiences, this experience will introduce you to a side of Scotland that even the locals have never come across.

Polar Ice Cap, musk ox, and luxury camping

Greenland

No matter how well-travelled you are, it’s difficult to wrap your mind around the experience of camping on the world’s largest polar ice cap, where vibrant blue ice colours are surreal. Welcome to the wild and wonderful world of Greenland’s hinterland.

Two-thirds of Greenland lies above the Arctic Circle and for five glorious days you will too. Under 24 hours of sunlight, we ice climb on glaciers, hop in helicopters to view vast vistas of white at the edge of the ice cap, climb into snow trucks in search of herds of shaggy musk ox grazing on the tundra, and camp outside a remote radar station in off-grid, eco-luxury lodging tents that are environmentally light-on-the-ice yet wonderfully warm and welcoming. Immense landscapes experienced in the most intimate terms. 

Wonderful Warsaw and Michelin-star dining

Warsaw, Poland

Explore the energy that pulses in Warsaw, Poland’s capital of cool. Waltz into its historical UNESCO-protected Old Town for a two-night stay to experience its hottest highlights: reservations at a Michelin-starred restaurant; VIP vodka tasting; private piano concert honouring the city’s son, Chopin; and an after-hours tour of the imposing Royal Castle.

A wealth of culture and leisure awaits in a city where the winds of change now breeze through a festive party that never ends.

Moonscapes and mysteries of Cappadocia

Cappadocia, Turkey

Time has no measure in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. Moonscapes and byzantine mysteries, natural beauty and human ingenuity. Your three nights of Turkish delights begins in Istanbul’s top sites including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar. We follow the Silk Road to Cappadocia to enjoy whirling dervishes, optional sunrise balloon rides, and an underground city limestone landscape that seemingly melt like white cake icing.

Never have your eyes, mind or soul experienced such wonders.

Our Boundless Discoveries offer unbridled finesse and flourishes in expanding must-do experiences to include hidden wonders and VIP access.

Boutique in nature and bolder in adventure, our Boundless Discoveries expand must-do experiences with hidden wonders and VIP access that lets you see the world from a debonair perspective.

It’s not enough to just go to Cairo’s Great Pyramids or Rio’s Christ the Redeemer, you must stare face-to-face with our world’s marvels, intimately feel the power of their presence, find yourself tingling with goosebumps and experience it in a way that quenches your thirst to do more than anyone else can experience.

This is our definition of boundless, to go beyond limitations, in a manner that defines the pinnacle of discovery.

What to expect:

• Early entry and after hours access provided to ensure an exclusive experience
• Modern elegant transportation
• Licensed and reliable operators
• Comfort, limited group size for a more intimate and personalised experience
• Experienced and knowledgeable exploration team to assist you onboard and ashore

A beach club like no other

Our Ocean State of Mind is a state of mind unlike no other, and so too are our signature beach experiences. Within legendary locations, whether sleek and suave or remote and bohemian, we curate the perfect combination of sun, sand, and cocktails for impeccable morning-to-night gatherings.

The atmosphere is vibrant with all the right beach-club aesthetics including relaxing lounge chairs, impeccable service, DJs and bands plus a menu of cocktails and cuisine that promises a day at the beach with the highest comforts.

The Pillars of Seville: Flamenco and tapas

Seville, Spain

From the first strum of the guitar and dramatic step of a foot, you are captivated. The Andalusian flamenco dance is poetry in motion; a passionate choreography of music, dance and song that is immortalised in Spain’s cultural identity. The stage is set across the threshold of a graceful Andalusian hacienda that is lovingly converted into a multi-storied museum dedicated to flamenco and tapas. This distinctive experience lets you personally delve into how women combine graceful turns with dramatic steps. How guitarists perform with lightning-fast finger-rolls. How castanets are a complicated synchronisation of beats. And how much importance is placed on the wardrobe with a visit to the world’s premier designer of dresses that is considered the Christian Dior of Flamenco. The grand crescendo is a tantalising professional performance served with tapas, wine and passion. Salud!

The private world of the Pope’s summer retreat

Rome, Italy

Follow the Pope and retreat to the private papal escape, the Pontifical Palace of Castel Gandolfo. Step inside the tranquil Pontifical Villas. Behold the beauty of the Apostolic Palace. Enter the private domain of the Pope’s Apartment and enjoy exclusive access to ruins of a Roman Theatre and working Farmhouse, areas usually not available to the public but made possible with Explora Journeys. Lunch at a nearby restaurant continues to nourish the soul with spectacular views and a 1,000-plus bottle wine cellar.

An ode to olives, mamas & tapas

Málaga, Spain

Sip, savour and soak-up Andalusia, the best destination for olive oil, local wine, community and comfort. Flower-line rural roads lead us to the romantically white-washed villages with old stone churches, centuries old olive groves, and charming homes where you are invited to step inside and help grandmothers, abuelas, and mamas prepare tapas in the kitchen.

The conversation and laughter mix with the wine and a myriad of locally harvested almonds, pomegranates, and vegetables. Rustic and soulfully rewarding, a day in the Málaga countryside, surrounded by a crown of mountains, will make you feel whole again.

Soul-stirring experiences that touch the impossible, from the thrill of supersonic speed to the deepest fathoms of ocean trenches.

There is something within all of us that seeks to touch the impossible; to reach out and fulfil a transcendent need that resonates deep within our being.

Our Beyond Boundaries experiences answer that call where opportunities into the unchartered promise profound and personal enrichment.

Whether you seek the thrill of supersonic speed, the silence of polar mountain peaks, the deepest fathoms of ocean trenches, the sense of awe from meeting world-leading intellects and artisans, these experiences are more than one-off wonderments, they are soul-stirring achievements that will forever influence your perspective of the world and your role within it.

The only remaining question is how far do you dare to go to close the distance between your dreams and reality?

Dive into the wild side of Ibiza!

Ibiza, Spain

Jumping off cliffs from 1 meter and up to 10 meters high will be an extreme experience that forces you to face your fears.

Adrenaline pumping in profusion, propels that glorifying moment when your feet leave the earth, followed by the exhilaration of splashing into crystal blue waters.

The thrill of the moment matched only by the beautiful scenery: sun-kissed limestone cliffs, rugged parched coastline, the sounds of laughter and pure joy. So, what are you waiting for? This is an experience you can jump into, feet first!

Flying the ultimate jet warbird

Riga, Latvia

Strap yourself into one of most popular jet warbirds ever designed, the sleek and stealth L-39. Start the engine -- and some noise. Taxi. Throttle. Thrust. Your pilot pushes your jet to its limits. Pulling Gs. Piercing clouds. Now you take the stick and dip your wings with the altitude indicator. It’s a white-knuckle ride that will push your limits, both physically and mentally.

Photos and your personal certificate of accomplishment prove your daring to friends.

Private pampering on a remote rocky island

Gothenburg, Sweden

The sense of adventure washes over you with exclusive rental of Hamneskär Island, one of the most desirable places to visit in all of Scandinavia. A rugged paradise off the west coast of Sweden that’s reachable by private helicopter and RIB boats for your intimate party of two. Wild sea air, chilled champagne, just-shucked oysters, and dramatic stories of the island’s history fuel your sense of adventure. Enjoy back-to-nature pursuits, a gastronomic table of never-fresher seafood then unplug with a relaxing message in the lighthouse.

The ultimate escape for those who wish to experience the luxury of true isolation.

Indulge in the epitome of exclusivity and luxury with Explora Journeys by Pelorus.

These bespoke experiences, crafted solely for Explora Journeys’ discerning guests, will deepen the connection to each destination and offer unparalleled perspectives creating lifelong memories.

Enhance your journey with our one-of-a-kind, pre- or post-journey additions, designed to immerse you in the local culture and unveil hidden gems.

Introducing Pelorus

Pelorus designs life-changing, innovative travel and yachting experiences for travellers across the globe.

Once-in-a-lifetime experiences, driven by a unified ambition and mission to change the way we see the world and the impact we leave on it.

With impeccable attention to detail, creativity, and due diligence, Pelorus work exclusively with a network of industry leaders in designing unique, pioneering experiences in every corner of the world.

Explora Journeys has partnered with Pelorus to design these extraordinary adventures for discerning travellers, who will discover astounding beauty in wild landscapes and geological wonders through a selection of exciting experiences, complemented by unique state-of-the-art accommodation arrangements.

Designed to enrich the soul, a programme of destination-inspired talks, courses and informal conversations that inspire exploration and discovery.

Creative's Journey

Behind-the-scenes stories and iconic moments in theatre and cinema are discovered through exciting talks by our Luminaries, resident and guest artists and other prolific talents. Accomplished writers, directors, producers, actors, musicians, choreographers, costumiers, and set and lighting designers are among them.

The Book Club

Occasional journeys feature a particular book relating to the region in which the ship is journeying, culminating in a reading with the author.

Single Origin

Led by a world-class barista, get familiar with local coffee cultures through tastings relevant to the journey.

Dance the Day Away

Select journeys will offer an incredible afternoon of learning some of the region’s movement culture, accompanied by local dance music, against a LED backdrop that conjures a sense of the geographical context. Sessions are led by our local experts and resident Artistes.

Artisanal

Courses on destination-themed crafts representative of local heritage, from textiles and tapestries to baskets and chocolate making, all taught by local experts.

Solivagant Society

Solivagant Society activities are there to introduce our solo travellers to all our journeys have to offer.

Prism

Prism events are organised to celebrate the diversity of our guests onboard.

Club Soda

With Club Soda, we support and entertain those who enjoy an alcohol-free lifestyle.

Spontaneous moments of joy for guests to enhance their journey – hosted by professionals in their field, creating memorable moments for everyone.

Ombré Sunsets

Hone photographic skills in the Explora Lounge. Master the art of capturing a fiery sunset, as it soaks into the ocean below. Discover the true skill required to capture an elegant selfie; or learn to correctly light a piece of art.

Melodic Master Class

Get to know our resident artists as they share their talents in song writing, improvisation and composition.

The Spirit of Whisky

Learn the art of mixology in the Malt Whisky Bar. Guests will unearth this time-honoured spirit as they try their hand at making four signature cocktails.

We don't have a dress code onboard but we suggest an elegant resort casual style.

Please consider the following in our restaurants, and indoor bars and lounges:

• Swim wear and bathrobes are not allowed throughout the day in any of the restaurants and indoor bars and lounges.
• Shorts and sleeveless t-shirts are not allowed during dinner time (18:00 - late) in Anthology, Fil Rouge
• Baseball caps and sportswear are not allowed during dinner time (18:00 - late) in Anthology, Fil Rouge, Sakura, Marble & Co. Grill, Med Yacht Club.

Explora Journeys respects the needs and desires of all guests and we have considered carefully the subject of those who smoke and those who do not. In compliance with global standards, smoking is freely permitted in dedicated areas throughout the ship and those areas are equipped with a special air extraction system. Smoking is strictly prohibited in the suites and the suite terraces.

Smoking will only be allowed on the outside area of the cigar lounge as well as in the following areas:

• Deck 5: Starboard Side on the outdoor Crema Café Promenade
• Deck 11: Forward, Port Side, outdoor area of Explora Lounge
• Deck 12: Forward, Port Side, Cigar section of Helios Bar
• Deck 14: Aft, Starboard Side, section of Sky Bar on 14

There is a medical centre onboard equipped for first aid and minor conditions only. The medical centre is not equipped as a land-based hospital and the doctor is not a specialist.

Medical consultations onboard are fee-based therefore we strongly recommend that you have comprehensive travel health insurance covering medical treatment, repatriation costs and expenses.

Any guest with a condition that may affect their fitness to travel considering the ship's itinerary must inform Explora Journeys at the time of booking and submit a doctor’s certificate prior to booking.

You will be asked during the booking process to add any allergies, dietary restrictions and special requests. Please make sure to inform us prior to your journey about special dietary restrictions

Explora Journeys does not have any single use plastic onboard its ships and ashore.

We ban single-use plastic from our ships, also packaging of deliveries will be reduced to a minimum. Offering fresh and locally-sourced food gives us the possibility to be more respectful with the planet and the destinations we visit.

We don't allow any single-use-plastic onboard our ships and while ashore during our experiences on dry land. Additionally, we offer environmentally conscious Destination Experiences as well as recycling and refillable bottles onboard.

We are working with tour operators that offer sustainable experiences with no single-use-plastic also ashore. Our Destination Experiences are planned to put a spotlight on local talents, craftsmanship, culture, gastronomy and traditions​​.

Our advanced wastewater treatment systems onboard process wastewater to near tap water quality. We discarge our ballast water exclusively on land while we are in the port. We have adopted strict treatment regimes to remove threats of species transportation through ballast water.

An in-suite welcome bottle of champagne and a bottle of spirit of the guests’ choice upon arrival.

Authentic, cultured and intuitive service from our team of hospitality experts

• Nine distinct culinary experiences, including in-suite dining:
• Emporium Marketplace
• Sakura Marble & Co. Grill
• Med Yacht Club
• Fil Rouge
• Crema Café Gelateria & Creperie at The Conservatory
• Explora Lounge In-Suite Dining

Our adults-only areas onboard are the Whiskey bar within the Observation Lounge (where smoking will be allowed), and the Forward Pool area on deck 12. The use of the Fitness Centre and the Spa Facilities are reserved for guests aged 16 years and older. Following Public Health Authorities requirements, children in diapers, swim diapers, pull-ups, or who are not completely toilet trained are not allowed in the swimming pools and whirlpools.