5 tours to the ends of the Earth for the super rich

Despite the risk to their lives, many people are willing to spend a "mountain of money" to explore the ends of the Earth or fly into space.

Adventure tourism is increasingly attracting the super-rich to spend money on experiences. According to a recent report by market research firm Allied Market Research (India), adventure tourism has become popular in recent years and the industry is estimated to be worth $366 billion by 2022.

The growth rate of this type of tourism is growing rapidly. Experts predict that by 2030, the adventure tourism industry will be worth $1,000 billion. Although it may cost their lives, many tourists do not hesitate to spend money to conquer the ends of the world, even fly into space.

Exploring the Mariana Trench

Cost: 750,000 USD (equivalent to 17.6 billion VND)

The Titanic dive tour is not the most dangerous dive. The deepest point in the ocean that humans can reach at the moment is the Challenger Deep of the Mariana Trench. The Mariana Trench is located on the floor of the northwest Pacific Ocean. Its deepest point is also the deepest point in the Earth's crust.

Submersibles and exploration vessels float above the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. Photo: AFP

In 2020, EYOS Expeditions partnered with Caladan Oceanic to offer the first-ever $750,000 expedition to the Challenger Deep. The site is nearly 11 kilometers below sea level, 7 kilometers deeper than where the Titanic sank. As of 2020, only seven tourists have been to the site.

Fly into space

Cost: From 450,000 USD (equivalent to 10.5 billion VND)

Space tourism is predicted to be the trend of the future. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) used to oppose space tourism, but now supports private companies to exploit this expensive type of tourism. Typical companies that are commercializing space tourism include billionaire Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic and Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Billionaire Richard Branson experiences weightlessness during a flight in July 2021. Photo: Virgin Galactic

A ticket for an 11-minute space flight by Blue Origin was auctioned off for $28 million in 2018. According to Reuters , billionaire Jeff Bezos' company estimates that future ticket prices could fall between $200,000 and $300,000.

Meanwhile, Virgin Galactic recently announced that it will soon launch its first commercial space flights, with tickets costing $450,000 per person per trip. British billionaire Hamish Harding, who died while diving to explore the wreck of the Titanic, took a Blue Origin space flight last year.

In addition to the two above-mentioned units, technology billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX Company also offers space adventures. Visitors can experience the feeling of being an astronaut, staying for a week at the International Space Station (ISS). Currently, this trip costs up to 80 million USD. In addition, SpaceX also hopes to send humans to Mars by 2030.

Conquer Mount Everest

Cost: From $40,000

Seventy years ago, conquering the roof of the world took up to 90 days, requiring participants to have high physical strength and survival skills. The commercialization of the mountaineering industry in the context of tourism companies rushing to exploit Everest expeditions has made conquering the roof of the world easier.

Currently, climbers who use a package service have to pay an average of 40,000 USD (about 950,000 million VND) for each expedition. Including permit fees, guide fees, food, accommodation and local service fees. This is considered a popular price.

Climbers walk through the Hillary Step while climbing Mount Everest. Photo: Pemba Dorje Sherpa

At the higher end, tourists have to pay about 218,400 USD (about 5 billion VND) for 3 weeks to conquer Everest. The travel company Furtenbach Adventures (Austria) said this luxury trip provides safe services and has experts to supervise to ensure that visitors will reach the top of the mountain.

A few weeks before departure, the company will send a generator and tent to the traveler's home. The guide also simulates the high altitude conditions of an Everest expedition, helping customers acclimatize before starting the trip.

Lukas Furtenbach, founder of Furtenbach Adventures, says much of the cost of the expensive expedition goes toward providing travelers with “unlimited oxygen,” minimizing one of the biggest life-threatening aspects of extreme adventure.

Mystery Tour

Cost: From 15,000 USD to 100,000 USD (2.3 billion VND)

The US travel company Black Tomato offers a “Get Lost” tour for travelers who want to disconnect from the real world and wander around an unknown destination. The trips are monitored remotely by a safety expert.

Travelers who purchase this mystery tour will suggest an idea of ​​the terrain they want to explore, the company will keep the destination a secret and give the adventure level of the trip for customers to choose.

Tourists don't know where they will go or what dangers they will face when they join the "Get Lost" tour. Photo: Black Tomato

Brendan Drewniany, communications director for Black Tomato, said that guests on the “Get Lost” tour are encouraged to ditch their smartphones and instead use satellite phones to connect with their safety team. In addition to the remote safety monitoring team, the tour company also works with former Marines to assist guests as they explore the destination.

"The fun part of this trip is the anxiety, fear and excitement of not knowing what dangers lurk on the trip. However, we build multiple layers of monitoring and ensure the safety of customers throughout the journey," said Brendan Drewniany.

These mysterious tours cost from $15,000 to $100,000 per person, the higher the price the longer the trip, the more complex the terrain and challenges.

Antarctic and Arctic Exploration

Cost: About 30,000 USD (equivalent to 705 million VND)

There are not many travel companies in the world that offer expedition tours to the North and South Poles. Intrepid Travel (USA) offers trips costing more than $30,000 per person for a three-week trip around the Antarctic Circle and the Drake Passage - home to some of the most dangerous waters in the world.

Expedition ship in Antarctica. Photo: Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions, meanwhile, operates trips to both Antarctica and the Arctic. Antarctic tours cost between $12,000 and more than $40,000, depending on the length of the trip. The company’s Arctic tours depart from Helsinki, Finland, with prices not disclosed.

Bich Phuong

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