Stop Dreaming, Start Living

Exclusive Resorts Members have always valued and appreciated travel. "After a year of being cooped up at home in 2020, we know Members are looking forward to travel like never before," says Gina Bach, Vice President of the Experience Collection at Exclusive Resorts. “Members are excited to get back to their travel routines and take those big bucket list trips they were unable to enjoy previously,” she says. To that end, Exclusive Resorts has curated eight spectacular Once-in-a-Lifetime Journeys for 2022. Itineraries were intentionally developed to focus on outdoor experiences for smaller, more intimate groups—and Exclusive Resorts will handle any special travel requirements remaining post-pandemic.

After a year of dreaming about travel in 2020, we're glad it’s time to start finally living the dream once again. Here, Bach shares her memorable highlights from itineraries that will take you around the globe, from Australia to Alaska.

Kenya: Wildlife Safari

Duration: 9 days, 9 nights

Group Size: 16-25 Members

Ideal For: Families

Gina’s Highlights: “Our safaris are second to none and almost always score a five out of five from families,” she says. Kenya is Africa’s undisputed wildlife capital. In addition to visiting two very different game parks—Tsavo West National Park and Maasai Mara National Reserve—and staying at luxurious accommodations such as Abercrombie & Kent's Sanctuary Olonana, guests will have the opportunity to participate in philanthropic endeavors throughout their Journey. “Parents love the opportunity to expose their children to nature and wildlife but also to open their eyes to different ways they can protect the environment and help local communities,” says Bach. Members will safari in their own dedicated vehicles in search of the "Big Five"—lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino—and can opt to share an immersive experience with the Maasai people, learning traditional songs and hunting techniques.

Trip Highlight: Feed baby elephants at the Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi.

Antarctica: Explore and Ring in the New Year

Duration: 12 days, 11 nights

Group Size:  125 Members

Ideal For: Wildlife and photography enthusiasts

Gina’s Highlights: December is arguably the best month to visit Antarctica, with fewer crowds, longer daylight hours and abundant wildlife. And what better way to ring in the new year than watching migrating whales and calving icebergs from your private balcony aboard the brand-new National Geographic Resolution ship. “If you’re someone who likes being in a Zodiac more than sitting by the hotel pool, this getaway is for you,” says Bach. “Antarctica is a dream experiential destination for photographers and wildlife lovers as well as wanna-be explorers.” National Geographic’s team of experts including undersea specialists, local naturalists and National Geographic photographers who provide Members a truly immersive experience.

Trip Highlight: You’ll feel like a true National Geographic explorer when you kayak alongside whales and hike across glaciers to view penguin colonies.

Australia and New Zealand: Adventure Awaits

Duration: 12 days, 11 nights

Group Size: 16-18 Members

Ideal For: Active Members

Gina’s Highlights: “Members love our New Zealand and Australia holidays but have always told us they’d love to combine destinations so they only have to take that long flight once,” says Bach. This itinerary makes that happen, combining the best of both countries with stops in iconic cities like Sydney and Queenstown, and incredibly beautiful wild places like the Great Barrier Reef and Fiordland National Park. “This is one of my favorite experiential vacations for a couple of reasons,” says Bach. “We’ve sprinkled a few surprises throughout the itinerary that really make the trip over-the-top. It’s the perfect combination of thrills and indulgence,” says Bach, whose personal favorite memories from this itinerary are scaling the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and sipping sauvignon blanc and slurping oysters in New Zealand’s Central Otago wine region.

Trip Highlight: Board a former America’s Cup racing yacht for a hands-on private sailing experience on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour.

India and Nepal: An Unforgettable Journey

Duration: 12 days, 11 nights

Group Size: 16-20 Members

Ideal For: Spiritual and culturally immersive travelers

Gina’s Highlights: “Visiting Nepal and India with Exclusive Resorts is like going to a huge concert and having access to the floor but also a private box to go back to when you want to feel safe,” says Bach. “It’s easier to get out of your comfort zone and embrace the culture when you know the food and accommodations are always five star.” This itinerary reads like a check-list of iconic experiences but executed in Exclusive Resorts VIP style. The trip begins in Nepal with a flight around Mount Everest followed by brunch with a mountaineer who has summited the world’s highest peak. Then on to India, where Members will feel like royalty staying at five-star hotels including the Taj Rambagh Palace and Oberoi Amarvilas and experiencing exclusive access to attractions like the City Palace in Jaipur. For Bach, the ultimate highlight is Varanasi. “There is no culture shock greater than India’s holiest city and witnessing the ghats along the Ganges,” she says.

Trip Highlight: A sunrise visit and guided tour of the Taj Mahal, complete with a photographer.

Around the World by Private Jet

Duration: 22 days, 21 nights

Group Size: 75 Members

Ideal For: Members who put off their bucket-list trips and want an all-in-one, truly Once-in-a-Lifetime exclusive package

Gina’s Highlights: If you’ve put off your dream vacations for too long, this is the Journey for you. Alongside a team of National Geographic experts, embark on a globe-trotting expedition featuring numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites and bucket list locations including Egypt and the Maldives. “We offered this holiday in 2020 but had to end it early due to COVID-19,” says Bach. “Our 2022 trip includes all the stops the 2020 Journey had to miss, plus some really unique, awesome additions.” Of all the incredible locations visited, Jordan stands out for Bach, where Members will be able to explore the iconic sites and ruins of Petra, followed by a festive dinner accompanied by a Bedouin folklore performance.

Trip Highlight: Hike to Bhutan’s famed Tiger’s Nest alongside a National Geographic photographer who will capture every picture-perfect moment.

Ski Japan

Duration: 9 days, 8 nights

Group Size: 16-20 Members

Ideal For: Ski and snowboard enthusiasts

Gina’s Highlights: “Members have asked for this ski trip for years,” says Bach. “To visit Japan on your own is an endeavor in itself with the culture, etiquette and language. You need a guide just to rent skis.” This itinerary visits three different ski resorts in the Hokkaido region, known for its fluffy powder conditions, and also incorporates a traditional ryokan stay and traditional experiences ranging from tea ceremonies to hot springs.

Trip Highlight: Exclusive Resorts has bought out the Iwani ski resort for a day, meaning Members will have exclusive use of the lifts and cats.

Uruguay, Mendoza and Buenos Aires

Duration: 9 days, 8 nights

Group Size: 16-20 Members

Ideal For: Members who want a town and country escape

Gina’s Highlights: “This itinerary is the ultimate South America trifecta,” says Bach. “It includes three unique but complementary stops in Uruguay, Mendoza and Buenos Aires. This is the first time Exclusive Resorts is visiting Uruguay, which is really exciting.” In José Ignacio, Uruguay, guests will stay at super stylish Bahia Vik, a boutique hotel on the beach with a fantastic art collection and activities such as local wine tastings and horseback rides along the coast. A short flight deposits Members in Buenos Aires where they’ll be treated to private tango lessons in the birthplace of tango. The holiday ends in Argentina’s famed wine country, Mendoza, where guests will experience VIP tastings at some of the wineries producing the region’s acclaimed Malbecs.

Trip Highlight: Enjoy dinner at Uruguay's most famous beachfront restaurant, La Huella.

Seabourn Alaska Cruise

Duration: 9 days, 8 nights

Group Size: 450 Members

Ideal For: Adventurous multi-gen travelers

Gina’s Highlights: “Imagine an African safari that requires a quarter of the travel,” says Bach. “Alaska offers an Africa-worthy wildlife experience close to home. And the Seabourn Odyssey is chartered exclusively for Members so it’s like being with your friends on your own private safari vehicle.” Explore Alaska's glaciers and remote islands by kayak, zodiac or catamaran on exclusive Venture Days. Bach says this bucket-list adventure is great for multi-generational families as they can participate in different activities throughout the day then regroup for lunch and dinner.

Trip Highlight: Experience oyster farming first-hand in Ketchikan

Enter reservation requests between March 17-30

Members interested in participating in one of the Club’s 2022 Journeys can enter reservation requests between March 17-30. For more information, please contact your Vacation Ambassador.

Information current as of 3.17.2021: Once-in-a-Lifetime Journeys subject to change or cancellation. Participation in Once-in-a-Lifetime Journeys subject to Club Membership Agreement and Once-in-a-Lifetime Journeys Terms and Conditions. Once-in-a-Lifetime Journeys reservations require an Advanced Reservation, Plan Days, and a Priority Holiday Reservation (when applicable). Reservations for specific dates and Once-in-a-Lifetime Journeys subject to availability. Some excursions, activities, services, and food and beverages may require additional fees, may have limited availability, and are subject to additional terms and conditions. For ship-based programs, participants may be subject to a fuel surcharge not to exceed $10 per person per day. See ExclusiveResorts.com for information about the Club including list of Once-in-a- Lifetime Journeys, Club destinations and residences, and other information. Exclusive Resorts and Exclusive Resorts flower logo are registered trademarks of Exclusive Resorts, LLC. ©2021, Exclusive Resorts, LLC. All rights reserved.