A ship's deck illuminated by the glow of the northern lights, with bright green and subtle purple hues in the sky. The ship's structure is visible in the foreground, leading towards an illuminated doorway. The surrounding water reflects the vibrant colors of the aurora borealis.

The New Wave of Travel: Expedition Yachting

ARTICLE

Here’s why you should be considering a yacht expedition.

Travel is changing. More and more people – millennials in particular – are seeking ways to get off the beaten track, away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist crowds. Rather than a tan, people want to return home with a story to share.

As we learn more about the world, its various environments, cultures and wildlife, we are able to see how much is yet to be explored. There is still so much wilderness: islands have been discovered within the last 20 years; new species within the rainforest much more recently than that; and many regions, where hotels and lodges are non-existent, remain unreachable by car or foot. Antarctica, the Kuril Islands, and Svalbard – to name a few.

A large research vessel navigates through icy waters, with icebergs surrounding it on a stark white landscape. The ship features a helipad on its top deck and appears to be breaking through the ice.

The only way to properly explore these wild and lesser-seen places is by private yacht or motorboat. Whether island-hopping around Raja Ampat in Indonesia on a luxurious single-cabin, 30m sailing boat – perfect for honeymooners – or dodging icebergs inside the Arctic Circle on-board the likes of Aurora and Firebird, yachts open up a world of opportunity; a totally different experience to traveling on land.

Expect close encounters with wildlife, access to uninhabited islands and, perhaps the rarest luxury of all, absolute privacy.

A large ship with a blue hull is anchored in icy waters, surrounded by snow-covered mountains under a clear blue sky.
A futuristic ship with five tall, sleek towers resembling wind turbines is surrounded by icebergs in a serene, cloudy landscape. The ship has a modern design with solar panels and an orange lifeboat visible on its deck.
A diver swims beneath the surface of the ocean, with a large boat visible above water against a clear blue sky.

Working with knowledgeable captains, cruising routes are created according to the conditions, topography and individual briefs – no two charter routes are ever the same, meaning every day is a new experience. Whether stargazing with a drink in hand as Northern Lights streak overheard, or catching up on some much-needed sleep as your vessel relocates in Alaska’s Prince William Sound for a heli-skiing vacation in new surroundings, a yacht takes the stress out of moving from A to B.

Many travelers will not have considered this as a feasible option before – given the six-figure chartering costs of a superyacht, you’d be forgiven for skipping the thought – but the tide is changing: Pelorus has all-inclusive experiences that start at around $10,000 per person, ushering in a new wave of accessible yachting and 21st-century exploration. And for this money, you’ll certainly have that story.

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