High-end travel specialist Abercrombie & Kent has partnered with Land Rover for what it claims is “the most luxurious road trip on Earth”. It’s a bold claim, so what do you actually get for the US$145,000 itinerary? The trip will offer customers a 21-day adventure across rugged landscapes in five continents and eight countries, with stays at nine of the world's finest hotels, all behind the wheel of an SVAutobiography – the most luxurious Range Rover on the market.
The partnership marks the launch of the top-end off-roader, which features some exterior design enhancements as well as a finely crafted interior and the most powerful engine ever offered in a Range Rover, thanks to the team at Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations division in the UK.
"We set out to design a trip worthy of the ultimate luxury SUV and thanks to our partners at Abercrombie & Kent we have achieved just that,” said Mark Cameron, Land Rover Experiential Marketing Director, at Jaguar Land Rover. “From Europe to Australia, this trip is all about the epitome of luxury but done so in a Land Rover way - the unexpected, the off-the-beaten-track and the once-in-a-lifetime experiences. This itinerary represents the definitive drive adventure, achieved in the definitive vehicle."
Simon Lynch, Director of Business Development, Abercrombie & Kent, adds: "A&K are delighted to be partnering with Land Rover on offering this, the most ultimate of driving journeys. Our love of adventure, combined with exploration and luxury for over 50 years, gave us the inspiration for this expedition, which is packed full of unforgettable experiences. Our pioneering customers will explore landscapes, see wildlife and meet communities well and truly off the beaten track."
The trip costs GBP100,000 ($145,000) per person based on two travellers and is fully customisable according to guests' preferences.
The A&K SVAutobiography road trip itinerary:
The first leg: Starting in Europe, guests take in the twisting mountain roads of Monaco, the coastal highway to Portofino and the breathtaking vistas of the Italian lakes.
The second leg: Guests fly to Marrakech for a three-night stay at the unsurpassed Royal Mansour. Drives in the region take in the arid desert around Ouarzazate, the perfect territory for guests to develop their off road skills in the SVAutobiography, and a route up into the Atlas Mountains ending with a lunch at Richard Branson's exquisite hotel, Kasbah Tamadot.
The third leg: Guests guests fly in to experience the one-of-a-kind Amangiri resort in Utah. Amangiri – meaning peaceful mountain – is located across 600 acres, tucked into a protected valley with sweeping views towards the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument. Activities for this leg include a hiking and scrambling excursion into Antelope Canyon, a private dinner under the stars at a local Sandstone Butte and breakfast in Zion National Park.
The fourth leg: Guests take an overnight flight to Chile to experience the Atacama Desert - the driest non-polar desert in the world. Staying at Awasi - one of the most luxurious and remote lodges in South America - guests are assigned a personal concierge who designs a wholly bespoke experience customised to their interests. The driving excursions in the area are some of the most epic on earth and include a day drive to the Alamo Observatory, a GBP 1 billion telescope that can see the “beginning of time”.
The fifth leg: A night's stay at Sydney’s Park Hyatt gives guests the opportunity to relax after they have experienced both a VIP bridge climb and behind-the-scenes access to the landmark Opera House. A short hop to Tasmania the following day provides the opportunity for a stunning drive through the vast, rugged wilderness, taking in coastal heathland and forest, giving drivers the chance to put the SVAutobiography through its paces.