Latest news with #immersivetravel
Forbes
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Immersive Luxury Travel Goes Next-Level With This Exclusive Paris Game
Paris by night Leonard Cotte/Unsplash/Courtesy of Ariodante 'Everyone can go to space if they have the money,' says Ricardo Araujo, the founder and CEO of the discreet ultra-luxury agency Ariodante, which creates extraordinary travel experiences rooted in art, history and culture. 'You just pay some millions to get there. You call SpaceX and that's it.' He's talking about a segment of ultra-high net worth travelers who have been (or could have been) everywhere and done everything. 'I've spent the past ten years working with centimillionaires and billionaires. I know very well their mindset,' says Araujo. 'They aren't bored; that's not the right word. But you're at the point in life where you have everything and you start living on the surface because everything feels the same.' The grand events, the luxury hotels and the Michelin meals become a blur. What's really appealing is 'engaging with something, being yourself and being challenged.' Now he's making his biggest bet yet on that mindset. Ariodante—which usually creates private games only for member clients who pay a sizable retainer—recently announced a first-of-its-kind, player-led, live-action game that takes immersive travel to a new level. It's called the Queen's Lost Diamonds and is themed around a real, centuries-old royal scandal. And in this case, anyone can apply to play (though Araujo is interviewing candidates to make sure they really get it before inviting them to sign an NDA and buy a ticket). Unlike a space jaunt, for instance, the Queen's Lost Diamonds is a one-off experience that can't be bought simply with money. 'You can't experience it again because it's never going to happen again,' says Araujo. 'And each person who experiences it is going to have a completely different experience' because of the choices they make throughout the game. A company announcement likens would-be players to Indiana Jones or Nicolas Cage's character in National Treasure , unraveling mysteries in glamorous locales. The Queen's Lost Diamonds will take on one of the most scandalous conspiracies in French history as it unfolds over three days with all of Paris as its playground. Nearly a year in the works, it's based on input from historians and scientists, with the assistance of hundreds of actors, appearances from real-life experts and access to secret spaces in iconic venues. Looking for clues in Paris Tristan Colangelo/Unsplash/Courtesy of Ariodante Araujo has also said he was inspired by the parallel reality exhibited in David Fincher's film The Game, though he says the complexity and scale of his venture make comparing it to producing a film 'too easy.' Players will investigate real manuscripts and historic accounts that complicate established theories; probe characters portrayed by actors and explore restricted areas in landmark monuments, some of which have never been accessed by non-custodians. The dates, which will be sometime in 2025, are under wraps for obvious reasons. There's security and privacy for high-profile clients, of course, but also to preserve the exclusivity. Participants will be told just a short time beforehand, 'so it's not something [other people] can prepare for,' explains Araujo. 'If I tell them the story of the game, they know what's going to happen' and might try to play along. (That said, he's been teasing with a few hints on his Instagram.) Even once the NDAs have been signed, the advance information given to actual players will be limited. 'If I say how many actors there are going to be, they're going to be expecting the people they meet to be actors when maybe they're not. If I'm bringing in whatever fashion designer, they're going to think that the guy is fake while he's actually the real fashion designer.' He continues, 'This is about architecture rather than me being fancy. I'm not withholding information just for marketing reasons. This is the first time something like this is happening.' (Likewise, the price is not being published, largely because it's changeable based on hotel preferences, possible extensions and the usual travel choices, though it's safe to say it will start in the mid-six figures.) The something—or rather, somethings—that are happening will be big. The scenarios that Araujo's team are devising are complex, filled with high-stakes challenges, tests of bravery and morale, and situations that call for using powers of persuasion and deduction. Players choose their own path, making countless decisions based on whom they consider to be allies or enemies. This means they've come up with about 150 scenarios that might play out, depending on whether, say, players leave a hotel via the front door or sneak out the back, whether they turn right or left, or maybe just stay and have another glass of wine. And the players 'are never going to notice anything [about all the other possibilities] because they'll have no idea that I've planned 20 other things that they'll never see.' All of these potential scenarios have been designed with the on-the-ground travel logistics wizards that have powered Ariodante's trips for a decade, as well as scholars, historians and archaeologists. Getting the serious people on board was a snap, says Araujo: 'It's something so unique and so fun that everyone wants to be part of it.' He reiterates: 'We are basing this on something real, something that really happened and hasn't been understood.' He knows better than to imagine they might solve a mystery that has flummoxed historians for decades, but perhaps 'we are going to shed new light on something.' Along with that draw, he mentions scholarly participants who were theater kids in high school and eager to act again, experts who want to share their knowledge in an engaging way, and others who simply enjoy a good game. 'I haven't had a single person saying, 'No, I don't want to be part of it.'' MORE FROM FORBES Forbes This Travel Startup Is Bringing Adventure Racing To New Audiences By Ann Abel Forbes This New Extreme Hotel In Patagonia Takes Adventure Travel To New Heights By Ann Abel Forbes Inside A Billionaire Banker's Laboratory For Sustainable Luxury Travel By Ann Abel
CNA
08-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
Travel agency Trafalgar and sister brands launch 16 new tours, including to villages of France and the Balkans
Trafalgar and sister brands Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold will be launching 16 new itineraries for travel in 2026, marking the largest introduction of new trips in the past seven years. Spanning five continents from Patagonia to Portugal, and the Balkans to the Great Lakes, the newly announced trips aim to meet evolving traveller desires for immersive, personalised and culturally rich travel experiences. The tours will feature a mix of nature escapes, culinary explorations, heritage-rich adventures, and women only departures, offering something for every kind of traveller. 'Asian travellers are looking for more new and meaningful experiences. With an audience that has matured in terms of travel styles and taste, we find that more travellers are embracing a slower, more mindful pace of travel,' said Nick Lim, chief executive officer in Asia for The Travel Corporation, in a press release. 'Our new itineraries are designed to reflect this evolutionary shift.' NEW 2026 TOURS INCLUDE: Trafalgar: • English Adventure – A family-friendly trip through castles, countryside, and culture. • Villages of France – Slow travel through storybook towns, vineyards and rustic cuisine. • Best of South Korea – A modern-meets-traditional tour through Seoul, Gyeongju and Busan. • Best of Sri Lanka – A second, alternate route exploring the island's southern treasures. • Scenic Great Lakes with Mackinac Island – An inland North American gem featuring charming towns and freshwater beauty. • Spain, Morocco & Portugal Whirl – A cross-continental adventure connecting three dynamic cultures. • Best of Romania, Transylvania & Hungary – Gothic castles, medieval villages, and hidden Eastern European treasures. • Balkans Coast Explorer – Discover Albania, Croatia and Montenegro's rising-star coastal charm. Insight Vacations: • Adriatic Escape – Explore coastal gems from Dubrovnik to Montenegro, combining culture, cuisine and sea views. • Wonders of Sri Lanka – A journey through ancient cities, lush highlands and sacred temples. • Soul of the Deep South – Discover soulful cities, civil rights history and iconic music trails. • Soul of the Deep South (Women-only) – Meet the women who championed songwriting, civil rights and cuisine across the soulful cities of the South. • Heart of Patagonia – Traverse one of the world's last great wildernesses between Argentina and Chile. • Contrasts of Brazil & Argentina – Samba, steak and the soul of South America. Luxury Gold: • Spectacular Scotland – From lochs to legends, an in-depth look at Scottish heritage. • Ultimate Portugal – From Porto to the Algarve, a journey through wine, architecture and coastlines. These new trips are available to book now for 2026 departures. Visit the individual brand pages or head to the roadshow at Nex shopping mall from now until Jul 13 at level 1 atrium for more information.
Travel Weekly
01-07-2025
- Travel Weekly
European Waterways introducing more active barge cruises
European Waterways is launching active itineraries for guests, a first for the brand. The luxury barge cruise company is debuting the new travel style with private charters, giving families and groups of friends the ability to embark on a bespoke itinerary. At the heart of this travel style is immersive and experience-based travel. "Many modern travelers crave more than just a beautiful view: They want stories, hands-on experiences and a deeper sense of connection," said managing director Derek Banks. For example, with the private charters travelers can swap a chateau tour for a hike or take a cooking class instead of visiting a museum. Other excursions available on the private charters include golf, kayaking, truffle hunting and falconry. European Waterways vessels can accommodate from eight to 20 guests and include locally sourced cuisine, a private chef and private guide.
