New York Times Teams With A&K For Private Jet Tour

Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent is partnering with The New York Times to offer an around-the-world private jet journey accompanied by the four of the institution’s reporters.

The tour will be hosted by Times reporters, who will provide an in-depth look at destinations, including Cuba, Colombia, Myanmar, Iran, Morocco and Iceland. The 26-day “Around the World by Private Jet: Cultures in Transformation” will depart Feb. 8, 2018.

Former Times foreign correspondent Alan Riding, who spent much of his career in Latin America, will tackle issues such as the legalization and taxation of drugs and income inequality in Cuba and Colombia, while Times Op-Ed columnist Nicholas Kristof, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, will accompany travelers to Easter Island, Samoa and Australia. Elaine Sciolino, writer and former chief diplomatic correspondent, will be in Myanmar, Iran and Morocco. An expert on Iranian culture and politics, Sciolino will cover the history of the Iranian Revolution and the creation of the Islamic Republic, the status of women and Iranian and U.S. relations. Cornelia Dean, former editor of Science Times, will travel to Morocco and Iceland to speak about global climate change and the “evolution wars” that pit science against religion.

The itinerary starts in New York City, where the guests will get a behind-the-scenes look at The New York Times and meet publisher Arthur O. Sulzberger, Jr. Then the group will board A&K’s chartered Boeing 757-200ER, featuring fully lie-flat seats and an onboard executive chef. Additional highlights include an after-hours private visit to Iceland’s Blue Lagoon to watch for the Northern Lights, a private dinner in the Zipaquiras Salt Cathedral in Sydney, and camping under the stars in the Moroccan desert.

The “Around the World by Private Jet” journey is designed for an intimate group of 50. An A&K tour director will be at the helm for the entire tour. Groups of no more than 16 people will be led by an A&K tour manager and local guide to explore each country. The trip starts at $135,000 per person, based on double occupancy.