the LEAGUE of EXTRAORDINARY travels

EXPERIENTIAL TRAVEL IS IN-THE RARER, THE BETTER. FROM A VILLA THAT FLOATS ON THE SEA, TO SOLO 'SOULCATIONS' IN ZANZIBAR, HERE ARE SOME OF OUR STELLAR PICKS OF THE YEAR.

- PRIYA KUMARI RANA

IT’S NO SURPRISE that HNIs continue to “travel the world to find the beautiful”, to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson. According to global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the demand for luxury tourism and hospitality is expected to grow faster than any other industry segment, as a younger and wealthier clientele dedicate their spending to extraordinary leisure experiences. In fact, global spending on luxury travel is expected to reach $391 billion by 2028, it says.

As travellers become more discerning, they want “extraordinary experiences that are exclusive, transformative”, says Mario Del Duca, managing director, Americas, NUBA, which provides bespoke luxury travel experiences. The travel agency first opened in Spain and Mexico, and now has an office in Miami, Florida.

While companies like NUBA offer activities such as gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, with stays in eco-lodges and conservation experiences with wildlife experts, the bespoke Shapes by NUBA offers a private, after-hours visit to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, where an art historian walks you through the masterpieces, or an intimate dinner inside an ancient temple in Egypt, illuminated by candlelight, where an archaeologist shares unpublished discoveries.

Unique access and tailor-made moments that transcend traditional luxury are the trends of the future. “The concept of Shapes by NUBA resonates with the growing desire for immersive and meaningful experiences, where travel is not just about visiting a place but engaging with it on an artistic, cultural, and sensory level,” Del Duca tells Fortune India. Here are our picks:

Soaking in sacred Bali