Summary
- Safrans du Mond is offering an exclusive air cruise experience with a luxurious VIP-configured Airbus A340 quadjet, providing comfortable travel and customizable itineraries to nine iconic destinations.
- Passengers on the tour will enjoy a spacious cabin with lie-flat seating, plush carpets, and social spaces, as well as gourmet French cuisine prepared by a private chef.
- The tour includes stays at five-star hotels and resorts managed by renowned chains such as Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton for a premium experience both in the air and on the ground.
Are you sick of seasickness or chancing food poisoning at the all-you-can-eat buffet? If a summer cruise around the Mediterranean feels passé, French high-end travel agency Safrans du Mond might offer something more your speed – 470 knots, specifically.
Life onboard
As luxury travel continues to boom in demand, airlines and travel agencies have begun examining ways to appeal to holidaymakers seeking new and unique travel experiences. The result? Air cruises. A quick and stylish way to ensure comfortable and customizable travel for those with a taste for the finer things. Four Seasons, National Geographic, and Aman have already seen success with the model, while other operators have begun to throw their hats into the ring.
Across three weeks in March and early April, Safrans du Monde is launching its 2024 world tour, connecting jet-set travelers with nine iconic destinations, luxe hotels, excitement, and endless culture.
Photo: Safrans du Monde
Having previously partnered with La Compagnie for the use of one of its smaller Airbus A321neo narrowbodies, 2024 tour members will fly aboard a VIP-configured Airbus A340 quadjet (9H-BIG), provided by Maltese-based charter AirX. The aircraft is currently in service on Safrans du Monde’s 2023 world tour, hopping across Southeast Asia, with the jet’s luxe interior proving to be a unique and popular selling point.
9H-BIG offers a flight range of up to 14 hours, with capacity for over 100 in a 2-2-2 premium configuration. There is no need to pack light – the baggage hold provides room for up to 1000 bags, while Safrans du Monde’s Première Safrans package gives a generous allowance of two 23kg of luggage. Alongside lie-flat seating, the extra-large cabin is scattered with couches, plush carpets, and expansive social spaces.
Photo: Safrans du Monde
Forget food. Onboard 9H-BIG, Safrans du Mond is serving cuisine. Appetizers, canapes, and three-course French meals are prepared by Private Chef Paul Caussé, Director of the Monaco-based culinary travel agency Une Table dans le Maquis. Champagne and other cocktails will be flowing; an extensive list of drinks has been collated by wine experts Les Caves de Taillevent, as well as a signature cocktail developed by Harry’s Bar in Paris. À votre santé!
In a statement shared by the travel agency, Safrans du Monde President Guy Bigiaoui outlined the exciting itinerary and once-in-a-lifetime experiences on offer this spring. Bigiaoui explained,
“Our ‘2024 World Tour Special Edition Air Cruise’ is all about fostering exceptional moments for guests. As passengers explore the incredible destinations and enjoy their customized itinerary, they are given the chance to discover a diversity of landscapes and civilizations across the world, all while receiving the highest standards of private aviation service while on-board.”
On the itinerary
Departing Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) on March 10, passengers will fly directly to Mexico City International Airport (MEX), spending two nights in the historic capital, before soaring onwards to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu, Hawaii, Nadi International Airport (NAN) in Fiji, crossing the international date line; then hopping between Christchurch International Airport (CHC) and Queenstown in New Zealand until March 20.
From New Zealand, the tour stops at Hobart Airport (HBA) in Tasmania, Perth Airport (PER) on Australia’s west coast, Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), and Velana International Airport (MLE) in the Maldives.
Wrapping up the journey in Africa, from March 30, passengers touch down in Tanzania at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), with options for a safari on the Serengeti, a tour of Ngorongoro National Park, or an up-close and personal visit with silverback gorillas on an excursion to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, via Kigali International Airport (KGL). The tour ends on April 2, with a flight from Tanzania, landing in Paris later that day.
Hotel snobs need not worry about slumming it in a drab and spa-less four-star; the premium experience extends to the ground, with five-star hotels and resorts, including several managed by the Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton hotel chains.
Expenses, expenses, expenses
The travel experience, however, does not come cheap. Tickets for the tour start at an eyewatering €75,000 ($80,000) for Club Safrans travel, while the exclusive Première Safrans, the “first-class” option, will set you back a minimum of €115,000 ($122,000). Safrans du Monde’s world tour fees may be worth the exorbitant cost for any ultra-premium traveler looking for silver service while exploring the world. Can you really put a price tag on a sunset over the Serengeti?
If March is booked in the calendars, a second tour is already in the works for late 2024 with destinations including New York, Machu Picchu, Easter Island, and Hanoi—time to sharpen those AmEx Black Cards.
What are your thoughts on Safran Du Mond’s 2024 world tour? Let us know in the comments.