With over six years of experience in the organisation of the largest Air Rallies in the world, the International Air Rally organisation has developed state of the art adventure products – offering a new experience as well as a new theme year after year. Participants will be on board of corporate six/eight seater aircraft, leading another group of 20 to 25 aircraft visiting up to 16 different cities across Canada and the USA. Fly over the Niagara Falls, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and many more destinations and enjoy truly spectacular sceneries and a refreshingly new way to discover new cultures. This year, the organizers propose “The Challenge of the Flags Rally”, celebrating three national holidays – Ottawa for Canada Day, New York for Independence Day and St–Pierre and Miquelon for Bastille Day. The Rally will last a total of 16 days. A wide range of exciting and interesting visits and fun activities are also part of the programme.

The Oyster Circle is one of Europe’s few and most recent private members’ Destination Clubs that offers a wide portfolio of luxury private villas and penthouses in the finest destinations throughout the world. The access to these properties is available on all year round basis. Some of the current homes are located in destinations like France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, United States of America, Caribbean, South Africa and in Dubai – additional destinations and properties will be added throughout the year. Each of the club’s properties is valued at a minimum of €3 million and is, as can be expected, decorated to the highest standards. In addition, The Oyster Circle provides a Personal Assistant to ensure that the member’s holiday experience will be completely hassle free as well as a Concierge offering the equivalent of five–star hotel and resort services whilst maintaining the unique privacy of private homes.

Secluded in the malaria free wilderness of Madikwe Game Reserve lies Royal Madikwe, a unique luxury safari residence. Royal Madikwe is, without any doubt, the perfect luxury destination for families and groups of friends wanting more than just space in a lodge, but rather a lodge that is their own private space. Its privileged location converts the everyday of your stay into a real African experience. Start the day with an early morning safari drive enjoying exciting wildlife encounters. Recover thereafter on the suite’s deck by the plunge pool, or in one of the open rooms created within the residence and go through your journey while creating a memorable experience. Find your repose in one of the five beautifully appointed suites, complete with indoor and outdoor showers, four poster beds, private elevated sun decks and individual plunge pools, complimented by crisp, cool linen and indigenous dark wood.

Sail through a path less travelled on board a luxurious purposed–built expedition vessel. The Orion is more a mega–yacht than a cruise ship, large enough to offer onboard luxuries yet small enough to access remote destinations. The comforts of a luxurious floating resort are combined with excursions to unspoilt nature reserves, pristine beaches and historical towns. The Orion’s year–round itineraries include the rugged coast of Tasmania and Kimberley beyond – to the beautiful and intriguing untapped destinations of Papua New Guinea. Not to mention the opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful and isolated parts of the world – the Antarctic Continent. The vessel itself is sleek — modern and comfortable, practical and luxurious. With a capacity for 106 guests, all cared for in 5–star comfort by a crew of 75. Orion Expeditions Cruises also offer the possibility to reserve the vessel for private use.

PrivatSea is a private members’ Club which provides a core service of luxury yachting. The PrivatSea fleet consists of some of the finest superyachts worldwide, all of which have been selected for their pedigree, onboard amenities, crew experience and comfort. Members enjoy the flexibility in superyachts usage thanks to the fleet that is to be found in all corners of the globe. Members will feel like being in their own yacht while a first class crew will provide a 24 hours service to please any requirements. A particular and distinct advantage of the Club is that members also receive preferential rates on many of the fleet yachts. The Club also offers a bespoke ‘Doorstep to Deck’ service, working with private jet and limousine partners to transport members safely and comfortably from their homes to the decks of the yacht.

After having successfully introduced a helicopter shuttle service from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport to both JFK Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport early last year, US Helicopter will commence an additional route this February linking Midtown Manhattan to both airports. US Helicopter is expanding service to accommodate the midtown area’s high traffic, making business and luxury travel more convenient for all of Manhattan with an eight–minute airport commute. Service from the East 34th Street Heliport to JFK and Newark will initially serve the afternoon demand – with ten flights to/from JFK and ten flights to/from Newark. Flights begin at US$169 one–way, plus applicable security tax.

Last month UK rocket developer Starchaser Industries has been awarded a European Space Agency contract to assess the company’s Thunderstar booster and Starchaser 5A capsule for space tourism. The Thunderstar–Starchaser system has been designed to carry one pilot and two passengers to above 100km, before returning them to the Earth using a parachute landing system. The study will verify the feasibility of the Thunderstar–Starchaser system as well as its ability to meet space tourists’ expectations. Starchaser Industries has opened offices in New Mexico (USA) and plans regular tourist flights from the Spaceport America base there from 2009.

Anticipating the growing demand from business travellers for long range and large cabin aircraft, PrivatAir has ordered a Boeing 787 for its luxury long haul vip charter operations. The order complements PrivatAir’s existing Boeing fleet which includes a newly–acquired Boeing 767, a Boeing 757, a Boeing BBJ2 and three Boeing BBJs. Greg Thomas, ceo, confirms that there is a revived demand for luxury air tour holidays from US tourists to Europe and European tourists to the US.

Built between 1817 and 1821 and completely restored in 2004 preserving the building’s character and cultural heritage, Imaret has been transformed into a stunning luxury hotel. Located in Northern Greece, the property is crowning the hillside of Panagia, the city’s old district, offering awesome views to the sea and the surrounding hills. Its architecture owns a blend of the orient and western influence of the époque. Imaret features 27 deluxe rooms and suites, each with its own and unique design and décor. Relaxation is the invitation of Imaret offering their guests a traditional hammam to enjoy the original deep cleansing body treatment followed by a massage with scented olive oils. Guests will be mesmerised by the dome–shaped ceilings, earthy colours, subdued lighting, handmade upholstery in the finest fabrics, elegant furniture and the delicately oriental decoration.

Amongst a wide expanse of coconut trees and nearby the romantic embrace of Bali’s Jimbaran Bay lies the exotic and idyllic retreat Kayumanis Jimbaran. Every spacious villa is masterfully juxtaposed in a harmonious dance among every tree providing every guest an opportunity to choose the setting best suited for one’s individual preference or planned holiday style. Guests at Kayumanis Jimbaran may choose between the Balinese, Javanese, Oriental, Palembang, Primitive, and Modern – each tastefully furnished as a blend of ethic, modern, and traditional aesthetic influences. Complemented by an exclusive 24–hour butler service that will make every effort to fulfil guests’ every whim without being obtrusive, Kayumanis Jimbaran is a setting of pure serenity, utmost privacy, and unrivalled luxury.

Discover Marataba hidden between vast plains, dense bushveld, rivers, gorges and majestic mountains. Marataba is an exclusive 23,000 hectare private concession in the heart of the malaria–free Marakele National Park of South Africa. Inspired by the discovery of primeval ruins, Marataba embraces both the contemporary and the ancient in an exciting blend of innovative architecture and design. Its 15 luxury tented suites are crafted from canvas, timber and stone. Each suite has a private deck with remarkable views and are exquisitely furnished and decorated. Gourmet cuisine with fresh African flavours is served in the main lodge either in the elegantly appointed dining room or outdoors on the dining veranda or, alternatively, under a glorious African sky in the boma. Providing exceptional exhilarating game drives, Marataba pays tribute to the concept of the African renaissance.

If you’re an explorer who likes the freedom to travel safely and reliably through remote trails and enjoy to camp in secluded locations for extended periods of time, an EarthRoamer Xpedition vehicle is just what you need. Capable of cruising all day at 120 km/h, the all–weather expedition is built on a Ford F–550 diesel powered chassis with a four wheel drive. The perfect base camp for any activity, the XV–LT pushes the recreational vehicle envelope by completely eliminating propane and generators. Relying entirely on diesel and solar power, modern day explorers can travel far from the beaten path in safety and a level of luxury that is more akin to a yacht than an RV. The four–season camper interior includes a convection microwave, refrigerator/freezer, ceramic cook–top and granite counter, a four seat dinette, 15” flat screen TV, a king sized over–cab bed as well as an enclosed bathroom with shower — all ingeniously integrated within a space only 7,5 meters long.

There is a quality about a finely crafted wooden kayak. Nick Schade has been designing and building under the Guillemot Kayaks name to share the kayak designs he created for his own use. The wide selection of different styles are all carefully refined for high performance on the water. These kayaks are characterized by clean, elegant lines and smooth responsive motion through the ocean. The process consists on laying thin strips of wood over a form that will give the boat its shape, and coated it in fibreglass and epoxy. The form is then removed and the hull’s interior receives the same treatment. This method finalizes, after several coats of fibreglass and epoxy, with a waterproof coating that showcases the polished wood and craftsmanship. Three levels of construction are available: standard, custom, and custom graphic. A hand–built example starts at about €4,600 while custom versions can go well beyond the €15,000 mark.

Wait to try this – the Swiss designed GG Quad, a unique creation of high performance and sophistication. Powered by a BMW engine, this four–wheel motorcycle has the remarkable stability of a formula car and control at all speeds. The powerful machine is capable of a maximum speed of 240 km/h, allowing you to reach a speed from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds. Its 1150cc twin–cylinder boxer engine roars to life with 95 hp at 7250 rpm — accompanying a transmission of a six speed gearbox plus reverse. With 400 kg of solidness and a whole list of the highest quality components, the GG Quad has a very sporty and aerodynamic design and comes in many different looks. Because of its vertical seat position, riders from all backgrounds will find it extremely comfortable, even on long trips. Limited production furthermore provides exclusivity for the most discerning of clients. And yes, quality comes with a price tag: €38,140 for the basic version. Of course!

The Private Collection — Edition 2007 is making a splash again and enjoying raving reports all around the globe as the most luxurious travel publication ever! This ultimate source of inspiration for discerning travellers can only be ordered online on our www.xoprivate.com website since it is not on sale anywhere else in order to preserve its exclusivity! The perfect and original gift for a dear friend, family member or … just to spoil yourself! The latest edition of The Private Collection has again been designed into a stunning piece of art: a luxurious hardcover publication of almost 400 pages which guides its readers in the direction of the world’s finest escapes and travel excellence providers, all brought together in a single and uniquely illustrated volume. Don’t wait any longer and order your copy today!