The limited-edition "Mysteries of the Deep" itinerary is offered by private-guided tour company Kensington Tours and is aimed at luxury-minded clients looking for a truly memorable experience. The trip features exploratory dives into the Indian Ocean; exclusive hands-on activities aboard a working scientific research vessel; access to one of the most remote and environmentally protected tropical locations; and accommodation aboard a private yacht under the endless sunny skies of Seychelles – the ultimate luxury meets oceanic-exploration adventure.
Expeditions begin in March 2019 onboard a state-of-the-art submersible diving into previously unexplored waters of the Indian Ocean near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aldabra Atoll. Authorized with rare exploration permits for the region, Kensington Tours is exclusively leading this excursion alongside the Nekton Ocean Research Institute and the Government of Seychelles.
"Kensington Tours is a mission partner with Nekton co-funding this important ocean research work," said Jeff Willner, Kensington Tours founder and Explorers Club member. "The deep ocean is the last great unexplored frontier. We have better maps of the moon than our own oceans, and scientists estimate there are over a million species still to discover. Nekton's last mission in Bermuda with leading scientists from Oxford University resulted in the discovery of a new ocean zone called the Rariphotic. Every time we dive in Aldabra it will be a first descent for humankind. This is true science and adventure."
Inside a two-person Triton 1000/2 submersible, voyagers will come face-to-fin with rare sea life during 20-minute guided dives and be among the first humans to visit this underwater world. Capable of achieving depths of up to 1,000 feet (305 meters), the versatile submersible combines cutting-edge oceanic exploration technology with the comfort and security of a passenger craft.
Participants will also have unfettered access to a 101-foot (31-meter) luxurious private yacht that comfortably sleeps ten guests in five rooms; is piloted by an experienced captain; and staffed by a crew of five with meals prepared by an onboard chef. Back on land, accommodations include a hilltop oceanview villa at the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, a luxurious hideaway on the turquoise shores of Petite Anse.
Seychelles – home to immaculate white-sand beaches kissed by azure waters, volcanic islands draped under a lush green carpet of mangrove, hidden lagoons and secluded atolls that hide a galaxy of sea creatures – is the most aesthetically pleasing laboratory on earth. Known as "the Galápagos of the Indian Ocean" and home to populations of rare species, Aldabra is the jewel in the world's least explored and most at-risk ocean. According to Nekton, less than 1% of Seychelles is above water, and very little research has ever been done beneath scuba depths. The country is a beacon for ocean conservation, with the local government committed to protecting 30% of their territorial waters by 2020 and developing a sustainable "blue economy".
"Exclusive experiences such as this are rare in the luxury travel industry," Kensington Tours President Alison Hickey said. "We are proud to offer this once-in-a-lifetime itinerary – it is truly the next evolution of the Kensington Tours product portfolio. We are also incredibly proud to be part of this historic and important initiative with Nekton."
Kensington Tours is offering week-long trips to Seychelles’ Aldabra through March 2019 with pricing starting from $42,000 per person – the tour accommodates six to eight travelers. The limited-edition itinerary is part of Kensington Tours' new Explorers Club "Famous Firsts" Collection. For more than a century, global members of The Explorers Club have traversed the earth, from sea to sky and to the stars. Explorers Club members were first to the poles of the earth, first to summit Mount Everest, first to the deepest point of the ocean, and first to set foot on the moon. The "Famous First" collection is inspired by The Explorers Club's history of famous firsts and celebrates pioneering expeditions of discovery and science around the world.
For more information about Kensington Tours, the "Mysteries of the Deep" itinerary, and to book, email [email protected]; call our destination experts at 1-855-644-8471 or visit kensingtontours.com.
About Kensington Tours
Kensington Tours has created award-winning privately guided trips for discerning travelers for over a decade. The company maintains a staff of 150 knowledgeable Destination Experts who can tailor any of its 600+ itineraries to its clients' specific needs.
Kensington Tours currently runs trips in more than 90 countries worldwide. The company also recently acquired Lionshare, a 130-foot (40-meter) Heeson motor yacht and is offering exclusive itineraries onboard to the Caribbean and western Mediterranean. Lionshare represents the first vessel in Kensington Tours' fleet.
kensingtontours.com
About Nekton
Nekton Ocean Research Institute "Nekton" is dedicated to exploring the depths of the ocean to reveal the unknown for the benefit of humankind. A charity established in the United Kingdom, Nekton combines world-class experience across marine science, ocean policy, multi-disciplinary research expeditions, multi-platform content creation and distribution, education and communications to create a step-chance in our knowledge and understanding of the ocean to accelerate its sustainable governance. Earlier this year, Nekton, along with marine scientist from Oxford University, discovered the Rariphotic Zone in Bermuda and found 100 new species.
nektonmission.org.
VIDEO: Nekton Mission – narrated by award-winning physicist Brian Cox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=b0KUbgrQ5gc
SOURCE Kensington Tours
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