Eight Superyacht Charter Experiences off the Grid

Learning to pilot a submersible in Curaçao

Whether you’re the adventurous type, a submarine enthusiast, or you're simply craving something new, learning to pilot a submarine might seem beyond your reach, but Cookson Adventures have put it on the map. The specialists in luxury adventure travel have teamed up with U-Boat Worx, makers of the world’s leading personal submersibles, to offer a sub-training experience as part of a superyacht trip in Curaçao, one of the three westernmost islands of the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean. 

This is an extraordinary opportunity that allows guests to control their own dive for longer and deeper than ever before. Think of it as the world’s most exclusive ‘track day’ - once you’ve mastered the art of piloting, it’s down to you to dive the sub for the rest of the voyage, sailing onto the shipwreck-scattered Aruba before diving Bonaire, where the marine life abounds with over 470 species of fish.

With a leading shark expert on board, you'll have the chance to get up close and personal with juvenile lemon sharks and filter-feeding whale sharks - the largest fish in the ocean - while on land there's the opportunity to test your desert island survival skills, fishing with minimal supplies and sleeping under the stars.

Swimming with giant blue whales in Timor-Leste

One of south east Asia’s lesser explored nations, Timor-Leste (or East Timor), a Portuguese colony until 1975, is a haven of jungle caves peppered with ancient rock paintings, circled all around by coral reefs teeming with marine life. Thanks to its deep channels that plummet to 3,000 metres, the waters of this small island country are on the migratory route for marine wildlife moving between the Pacific and Indian oceans, including dolphins, sharks, turtles and whales .

Most notable are the giant blue whales - the largest animal ever known to exist on earth - and Pelorus Yacht Expeditions offers keen divers the opportunity to swim among these beautiful and mesmerizing giants - a rare experience for the lucky few. During the trip you’ll also be joined on board by a Nobel Prize Laureate for a sumptuous supper where you'll learn about ongoing marine conservation efforts to protect the reef, and you'll also have the opportunity to meet local villagers while participating in a cooking workshop ashore. 

Immersive education in southern Patagonia

We can all agree that life’s real education happens outside the classroom, and what better way for your children to learn about the world than by exploring destinations with leading experts at their side? Seeing a 40 per cent increase in families requesting private, meaningful and longer stays with educational elements weaved into the itineraries, Cookson Adventures’ educational journeys include specialist adventure guides who double-up as tutors teaching young explorers the wonders of the natural world. 

This is a superyacht charter complete with a helicopter to take you deep into otherwise inaccessible regions of southern Patagonia, where the local communities who are so rarely visited offer a warm welcome and an insight into their way of life. From riding horses and sheep shearing on a traditional working ranch, to meeting with local trackers to search for pumas in the wilderness, you’ll also enjoy a meal prepared by a local family and raise a glass before returning to the yacht. Other activities include spearfishing with local fishermen, white water rafting on the Futaleufú River and kayaking alongside dolphins – a magical experience for travellers of all ages.

Exploring the depths of the Med in a submersible

With 90,000km of pristine coastline, rich marine life and diverse corals, the Mediterranean Sea is one of the most sought-after destinations for keen divers. If you really want to get the most out of your charter, EYOS Expeditions has teamed up with Fraser Yachts and the recently refurbished six guest U-Boat Navigator for its ‘Expeditionize the Mediterranean’ adventure, offering the opportunity to visit some of its most spectacular dive sites.

Equipped with two Triton (3300/3 and 3300/1) submersibles which can dive up to 1,000 metres deep, you can explore shipwrecks in Messina’s Volcanic Triangle north of Sicily, discover Malta’s hidden underwater history and dive the crystal-clear waters surrounding the picturesque town of Portofino. There’s also the chance to explore sites of specific cultural interest and protected marine habitats. For a truly educational journey, marine experts can also be invited to join the trip.

"EYOS is bringing their decades of expedition experience to 'expeditionize' the Mediterranean this summer,” says Kelvin Murray, director of expedition operations and undersea projects. “Our staff have world-class knowledge that brings a destination to life; the team includes maritime historians, marine biologists and other underwater experts. Combined with the resources and knowledge of our colleagues at U-Boat Malta, we can offer a luxury expedition experience for guests that is completely different from the usual Mediterranean charter.” 

Exploring Scotland via the top whisky distilleries

A dream experience for whisky connoisseurs, you can now explore the beautiful and rugged wilderness of Scotland while enjoying a tour of  some of the top whiskey distilleries. Working with local captains who know these waters better than anyone else, Pelorus is able to design experiences that delve deep into Britain’s last frontier of true wilderness, with stop offs at distilleries around Oban, Islay and Skye. You'll have a whisky master on board throughout who can also schedule private meetings with local blenders and distilleries keen to share their passion. 

Conservation is also a big part of this charter and, if you wish, you’ll have multiple opportunities to participate in local conservation and research projects such as helping to set up camera traps in osprey nesting areas (a valuable contribution to ongoing research of these magnificent birds of prey), trying your hand at productivity and population counts for fulmar, kittiwake, guillemot, and razorbills, and assisting in efforts to save Scotland’s declining red squirrel population.